Byte vs Brick: This Week's PC Charts
I KEEP saying I'll do this regularly, but something about numbered lists makes me curl into a tiny ball and weep for mother. Anyway, let's do it this week and maybe I'll be a better boy again next week. Here's the top ten best-selling released PC games on Steam last week, in comparison to the top 10 at UK retail. As always, there are some verrrry interesting variations, which have much to say about both Steam and retail's own peccadilloes...
STEAM
1. F.E.A.R. 3
2. Terraria
3. Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga
4. Alice: Madness Returns
5. Homefront
6. Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012
7. Dungeon Siege III
9. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Digital Premium Edition
9. Portal 2
10. FEAR Collection
Well done, FEAR 3. But a much heartier Well Done to ongoing indie breakout Terraria, which is right up there punching the big boys in their spawning zones. 'This year's Minecraft' is a silly thing to say about anything, but hell - it's the closest we've come to it so far in 2011.
Also, notice the importance of sales - Divinity II and Homefront are both there by dint of mega-discounts.
Over in shopland, meanwhile, things are a little different.
UK RETAIL:
1. The Sims 3: Generations
2. Football Manager 2011
3. F.E.A.R. 3
4. The Sims 3
5. Shogun 2: Total War
6. Portal 2
7. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
8. World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
9. Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
10. The Sims: Medieval
The presence of Football Manager rather give away the fact these are UK-specific charts, while the Sims suggests the difference between someone who buys games at retail and someone who buys via Steam. I'd be willing to bet that a whole lot of the people buying The Sims 3 last week would be rather surprised if someone called them a gamer. Shogun 2's ongoing placing in the retail chart also speaks to Total War's ability to attract players from outside of the always-online crowd. No wonder SEGA describe the Creative Assembly as the current jewel in their crown.
Meanwhile, WoW and Starcraft aren't available on Steam. If they were, I wonder where they'd place in that top ten?
I notice that the 'Forever' in Duke Nukem Forever is quickly becoming even more ironic than it already was, too. Better luck next time around, big fella.
A good week for FEAR 3 all told, though. Who's bought it, and what do you think? Jim's working on a WIT at the moment, so expect that soon.