UK Games Chart: Mario Kart No. 1, Brain Training breaks records

Nintendo has long enjoyed being a permanent fixture on the UK Chart Track Top 40, but this week's chart cemented the company's mastery of the long tail. Mario Kart Wii was released some four months ago, but this week holds onto the number-one position for a second week, while Dr Kawashima's Brain Training marks its 80th appearance in the Top 10. Chart-Track's Web site notes that the 80th weekly appearance beats the original Tomb Raider, making it a record-breaking appearance for Dr Kawashima.

Perhaps coinciding with the Olympics, the rest of the chart is filled with official tie-ins and other sports games. Wii Fit takes up second position, with stocks seemingly hitting British store shelves on a more regular basis, while Sega's Beijing 2008 and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games hit positions three and four respectively. THQ's Big Beach Sports is also proving to have legs despite a lukewarm critical reception, spending its ninth week in a row in the top 10.

No new releases make the All Formats Top 40, but two week-old games from Eidos and Empire make progress in the chart: Eidos' Summer Athletics is up from No. 25 to No. 12, and Empire's Off Road makes its first Top 40 appearance at No. 28. This Friday sees a few major releases, among them Tiger Woods 08 on all formats, and Ferrari Challenge on the Wii and PlayStation 2.