UK chart: UFC knocks Wii Fit off pedestal

By Robert Purchese Published 26 May, 2009

Punch-Out!! Hatton done very well.

UFC 2009: Undisputed debuts at the top of the UK All-Formats chart this week, abruptly halting the record-breaking top-spot attempt by Wii Fit.

Nintendo's balance board champion is further displaced by Pokémon Platinum at two and rival apple-eater EA Sports Active at three. Pokémon Platinum, incidentally, sells the most of any single game unit this week, what with UFC being multiformat.

The rest of the top 10 has barely changed, but there are other newcomers buried further down. Bionic Commando swings in at 14, Big Family Games arrives at 30 and the dreadful Damnation parks at 35.

The biggest shock, however, comes from Punch-Out!! on Wii, which misses the top 40 entirely and only manages to finish at seven in the platform-specific chart.

All that activity means previous headliners Street Fighter IV, Halo Wars, Gears of War 2 and Riddick: Dark Athena drop off the bottom.

This Week Last Week Title Platform(s)
1 New entry UFC 2009: Undisputed PS3, Xbox 360
2 New entry Pokémon Platinum DS
3 New entry EA Sports Active Wii
4 1 Wii Fit Wii
5 2 FIFA 09 PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, DS
6 4 X-Men Origins: Wolverine DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
7 9 Wii Play Wii
8 5 Mario Kart Wii Wii
9 14 My Fitness Coach Wii
10 4 Call of Duty: World at War PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, DS
11 7 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Wii, DS
12 8 Professor Layton and the Curious Village DS
13 13 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Xbox 360, PS3, PC, DS
14 New entry Bionic Commando PS3, Xbox 360
15 New entry Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy DS
16 11 Dr Kawashima's Brain Training DS
17 21 The Godfather II PC, Xbox 360, PS3
18 6 Resident Evil 5 PS3, Xbox 360
19 10 Battlestations: Pacific PC, Xbox 360
20 12 Rhythm Paradise DS
21 20 Grand Theft Auto IV Xbox 360, PS3, PC
22 18 Hannah Montana: The Movie Game DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
23 22 Football Manager 2009 PC
24 27 Killzone 2 PS3
25 16 Carnival: Funfair Games Wii
26 23 Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, PS2, Wii
27 28 Guitar Hero: World Tour Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii
28 17 Ben 10: Alien Force Wii, DS, PS2, PSP
29 24 SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection Xbox 360, PS3
30 New entry Big Family Games Wii
31 15 Sonic Unleashed Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii
32 35 LEGO Indiana Jones PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, DS
33 32 Mario Kart DS DS
34 Re-entry SEGA Superstars Tennis DS, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
35 New entry Damnation PC, PS3, Xbox 360
36 Re-entry Burnout Paradise PC, PS3, Xbox 360
37 Re-entry Left 4 Dead PC, Xbox 360
38 33 Halo 3 Xbox 360
39 30 Monsters vs Aliens PC, Xbox 360, PS3
40 Re-entry Trivial Pursuit PC, PS2, Xbox 360

Leisure software charts compiled by Gfk Chart-Track, ©2008 ELSPA (UK) Ltd.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (27) Latest comment 7 months ago

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

  • Gnort #1 3 years ago

    Who said MMA wasn't as popular as boxing?

  • Progguitarist #2 3 years ago

    Im surprised the see the Wii hit "Nutrition Matters" hasnt charted at all. :D

  • Golgo #3 3 years ago

    Ah...'hatton'! 'hatton done very well'! You meant 'hasn't'...or maybe 'hadn't'.
    The Eurogamer pun-train steams on!!
    Edited by 1 at 26/05/09 @ 12:34

  • kincaide #4 3 years ago

    Looking forward to getting Punch Out for Ł19.99 in a couple of weeks then.

  • nicksan #5 3 years ago

    While it's sad to see Punch-Out do so poorly, it might mean a massive price drop soon. I was torn between that and inFamous, but now I think I'll get inFamous and hope PO gets reduced quickly.

  • frankster #6 3 years ago

    Well deserved for UFC Undisputed. Hopefully UFC 2010 will be even better.

  • Rirekon #7 3 years ago

    Good to see UFC up there, it's a fantastic game

  • LazyDan #8 3 years ago

    This is ridiculous. People wonder why Nintendo don't focus on 'hardcore' games anymore, well here's your answer you insufferable blinkered nerds: they don't sell. If they do, not nearly as well.

    Nintendo's last first party 'hardcore' game in PAL territories was Smash Bros Brawl - it was brilliant, did well - but look at it compared to Mario Kart: Wii and Wii Fit which were both released a month or so before it. Mario Kart straddles the casual/hardcore fence pretty damn exceptionally I think (and again, is brilliant,) but Wii Fit is new market through and through.

    Oh, you can't compare those two to Brawl this week, because Brawl is not in the chart. And hasn't been for weeks? Months?

    Luckily I'm not averse to 'casual' or new market games so I don't feel this is a bad thing, but unless Punch Out does a quick turnaround, the argument against companies making games for a dying or vastly outnumbered audience just became a lot stronger.

  • kinky_mong #9 3 years ago

    So long non-casual market, non-Gamecube re-release Nintendo games! It was nice knowing you, but you just don't appeal to the white sofa owning demographic that actually buys Wii games.

    At least I'll be able to grab Punch Out for Ł20 or less in a few weeks time though. Might as well forget about a Wii Starfox or F-Zero ever turning up though.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #10 3 years ago

    @ Dan - It's a double edged sword there Dan. Theres not enough players buying 'hardcore' 1st party because the 'good' Wii titles are either remakes we already have and/or they are just too far apart inbetween a lot of shovelware to keep players wanting to keep the console after the 3-4 month burst of titles wth a 9 month gap inbetween. Atm players are only expecting Wii titles to be good around the Christmas/easter holidays, what they going to do between then?

    If Nintendo placed a big game release every 2-3 months then a lot of the playerbase would hold on to the Wii more imo, alturnate between software/familyware and games not just lump them all in one go. Just atm theres very little reason to hold onto the Wii for a few months unless your a family that does enjoy the cheaper games and doesn't really care about quality, most of the time it will sit there in the dust and with these times on us it's not really value for money. The DS/DSi has greater longivity, I think ultimatly I think thats Nintendo's main focus.

    Edited: added more
    Edited by 1 at 26/05/09 @ 14:08

  • sco0504 #11 3 years ago

    I hope you are proud of yourselves. Nintendo finally releases a decent Wii exclusive, and you all ignore it. I bought this game the day it came out, and I've been having a blast playing it.
    At least Nintendo didn't wait 3 months to localise this game, like they did with Brawl.

  • BadBoyBonner #12 3 years ago

    Both Call of Duties still going strong!

  • rhubarbandcustard #13 3 years ago

    Why do Nintendo fanboi's regard Punch Out as a serious hardcore game?

    Its got horrible cartoon graphics and requires you to throw punches at your tv like a spastic.

    UFC is an awesome looking, skill based game. Now THAT's hardcore.

  • malexous #14 3 years ago

    Damn. I was hoping Wii Fit would break the record.

    @rhubarbandcustard

    I haven't played it either but going by the opinions I have seen I think you should try it. But you probably don't have a Wii.

    And it doesn't require you to look like a spastic. Waggle controls are optional.

    EDIT: like farticusmaximus typed.
    Edited by 1 at 26/05/09 @ 14:36

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #15 3 years ago

    Puchout IS a core title and it's a good one but like I said and sadly as Clark said - the 'good' titles are the ones that don't comform to the cheap way out with 'waggle = everything', and those are few and far between... Nintendo proved that the system can do good games Metriod 3, Zelda TP, and Galaxy proved great games with a good control systems. Even the console screams build shooters as the rail ones make good games.

    However the devs and market see the 'waggle market' as easy money and don't care nor take the console seriusly, and with Nintendo focusing on more addons to the system, the core 'problem' (the use of the core controls) isn't being address and the concole continues to slide into 'cash cow' territory. The devs will not take the console seriusly and put thought into it, so the players wont do so either.

    Whats the point of trying to find 'hardcore' core games when barely anyone is trying to make a 'proper' Wii title.

  • CallousB #16 3 years ago

    Sadly I think many who would buy hardcore games on Wii now pirate them instead...same with the DS. (I checked on Friday and saw around 15,000 people downloading a pirated PAL copy of Punch-Out from one site).

    Still...the tv ads made it look worse than Wii Sports Boxing...so can't say I blame the casuals for not picking it up.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #17 3 years ago

    Callus everything is basically in the gray market now, saying it's the possible hardcore downloading instead of buying is like saying everyone who downloaded Spore where only those boycotting the DRM, you can't easily generallise who is actally downloading, everyone has access to the internet and things like pirate bay too easily now, so anyone could be doing it.

  • monkeylite #18 3 years ago

    Why is it sad that Punch Out sold poorly? I demo'ed it this weekend and thought the game was piss poor (gameplay wise).

  • Eraysor #19 3 years ago

    Let us rejoice at this wondrous day. Nice to see Punch-Out fail too, I always hated that game.

  • Machiavellian #20 3 years ago

    The problem with Punch Out is that it really is just a port of an old game which it seems does not make anyone want to run out and purchase it at full price. The game is a total cash in game where someone already stated that it was made with minimal risk and high rewards. I know I can easily wait until Punch Out goes down in price because there is nothing in it that makes we want to pay full price.

    I would definitely put Punch Out as a game that panders to it's fans then being something special. The game is getting the sales it deserve because Big N decided that they would better serve their fanbase by spitting out an old school game with nothing new to it's credit instead of actually putting out a proper sequel.

    To tell you the truth, this looks like Big N gameplan of bring games from the NES, N64 and Gamecube to the Wii to satisfy for fanbase while bring out the new stuff for their casual market. If Wii fit is an example of the sales Big N can expect from concentrating on the casual fanbase, I suggest everyone get ready for a totally new direction from Big N.

  • Darren #21 3 years ago

    Congrats on UFC 2009 knocking Wii Shit off the top spot. Sorry but I absolutely hate Wii Fit with a vengeance as it represents everything I hate about the Wii, i.e. it's a boring "edutainment" package proffering to be useful and worthwhile but which totally forgets to be entertaining or even remotely fun IMO. And, yes, I have used it, my parents have it, so at least I never wasted any money on it myself. If you want to exercise you'd be better off with a Jane Fonda workout DVD, it'll save you Ł60 in the process. ;)

  • Santino #22 3 years ago

    but obviously lots of people find it fun and worthwhile, not everybody has to conform to your opinion you know...

    people enjoy music,films and certainly games i think are pretty poor but i kinda just...maybe explain why briefly then just let them be as i understand the concept of differing tastes.

  • smelly #23 3 years ago

    @ClarkGriswold0044: I told you the game was a cheap cash in by Nintendoto try and keep the fanboys happy - and I was right



    Pretty much every games reviewer disagrees with you there.. and they've ACTUALLY PLAYED it

  • smelly #24 3 years ago

    Apparently now (reading these forums) the definition of "hard core" is "a game without cartoon graphics - with lots of gore and where you shoot people in a first person camera"
    Edited by 1 at 26/05/09 @ 19:01

  • GrandpaUlrira #25 3 years ago

    I didn't even notice Punch Out in the stores last weekend, but it seems rather strange to release it the same week as Pokemon as well as EA Sports Active (which I did notice in stores, despite fewer TV ads).

  • RobotRocker #26 3 years ago

    @ClarkGriswold0044, Machiavellian, Eraysor

    2/10 . Poor, poor form on the trolling so far. Calling a game 'shit' that has been getting 8/9's across the board, hailed as a great re-invention of the franchise and being described as Nintendo's best game since Mario Galaxy because it has 'waggle controls' and 'looks old' seems to be showing the lack of effort in fanboyism these days.

    Possibly, The main reason Punch Out didnt do well at all is that Nintendo's marketing has been quite minimal for it so far (even Rhythm Paradise has had more promotion) and it has had very little exposure for something they could really push as an extension to the Boxing in Wii Sports. Its also one of the best looking and certainly the best animated game on the Wii so to see Nintendo leave it to languish is very odd. Its possible they want it to be a slow burner and gradually pick up sales like Professor Layton though. It seems to be a game that will pick up with good recommendations and word of mouth from the early adopters.

    Also, Punch Out was far more popular in the US than Europe on the NES so it wouldn't have the number of old school fans running out to buy it.

  • ghw.lawyer #27 7 months ago

    Not really my type of game, but it's good to know that Wii Fit is not on top. -Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams