UK Sales Chart, Week Ending September 18th

The Sims 2, sequel to the best-selling PC game of all time, has made a predictably successful entry into the UK sales charts, giving publisher Electronic Arts both the number one and two spot. As predictable as The Sims 2's success is, there is much that is unusual about this week’s chart. For one, Resident Evil: Outbreak has made a surprisingly strong entry into the top ten, despite the lack of an online option – the game’s raison d'être in other territories. It’s also almost unheard of to see a third-party GameCube only release in the UK top ten (or indeed, anywhere at all) and yet THQ’s latest WWE game has drawn on a strong tradition of popular N64 and GameCube specific wrestling titles. Surprisingly, the game has forced the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions of Silent Hill 4 down to the number eleven spot, suggesting that UK gamers may be becoming tired with the series. The final oddity in the chart is the entry of Madden NFL 2005 at number eighteen, despite the sport having no popular support or coverage within the UK. Electronic Arts' long running series, however, has always enjoyed a cult following since the early Mega Drive/Genesis versions.

Official UK Leisure Software Charts (c) ELSPA compiled by Chart-Track