It has been five years since the last full Sims game launched on PC. So, has our fondness for the franchise diminished during that time? Apparently not...

In fact, if the magnitude of the Sims 3’s arrival is anything to go by, our affection for the little lads n’ lasses seems to have grown over the last half-decade. To wit, The Sims 3 has not only debuted at number one on this week’s all format/full price chart, it has also claimed the fourth biggest opening week for a PC game – beaten only by the two World of Warcraft expansions and Championship Manager 4. Not bad, eh. And just you wait until the Sims 3 add-ons start to roll.

Meantime The Sims 3 has got Red Faction: Guerrilla nipping at its heels at this week’s two. Publishers THQ have got third place tied up too, with UFC 2009: Undisputed, itself a former number one. After that it’s pretty much situation normal, with the fitness titles occupying the middle ground, Pokemon Platinum and Guitar Hero: Metallica on the slide and Terminator Salvation sticking at tenth.

There are a sprinkling of other new entries lurking within the upper half of this week’s countdown. Fuel just missed the cut at 12, Sacred 2: Fallen Angel debuted modestly at 15, Star Ocean: The Last Hope could have done a little better at 17 and Mystery Stories are told at 18.

Beyond that we see the usual array of old games getting a second or third bite of the cherry. And then – shock – a quirky peripheral-based fitness game from Nintendo entering in the very lowest reaches of the top 40 – Walk With Me! Know Your Walking Routine at a frankly rubbish 38. What the flip went wrong there, we wonder? Cast your eyes over this week’s top ten while you ponder that one:

1. The Sims 3 (NE)
2. Red Faction: Gerrilla (NE)
3. UFC 2009: Undisputed (1)
4. EA Sports Active (3)
5. Wii Fit (6)
6. infamous (5)
7. Pokemon Platinum (2)
8. Guitar Hero: Metallica (4)
9. Virtua Tennis 2009 (8)
10. Terminator Salvation (10)

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, ©2009 ELSPA Ltd.