GAME confident of further sales growth through 2008

Retailer anticipating strong performance from GTA IV, Wii Fit, Mario Kart
High Street retailer GAME has said that it expects to continue tosee market growth through 2008, with increase in like-for-like salesfor the fourth consecutive year.
For the 50 weeks ended January 12 2008, GAME reported like-for-likesales up by 43 per cent, and it now expects a further like-for-likegrowth of between 5 and 10 per cent for the current year.
The specialist retailer has benefited from strong hardware sales andexpects a number of high-profile software releases to help the marketduring the first half of 2008.
"There is a strong pipeline of innovative software with some highlyanticipated products scheduled for European release," noted theretailer, highlighting Nintendo's Wii Fit and Mario Kart, andRockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV.
"The Board believes that the market for PC and videogames productsremains buoyant," said the company, ahead of its preliminary resultsdue next month.
"With a large and growing installed base of hardware in the market,a strong line-up of new product launches, the PS3 yet to reach thefirst anniversary of its launch [in Europe] and the benefits of a fullyear of the Gamestation acquisition in prospect, the Board remains veryconfident in the outlook for the 53 weeks to 31 January 2009."
The company has also adjusted its profit estimates for the full yearto January 31, 2008, expecting profits to be no less than GBP 74million, slightly up on the previous estimate of GBP 73 million.