Weekly PC Sales: Empire Total War Dominates, Warhammer Online Resurfaces

Marketing research firm NPD has issued its weekly list of the ten best-selling PC games at United States retailers, this one covering the first week of March.

That week saw the debut of The Creative Assembly's historical strategy game Empire: Total War, which also topped the chart for digital distribution site Direct2Drive. Mythic's Warhammer Online also reappeared, probably due to a lowered average price.

As NPD's figures do not include digital distribution, you'll find Direct2Drive's corresponding list of PC best-sellers below. However, please note that this only covers one of many online outlets, while NPD covers a variety of brick and mortar stores.

NPD's Top Ten (3/1 - 3/7)

1. Empire: Total War / Creative Assembly / $48

2. World Of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King / Blizzard / $39

3. Warhammer Online: Age Of Reckoning / EA Mythic / $16

4. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe / EA Maxis / $20

5. Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II / Relic / $48

6. The Sims Carnival: Bumper Blast / Electronic Arts / $2

7. Empire: Total War - Special Forces Edition / Creative Assembly / $69

8. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 Premier Edition / EA LA / $14

9. World Of Warcraft Battle Chest / Blizzard / $38

10. World Of Warcraft / Blizzard / $18

Direct2Drive's Top Ten (3/2 - 3/10)

1. Empire: Total War / Creative Assembly

2. Empire: Total War - Special Forces Edition / Creative Assembly

3. Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II / Relic

4. Empire: Total War (Pre-Order with Free Game) / Creative Assembly

5. Drakensang: The Dark Eye / Radon Labs

6. MLB 2K9 / Visual Concepts

7. Rome: Total War Gold Edition / Creative Assembly

8. Final Fantasy XI Vana'diel Collection 2008 / Square Enix

9. Defense Grid: The Awakening / Hidden Path

10. Grand Theft Auto IV / Rockstar North