Mario Kart Wheels Into Action In UK Charts

Gran Turismo 5: Prologue has been replaced with a very different type of racing game in the UK charts this week, with Mario Kart Wii enjoying a successful debut. Despite stock problems, which saw some major online stores failing to offer pre-orders in the final weeks before release, the game became the eighth fastest selling of all time in the UK. The game also enjoyed a bigger launch week than all five of the most recent Mario branded Wii games combined, including Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Super Mario Galaxy, Mario Strikers Charged Football, Mario Party 8 and Super Paper Mario. Games featuring iconic mascot Mario have accounted for 21.2 percent of all Wii software sales since the launch of the console so far in the UK. There are also only two titles not for either the Wii or Nintendo DS in the individual format top ten this week, as popular bundled titles Game Party and Carnival Funfair Games both return. The other two new releases of the week are the PC version of Assassin’s Creed from Ubisoft at number twenty-four and casual game Solitaire: Ultimate Collection from Deep Silver on Nintendo DS at number thirty-six. Overall there are twelve software titles for the Wii in the individual format charts, with eleven on Nintendo DS, eight on Xbox 360, five on PlayStation 3, two on PC, one on PSP and one PlayStation 2.

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2008. ELSPA Ltd