Black & White dethrones The Sims

The popular virtual-life game The Sims from Electronic Arts has finally been dethroned from its number-one spot on the latest top-selling games list from NPD Intelect. The games that pushed it down the list are Black and White, the innovative god game from Lionhead Studios, which took the number one spot, and The Sims: House Party, an expansion pack for The Sims, which took number two. Both games were published by Electronic Arts.

The Sims has enjoyed the limelight at the top of the list regularly since its release in early 2000, and it had held on to number one continuously since New Year's. With Black and White at number one, The Sims: House Party at number two, The Sims in third place, and The Sims: Livin' Large in fifth, Electronic Arts has four of the top five best-selling games for the week of March 25-31. Fourth place went to Havas Interactive's team-based shooter Tribes 2, which was released by Sierra Studios.

Also notable in this latest list is GodGames' Serious Sam: The First Encounter, a value-priced first-person shooter developed by Croteam that has received very favorable reviews. The game took sixth place this week, moving up from ninth place the week before.

Best-selling games for the week of March 25-31, 2001:

Rank / Title / Publisher / Average Price
1 / Black and White / Electronic Arts / $45
2 / The Sims: House Party / Electronic Arts / $30
3 / The Sims / Electronic Arts / $39
4 / Tribes 2 / Havas Interactive / $49
5 / The Sims: Livin' Large / Electronic Arts / $28
6 / Serious Sam: The First Encounter / GodGames / $17
7 / Roller Coaster Tycoon / Infogrames Entertainment / $27
8 / NASCAR Racing 4 / Havas Interactive / $43
9 / Age of Empires II: Age of Kings / Microsoft / $44
10 / Command and Conquer Red Alert 2 / Electronic Arts / $36

Does Black and White have a broad enough appeal to hold on to number one, or will The Sims rise again? Share your thoughts in Talkback below.