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Filed under: Another Week in …

United Kingdom (Week 25, 2008)

01. (01) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
02. (06) Wii Play (Wii)
03. (__) Alone In The Dark (360)
04. (02) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (Wii)
05. (03) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
06. (05) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (NDS)
07. (__) Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP)
08. (17) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
09. (04) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (PS2)
10. (07) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)

Ireland (Week 25, 2008)

01. (02) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
02. (01) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
03. (03) Grand Theft Auto IV (360, PS3)
04. (04) Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
05. (06) Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
06. (05) Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games (Wii, NDS)
07. (08) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
08. (07) New Super Mario Bros. (NDS)
09. (11) Wii Play (Wii)
10. (10) Race Driver: GRID (360, PS3, PC, NDS)

Netherlands (Week 25, 2008)

01. (01) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
02. (06) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
03. (07) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
04. (03) Sports Island (Wii)
05. (05) Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)
06. (08) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
07. (04) Grand Theft Auto IV (360)
08. (09) More Brain Training from Dr. Kawashima (NDS)
09. (02) Ninja Gaiden II (360)
10. (__) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (NDS)

Germany (Week 25, 2008)

01. (01) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
02. (02) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
03. (__) Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP)
04. (06) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
05. (05) Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)
06. (03) Wii Fit (Wii)
07. (04) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (PS2)
08. (07) Mario Kart DS (NDS)
09. (__) Mario Party 8 (Wii)
10. (__) More Brain Training from Dr. Kawashima (NDS)

Sweden (Week 25, 2008)

01. (01) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
02. (02) Age Of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (PC)
03. (04) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PS2)
04. (08) FIFA 08 (PS2)
05. (03) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (PS2)
06. (05) Grand Theft Auto IV (360)
07. (07) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
08. (__) Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP)
09. (06) Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)
10. (__) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (360)

Denmark (Week 25, 2008)

01. (01) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
02. (04) FIFA 08 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
03. (03) Grand Theft Auto IV (360, PS3)
04. (06) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC)
05. (02) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
06. (05) Age Of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (PC)
07. (08) SingStar Summer Party (PS2)
08. (07) UEFA Euro 2008 (360, PS3, PS2, PC, PSP)
09. (09) Need for Speed ProStreet (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS, Mobile)
10. (__) Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (360, PC, Mac)

Read: UK chart data
Read: Irish chart data
Read: Dutch chart data
Read: German chart data
Read: Swedish chart data
Read: Danish chart data

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Filed under: Another Week in …

You don’t have to be a gas mask-wearing, telepathic oddball to know what dominated Europe this week. Metal Gear Solid 4’s ascent to numero uno throughout most of Europe was thoroughly predictable, though that’s not to suggest that Wii titles had it rough.

Most managed to maintain high spots (seriously, Britain, what is it about LEGO and Indiana Jones?), while there was a heartwarming comeback for Wii Fit, which finally appears to be getting restocked here. It’s reappeared in the Irish and Dutch top tens, and appears at 11th in the UK. Sports Island debuted in European countries that aren’t Britain this week, and for the most part had a storming start, with a third place in Holland and eighth in Germany. Yet there is also sad news, reader: Okami — beautiful, stunning, endlessly gorgeous Okami — only reached 20th. In Sweden. Gah.

Next week, brace yourselves for the arrival in the charts of Ferrari Challenge and Alone in the Dark (except in Scandinavia, of course).

Check out this week’s charts beyond the break. Lederhosen optional.

United Kingdom (Week 24, 2008)

01. (__) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
02. (01) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (Wii)
03. (14) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
04. (05) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (PS2)
05. (12) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (NDS)
06. (04) Wii Play (Wii)
07. (03) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
08. (06) Grand Theft Auto IV (360)
09. (02) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (360)
10. (15) Sports Island (Wii)

Ireland (Week 24, 2008)

01 (__) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
02 (02) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
03 (01) Grand Theft Auto IV (360, PS3)
04 (04) Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
05 (03) Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games (Wii, NDS)
06 (08) Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
07 (11) New Super Mario Bros. (NDS)
08 (05) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
09 (12) Wii Fit (Wii)
10 (07) Race Driver: GRID (360, PS3, PC, NDS)

Netherlands (Week 24, 2008)

01. (__) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
02. (__) Ninja Gaiden II (360)
03. (__) Sports Island (Wii)
04. (01) Grand Theft Auto IV (360)
05. (02) Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)
06. (05) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
07. (08) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
08. (__) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
09. (__) More Brain Training from Dr. Kawashima (NDS)
10. (__) Wii Fit (Wii)

Germany (Week 24, 2008)

01. (__) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
02. (01) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
03. (02) Wii Fit (Wii)
04. (04) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (PS2)
05. (03) Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)
06. (09) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
07. (08) Mario Kart DS (NDS)
08. (__) Sports Island (Wii)
09. (06) Grand Theft Auto IV (360)
10. (05) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (NDS)

Spain (Week 23, 2008)

01. (01) Wii Play (Wii)
02. (02) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
03. (__) Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (PS3)
04. (03) Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)
05. (__) Ninja Gaiden II (360)
06. (08) Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
07. (07) Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PS2)
08. (__) Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (360)
09. (__) Big Brain Academy (Wii)
10. (__) Race Driver: GRID (PS3)

Sweden (Week 24, 2008)

01. (__) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
02. (08) Age Of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (PC)
03. (01) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (PS2)
04. (07) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PS2)
05. (04) Grand Theft Auto IV (360)
06. (05) Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)
07. (06) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
08. (09) FIFA 08 (PS2)
09. (20) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (PS2)
10. (__) Mass Effect (PC)

Denmark (Week 24, 2008)

01. (02) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
02. (__) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
03. (01) Grand Theft Auto IV (360, PS3)
04. (03) FIFA 08 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
05. (__) Age Of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (PC)
06. (04) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC)
07. (05) UEFA Euro 2008 (360, PS3, PS2, PC, PSP)
08. (06) SingStar Summer Party (PS2)
09. (08) Need for Speed ProStreet (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS, Mobile)
10. (10) Counter-Strike: Source (PC)

Read: UK chart data
Read: Irish chart data
Read: Dutch chart data
Read: German chart data
Read: Spanish chart data
Read: Swedish chart data
Read: Danish chart data

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Filed under: Another Week in …

Having watched the in-the-flesh Harrison Ford creak and grimace his way through Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on the big screen, this week European consumers got a chance to give the LEGO version a leg-up to the top of the charts.

And mostly, that’s just what they did. The Wii edition of LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures showed Grand Theft Auto IV who was boss in the UK by nabbing top spot, and versions for other consoles charted well elsewhere on the continent. It’s no surprise that LEGO Indy did so well in Blighty — we still recall the whole country tripping over itself in the rush to pick up the LEGO Star Wars games. Evidently, the titles have that oft-discussed crossover appeal that most marketing types would slaughter their entire families for.

On a sadder note, Mario Kart Wii bowed out of the Dutch and UK top tens, Deca Sports Sports Island only reached 15th in Britain, and Wii Fit is keeping up its disappearing act … everywhere but Germany. So much for your empty, empty promises, Nintendo! Oh, and the Spanish charts failed to materialize this week, probably because they’re all busy gawking at the footy.

Check out what Europe is buying past the break, and don’t forget to join us next week, when we’ll be sulking about how nobody bought Okami.

United Kingdom (Week 23, 2008)

01. (__) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (Wii)
02. (__) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (360)
03. (03) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
04. (02) Wii Play (Wii)
05. (__) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (PS2)
06. (01) Grand Theft Auto IV (360)
07. (__) Ninja Gaiden II (360)
08. (__) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (PS3)
09. (05) Race Driver: GRID (360)
10. (04) Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)

Ireland (Week 23, 2008)

01 (01) Grand Theft Auto IV (360, PS3)
02 (__) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
03 (02) Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games (Wii, NDS)
04 (06) Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
05 (03) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
06 (__) Ninja Gaiden II (360)
07 (14) Race Driver: GRID (360, PS3, PC, NDS)
08 (05) Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
09 (09) FIFA 08 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
10 (04) Wii Play (Wii)

Netherlands (Week 23, 2008)

01. (01) Grand Theft Auto IV (360)
02. (02) Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)
03. (__) Race Driver: GRID (PS3)
04. (__) Race Driver: GRID (360)
05. (05) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
06. (__) Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (360)
07. (__) Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (PS3)
08. (06) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
09. (07) Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
10. (08) Mario Kart DS (NDS)

Germany (Week 23, 2008)

01. (02) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
02. (01) Wii Fit (Wii)
03. (03) Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)
04. (__) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (PS2)
05. (06) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (NDS)
06. (04) Grand Theft Auto IV (360)
07. (05) Race Driver: GRID (PS3)
08. (09) Mario Kart DS (NDS)
09. (07) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
10. (10) More Brain Training from Dr. Kawashima (NDS)

Sweden (Week 23, 2008)

01. (__) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (PS2)
02. (__) Mass Effect (PC)
03. (__) Ninja Gaiden II (360)
04. (02) Grand Theft Auto IV (360)
05. (03) Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)
06. (04) Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
07. (05) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PS2)
08. (01) Age Of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (PC)
09. (07) FIFA 08 (PS2)
10. (__) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Wii)

Denmark (Week 23, 2008)

01. (01) Grand Theft Auto IV (360, PS3)
02. (__) LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
03. (03) FIFA 08 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
04. (04) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC)
05. (07) UEFA Euro 2008 (360, PS3, PS2, PC, PSP)
06. (06) SingStar Summer Party (PS2)
07. (18) Race Driver: GRID (360, PS3, PC, NDS)
08. (__) Need for Speed ProStreet (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS, Mobile)
09. (__) Mass Effect (360, PC)
10. (16) Counter-Strike: Source (PC)

Read: UK chart data
Read: Irish chart data
Read: Dutch chart data
Read: German chart data
Read: Swedish chart data
Read: Danish chart data

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Filed under: Another Week in …

Featuring charts from across the region, Another Week in Europe documents the buying habits and quirky tastes of a whole continent of Wii lovers.

Unlike reigning full beard freestyle world champion Elmar Weisser of Germany (who we admire fiercely), we have mixed feelings about this week’s European sales charts.

For example, while we’re heartened by the success of debutant Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (5th in the UK, and the Wii edition supplemented sales of other versions across Europe — not bad for a game that appeared on every other console last October), we’re irked by the flat performance of House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return (15th in Britain, and nowhere to be seen in the charts of mainland Europe).

Europe, if you’re reading, stop buying Game Party (7th in UK), Smarty Pants (10th in Spain), and Mario & bleeding Sonic (high everywhere) and let’s get something half-decent up there for a change. Sega Bass Fishing should make next week’s chart, so that’d be a good place to start — let’s have that top ten somewhere, please. Sigh. At least Elmar will never fail to impress us. Click on for the charts.

United Kingdom (Week ending March 29th)

01. (__) Gran Turismo 5: Prologue (PS3)
02. (01) Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (360)
03. (02) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
04. (03) Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (PS3)
05. (__) Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Wii)
06. (04) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
07. (07) Wii Play (Wii)
08. (06) Carnival: Funfair Games (Wii)
09. (05) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
10. (12) Sega Superstars Tennis (Wii)

Ireland (Week ending March 29th)

01. (01) Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (360, PS3)
02. (__) Gran Turismo 5: Prologue (PS3)
03. (02) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii, NDS)
04. (07) Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
05. (03) New Super Mario Bros. (NDS)
06. (04) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
07. (06) FIFA 08 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
08. (05) Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC)
09. (10) Imagine: Babies (NDS)
10. (09) Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (360, PS3, PC)

Netherlands (Week 13, 2008)

01. (02) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (NDS)
02. (__) Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath (360, PC)
03. (01) Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (360)
04. (03) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
05. (09) Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (PS3)
06. (04) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
07. (05) More Brain Training from Dr. Kawashima (NDS)
08. (07) The Sims 2: FreeTime (PC)
09. (06) Army of Two (PS3)
10. (__) Mario Party DS (NDS)

Germany (Week 13, 2008)

01. (__) Gran Turismo 5: Prologue (PS3)
02. (01) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (NDS)
03. (02) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
04. (03) More Brain Training from Dr. Kawashima (NDS)
05. (05) New Super Mario Bros. (NDS)
06. (07) Mario Kart DS (NDS)
07. (04) Professor Kageyama’s Maths Training (NDS)
08. (__) Magic Made Fun (NDS)
09. (06) Animal Crossing DS (NDS)
10. (__) God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)

Spain (Week 12, 2008)

01. (01) Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PSP)
02. (03) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (NDS)
03. (02) Army of Two (PS3)
04. (05) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
05. (04) FIFA 08 (PS2)
06. (07) More Brain Training from Dr. Kawashima (NDS)
07. (__) Magic Made Fun (NDS)
08. (08) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (NDS)
09. (__) New Super Mario Bros. (NDS)
10. (09) Smarty Pants (Wii)

Sweden (Week 13, 2008)

01. (__) Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3)
02. (02) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PS2)
03. (__) Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath (360, PC)
04. (05) The Sims 2 Free Time (PC)
05. (06) World of Warcraft (PC)
06. (03) Singstar Svenska hits Schlager (PS2)
07. (09) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Wii)
08. (12) World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (PC)
09. (04) Army of Two (360)
10. (01) Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (360)

Denmark (Week ending March 29th)

01. (__) Gran Turismo 5: Prologue (PS3)
02. (02) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC)
03. (01) The Sims 2: FreeTime (PC)
04. (__) Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath (360, PC)
05. (04) Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (360, PS3, PC)
06. (03) FIFA 08 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
07. (06) Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PS3)
08. (08) Need for Speed: ProStreet (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, NDS)
09. (19) World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (PC)
10. (10) Counter-Strike: Source (PC)

Read: UK, Irish, Dutch, and Danish chart data.
Read: German, Spanish, and Swedish chart data.

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Filed under: News

European gamers hoping to play Manhunt 2 should call their Dutch friends, because if the game's coming out anywhere in Europe, it'll be there. This isn't because the Dutch government loves their games murdery, but because there's no legal way to prevent the game's sale. They can, however, prosecute people under 16 for buying or playing it.

This doesn't mean that the Netherlands will get an uncut version of the game, or any version at all. It's up to Rockstar to decide if it's worth the trouble to release a different version of the game. At this point, with Manhunt 2 effectively banned in Germany and the UK, there's some question as to whether they'll release it anywhere in Europe in any form.

[Via Game|Life]

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