UK Charts: You'd think it was World Cup year
Konami on the attack with Pro Evolution Soccer 5.
EA has managed to defend its position for a fourth consecutive week atop the all-formats sales chart, boosted by the timely launch of a new version of FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 for the PSP.
Konami still has the crowd behind them, with a 59 per cent sales increase for the budget priced Pro Evolution Soccer 5, which narrowly missed the top spot and knocked Tomb Raider: Legend aside to claim second place.
While Ms Croft clings to third, Nintendo enjoys the benefits of an extensive advertising and sponsorship campaign for DS title Animal Crossing: Wild World, which hops up three places from seven to four.
Eidos claims its second top five title this week with Championship Manager 2006, down two places from three to five, closely followed by this week's highest new entry as Activision debuts in sixth place with X-Men: The Official Game.
Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter retreats one place into seventh position and The Sims 2 holds firm in eighth, while Vivendi takes advantage of a cold spell to climb back into ninth with Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, leaving The Godfather resting at the bottom of the rung after a five place dive into tenth.
Take 2 debuts at number 12 with The Da Vinci Code, which will no doubt enjoy further success now that the film has hit cinemas. The only other new release showing any signs of short term success comes from Eidos, with Urban Chaos: Riot Response in at seventeen.
Notable new releases this week include Rockstar's Xbox 360 debut title, Table Tennis, the first of the SiN Episodes from EA on PC, Ubisoft's Star Wars offerings on PSP and DS and the return of the folically challenged assassin with Eidos' Hitman: Blood Money.