EA strikes back in UK charts

Giant football franchise FIFA ’07 claims the top spot this week, leaping up from fourth spot. Traditional Christmas big-hitter Need for Speed’s latest incarnation Carbon holds firm at two while fellow EA title The Sims 2: Pets continues its strong chart showing at four.

Microsoft’s great next-gen hope Gears of War slips two places to number three, while Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 6 moves up one place to fifth. THQ’s WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 drops three places to number six, then it’s as-you-were for the next three positions with Call of Duty 3, Lego Star Wars II and Bratz: Forever Diamondz all sticking at seven, eight and nine respectively. THQ’s Cars continues to shift decent numbers several months after its releases and completes the top ten this week, moving up one place.

Hard rockin’ cult favourite Guitar Hero II makes its debut at number 16 this week, but there are few other new entries of note – with several high profile titles failing to even make it into the top forty.

Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog on Xbox 360, EA’s Cricket ’07, Eidos’ Who Wants to be a Millionaire: Party Edition, Midway’s Happy Feet and Deep Silver’s Warhammer: Mark of Chaos all make their debuts outside the top forty this week, in an indication of how competitive this time of year has become.