Need For Speed Keeps Pole In UK Charts

A new barrage of big name Christmas releases has failed to dislodge Need For Speed Carbon from the top of the UK game sales charts, with only Gears of War or Wii-related launch titles now likely to keep the game from claiming the Christmas number one spot. THQ’s yearly update to the WWE Smackdown vs. Raw franchise was the highest new entry at number two, while Call of Duty 3’s bid for the number one spot was stymied by the delayed release of the PlayStation 2 version of the game until November 24. The other new entry in the top ten is Creative Assembly’s Medieval II: Total War at number nine, an impressive performance for a PC only strategy title at this time of year. Other new entries in the top forty include Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team on Nintendo DS at number fourteen, with the Red Rescue Team version on Game Boy Advance entering at number thirty-four. The disparity in performance of the two versions illustrates just how much more popular the Nintendo DS has already proven to be in the UK, compared to the Game Boy Advance. It also stands in contrast to the U.S., where the Game Boy Advance version of the game has proven the bigger seller due to the larger installed userbase. Other new entries outside the top ten include the Xbox 360 version of F.E.A.R. at number twenty and casual gamer title Buzz! The Sports Quiz at number thirty-one. THQ’s Bratz toy license has seen the company gain two top forty positions, with Bratz: Forever Diamondz on PlayStation 2, GameCube and Game Boy Advance at number thirty-seven and Bratz: Rock Angelz re-entering the chart at number forty.

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