"Driven by robust domestic and international sales, GameStop achieved the most successful holiday season results ever," said company chairman and CEO Richard Fontaine. "Video game software sales grew by 45%, while the next generation installed base is now triple last year's base and a very positive leading indicator for future sales growth."

GameStop Reports Record Holiday Sales

Total Sales Increase 35% Over Previous Year

Holiday Same Store Sales Increase 20%

Fiscal 2007 Earnings Guidance Raised by $0.13 per share

GRAPEVINE, Texas—(BUSINESS WIRE)—GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer, today reported sales results for the nine-week holiday period ending January 5, 2008.

Total sales for the 2007 holiday period were $2,334.4 million, a 34.7% increase from the prior year holiday period of $1,732.8 million. Comparable store sales for the holiday period increased 20.0%.

R. Richard Fontaine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Driven by robust domestic and international sales, GameStop achieved the most successful holiday season results ever. Video game software sales grew by 45%, while the next generation installed base is now triple last year's base and a very positive leading indicator for future sales growth."

The top five video games sold during the holiday period were Activision's GUITAR HERO III and CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE, ASSASSIN'S CREED by Ubisoft, Electronic Art's ROCK BAND and Nintendo's SUPER MARIO GALAXY.

Fontaine also stated that he "was particularly pleased with record holiday handheld sell-outs of the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP. The Nintendo Wii, even in the face of on-going seasonal shortages, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3, proved to be on many holiday wishlists as new console sales were very strong.

"Video gaming is redefining itself and attracting more players than ever as demonstrated by the growing number of Wii parties and Guitar Hero fests held not only at home, but also on college campuses, cruise ships and any place people are having fun."

Updated Guidance

Based on sales trends to date, GameStop is increasing its fourth quarter 2007 comparable store sales guidance from a range of 7.0% to 9.0%, to be in a range of 15.5% to 16.5%. Full year comparable store sales are now expected to be in a range of 23.5% to 24.5%.

In addition, GameStop is also increasing its fourth quarter diluted earnings per share guidance to be in a range of $1.09 to $1.10. Full year earnings per diluted share guidance is now forecast to be in a range of $1.75 to $1.76, which is $0.13 per share higher than guidance issued on November 20, 2007.

Note that guidance does not include debt retirement costs.

Full year 2007 sales and earnings results and fiscal 2008 earnings guidance are expected to be released in mid-March 2008.

On Christmas morning Mark Wilson posted our off-beat, out-of-tune electronic Christmas Card to you our readers. If you missed reading it make sure to check it out here. If you can sing better than we can, and that's more than likely a given, hit the jump for the full lyrics with annotations to the stories that inspired them.

Still Not Banned

This was a great year.
I'm writing a blog now:
HUGE SUCCESS.
It's hard to overstate
Our website's traffic.

Then there was Tub Girl,
Sorry that was so disgusting.
It....wasn't our choice to run.
We prefer LemonParty

But there's no sense crying over every mistake.
We post lots of news and
even more tats and cake.
And the posts they get done.
And you make a bad pun.
For the readers who are
Still not banned.

We're not even angry.
We're being so sincere right now.
Even though Jack broke our heart.
And sued us.
And called us nasty names.
And then called the FBI on us.
But we learned you're quite insane
And were so amused by you.

And Once Sony blackballed us
Then Crecente ditched crime.
And we're doing well but
Sony could use a dime.
So we're glad we got burned
Think of all the things we learned
For the readers who are
Still not banned.

Go ahead and try Wii
Use the strap or buy a new TV
If buying online gaming
Pleases you
Go try an Xbox
That was a joke, Ha Ha, Red Ring.
Anyway these cakes look great
Halo, Pac-Man and Boo

Look at us we've forgotten to mention Gamespot
Kane & Lynch reviewed, Gerstmann got the last shot
I've got many posts to write
There are rumors through the night
For the readers who are
Still not banned
And believe me you're still not banned
You're probably commenting and still not banned.
Just don't say first post and you wont be banned
Don't be douchey and you wont be banned
Love our singing and you wont be banned
wont be banned
still not banned.

Kotau's e-Kard [Kotaku]

Seasons Greetings from Gran Turismo [Playstation Blog]
[Thanks, Jon]