Rockstar Games’ PlayStation 2 release of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories has knocked EA’s official World Cup soccer game off the top of the UK game sales charts for the week ending June 24th, despite the English team progressing to the knockout rounds of the tournament. This would have been deemed highly unexpected for any other game franchise but Grand Theft Auto, which has succeeded at a budget price to become the fastest selling PlayStation 2 title of the year, despite relatively reserved reviews for the game. (Its previous placing at number thirty-seven was due solely to the PSP version, since the UK charts combine sales for the same game across all formats.) Although there are technically no new entries in the top ten, the charts show the impact of the release of the DS Lite console, with eight exclusive Nintendo DS titles in the top forty – the same number as at the launch of the original hardware fifteen months ago. Brain Training (aka Brain Age), Nintendogs and Animal Crossing have all seen a rise in sales in the top ten. Meanwhile, Metroid Prime: Hunters has re-entered the top forty at number sixteen, Mario Kart DS at number twenty-seven, Tetris DS at number twenty-nine, Sonic Rush at number thirty-three and Super Monkey Ball: Touch & Roll at number forty. Movie tie-in Over the Hedge has proven to be the highest new multiformat release at number twelve, just ahead of Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires at number thirteen. Despite strong advertising, PSP exclusive LocoRoco has managed a debut at only number twenty-five, while PC strategy title Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War has proven the fastest mover of the week, rising six places to number eight.

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2006 ELSPA Ltd