The 20 games that will save Christmas

Half of all UK software revenues this year will come from a top-tier of select games - releases that might just offset a six month decline in the sale boxed games.

MCV – with expert input from our Retail Advisory Board – has put together a list of what those 20 games are likely to be. Scroll down for the list, or click through to the second page of this feature to see in-depth analysis of each title.

A focus on the biggest titles follows a trend from last year. The UK Top 20 selling games of 2010 accounted for 37 per cent of all the software revenue generated last year (according to Chart-Track), and that was even more concentrated during the Q4 Christmas rush.

“The Top 20 All Formats amounted to 45 per cent of Q4 2010’s unit sales and 55 per cent of its revenue,” said Chart-Track’s business group director Dorian Bloch.

“Perhaps even more incredible is the fact that the Top Five for Q4 2010 accounted for 32 per cent of Q4 2010’s value. That’s one third of the entertainment software market in Q4 2010 based on Black Ops, FIFA 11, Just Dance 2, Assassin’s Creed and Medal of Honor.”

Retail buyers are now focusing their efforts on key titles to make sure that the big bets pay off.

“To some degree it makes it easier,” said HMV CEO Simon Fox. “The big games are getting bigger. The challenge for retail is how do we get our fair share of these enormous franchises?”

Asda games chief Andrew Thompson added: “We think the Top 20 will be worth 50 per cent of the market in 2011. So it is really about getting the messaging in-store and online absolutely spot-on.”

THE 20 GAMES THAT WILL SAVE CHRISTMAS



Assassin's Creed: Revelations
Batman: Arkham City
Battlefield 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
F1 2011
FIFA 12
Gears of War 3
Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary
Harry Potter: Years 5-7
Just Dance 3
L.A. Noire
Mario & Sonic at the London Olympic Games
Need for Speed: The Run
Saints Row: The Third
Super Mario 3D Land
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Zumba Fitness

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/the-2...ristmas/082499