ChartSpot: December 2006
Gears of War takes first prize, followed by Guitar Hero II, Madden, and Zelda; no PS3 games make the console top 20, while the Sims and WOW rule the PC charts...again.
Last week, industry-research group NPD Funworld released the top-selling games for 2006. The third-best finisher for the year was Gears of War, which sold 1.8 million copies since its release on November 9. Just less than half of those games were sold in December, making the Xbox 360 shooter--and GameSpot 2006 Game of the Year--the month's most popular game.
Another 360 game, Activision's Call of Duty 3, also cracked the top 10 in December, landing at number eight. The PlayStation 2 version of the Treyarch-developed World War II shooter landed in 10th place, eight places behind another Activision game, Guitar Hero II for the PS2. (An Xbox 360 version of the game is due in March.)
In third was Electronic Arts' perennial best-seller Madden NFL, also for the PS2. However, that platform's usual domination of the monthly console charts was broken in December. The top 10 for the month was an eclectic bunch, with the GameCube Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess landing in fourth, just ahead of the Wii version. Behind them was WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 for the PS2 in sixth and the DS-exclusive New Super Mario Bros. in seventh. Another DS title, Yoshi's Island 2, came in ninth.
No games for the PlayStation 3, which was released on November 19th, made NPD's console top 10. Nor did any PS3 titles make the top 20, likely due in part to many purchasers intent on reselling the console, not buying games. The new console's small installed base was also a factor; even the rival Wii console only had one title in the top 20, the aforementioned Twilight Princess, while the Xbox 360 had four. The most popular game for Sony's new console was Resistance: Fall of Man, which is also the platform's best-reviewed.
The Sims 2 franchise overran the PC charts this past holiday season. The Sims 2: Pets was the top game for the month, followed by the Sims 2 (third), The Sims 2 Glamour Life Stuff (fifth), The Sims 2: Happy Holiday Stuff (seventh), The Sims 2 Open For Business (12th), The Sims 2 Holiday Edition (13th), and The Sims 2 Nightlife (18th). The ever-popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft finished second in December, with Medieval II: Total War (fourth), Flight Simulator X Deluxe (sixth), and Battlefield 2142 (eighth) also finishing strong.
| ALL CONSOLES | ||||||
| Last Month | Current Rank | Title | Platform | Publisher | Release Date | Average Price |
| 1 | 1 | Gears of War | 360 | Microsoft | Nov-06 | $61 |
| 7 | 2 | Guitar Hero II | PS2 | Activision | Nov-06 | $49 |
| 4 | 3 | Madden NFL 07 | PS2 | Electronic Arts | Aug-06 | $55 |
| ** | 4 | Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | GC | Nintendo | Nov-06 | $79 |
| 3 | 5 | Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | WII | Nintendo | Nov-06 | $50 |
| 6 | 6 | WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2007 | PS2 | THQ | Nov-06 | $59 |
| 17 | 7 | New Super Mario Bros. | DS | Nintendo | May-06 | $39 |
| 5 | 8 | Call of Duty 3 | 360 | Activision | Nov-06 | $40 |
| 19 | 9 | Yoshi's Island 2 | DS | Nintendo | Nov-06 | $30 |
| ** | 10 | Call of Duty 3 | PS2 | Activision | Nov-06 | $31 |
| 2 | 11 | Final Fantasy XII | PS2 | Square Enix Inc | Nov-06 | $39 |
| 9 | 12 | Nintendogs: Dalmatian & Friends | DS | Nintendo | Oct-06 | $40 |
| ** | 13 | Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas | 360 | Ubisoft | Nov-06 | $40 |
| ** | 14 | Brain Age: Train Your Brain | DS | Nintendo | Apr-06 | $40 |
| ** | 15 | Need For Speed: Carbon | PS2 | Electronic Arts | Nov-06 | $39 |
| 8 | 16 | Thrillville | PS2 | Lucasarts | Nov-06 | $39 |
| ** | 17 | Tony Hawk's Project 8 | PS2 | Activision | Nov-06 | $43 |
| ** | 18 | Madden NFL 07 | 360 | Electronic Arts | Aug-06 | $57 |
| ** | 19 | NBA Live 07 | PS2 | Electronic Arts | Sep-06 | $30 |
| ** | 20 | Mario Kart | DS | Nintendo | Nov-05 | $35 |
| PC | ||||
| Last Month | Current Rank | Title | Publisher | Average Price |
| 2 | 1 | The Sims 2 Pets | Electronic Arts | $28 |
| 3 | 2 | World of Warcraft | Vivendi | $22 |
| 8 | 3 | The Sims 2 | Electronic Arts | $39 |
| 4 | 4 | Medieval II: Total War | Sega | $47 |
| 12 | 5 | The Sims 2 Glamour Life Stuff | Electronic Arts | $18 |
| 7 | 6 | Flight Simulator X Deluxe | Microsoft | $65 |
| 11 | 7 | The Sims 2: Happy Holiday Stuff | Electronic Arts | $16 |
| 5 | 8 | Battlefield 2142 | Electronic Arts | $44 |
| ** | 9 | Deal or No Deal | Global Star Software (Take 2) | $17 |
| ** | 10 | Cars Radiator Springs Adventures | THQ | $18 |
| 6 | 11 | Flight Simulator X | Microsoft | $48 |
| ** | 12 | The Sims 2 Open For Business | Electronic Arts | $29 |
| ** | 13 | The Sims 2 Holiday Edition | Electronic Arts | $38 |
| 13 | 14 | Age of Empires III: WarChiefs | Microsoft | $29 |
| 19 | 15 | Age of Empires III | Microsoft | $48 |
| 14 | 16 | Paws & Claws Pet Vet | Valusoft (THQ) | $18 |
| ** | 17 | Lord of the Rings: Battle For Middle Earth II: Rise of The Witch-King | Electronic Arts | $29 |
| ** | 18 | The Sims 2 Nightlife | Electronic Arts | $30 |
| 1 | 19 | Neverwinter Nights 2 | Atari | $48 |
| ** | 20 | Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection | Microsoft | $20 |
| PLAYSTATION 2 | |||||
| Last Month | Current Rank | Title | Publisher | Release Date | Average Price |
| 2 | 1 | Guitar Hero 2 | Activision | Nov-06 | $79 |
| 4 | 2 | Madden NFL 07 | Electronic Arts | Aug-06 | $44 |
| 3 | 3 | WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2007 | THQ | Nov-06 | $49 |
| ** | 4 | Call of Duty 3 | Activision | Nov-06 | $41 |
| 1 | 5 | Final Fantasy XII | Square Enix Inc | Nov-06 | $49 |
| 5 | 6 | Need For Speed: Carbon | Electronic Arts | Nov-06 | $45 |
| ** | 7 | Thrillville | Lucasarts | Nov-06 | $39 |
| ** | 8 | Tony Hawk's Project 8 | Activision | Nov-06 | $43 |
| ** | 9 | NBA Live 07 | Electronic Arts | Sep-06 | $30 |
| 1 | 10 | Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy | Lucasarts | Sep-06 | $40 |
| PLAYSTATION 3 | |||||
| Last Month | Current Rank | Title | Publisher | Release Date | Average Price |
| 1 | 1 | Resistance: Fall of Man | Sony Computer Ent. | Nov-06 | $60 |
| 2 | 2 | Madden NFL 07 | Electronic Arts | Nov-06 | $60 |
| 6 | 3 | Need For Speed: Carbon | Electronic Arts | Nov-06 | $57 |
| 3 | 4 | Call of Duty 3 | Activision | Nov-06 | $60 |
| ** | 5 | Fight Night Round 3 | Electronic Arts | Dec-06 | $60 |
| 4 | 6 | Marvel: Ultimate Alliance | Activision | Nov-06 | $56 |
| 9 | 7 | NBA 07 | Sony Computer Ent. | Nov-06 | $60 |
| 7 | 8 | Tony Hawk's Project 8 | Activision | Nov-06 | $57 |
| 10 | 9 | Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 | Electronic Arts | Nov-06 | $60 |
| 8 | 10 | NBA 2K7 | Take-Two Interactive | Nov-06 | $60 |
| XBOX | |||||
| Last Month | Current Rank | Title | Publisher | Release Date | Average Price |
| 2 | 1 | Madden NFL 07 | Electronic Arts | Aug-06 | $39 |
| 6 | 2 | Halo 2 | Microsoft | Nov-04 | $29 |
| 4 | 3 | Call of Duty 3 | Activision | Nov-06 | $41 |
| 1 | 4 | Need For Speed: Carbon | Electronic Arts | Nov-06 | $39 |
| ** | 5 | Thrillville | Lucasarts | Nov-06 | $39 |
| ** | 6 | Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy | Lucasarts | Sep-06 | $40 |
| 7 | 7 | NBA Live 07 | Electronic Arts | Sep-06 | $30 |
| ** | 8 | Tony Hawk's Project 8 | Activision | Nov-06 | $43 |
| 5 | 9 | Scarface: The World Is Yours | Vivendi | Oct-06 | $46 |
| ** | 10 | Cars | THQ | Jun-06 | $29 |
| XBOX 360 | |||||
| Last Month | Current Rank | Title | Publisher | Release Date | Average Price |
| 1 | 1 | Gears of War | Microsoft | Nov-06 | $61 |
| 2 | 2 | Call of Duty 3 | Activision | Nov-06 | $57 |
| 6 | 3 | Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas | Ubisoft | Nov-06 | $58 |
| 10 | 4 | Madden NFL 07 | Electronic Arts | Aug-06 | $59 |
| 4 | 5 | Need For Speed: Carbon | Electronic Arts | Nov-06 | $62 |
| 8 | 6 | Tony Hawk's Project 8 | Activision | Nov-06 | $57 |
| 5 | 7 | WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2007 | THQ | Nov-06 | $58 |
| ** | 8 | Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter | Ubisoft | Mar-06 | $26 |
| 9 | 9 | Marvel: Ultimate Alliance | Activision | Oct-06 | $55 |
| ** | 10 | NBA Live 07 | Electronic Arts | Sep-06 | $40 |
| WII | |||||
| Last Month | Current Rank | Title | Publisher | Release Date | Average Price |
| 1 | 1 | Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | Nintendo | Nov-06 | $49 |
| 6 | 2 | Madden NFL 07 | Electronic Arts | Nov-06 | $50 |
| 4 | 3 | Rayman Raving Rabbids | Ubisoft | Nov-06 | $50 |
| 2 | 4 | Red Steel | Ubisoft | Nov-06 | $50 |
| 3 | 5 | Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz | Sega | Nov-06 | $49 |
| 8 | 6 | Marvel: Ultimate Alliance | Activision | Nov-06 | $49 |
| 5 | 7 | Call of Duty 3 | Activision | Nov-06 | $50 |
| 9 | 8 | Excite Truck | Nintendo | Nov-06 | $50 |
| 7 | 9 | Trauma Center: Second Opinion | Atlus | Nov-06 | $50 |
| ** | 10 | Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam | Activision | Nov-06 | $50 |
| GAMECUBE | |||||
| Last Month | Current Rank | Title | Publisher | Release Date | Average Price |
| ** | 1 | Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | Nintendo | Nov-06 | $48 |
| 1 | 2 | Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy | Lucasarts | Sep-06 | $40 |
| 5 | 3 | Cars | THQ | Jun-06 | $29 |
| 6 | 4 | Lego Star Wars | Eidos | Oct-05 | $19 |
| 10 | 5 | Mario Kart: Double Dash!! | Nintendo | Nov-03 | $30 |
| 4 | 6 | Madden NFL 07 | Electronic Arts | Aug-06 | $39 |
| ** | 7 | Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat | Nintendo | Mar-05 | $20 |
| 9 | 8 | Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door | Nintendo | Oct-04 | $19 |
| ** | 9 | Super Smash Bros. Melee | Nintendo | Dec-01 | $30 |
| 7 | 10 | Super Mario Strikers | Nintendo | Dec-05 | $30 |
| GAME BOY ADVANCE | |||||
| Last Month | Current Rank | Title | Publisher | Release Date | Average Price |
| 3 | 1 | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team | Nintendo | Sep-06 | $31 |
| 6 | 2 | Cars | THQ | Jun-06 | $28 |
| 2 | 3 | Pokemon FireRed (with Adaptor) | Nintendo | Sep-04 | $20 |
| 9 | 4 | Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 | Nintendo | Feb-02 | $21 |
| ** | 5 | Hot Wheels Stunt Track Challenge/World Race | Destination Software Inc. | Jun-06 | $16 |
| 5 | 6 | Pokemon LeafGreen (with Adaptor) | Nintendo | Sep-04 | $20 |
| ** | 7 | Mario Kart Super Circuit | Nintendo | Aug-01 | $21 |
| ** | 8 | Pokemon Emerald | Nintendo | Apr-05 | $35 |
| ** | 9 | Super Mario Advance | Nintendo | Jun-01 | $20 |
| ** | 10 | Star Wars: Flight of The Falcon | THQ | Nov-03 | $15 |
| DS | |||||
| Last Month | Current Rank | Title | Publisher | Release Date | Average Price |
| 4 | 1 | New Super Mario Bros | Nintendo | May-06 | $33 |
| 5 | 2 | Yoshi's Island 2 | Nintendo | Nov-06 | $30 |
| 1 | 3 | Nintendogs: Dalmatian & Friends | Nintendo | Oct-06 | $30 |
| 7 | 4 | Brain Age: Train Your Brain | Nintendo | Apr-06 | $20 |
| ** | 5 | Mario Kart | Nintendo | Nov-05 | $35 |
| 2 | 6 | Pokemon Ranger | Nintendo | Nov-06 | $31 |
| 6 | 7 | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team | Nintendo | Sep-06 | $30 |
| ** | 8 | Hannah Montana | Buena Vista Games | Oct-06 | $28 |
| ** | 9 | Big Brain Academy | Nintendo | Jun-06 | $20 |
| ** | 10 | Kirby Squeak Squad | Nintendo | Dec-06 | $31 |
| PSP | |||||
| Last Month | Current Rank | Title | Publisher | Release Date | Average Price |
| 2 | 1 | Madden NFL 07 | Electronic Arts | Aug-06 | $39 |
| 4 | 2 | SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals Fire | Sony Computer Ent. | Nov-06 | $39 |
| 1 | 3 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories | Take 2 Interactive | Nov-06 | $46 |
| 3 | 4 | Need For Speed Carbon: Own The City | Electronic Arts | Nov-06 | $40 |
| 10 | 5 | Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories | Take 2 Interactive | Oct-05 | $19 |
| ** | 6 | Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops | Konami Digital Ent. | Dec-06 | $40 |
| ** | 7 | WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2007 | THQ | Dec-06 | $50 |
| ** | 8 | NBA Live 07 | Electronic Arts | Sep-06 | $39 |
| ** | 9 | Need Speed: Most Wanted 5-1-0 | Electronic Arts | Nov-05 | $20 |
| ** | 10 | Sonic Rivals | Sega | Nov-06 | $39 |
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