Assassin's Creed tops chart

By Games Industry.biz Published 20 November, 2007

Mario Galaxy at five.

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed has shot to the top of the UK all-formats charts and become the second fastest-selling new IP on an individual format behind 2002's The Getaway, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

The Xbox 360 version of the game claims 67 per cent of sales, with the PlayStation 3 version taking the remaining 33 per cent [perhaps after this you can solve crimes! -Ed]. It also becomes the third fastest-selling Xbox 360 game within a weekly sales period.

Last week's number one, Activision's Call of Duty 4, has been knocked from the top as it suffers a 33 per cent fall in sales.

At number three this week is EA's The Simpsons Game, taking a 9 per cent dip in sales, while THQ's WWE SmackDown Vs Raw 2008 is at number four.

Nintendo's new entry Super Mario Galaxy only manages to debut at number five but becomes the fastest-selling Wii game, with Dr Kawashima's Brain Training staying at number six following a 62 per cent climb in sales.

Electronic Arts' FIFA 08 slips to number seven this week, whle Disney's High School Musical: Sing It! leaps into the top ten at eight with a massive 170 per cent boost in sales following a release on the Nintendo Wii.

Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 is down to number nine and More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima sits at number ten.

The only other new entry in the top forty this week is EA's PC-exclusive Crysis at number 14.

You just did that to spite me.

Comments (47) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • Triggerhappytel #1 4 years ago

    Surprised at the flat performance of Mario. Okay, it might not have been able to match the dual-console, massively marketed release of AC, but I would've expected it to go top three, at least.

  • Killerbee #2 4 years ago

    Disappointing that Mario didn't chart higher, but I suppose that's more the context of the season we're in than any reflection on the game's fortunes. "Fastest selling Wii game" is a pretty good accolade and I've seen plenty of stores that have actually sold out of the title (including Amazon, oddly enough).

  • The-Bodybuilder #3 4 years ago

    >"The Xbox 360 version of the game claims 67 per cent of sales, with the PlayStation 3 version taking the remaining 33 per cent "

    Yet by the ubisoft tv ads, you would think it was a ps3 exclusive...

  • GrandpaUlrira #4 4 years ago

    I was in HMV the other day, and a 50ish-year-old woman was buying Brain Training for her mother! I think that ad campaign is very effective with the market it's targeting.

  • Triggerhappytel #5 4 years ago

    "Yet by the ubisoft tv ads, you would think it was a ps3 exclusive..."

    Yeah, that's struck me as rather bizarre, too. Still a 1 to 2 PS3/360 split - given each consoles' respective sales, that's probably quite a high split in Sony's favour.

  • pjmaybe #6 4 years ago

    So anyone still dispute the fact that a lot of Wii owners wouldn't know Mario if they fell over 'im?

    No?

    Peej

  • GrandpaUlrira #7 4 years ago

    The other thing is that given the demographics it's targeted at, Mario will more than likely be bought for kiddies at Christmas (who won't realise they want it until they see it in the shops), and so will be less likely to be bought on the first few days of sale. I would guess. I expect Mario will have better legs than many titles in the chart.

  • The_Inquisitor #8 4 years ago

    Mario deserves better but I can't see the sales droping over the next few weeks as much as I expect Assassin's Creed to.

  • Landmaster #9 4 years ago

    No.

    You're wrong.

  • monkie_king #10 4 years ago

    heh, the getaway.

  • skillian #11 4 years ago

    I suppose Crysis hasn't done too badly at 14, what with it being a PC only game, and a pretty exclusive one at that.

    I wonder how that aligns with expectations.

  • drumm23 #12 4 years ago

    won't matter a damn because the Yanks and Japs will absolutely EAT up Mario, and not in a sexual way.
    Interesting to see 360:pS3 games sales at 2:1 but, again, I'd imagine it might be country skewed.

  • GingerNathan #13 4 years ago

    "I think this proves the Wii just isnt capable of selling games - it's a console peple buy to play Wii Sports - in the most part."

    It's two days worth of sales (same for Assassin's Creed), and if you split the multi format titles up into their positions based on individual format sales then Mario was third after the 360 versions of Assassin's Creed and COD4. Not sure how you can get "I think this proves the Wii just isnt capable of selling games " from that?! :/

  • HyZepher #14 4 years ago

    I think it proves that the Wii's games to console ratio is just not good enough. For the amount of Wiis being sold you would think that it would have a better showing in the charts.

    I wonder how many people have a Wii as their only console?

  • Killdare #15 4 years ago

    Interesting - given the relative number of consoles sold, that's a pretty impressive attach rate for the PS3 version.

    And as for Mario, am I right in thinking he really hasn't ever done that well in the UK (or, indeed, Europe) compared with the performance in Japan and the USA? After all this is the country where the megadrive outsold the SNES.

  • Dizzy #16 4 years ago

    >Surprised at the flat performance of Mario

    It is not that bad. In the *real* chart of individual titles it is at 3.

    >Interesting - given the relative number of consoles sold, that's a pretty impressive attach rate for the PS3 version.

    Probably because 360 owners are running out of money.
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/07 @ 10:17

  • hypernova #17 4 years ago

    Strange stuff.

  • DonnieDarko333 #18 4 years ago

    Marios been out like 4 days has it not? Lets not 'state' anything yet please.

    Also Assassins Creed sales were supposadely combined for 360/PS3...

    Tell me how many copies Mario sold in 4 days only for one console and i bet i'll be very happy!
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/07 @ 10:22

  • shido #19 4 years ago

    "I was in HMV the other day, and a 50ish-year-old woman was buying Brain Training for her mother! I think that ad campaign is very effective with the market it's targeting."

    Happens every day...the best ones are the ones that come in and take brain training to the counter and just assume thats everything you need to play it..

    ...i think it suggests a valuable selling method. Use phil and fern and ANYTHING is possible.....

  • xAx #20 4 years ago

    What has science done!

  • Slim #21 4 years ago

    It's a demographic thing, the 'casual gamer' wii owners in the main wont queue up on release day or pre order a game. I'm sure Mario's sales over the next month or three will rack up just fine, but it's not going to be quick out the door.



  • menage #22 4 years ago

    Wii players are happy with Wii sports:p

    I think sales will remain high until Christmas with Mario. It's not the run out to buy the game crowd.

    Damn, beat me to it
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/07 @ 10:29

  • Weezer #23 4 years ago

    Confirmed: reviews = pointless.

  • Darren #24 4 years ago

    I'm surprised although not shocked that the wonderful Super Mario Galaxy is only at number 5, it deserves the top spot easily. Let's hope it gets there in the run up to Christmas. Assassin's Creed is a good game though, just not quite as deserving but being multiformat, I guess it always had more chance of getting the top spot than SMG anyway.

    And what's that... Crysis... only at number 14... now that *is* a surprise but I guess not everyone has the required hardware needed to run it... :o

  • Mr_Majestik #25 4 years ago

    Mario's gonna be hanging round the top 10 for weeks. The 360 game buyers are mainly the 'hardcore' type who have to buy the game first weekend.

  • RamblinSydRumpo #26 4 years ago

    Actually some people really don't like horribly cutesy games with weirdly named odd-looking characters in. Especially me. I hate, loath and detest Mario games.

  • captainrentboy #27 4 years ago

    I agree with Headbog, I think it really says something when there's sooo many Wii owners out there, yet something that is supposedly as amazing as Mario Galaxy barely creeps into the top 5 sales for the week.
    Is that because the vast majority of Wii owners out there, fat middle aged women, dislike playing with chunky moustachioed Italian plumbers?
    I bet Wii fitness does better next year, cheaper than a gym membership see?

  • sickpuppysoftware #28 4 years ago

    I take it a sizeable percentage of the people who bought the wii in fact bought "that sports thing with the wiggle handles" and have no idea that other games are available or if they are have no intention of buying them.

  • YogiTah #29 4 years ago

    Has anyone noticed – Crysis on 14 – wtf. I guess all those PC Gamer first need a new rig :-))


  • viper_h #30 4 years ago

    My 75-year old grandmother wants me to buy her a DS and brain training for christmas.

    Bah.

  • lennon #31 4 years ago

    Mate of mine bought a wii the other day so I said you getting Mario then. His reply was who?

    He then went on to tell me he wanted a go at Wii Sports and would then be bundling it up to put on ebay for xmas. Nice. My sister now has a wii and guess what games she has. Just wii sports. She cant wait for Wii Fit though.

    (insert comment about anecdotal blah blah yawn)

    Mario's chart position really does not surprise me at all.

  • Toothball #32 4 years ago

    Well I bought Mario Galaxy, despite having sent my Wii off for repairs the previous day. I hope they fix it soon.

  • squarepusher #33 4 years ago

    mario not no.1?

    gg morans

  • GingerNathan #34 4 years ago

    Here's the top forty split into its platforms.

    01 (__) [360] Assassin's Creed (Ubisoft)
    02 (01) [360] Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision)
    03 (__) [WII] Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo)
    04 (05) [NDS] Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (Nintendo)
    05 (__) [PS3] Assassin's Creed (Ubisoft)
    06 (06) [NDS] More Brain Training From Dr Kawashima (Nintendo)
    07 (02) [PS3] Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision)
    08 (11) [PS2] High School Musical: Sing It! (Disney Interactive Studios)
    09 (03) [PS2] Wwe Smackdown Vs Raw 2008 (Thq)
    10 (04) [PS2] The Simpsons Game (Electronic Arts)
    11 (__) [PC] Crysis (Electronic Arts)
    12 (14) [NDS] Cooking Mama (505 Games)
    13 (08) [PC] Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision)
    14 (09) [360] Halo 3 (Microsoft)
    15 (07) [PS2] Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Konami)
    16 (29) [WII] Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree (Nintendo)
    17 (12) [NDS] The Simpsons Game (Electronic Arts)
    18 (16) [PS2] Fifa 08 (Electronic Arts)
    19 (10) [360] Wwe Smackdown Vs Raw 2008 (Thq)
    20 (__) [WII] High School Musical: Sing It! (Disney Interactive Studios)
    21 (26) [NDS] New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
    22 (__) [NDS] Deal Or No Deal (Koch Media)
    23 (23) [WII] The Simpsons Game (Electronic Arts)
    24 (__) [WII] Wii Play (Nintendo)
    25 (17) [PC] Football Manager 2008 (Sega)
    26 (__) [WII] Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Lucasarts)
    27 (19) [NDS] Ratatouille (Thq)
    28 (31) [NDS] Mysims (Electronic Arts)
    29 (30) [NDS] Big Brain Academy (Nintendo)
    30 (22) [PS3] Motorstorm (Sony Computer Ent.)
    31 (__) [WII] Mario Party 8 (Nintendo)
    32 (15) [360] Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Konami)
    33 (24) [PS3] Resistance: Fall Of Man (Sony Computer Ent.)
    34 (20) [NDS] The Legend Of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo)
    35 (36) [NDS] Bratz: Forever Diamondz (Thq)
    36 (25) [PS3] Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Konami)
    37 (__) [PSP] The Simpsons Game (Electronic Arts)
    38 (28) [NDS] The Sims 2: Castaway (Electronic Arts)
    39 (18) [NDS] High School Musical: Makin' The Cut! (Disney Interactive Studios)
    40 (13) [PS3] Wwe Smackdown Vs Raw 2008 (Thq)

  • viper_h #35 4 years ago

    Mario Party 8 higher than Phantom Hourglass?

    FAIL.

  • bushwod #36 4 years ago

    LoL at all the wii haters using Mario's position at number 5 to prove it's doomed.

    Bear in mind Mario games sell consistently well, New Super Mario for DS was in the top ten for about 6 months, where as most console games tend to peak at launch then dry off.

    Edit: typo
    Edited by 2 at 20/11/07 @ 13:36

  • Bumhug360 #37 4 years ago

    I think the problem is for the average Wii owner Mario doesnt mean that much. Doesnt help that in one year we have had Mario Party 8, Mario Strikers Charged, Paper Mario and now Super Mario Galaxy, lets not forget coming real soon Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. All these games are completely different but to those without much knowledge on games its just another Mario game that will no doubt be the same as the last one, if they bought paper mario and didnt like that they are hardly going to rush to the shops to get galaxy.

  • Kropotkin #38 4 years ago

    I think this is a European thing. We don't really have the same affinity to brand 'Mario' as the rest of the planet does. This is due primarily with the fact that historically Nintendo have always regarded Europe with distain up until relatively recently. I say this because this is the first time they have actually released a Mario game in Europe at more or less the same time as the US and Japan. I can't honestly remember the last time they did this. Can anyone confirm otherwise? I'm fairly certain Mario Sunshine appeared many months after the Japanese and US release.

    One final thing to point out, in the US 'Nintendo' was the term used generically for all video game systems regardless of their make. This is due to the swamping over there of the NES in the mid 1980's. During this period we in Europe were playing games on Spectrums/C64/Amstrad and then in the late 80's moved on to the 16 bit machines and/or picked up a Master System. It is this cultural gaming heritage we have is the real reason why we are so indifferent to all things 'Mario' simply because Nintendo were so indifferent to us...

  • hahayou #39 4 years ago

    @RamblinSydRumpo

    On behalf of Italians everywhere (ciao, ragazzi!) I've got to say that Mario and Luigi are not "weird" names. Nor is Princess Peach, for a stripper, anyway...

  • sharpfish #40 4 years ago

    Crysis @ 14 doesn't suprise me, in fact I think that's good considering that a vast amount of people simply can't play it. I think it's the most immersive and definitely the best looking game i've ever played (for realism) but i've got an 8800gtx, anything much lower than a gf8 simply doesn't do the game (demo) justice so Crytek probably knew their sales would suffer but still pushed the technology, I wish more developers did that instead of playing it safe.

    Oh and it's not just the graphics, the gameplay is some of the best i've ever experienced in an FPS, I've spent 5 contented hours in the level 'assault' alone (about the 4th level I think) because of the way you can play it, and it's open to replaying more than any other game i've owned. You basically create your own 'cinematics' or 'set pieces' as you play, it's all totally dynamic, no need for scripting here (well harldly any that is to do with gameplay).

    Stunning game but understandable that it's not top ten (especially with the strong competition about) due to it being an 'exclusive' game only bought by fast PC owners.
    Edited by 2 at 20/11/07 @ 13:15

  • J.C #41 4 years ago

    Here's an idea nintendo, release more fucking wii's and maybe mario will sell better.

  • DrKuK #42 4 years ago

    Doesnt surprise me that Mario isnt no.1. Yes it'll stay in the top ten thru xmas, but it is the Wii's most high profile release this year. What is interesting is how all the other wii titles in the top 40 are "casual games". Wheres metroid prime? Dont tell me that bombed again!

    Now i have a wii (and mario and metroid prime 3) and i just get the feeling developers are gonna stick to casual games as that is what seems to be selling on the platform. Once in a blue moon there'll be a fine AAA release. now its not a major issue for me as i have all the major gaming platforms but for the average kid with a wii and nowt else he may fell miffed that all thats out for wii this xmas is a bunch of party games.
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/07 @ 14:00

  • crozon #43 4 years ago

    be interested to see the german charts and how crysis performs there

  • captainrentboy #44 4 years ago

    It'll soon come to the stage where various Wii developers will think, ''Why bother spending millions on our next big epic title, when we can throw together some sort of mini game compilation or Brain teasing malarky, and it'll sell just as well''
    That's about when the more hardcore gaming Wii owners out there might start regretting their console purchase.

  • bushwod #45 4 years ago

    @crozon

    why?

  • bigbadbeasty #46 4 years ago

    @bushwod

    Because they are German, and very popular :)

  • the_dudefather #47 4 years ago

    in the store I work we sold more copies of assassins creed than Mario (sold out of the 360 version as of today), its reassuring that a new brand can make the top of the chart so quickly, even if its quality is debated, and most of its success is mostly due to hype and marketing (again debatable)
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/07 @ 19:20