The Charts: A Paradise for Burnout?

2008's first big hitter revs up

Posted by Staff
The Charts: A Paradise for Burnout?
Week 4 of 2008 sees the first big title of the year enter the Charts - and do it in style. Electronic Arts' Burnout Paradise screeches in at Number 1, dislodging SEGA's Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games in a blue/black cloud of burning rubber.

In fact, Burnout Paradise claims the biggest Week 4 Number 1 since another racer, Gran Turismo 2 (yes, '2'!) had a Number 1 this time eight years ago. It's a pretty even split, with the Xbox 360 version grabbing 53% of the sales and the PS3 version getting 47%. SPOnG is glad to see it at the top of the hit parade, with Burnout having earned itself a hefty review score and having made Marcus unable to stop writing about it...

That puts SEGA's Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games down a place at Number 2, despite a 7% growth in sales. Call of Duty 4 is similarly displaced, getting nudged down a place to Number 3. Given it was just revealed that the game was the best-selling title of 2007, however, Activision probably won't be crying itself to sleep.

Nintendo hangs on to a solid Top 10 presence. Wii Play ascends the Charts once again, climbing from Number 10 to Number 4. The original Brain Training drops one place to Number 5, while its sequel slips five places to Number 10.

Nintendo has an impressive 17 platform exclusives in the Top 40, while the top 8 budget titles are also available only on the Wii or DS.

THQ's Ratatouille fares impressively, with retailer promotions giving it a massive 21 place jump from Number 30 to Number 9. Nintendo’s Wii Zapper-attached, Link's Crossbow Training, also sees a jump, up from Number 22 Number 15 to boast its best week of the year.

The only new release that isn't Burnout Paradise to make the Top 40 this week is Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Jet Race, in at Number 22.

Check back next week to see if the DS release of Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 and Microsoft's Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom can make an impact on the Top 40.

You can see the Top 40 in full here. If you're just too impatient to click through, here's the Top 10 for your perusal below. (Last week's positions are in brackets).

(NE) 1 Burnout Paradise - Electronic Arts
(1) 2 Mario and Sonic At The OlympicGames - SEGA
(2) 3 Call of Duty4:Modern Warfare - Activision
(10) 4 Wii Play - Nintendo
(4) 5 Dr Kawashima's Brain Training - Nintendo
(3) 6 The Simpsons Game - Electronic Arts
(6) 7 Assassin's Creed - Ubisoft
(7) 8 FIFA 08 - Electronic Arts
(30) 9 Ratatouille - THQ
(5) 10 More Brain Training From Dr Kawashima - Nintendo

Comments

SuperSaiyan4 29 Jan 2008 11:27
1/18
When you have no other games being released and the only racer many are expecting even though the game clearly is utter s**t but many dont get the chance to try out a demo then what else is there to buy?

What about the many that will be taking their copies back to the shops like I will come this Friday?

Need For Burnout: CRAP EDITION
tyrion 29 Jan 2008 13:16
2/18
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
What about the many that will be taking their copies back to the shops like I will come this Friday?

You really are an utter t**t, you know that? You've spent every waking hour since the demo hit complaining about how "it's not Burnout" and now you say you've actually bought the game, just so you can have the satisfaction of taking it back?

SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Need For Burnout: CRAP EDITION

I don't care how jaded you are, you're just plain wrong on that point. The SPOnG office is currently consumed by Burnout Paradise and we range from newbies to the games scene to miserable old hands from the pre-console era. Everybody who has played it has loved it.

Obviously, you are entitled to your opinion, but when you appear to make your opinions up just to incite invective, you're just a trolling pillock.
more comments below our sponsor's message
SuperSaiyan4 29 Jan 2008 13:35
3/18
Firstly if you ALL at Spong love the game then you all have been bribed by EA, there is no way in hell this game is that good nor is it like how Burnout should be.

Are you to tell me that ALL the people that have been complaining soo much so that even the developer of the game has complained back at those who dislike the game are wrong?

The game is broken in the sense the thing that made Burnout what it was has been taken away.

And its the same take on NFS series what made NFS so great has gone clearly from the latest Pro Street series.

You only have this website so you can get freebies at your offices and go to game conventions, you dont give a rats ass on most of your reviews, if someone pushes you an envelope you will take it and thats a fact with many reviewers.

You want to call me a trolling pillock? Well good for you because I know I could review a game better than you ever could - a review doesnt have to be a huge page or 2 pages, it needs to be simple and get straight to what makes a game great or bad including functions and options.

I am VERY particular on my games and too many people in this gen are too easily pleased by the amount of crap many developers are releasing, take Conan for example or Juiced 2 or better yet PGR3 and 4.

Oh but I bet you are suprised that I would even mentioned PGR3 and 4 but surely being someone who reviews games would easily know why I picked them.
TimSpong 29 Jan 2008 14:54
4/18
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Firstly if you ALL at Spong love the game then you all have been bribed by EA, there is no way in hell this game is that good nor is it like how Burnout should be.


Nothing I like more than being defamed in public. So, EA has bribed us then? No, it hasn't but I will be more than happy to pass your contention its legal department as soon as mine has cleared it.

SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Are you to tell me that ALL the people that have been complaining soo much so that even the developer of the game has complained back at those who dislike the game are wrong?


Nope - that's not what has been said. I believe the phrase 'entitled to your opinion' cropped up earlier.

SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
The game is broken in the sense the thing that made Burnout what it was has been taken away.


And that 'thing' is? Or do you mean that it has evolved... changed?

SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
You only have this website so you can get freebies at your offices and go to game conventions, you dont give a rats ass on most of your reviews, if someone pushes you an envelope you will take it and thats a fact with many reviewers.


Brilliant! You have been a clever boy. Your information comes from?

SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
You want to call me a trolling pillock? Well good for you because I know I could review a game better than you ever could - a review doesnt have to be a huge page or 2 pages, it needs to be simple and get straight to what makes a game great or bad including functions and options.


Nope, that's a strategy or game guide - having also worked for Prima, I know the difference. Why don't you write a review then? Send it in and see how your opinion stacks up?

SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
I am VERY particular on my games and too many people in this gen are too easily pleased by the amount of crap many developers are releasing, take Conan for example or Juiced 2 or better yet PGR3 and 4.


Those are your reviews?

SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Oh but I bet you are suprised that I would even mentioned PGR3 and 4 but surely being someone who reviews games would easily know why I picked them.


Because as a Microsoft fanboy, you've decided that because Bizarre might be doing multi-platformers, you feel peeved?

Go on, write something constructive.

Tim


PreciousRoi 29 Jan 2008 14:58
5/18
Damn you Tim, I was just working up a head of steam...
SuperSaiyan4 29 Jan 2008 15:00
6/18
No I am not a Microsoft fanboy, its not my fault Microsoft have a product on the market the delivers at all angles when it comes to gaming and content. However I have a Nintendo Wii and praise that more than the PS3 when it comes to yes again GAMING.

I am actually happy that BC have pissed off since they f**ked up PGR3 and then more so with PGR4 thank the heavens they wont be making PGR4! Hell even the so-called game The Club is a mindless piece of s**t.

You cant just go around saying every game is amazing when it clearly isnt, I cant think of any racing games that DONT have a speedometer in a game apart from this one! Where is the aftertouch? What happened to those amazing crashes? What happened to actually earning your boost?
PreciousRoi 29 Jan 2008 15:12
7/18
Without reading Tim's response, heres my take:

Look you bloody little git, if you think writing a game review is so bloody easy, you do it, and submit it to Tim. I know he'll publish it, if its any good at all he'll be grateful for the content, if its not, I'm sure we'd all enjoy a chuckle at your expense. I KNOW I can write better than you, am smarter than you, and obviously my opinions mean more to me than yours do, and yet, even I hesitate to enter the ring. Partly from lack of inspiration, partly pure lazyness, partly my failure to view games critically (I did submit an abortive draft of a Simpsons Game review, but never heard anything back, I'm sure it was lousy). And since I voluntarily sit on the sidelines, I limit my criticisms to what I feel is constructive, rather than merely slagging off the skills and inegrity of the people who actually do have the courage to submit intellectual product for my consumption. Unless I feel such slagging off to be contsructive...anyway, I'm a coward in that fashion, at least to date...might do a "New" piece on Vegas 2 when I can get my grubby little paws onnit.

In short, I don't think you could write your way out of a paper bag, and I dare you to prove me wrong.

p.s. I NEVER liked either Burnout or PGR (did play PGR 2 online for a bit, but its weak compared to Forza), they're both garbage to me.
Also, as someone who had followed the NFS seeries from II, I'm curious what exactly is it that YOU think makes (made?) the NFS series great?

p.p.s. One of the reasons why this is the only videogames site I'm active on IS that I trust the integrity of SPOnG, implicitly. If you have such distrust...why not find somewhere else, somewhere you feel you can trust?
SuperSaiyan4 29 Jan 2008 15:54
8/18
Anyhow yep also started off at NFS 2 on the PC, loved the commentries and vids etc and the gameplay was spot on back then.

'Your words are obsolete'
TimSpong 29 Jan 2008 15:59
9/18
PreciousRoi wrote:
Look you bloody little git, if you think writing a game review is so bloody easy, you do it, and submit it to Tim.


Check.

PreciousRoi wrote:
I know he'll publish it, if its any good at all he'll be grateful for the content, if its not, I'm sure we'd all enjoy a chuckle at your expense.


Check.

PreciousRoi wrote:
(I did submit an abortive draft of a Simpsons Game review, but never heard anything back, I'm sure it was lousy).


Oh, now I feel rotten... send in Vegas 2 piece.

PreciousRoi wrote:
I'm a coward in that fashion, at least to date...might do a "New" piece on Vegas 2 when I can get my grubby little paws onnit.


I refer the honourable gentleman to my previous response.

PreciousRoi wrote:
p.p.s. One of the reasons why this is the only videogames site I'm active on IS that I trust the integrity of SPOnG, implicitly. If you have such distrust...why not find somewhere else, somewhere you feel you can trust?


Thanks for that, Roi. I will - again - extend the offer to all readers.

"If you have a well-constructed alternative review, send the bloody thing in to me. tim@spong.com

Cheers

Tim

Now - got to go, lawyers waiting...
Spinface 29 Jan 2008 16:10
10/18
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Firstly if you ALL at Spong love the game then you all have been bribed by EA, there is no way in hell this game is that good nor is it like how Burnout should be.


We were bribed by EA?! Tim, you bastard, where's my cash!?

SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
You want to call me a trolling pillock? Well good for you because I know I could review a game better than you ever could - a review doesnt have to be a huge page or 2 pages, it needs to be simple and get straight to what makes a game great or bad including functions and options.


What a review does have to be is a well-justified response to a game, giving opinion supported by arguments...

SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Hell even the so-called game The Club is a mindless piece of s**t.


Ah... Would it be wrong of me to point out that your opinion seems to be formed based on... what? The demo? A preview? You've written an entire game off as s**t without having played it? Really? I would love to read a review from you some day.
tyrion 29 Jan 2008 16:25
11/18
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Hell even the so-called game The Club is a mindless piece of s**t.

I see a career for you in on-line writing, you could call your column "Zero Consideration" and it would consist of the title of the game and a five word max review.

Burnout Paradise: CRAP EDITION
PGR3: F**ked up
The Club: A mindless piece of s**t
Halo 3: Bestest game evar!!!11!!One!

See? It just writes its self.
SuperSaiyan4 29 Jan 2008 16:32
12/18
I downloaded The Club demo, I saw what I had to do on the intro and my jaw dropped in absolute disgust.

Its not a game but an absolute mindless 'manhunt' type of game.

So you just go around shooting people to keep your multiplier up, what the f**k?

If anyone calls this game The Club a game they are clearly stupid. Its not a game but pure garbage.

BC couldnt make a decent game to save their life oh wait nope looks like someone had to do it for them...Because it wasnt gonna be Microsoft, who wants a developer that cant make a decent racer even after 2 attempts?

A game is something that is enjoyable and 'fun' there is no 'fun' in just shooting people to keep my score up nor is it fun to go around killing people in different mad ways aka manhunt which i am glad is banned from the UK.

When a developer is being lazy or sloppy as are EA where I could give many examples what really makes their game worth purchasing? Brand? Hype? License?

Many developers seem to be forgetting what 'fun and 'enjoyable' is, Nintendo have got it perfect with the Wii hell Capcom dont churn out s**t load of games but I could sit down and right you a review on Resident Evil 4 and be happy writing it because that game is fantastic.

Hand me junk like The Club and first impressions are 'why the f**k did you hand me this?'

Everyones tastes are different but to keep reviewing games and praising them all and not praising the ones that deserve it like Mass Effect although it does have its issues so I dont expect it to get a 10/10 or anything.
Steviepunk 29 Jan 2008 16:34
13/18
Tim Smith wrote:
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Firstly if you ALL at Spong love the game then you all have been bribed by EA, there is no way in hell this game is that good nor is it like how Burnout should be.


Nothing I like more than being defamed in public. So, EA has bribed us then? No, it hasn't but I will be more than happy to pass your contention its legal department as soon as mine has cleared it.


Evidently EA must have been quite liberal with their cash based on the overall Metacritic score ;)
http://www.metacritic.com/search/process?sort=relevance&termType=all&ts=burnout+paradise&ty=3&x=0&y=0
With a score like that either:
A. The game is actually good
or
B. EA bought the internet


Got to be said, I'm quite interested in Burnout Paradise, looks like it is going to be fun - just can't justify getting it until I have more time available - just got a 360 at Christmas and have plenty of games to get through first.
TimSpong 29 Jan 2008 16:34
14/18
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
...but I could sit down and right you a review on Resident Evil 4 and be happy writing it because that game is fantastic.


Right... good, we're getting somewhere.

Off you jolly well go.

tim@spong.com
TimSpong 29 Jan 2008 16:37
15/18
Steviepunk wrote:
Got to be said, I'm quite interested in Burnout Paradise, looks like it is going to be fun - just can't justify getting it until I have more time available - just got a 360 at Christmas and have plenty of games to get through first.


'Fun'! That's the word for it! Burnout is fun.

Cheers

Tim
ray_tugley 29 Jan 2008 17:03
16/18
Tim Smith wrote:

"If you have a well-constructed alternative review, send the bloody thing in to me. tim@spong.com


Okay Tim, I'd like to go off at a tangent here and submit a review of SuperSaiyan4, albeit in the style of SuperSaiyan4 (SS4).

Firstly, let's go for the obvious mark downs - the username and avatar. Both are frankly rubbish. Dragon Ball Z reference and some spooky goth photo ferchrissakes! Grow up, play soccer and listen to Broken Social Scene.

Inbetweenly, a brief search for SS4 posts on your forums yields the following slivers of genius comment...

1. Re: Wii for Europe: £179, 8th December
This is bullshit! £180 for a console that doesnt play DVD's, isnt even HD, devs arent keen on making online games free for the console and no hard drive?
Its only a bit more powerful than an Xbox 1 for crying out loud!
Nintendo can go f**k themselves for all I care!

(Obv. SS4's Trivium tee shirt shrunk in the wash a few hours b4 this was posted. "Damn you to hell, mom! What's for dinner?")

2. Crackdown: More 'Down' Than 'Crack'?
This game is the biggest pile of rubbish I have ever played it seems to be a mix of everything and ends up being garbage. It feels very experimental that its trying to be something else and fails miserably.
I knew this game was going to be cack before it was even shown as a demo and proves it further but not only adding HALO 3 but confirming the game to be a hard sell and had to include the beta in order to sell the game...

(Maybe today was the day the dye made your hair go a bronze-y color instead of the none more black you were craving?)

3. Rumour: Rumble Confirmed For PS3
Hang on I thought Rumble was last gen?
Sony have to be the most contradicting and have the most stupidist spokespeople ever in the history of gaming...

(I love Cheesy Poofs We Love Cheesy Poofs If we didn't eat Cheesy Poofs We'd be lame. Damn tangents!) Where was i? Oh yeah.


Lastly, SS4 gives the impression that it didn't really want to be developed, never mind published. What's on offer here is a tired old model, stunning in its unoriginality and with a level of mulishness that beggars belief. And the visuals suck too. Well, there have been times when I wished I'd never been born too, Steve.

And really finally, and more importantly, SuperSaiyan4, do us all a favour and f**k off with these inanities that masquerade as valid comment on the state of video games. Forum users here have given you the benefit of the doubt for long enough. It's about time you went quietly. If only I was EA and you were Chicago (gazes wistfully into middle distance).
Spinface 29 Jan 2008 17:29
17/18
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
If anyone calls this game The Club a game they are clearly stupid. Its not a game but pure garbage.


(My emboldening).

I... wow. I just...

...wow. Did you just...?

Yes. Yes you did.

You told the world that you're... stupid. In your very own words...
p 29 Jan 2008 18:47
18/18
This is fun. I've been thinking for a while that if only it would go away, back to the dark bitter place it came from, Spong would be a much nicer place with birds singing in blue skys, happy smiling kids and all that other stuff you might get at the end of an RPG.

PS We all love you SuperSaiyan4, just not right now.

PPS And now can be a very long time.
Posting of new comments is now locked for this page.