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PlayStation 3 Launch Conquers UK Sales Chart

Although the console launch may not have been accompanied by the traditional holiday frenzy, the PlayStation 3’s debut in the UK has had a unprecedented effect on the top forty, with all key launch titles charting high, and Resistance: Fall of Man

David Jenkins, Blogger

March 27, 2007

3 Min Read
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Although the console launch may not have been accompanied by the traditional holiday frenzy or hardware shortages, the PlayStation 3’s debut in the UK has had a unprecedented effect on the top forty. All of the system’s key launch titles have charted highly, with a much more visible impact on the charts than either the Xbox 360 or Wii (albeit it at a quieter time of year for sales in general, and without any stock constraints). As previously reported the PlayStation 3 is the second fastest selling home console ever in the UK, behind only the PSP. It is also the most expensive console ever to launch in the UK at £424.99 ($835), but nevertheless saw three times more software being sold than at the launch of the PlayStation 2 – albeit with an almost identical attachment rate of 1.65, compared to 1.67 for the PlayStation 2. Despite the UK press favoring race game MotorStorm it is first person shoot ‘em-up Resistance: Fall of Man which has taken the number one spot, giving Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) its first number one in over a year. Both titles outperformed new entry Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 despite its multiformat availability and a high level of interest in Britain for the ongoing Cricket World Cup in the West Indies. Sega’s Virtua Tennis 3 was another prominent new entry at number four, with the PlayStation 3 version accounting for 61 percent of the game's sales. The sudden rise of Call of Duty 3 at number five is also due entirely to the release of the PlayStation 3 version of the game - accounting for 80 percent of all sales. Despite mixed reviews, motorsport simulator Formula 1: Championship Edition was Sony’s third title in the top ten at number seven. The long delayed release of THQ’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl on PC is the only non-PlayStation 3 title, beyond Brian Lara Cricket, to make an impact on the top ten, with a creditable debut at number eight. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 has slipped only slightly to number nine, again due to the release of the PlayStation 3 version of the game, while the highest new entry outside the top ten is Namco Bandai’s Ridge Racer 7 at number eleven – distributed in the UK by SCEE. Electronic Arts’ Def Jam: Icon debuts at number twelve, with the PlayStation 3 version accounting for 37 percent of sales compared to the Xbox 360 version. Electronic Arts’ Fight Night: Round 3 at number thirteen also owes its rapid movement up the chart to the release of the PlayStation 3 version, while Sega’s Virtua Fighter 5 enters at number fourteen. Electronic Arts’s soccer tournament tie-in UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 debuts at number fifteen, with the much mocked Genji: Days of the Blade entering surprisingly highly at number sixteen. Need For Speed: Carbon’s rise to number seventeen is another beneficiary of the PlayStation 3 launch, although Ubisoft movie license TMNT is available on every format bar the PlayStation 3. Finally, Sonic the Hedgehog re-enters the charts at twenty-four and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance at number forty – again both thanks to the release of the PlayStation 3 versions of the games.

TW

LW

Title

Publisher

Formats

Weeks

1

NE

Resistance: Fall of Man

Sony

PS3

1

2

NE

MotorStorm

Sony

PS3

1

3

NE

Brian Lara International Cricket 2007

Codemasters

PS2/360/PC

1

4

NE

Virtua Tennis 3

Sega

360/PS3

1

5

20

Call of Duty 3

Activision

PS2/Xb/360/Wii/PS3

20

6

1

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

Rockstar

PS2/PSP

19

7

NE

Formula 1: Championship Edition

Sony

PS3

1

8

NE

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

THQ

PC

1

9

5

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07

EA

PS2/Xb/360/Wii/PS3/PC/PSP

21

10

2

Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2

Ubisoft

360

3

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2007. ELSPA Ltd

About the Author

David Jenkins

Blogger

David Jenkins ([email protected]) is a freelance writer and journalist working in the UK. As well as being a regular news contributor to Gamasutra.com, he also writes for newsstand magazines Cube, Games TM and Edge, in addition to working for companies including BBC Worldwide, Disney, Amazon and Telewest.

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