PC game charts: January 7-13

PC game sales chart-watchers that took a few weeks off for the holidays haven't missed much, as there has been zero movement in the top spots for weeks. The industry-tracking NPD Group today released its top-selling software chart for the week of January 7-13, and for the third consecutive week, World of Warcraft, The Sims 2, and The Sims 2: Pets have placed first, second, and third, respectively.

While Electronic Arts' life simulator series clung to two of the three places on the podium, its supporting packs lost a little steam this week. The Sims 2: Glamour Life Stuff dropped from fifth place to ninth, while The Sims 2: Open for Business lost its tenuous hold on the list entirely, falling off from its 10th-place finish the week before.

Atari's Neverwinter Nights 2 also fell from the top 10 for the week, with the two open slots filled by the returning casual puzzler Bejeweled 2 at number 10 and Microsoft's Flight Simulator X Deluxe at number six. EA's Battlefield 2142 continued its war of attrition, having dug in at the number four spot for a second week after inching up from the fifth spot during the week of Christmas. The biggest gainer of the week was Take-Two's game-show-based Deal or No Deal, which jumped two spots to number five.

The next week's charts are sure to get an infusion of new blood (elves) since they will include the eagerly awaited World of Warcraft expansion The Burning Crusade, which was released January 16.