Train Simulator chugs to number two

Virtual trains seem to be almost as popular as virtual people lately. Microsoft's train simulation game, Train Simulator, jumped into second place in NPD Intelect's latest list of best-selling games, following Electronic Arts' virtual life game The Sims, which held on to first place once again. Train Simulator lets players control six different railway routes that cover more than 600 miles of track, and it features accurate cab interiors and realistic locomotives and environments. The Sims: House Party expansion fell from second to third place, while EA's 3D real-time strategy game, Emperor: Battle for Dune, opened in fourth place in its first week of release. The popular adventure game sequel Myst III: Exile from Ubi Soft slipped one place into fifth.

Half-Life: Blue Shift, Sierra's latest addition to the popular Half-Life action game dynasty, debuted in sixth place, followed by EA's other Sims add-on, The Sims: Livin' Large, in seventh place. Black & White, EA's innovative god game, continued its slow descent, falling to eighth place from fifth place the week before. World War II Online, the massively multiplayer war game from Strategy First that captured third place in its first week of release, dropped out of the top 10 list entirely, while perennial favorites RollerCoaster Tycoon and Diablo II filled up numbers nine and 10, respectively.

The following list ranks the 10 best-selling games according to number of units sold. To see a list of games ranked according to GameSpot review score, visit our 6013054Top Games page .

Top-selling games for the week of June 10-16, 2001:

Rank / Title / Publisher / Average Price
1 / The Sims / Electronic Arts / $41
2 / Train Simulator / Microsoft / $36
3 / The Sims: House Party / Electronic Arts / $29
4 / Emperor: Battle For Dune / Electronic Arts / $47
5 / Myst III: Exile / Ubi Soft / $42
6 / Half-Life: Blue Shift / Vivendi Universal / $32
7 / The Sims: Livin' Large / Electronic Arts / $29
8 / Black & White / Electronic Arts / $44
9 / RollerCoaster Tycoon / Infogrames / $28
10 / Diablo II / Vivendi Universal / $38