Anybody in Game? Holding a lot of stock purchased at 66.5p p/s.
Any views greatly appreciated.

FYI - The trading statement won't be made on the 10th Jan, because it's a saturday. I just phoned up GMG HQ and asked when the next update was due - They said there was no specific date set yet, but should expect it to be around mid-jan.

Sorry, This was stated on their website.

I want to be a train driver enjoys revival
02/01/2004
It may sound like lunacy to the millions of reluctant travellers who cram themselves into a railway carriage every morning, but a growing army of Brits are recreating train travel in their living rooms.

Sales of train driving simulators for home computers are soaring according to research from GAME, the UKs largest video games retailer.

The first surge in demand was spotted last May when Network Rail banned train spotters from railway lines because of terrorism fears.

Now two train simulator (sim) video games* have been released to go head to head for Christmas, and sales are soaring again. The most popular Trainz Railway Sim 2004 from Just Trains is even outselling games of popular Hollywood movie blockbusters like Black Hawk Down and Enter the Matrix.

The new games allow train fans to drive their favourite locomotives, design their own rail networks and even enjoy a reproduced view of Britains picturesque countryside from the virtual footplate.

GAMEs research into the railway revival reveals Southend to be the UKs train lover central, with the GAME store in the town selling more train simulators than any other in the UK. (See below for full table.)

Anna Macario Marketing Director of GAME said, These games are designed for the millions of people who grew up wanting to be train drivers. It sounds improbable nowadays, but it wasnt too long ago that railways enjoyed a much more romantic image, and people had a soft spot for the rail industry. Just look at the former success of Thomas the Tank Engine, Ivor the Engine, Hornby train sets and even the Railway Children.

Modern train sims feature over 15,000 different rail routes and 50 types of locomotive so train lovers can drive along them in anything from the Flying Scotsman to a Union Pacific Big Boy.

Anna continued, Recreating the age of the train into a video game has proved incredibly popular. They use similar technology to that used to produce the state of the art graphics in games like Lord of the Rings and FIFA 2004 to create every train fan's dream.

Fans have told us theyre buying these games because they allow them to forget the bad image of modern day rail travel, and names like British Rail and Railtrack, and instead totally absorb themselves in the traditional old romantic image of the railways. With so few steam and classic trains left in the UK, and access to tracks now so limited, train fans are turning to technology to get their locomotive kicks.

Over 50% of the train sim games have been bought by the growing army of grey gamers the over 50s who are taking the video game market by storm.

GAME stores that are selling the most train sim games are:


Southend

Falkirk

York

Canterbury

Plymouth

Colchester

Worthing

Eastbourne

Newcastle

Nottingham

Game Group PLC
06 January 2004





6 January 2004

The GAME Group plc

Date of Trading Statement


The GAME Group plc will issue its Trading Update for the 5 week period ending 3
January 2004 on Friday 9th January.


- ENDS -



This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

Up 8% today. Everyone is obviously optimistic about XMAS trading statement due out this Friday.

Game, set, but not sure about the match yet
Published: 09:10 Fri 9 Jan 2004
By Jemma George, Smaller Companies Editor


The Game Group has bucked the trend in the UK video games and computer software market with positive like for like sales growth over the festive period and record profits despite lower hardware prices, but investors are cautious.

There are still a couple of weeks to go before the company closes its books on the financial year to 31 January but management said today that trading has been inline with expectations.


This should mean a full year profit before tax of approximately 34.3 million and earnings per share of 6.5p.


Even so, the shares (GMG) have lost 2.5p in early trading; perhaps some profit taking after a decent run up to Christmas or a fear that lower hardware prices are the start of the next cycle of new technology.


Sales in the core UK market for the five week period to 3 January were up 5.6% on a like for like basis. This gives a much needed boost to the full year picture, which shows a comparative increase of 2% against a decline of 0.3% at the interim stage.


The sales uplift was largely down to successful promotions and targeted marketing and advertising campaigns, with some gain in market share.


Top titles over the Christmas period included, Need for Speed Underground and FIFA 2004 but there was also strong demand for Dance Mats, which make the whole experience even more interactive. Online sales through game.net increased by 80%.


The total UK market for video games and computer software in 2003, as reported by ChartTrack, declined in value by 1.5%, largely driven by a 15% reduction in manufacturer prices for console hardware.


This is a typical trend within the technology market as the pent up demand for new products levels out and the hardware producers begin to drop the price in favour of volume. In turn, the market for software should get bigger but there is also a risk that consumers hold off and wait for the next bit of kit, especially if it has enhanced capabilities. In other words the gaming market is cyclical with the power shifting over time.


Game enjoys one of the strongest positions in the UK market with a recognised brand on the high street and a sizeable customer base including 4.5 million members who benefit from loyalty cards.


The groups European businesses are still at an embryonic stage so for now the investor is relying on the sustainable domestic trade with clever marketing initiatives to fend off the competition, especially if consumer spending is waning



Aside from cash flow generation Game should have an extra 500,000 at its disposal having closed its on-line gaming division, which was adding nothing.


All in all the performance is good and sitting investors should be pleased, but the first half of the new financial year is traditionally weaker and some may be taking the profit while its there.


Game is getting very close to qualifying as a FTSE 250 stock, which would bring in the tracker funds but also the pressure of staying there at a time when some believe the cycle is going the wrong way.


It may therefore take another set of good figures to convince the market that Game has sufficient scale and clout to trade through each cycle.


An 80p to 90p price tag would put the group in the FTSE 250 and is a realistic target to set but in terms of timing, it could be a while. Hold.

Game Group says CEO, FD sell shares at an average 224.63p each - AFX


LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Game Group PLC said chief executive Lisa Morgan and deputy CEO and finance director David Thomas have sold shares at an average price of 224.63 pence each.

Game Group said Morgan sold 1.38 mln shares, comprising shares acquired after the exercise of options and those granted under a long-term incentive plan.

Morgan now holds 202,000 shares, deferred shares to the value of 174,000 stg and 1.67 mln options.

Game Group said Thomas sold 1.04 mln shares, which also comprised shares acquired after the exercise of options and those granted under a long-term incentive plan.

Thomas now holds 66,300 shares, deferred shares worth 155,000 stg and 808,000 options, the company said.

TFN.newsdesk@thomson.com

GAME Group is a sell according to Investors Chronicle. Because the games sold is directed more online to consumers by other retailers eg. Tesco, Woolworths, etc. 170p looks expensive then.

Game is showing a steep decline, think it would be sub 100p.

What an outstanding set of numbers this morning from niche retail gaming retailer Game Group (GMG). The retailer probably represent something of an anomaly, given that Credit Crunch trading logic would suggest avoiding all but core retailers like the plague

But shares rocketed 12% this morning after the group announced a 67% hike in annual pre-tax, pre-exceptional profits to GBP126.2m, on turnover up 32% to GBP1.97bn. The results are slightly better-than-expected, and in my book a mhttp://blog.blueindex.co.uk/2009/04/game-for-growth/iracle given the operating climate! Game also confirmed current trading is ahead of expectations with a strong increase in gross margins, and says it continues to be very cash generative with a strong balance sheet. And as a sign of confidence going forward, it has increased the final dividend by 25% to 3.71p. Brokers are largely positive, with Altium upgrading from buy to hold on valuation, while Singer Capital have cautioned over a tough fiscal year ahead, with tough comparatives and competition.

The full article is here:
http://blog.blueindex.co.uk/2009/04/game-for-growth/

Interesting article in Shares Mag today with some good broker rec's ..
145p buy price

Looks like i'm on my own here

Ticking up .

And again .

Wedbush Morgan Securities

WE EXPECT JULY U.S. retail videogame-console-software sales data to be released after market close on Thursday, Aug. 13. We forecast sales of $500 million, down 16% compared to last year's $592 million.

Our estimate reflects $475 million in sales from new platforms ([Sony's (ticker: SNE)] PlayStation 3, [Nintendo's] Wii, [Microsoft (MSFT)] Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS), as the last generation's contribution lessens in significance.

The July comparison is again difficult (41% growth), and likely will present the fifth consecutive month of double-digit software sales decline

Im not sure how this will impact on GMG tomorrow ,so i'm out with a nice profit, may buy back in if price drops, or news is better than expected..

Game Group sales fall ahead of crucial Christmas trading
Business Financial Newswire


PC and video games retailer The Game Group said this morning that for the 44 week period to 5th December, total group sales were down by 10.8%, while like-for-like group sales for the same period were down by 15.1%.

In the UK and Ireland, total sales were down by 14.3% and lfl sales were down by 16.6%.

In the International business, total sales and lfl sales were down by 2% and 11.5%, respectively.

For the 18 weeks to 5th December, total group sales were down by 11.3%. Group lfl sales for the same period were down by 13.9%.

In the UK and Ireland, total sales were down by 15.3% and lfl sales were down by 16.6%.

In the International business, total sales and lfl sales were down by 1% and 6.7%, respectively.

Game said recent console price cuts from Sony and Microsoft1 have increased demand, though revenues from increased unit sales of these formats have not offset the overall fall in hardware revenues.

Peter Lewis, the Chairman of GAME, said: 'GAME has continued to outperform the market by offering specialist service, compelling bundles and exclusives, including the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 250GB pack, which was only available in the UK from us.

'We have seen strong competition in all of the markets that we operate in. In the UK, in particular, we have seen significant pricing activity from the supermarkets. However, our overall year to date market share position has improved due to the strength of our consumer proposition, including our trade-in offers, loyalty card discounts, breadth of range and specialist staff. Our preowned business has continued to perform well as it offers real value for our customers, particularly in the current economic climate.

Game expects full year capital expenditure to be in the region of 32m.

For the remainder of this financial year, the next eight weeks historically represent around 25% of our annual turnover. There is a record installed base of 27.2m third generation consoles in the UK market (06/12/2008: 20.4m consoles).

'Consequently, while the wider economic conditions and prevailing video games market trends lead us to approach the critical Christmas period cautiously, the Board believes the Group is well positioned to deliver a solid outturn for the year.'

Game will next report on 12th January 2010 when it will publish sales for the Christmas trading period.

After the steep fall yesterday and again down today maybe a purchase could be rewarded. Another 6.8m consoles in circulation and as reported in Shares last week (a buy rec @ 163.9p) a possible T/O candidate. Currently around 108.5p.
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