Out This Week

FM 2011! Goldeneye! Blood Stone!

News by Wesley Yin-Poole Former Editor-in-Chief

Updated on 1 Nov 2010

While the US this week gets to smother itself in motion-control gravy with Xbox 360 add-on Kinect, us Brits have to wait till next Wednesday. As a result, this weeks' new releases list seems a tad lightweight compared to the last two Fridays' monstrosities.

Still, for some this Friday is the biggest in the gaming calendar, and that's because Sports Interactive's Football Manager 2011 is out.

Completing perhaps the most eclectic list of games we've ever come across is a duo of James Bond games: the Nintendo platform-exclusive 007: GoldenEye and Bizarre Creations' James Bond: Blood Stone.

This Week In Shops!

Football Manager 2011

Developer: Sports Interactive
Publisher: SEGA
Formats: PC, PSP

What is it? Addictive football management sim that makes other sims cry into their casual boots. What we think: Eurogamer's review, published today, awarded the game a whopping 9/10. "If you've been holding off purchasing a Football Manager game for the last few years, then this is the year to get back in the game," gushed Martin Korda.

James Bond: Blood Stone

Developer: Bizarre Creations
Publisher: Activision
Formats: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360

What is it? Action racing hybrid from the creator of Blur. What we think? We're fussing over a review as you read this. The James Bond-loving Steve Hill had a gander in September.

007: GoldenEye

Developer: Eurocom
Publisher: Activision
Formats: DS, Wii

What is it? Re-imagining of Rare's classic N64 hit. What we think? Again, a review is inbound. The suave Steve Hill went hands-on in September.

What Else?

Singstar Dance (Sony / PS3)
Divinity 2: Dragon Knight Saga (Mastertronic / Xbox 360)
The Fight: Lights Out (Sony / PS3)
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 (Namco Bandai / PS3, Xbox 360)
Time Crisis: Razing Storm (Namco Bandai / PS3)
Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage (Koei / Xbox 360)
The Ball (Iceberg Interactive / PC)
God of War: Ghost of Sparta (Sony / PSP)

Chart Predictions!

Each week one of the team will step up to predict the UK all-formats chart. The following predicts the outcome for the week beginning Friday 5th November (to be reported on Monday 8th November).

Oli Welsh, Reviews Editor

Football Manager 2011
FIFA 11
Fable III
Just Dance 2
James Bond: 007 Blood Stone

"Football Manager is a guaranteed chart-topper in the UK, and in this country which our American cousins almost certainly describe as "soccer-mad", FIFA is looking impossible to dislodge. Meanwhile, Just Dance 2 is chilling the Pinot and rearranging the cushions on the top 5 sofa, making itself comfortable for a six-month residency. Look out for a blink-and-you'll miss it appearance by James Bond at number five, Activision's reserved parking slot for its latest licensed tat; Blood Stone will outsell GoldenEye by virtue of being on the boys' games consoles."

Eurogamer Editor Tom Bramwell offered his predictions last week. His crystal ball gazing resulted in Fable III on top, The Force Unleashed II in second, Fallout: New Vegas in third, FIFA 11 in fourth and Just Dance 2 in fifth. How did he do?

UK All-Formats Top 5 (reported this morning)