UK Charts: Elder's finally shown respect

By Rob Fahey Published 28 March, 2006

Fourth Elder Scrolls keeps EA from the top spot.

Take 2's hugely acclaimed RPG The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has gone in at number one in the UK sales chart, beating off competition from EA's new release The Godfather, which takes second place.

Over half of Oblivion's sales were for the Xbox 360 version of the game, with the remainder going to the PC version, making the game into the second fastest selling Xbox 360 title ever after Ubisoft's recently launched Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter.

Advanced Warfighter continues to sell well, however, dropping just two places this week to number five to make for a second Xbox 360 title in the top ten - a decent accomplishment for the new console.

While EA will undoubtedly be disappointed by failing to take The Godfather to No.1, the game did sell very strongly - with the majority of sales (over three quarters) being racked up by the PS2 version of the controversial game.

The rest of the top five sees Sony's Buzz! The Big Quiz, developed by Brighton-based Relentless Software, rising to number three - the franchise has now sold over two million units since it kicked off before Christmas - while FIFA Street 2 gives EA a second title in the ranking, at number four.

The only other new releases in this week's chart are Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer Management at number 12 and THQ's release of Worms: Open Warfare for PSP and DS, which debuts at number 16, but there's a strong second week performance for Eidos' Commandos: Strike Force, which climbs seven places to number 11.

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Comments (63) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Tomo #1 6 years ago

    Excellent.

    /jaffa cakes to those who bought Oblivion

  • GordonJ #2 6 years ago

    Excellent.

    /jaffa cakes to those who bought Oblivion

    What alchemy potions can you make with them? :)
    Edited by 1 at 28/03/06 @ 18:10

  • kangarootoo #3 6 years ago

    Rise cloaky brothers and sisters, we are millions strong.

    /does that daft geeky dance that chandler does on friends, where you kind of work your arms in a circle and snap your hips, whilst wearing a wizards hat probably.

  • urban #4 6 years ago

    controveserally shite.

    not because of the films..simply because it was a generally crap game...why bother.

  • kangarootoo #5 6 years ago

    "controveserally shite"

    "not because of the films"

    Err... what?

    p.s. "controveserally" that is the best mispelling I've seen in a long old while. You even managed to sneak an extra syllable in there ;)

  • NthSimulachum #6 6 years ago

    I believe he's referring to the Godfather rather than Elder Scrolls.

    I agree, I don't see why the Godfather game should be described as "contraversial", compared to Vice City Hot Coffee tales(coming soon to the PSP)

  • kangarootoo #7 6 years ago

    Ahhh, thanks.

    Shucks, now I feel bad for picking on the spelling. Sorry urban :)

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #8 6 years ago

    Well, I've done my bit by buying two copies!

  • Furbs #9 6 years ago

    Um, you do know the collectors edition and the regular one are the same game dontcha? ;)

  • Ace_McCloud #10 6 years ago

    erm... I don't get the 'controveserally' thing... was that a joke that just went way up their above my head, or some kind of new fangled / old fangled vocabulary?...

  • Xerx3s #11 6 years ago

    "RPG? at No. 1? Surely not"

    Not just any rpg, THE rpg. Comming from a long line of uber rpg's...

    /needs to get out more
    /has oblivion
    /hasnt seen sunlight since...well...err

  • Ryuken #12 6 years ago

    "Not just any rpg, THE rpg. Comming from a long line of uber rpg's... "

    Now that's a funny statement.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #13 6 years ago

    Um, you do know the collectors edition and the regular one are the same game dontcha? ;)

    Har, sorta thing I'd do, too ;) I ended up buying an Xbox 360 with a copy!

  • Thamuhacha #14 6 years ago

    >Rise cloaky brothers and sisters, we are millions strong.

    Indeed we are. Although I have played about 40 hours of this game without really advancing the main plot in any meaningful way AND IT HAS TAKEN OVER MY LIFE.

    I spent an hour looking for roots last night. ROOTS.

    If I had got the Godfather instead I would have been over it by Sunday night and back into the real world.

  • Dizzy #15 6 years ago

    "Indeed we are. Although I have played about 40 hours of this game without really advancing the main plot in any meaningful way AND IT HAS TAKEN OVER MY LIFE. "

    I know your pain.

    This morning I switched on my 360 because I quickly wanted to hand in a quest to see the reward. 2h later I was late at work, hadn't handed in the quest... but the virtual walk back to town was amazing!

  • Thamuhacha #16 6 years ago

    I have resolved to actually do some of the main quest tonight.

    And possibly close an Oblivion gate or two. The place is thick with the buggers

    Although I have some fighter's guild stuff, more arena fighting, a mysterious disappearance and a bit of training to do.

    There are, quite literally, not enough hours in the day

  • myiagros #17 6 years ago

    "There are, quite literally, not enough hours in the day"

    NEWSFLASH: There are less than 40 hours in a day!! ;)

  • newt #18 6 years ago

    "hasnt seen sunlight since...well...err"

    I ain't seen the sunshine since / I don't know when
    Now I'm stuck in Oblivion / Daedra keeps draggin' on

  • joephish #19 6 years ago

    "There are, quite literally, not enough hours in the day"

    I spent the first 20 hours of the game doing nothing at all to do with the main plot (except the training). At 22 hours I went to where I was told to go at the start, which was very exciting indeed. I'm now at 25 hours, and can't see myself going to do what I was told to do until the end of the week at least.

    Please someone, give me more hours in the day? I need at least 2 more just to stop and admire the scenery.
    Edited by 1 at 29/03/06 @ 12:57

  • kangarootoo #20 6 years ago

    I think I am on about 15 hours and have only done the very tiniest first part of the main quest (well, 2 parts I suppose if I am specific).

    I've just been romping around doing guild quests for the most part, picking up incidental quests along the way.

    Has anyone got involved in any Vampire activities? I understand you can become one, and I'm sure the opp will present itself given time, but if anyone has already seen that part of the game can they pass on any info (write SPOILER in front of your comment if it qualifies as one).

  • #21 6 years ago

    20+ hours in here too. No main quest. Level 11.

    However I think there may be quite a few returns. Dumb people look at scores and buy games. Oblivion isn't everyone's cup of tea for sure.
    IDIOTS!

  • Rambaldi #22 6 years ago

    2 out of the top 5 are 360 titles eh? Not bad for a minority console with no killer apps (or so some would believe)

  • Thamuhacha #23 6 years ago

    >2 out of the top 5 are 360 titles eh? Not bad for a minority console with no killer apps (or so some would believe)

    Sorry - this is now the Oblivion anecdotes thread. Do you have a story about the Dark Brotherhood or the location of a really interesting ruin ?

  • miiiguel #24 6 years ago

    I bought Morrowind, but I'm not buying Oblivion because it's too good, and I wouldn't have time to do (or even play) anything else, so yesterday was a day for buying a new game and I went "Burnout: Revenge" - I guess it was a good choice, and I think it's selling pretty well even beeing a port from an already successful game, it's nº 4 of X360 chart.

  • Talha #25 6 years ago

    This is my first RPG, and I am quite stunned. Why? Because now charging 50 quid for a 10-20 hour game looks to be a bloody rip-off. :-( And that includes every game I've ever owned!!!

    Gripes? The character animation could have been better, and the combat seems somewhat jerky and random, but that might be because I insist on playing the game with everything turned up on my 6800GT-equipped rig. Other than that, I am amazed at its sheer depth and scope. Trust me, it is no fun to be killed 20 times by a freaking rat. And this might be the only game where I actually got kiled by a rat. Or a dog, for that matter. But then, I am a complete newbie at this. Still - RATS?!!!


    @Rambaldi: X360 is the greatest cosole ever, OK? Now please quit trying to turn this peaceful thread into a flame war.

  • Thamuhacha #26 6 years ago

    >Because now charging 50 quid for a 10-20 hour game looks to be a bloody rip-off.

    Wait until you start downloading the official mods, which were excellent for Morrowind. And the fan made mods (unless you are using the 360) which can be excellent as well.

  • Talha #27 6 years ago

    @Thamuhacha : Yeah, sure will - when I can begin to survive the rats! By the way, is there any good way to kill enemies other than spells etc - I mean, is there more to the combat than weapon selection and left-clicking like crazy? Because I looked at guides everywhere but they just assume that you have some basic combat skills. Which I haven't...

  • Thamuhacha #28 6 years ago

    It depends. A quick click does a fast strike. Holding the button down does a slow powerful one.

    As you gain ranks in blade or blunt weapons then you get "special" hits by clicking and moving directions.

    Rats are a pain though. They leap a long way and I always get the timing wrong so they get a hit in.

    The trick with melee combat is really to get used to the range of your weapon. Wait for the whatever-it-is to swing / leap and then hit it and move out of range.

  • groovychainsaw #29 6 years ago

    Just watch the rat coming towards you. When it stops, it's about to leap. Raise your shield/block. The rat leaps, hits the shield and is dazed. This is the point where you splatter it with a warhammer. 1 hit kills FTW!
    Edited by 1 at 30/03/06 @ 09:29

  • Talha #30 6 years ago

    @Thamuhacha & Groovy: Thanks for the invaluable advice, something I can't seem to find anywhere else on the Net - you just can't believe how unskilled I am at RPGs. Rats, here cometh the hour of your doom!!

    Shield ...interesting idea. I don't think my character has it though.

  • Thamuhacha #31 6 years ago

    >1 hit kills FTW!

    I can 1 hit kill the big armoured bastards you meet in Oblivion now (timing and power swing permitting). The way they fly across and hit the wall is completely satisfying.

  • Royal Fool #32 6 years ago

    6x damage modifier is nice.

    There are already so many mods out, and many, many more to come. People are redefining this game.
    Edited by 1 at 30/03/06 @ 10:52

  • groovychainsaw #33 6 years ago

    @Thamuhacha - I haven't got that far yet - Managed to hit a bug with my first character which meant I wouldn't be able to join the mages guild, which is unacceptable! Happily this gave me a chance to make a new character, who's now level 9....
    But I agree, the physics when you get that final hit on someone with a heavy weapon (warhammer ATM) looks great. Was fighting someone on a bridge the other day, final hit lifted them off their feet and flung them off the bridge! Really felt like I'd just smacked him with a sledgehammer ('course, took me about 5 minutes more fighting to get to the bottom of the cravasse and loot his body, but it was worth it!)

  • Talha #34 6 years ago

    "6x damage modifier is nice. "

    This looks like people are fiddling with this game to make life easier for themselves - rather than expanding or altering the game in some meaningful way.

    PS = where can I get it? (Get away, bloody rat...)

  • groovychainsaw #35 6 years ago

    I thought he was referring to the 6x damage modifier for sneak attacks at journeyman/apprentice? level, but maybe not. You don't need to cheat in this game! Just slide the difficulty bar down if you are having trouble....

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #36 6 years ago

    Has anyone got involved in any Vampire activities? I understand you can become one, and I'm sure the opp will present itself given time, but if anyone has already seen that part of the game can they pass on any info (write SPOILER in front of your comment if it qualifies as one).

    I was reading my guide last night and the way to become a Vampire is thus: get bitten by one :) You contract a disease called somethingorother haemophillia. You can cure the disease in similar ways to curing any other disease. If you cure it, it will clear up and you can venture the streets right as rain. If you leave the disease for 3 days game time, you will become a Vampire.

    As a Vampire you'll need to feed on humans, the longer you go withouit feeding, the stronger your Vampire powers become, but it also accentuates your new weaknesses - sunlight being a classic one. Your physical appearance will also change, and interaction with any but the most loyal of friends will become tough when you appear as pale and fanged as the Count himself ;)

    That's the baisics - I haven't experienced it for myself, but the guide pretty much uncovers lots of stuff.

    Hope this helps!

  • kangarootoo #37 6 years ago

    I thought the x6 hit was only from sneaky activities (a x3 modifier applies to sneaky archery too, which is awsome and also sweet).

    @Bertie

    Good info, thanks mate. I figured on the getting bitten part, but the stuff about feeding, powers and sunlight is interesting. Hmmmm... the midday sunlight looks so great in Oblivion though. I might miss it too much to be a vampire.

    @Talha

    You can block with your current weapon if you don't have a shield, but its not effective at reducing damage (not sure if it stuns opponents as effectively either). I believe if you get your hand-to-hand skill up to journeyman you can block kungfu style. Although I was wary of hand-to-hand earlier, it actually sounds like it is quite a good skill once you get the skill up to a decent level. Maybe if I play through again (in about 50 years at my current rate).

    If you get your block skill up to a decent level all sorts of other groovy opponent stunning business kicks in (RTM for more info).

  • Talha #38 6 years ago

    @kangarootoo : Thanks a lot. Why is playing this game so much like WORK? I guess I will play some Sands of Time today, then get back to it tomorrow - at least it doesn't have those bloody RATS! Plus I can't take the sniggering of my sister everytime one of those beasts kills my character. Life-sapping beast of game, it is.

  • kangarootoo #39 6 years ago

    Clearing rats from a cellar/dungeon/shopping basket is kind of a staple of western RPGs though. We complain, but I think I would probably miss them if they weren't there.

    They are like a quality test. If your cellar hasn't had rats at some point or other, you aren't a true warrior, or something. Morrowind had rats in a cellar, Baldurs Gate had rats in a cellar, its just the way of things, so lets just stop all this heretical nay saying ;)

  • Stormflood_UK #40 6 years ago

    You devious buggers. You've found somewhere else to talk about bleedin' Oblivion. Go to your rooms!!

  • uk_john #41 6 years ago

    It's not so much why games like Oblivian and Godfather do well in the chart, it is more about brilliant games from small publishers like Excalibur with Space Rangers 2, for example, not getting in the chart because of the ignorance of the mainstream media.

    There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that if Morrowind and then Oblivian had been released by a small publisher with little advertising budget we would have been seeing comments like "Don't they know that just updating the graphics is not enough?" or "Don't they know that gamers do not have the hardware to run this?" And certainly with Morrowind "This game is so bugged as to be unplayable".

    Oblivian is just Morrowind with better graphics and digital speech. That may be enough for gamers, but the only reason these games get fawned over by the media is because of the advertising spend. By the same token, a game like Space Rangers 2 with little advertising can actually get downgraded in score just because "it's unlikely to stay on store shelves for long" (See PC Zone). So games are now getting scored based on how many units they will shift, and by extension what sort of advertising budget will be available on the next game.

  • Ryuken #42 6 years ago

    "it's unlikely to stay on store shelves for long" (See PC Zone)

    Hm, says enough about PC Zone I reckon, Space Rangers 2 rocks easily as hard as Oblivion (maybe not on pure graphics scale, but in terms of possibilities and definitely also atmosphere it's more than sufficient). I guess those lads could never enjoy Star Control II either.

  • Dizzy #43 6 years ago

    >Space Rangers 2

    Took it back after 5 seconds after I noticed the protection "software".

    SR2 die!

    Bought Galactic Civ 2 instead...

  • Talha #44 6 years ago

    @uk_john : yeah I can see what you mean. By the same token, a mediocre song from, say, U2 can have critics falling all over themselves, yet the same song from a lesser-known band would have them in fits (Discotheque anyone?).

    But there is some reason behind it. Huge, heavily advertised games tend to have less irritants in them then those published by small publishers (there are exceptions of course), so sometimes all it takes for high-profile title to get fawned over is that it is not totally broken and presents some sort of change or advance from its predecessor. It is the way of the business - nothing succeeds like (past) success.

    @kangarootoo: I beg your forgiveness.

  • LPXO #45 6 years ago

    was bitten by a vampire doing a quest a couple of days ago. Im investigating a cure at the moment but tbh, if you keep feeding (off humans) its not really a problem. Going 100% vampire can be a real pain as about 6-7 secs in the daylight will kill you and it really restricts the missions you can choose from. It goes 25%, 50%, 75% then 100% as days go by without feeding. Sun damage kicks in at 50% but manageable at that level with a simple heal spell every so often.
    Edited by 1 at 31/03/06 @ 14:01

  • Ryuken #46 6 years ago

    "Took it back after 5 seconds after I noticed the protection "software".

    SR2 die!

    Bought Galactic Civ 2 instead... "

    lol, that's a ridiculous reason to miss out on it if you ask me, I would easily sell a kidney for SR2 and yes, even install the big, bad Starforce that comes with it. And really, GalCiv II only features a somewhat similar setting, the gameplay is radically different.

  • Ainudil #47 6 years ago

    The swedish list made me laugh:

    01. Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion (PC)
    02. Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Collectors Edition (PC)
    03. Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion (XB360)
    04. Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Collectors Edition (XB360)

    Then there was a Sims 2 addon on 5th place and the Godfather game entering in sixth place for the PS2.

  • shamblemonkee #48 6 years ago

    SPOILER!!!!!!111ooeneleven


    Being a vampire certainly has its drawbacks for getting around, fast travelling and landing in imperial city at 1pm is PAIN!!

    However if you are a sneaky sort, then the additional powers that being a vampire gives you are almost indispensible, I've now cured myself of vampirism and miss some of the powers greatly.

    I got my chance to become a vampire through the Dark Brotherhood quests.

    I'm now at 42 hours in - level 10 and have done one main quest, all the Dark Brother hood some of the fighter guild and a bunch of side quests, this game is biiiiiiiiiig.

  • Talha #49 6 years ago

    Just upgraded my processor to Athlon 3000+, and my 3D card to a 7900GT. Oblivion runs like a dream on 1600x1200.

    Therefore, I rule.

  • Thamuhacha #50 6 years ago

    So you now get annihilated by rats in very high definition?

    Well done :-)

  • Talha #51 6 years ago

    Well at least I can SEE their killer blows. :-)

    That said, the smoother framerate has drastically improved my skills against them.

  • S.J.Rogers #52 6 years ago

    I have never played this type of game, is it any good?

  • Talha #53 6 years ago

    @S.J.Rogers : I was the same, and I still am a complete novice, but trust me, if you find it even mildly interesting, go for it. It's a whole new world and you won't regret the decision.

  • Thamuhacha #54 6 years ago

    >I have never played this type of game, is it any good?

    That question baits me a bit ... it's AWESOME.

    But I guess it could be a bit intimidating. And you have to be interested in a fair amount of directionless exploring.

    But as an interactive experience where you get to play your own style (within reason) it's unparalleled.

  • S.J.Rogers #55 6 years ago

    Thanks guys, i appreciate the insight. I normaly play FPS and racing games but i do like the freedom in GTA SA. I know that this is nothing like GTA but i fancy a challange and something new. I may trade in Quake 4 and Full Auto for this...

    Is that a good idea..?

  • Thamuhacha #56 6 years ago

    Oh god yes!

  • S.J.Rogers #57 6 years ago

    I take it your not a Full Auto or Quake fan..?

  • Thamuhacha #58 6 years ago

    No. I don't like driving games, and Quake 4 was very formulaic. Call of Duty 2 was much better.

  • S.J.Rogers #59 6 years ago

    COD2 is much better now they have fixed the online issues. And no racing game is better than PGR3, in my opinion...

  • Thamuhacha #60 6 years ago

    The last racing game I liked was mariokart DD

    And I haven't played COD2 online. It was very good 1 player though

  • S.J.Rogers #61 6 years ago

    I loved Mario Cart on the SNES fantastic 4 player...

    COD2 comes alive online with XBOX live.
    Edited by 1 at 04/04/06 @ 08:15

  • dllord #62 6 years ago

    "S.J.Rogers" Just get Oblivion! Give it about 2 hours and you'll be hooked!

  • S.J.Rogers #63 6 years ago

    Thanks for the advice i will pick it up this weekend..!