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

My thoughts for what they are worth.
Stock market in general comining up to third q results very unsteady. I do not think profits in general will reflect expectations of traders. Consequently shares in high street firms like Game may struggle. Especially as they go head to head with Virgin and Pc World ect..Though I think they are a solid well run company, especially on the run up to xmas, Game may struggle to go over 65p.
Too much uncertainty in the markets. Long term this one.

azhar
i purchased at 64.75p and sold yesterday at 59p i think these will come good as we get closer to christmas - they always do.
I will be looking to get back in but stuck to my stop loss - for a change.

ETrade have a price target of 80p so I might hold on as it appears to be going back up again.

Azhar - Hope you've held on, I reckon the upcoming xmas period might be very cold and put people into the xmas mood. In fact I was told that we might have a white October and so might expect xmas shopping to start en mass this week!

Factsonly - Still holding for that magic 80. it will come I'm sure (GULP)

Approached 71p. It should be up and away to 100p.

Citywire - Dixons and BP tipped in research highlights
Thu 18 December, 2003 13:32

LONDON (Citywire) - This is a selection of broker notes on Thursday.

* Oriel Securities, in a note on retailers, has buy ratings for Dixons, Game Group, Boots, Body Shop International and GUS. The broker has add ratings for Hilton Group and Intertek

Just a note of caution but from somebody I know at Game Group they are currently trading below last years Christmas levels but are hoping that as with most of the high street that everybody is leaving it late to make their Christmas Purchases!

I know last year the issued a profits warning after Christmas just hoping the same doesnt happen again!!

They again dont know what the city had estimated for their profits this year!

Xmas trading statemebt due out on the 10 Jan. Any views on the outcome? I'm quite optimistic and have been holding these shares for good few months. They have opened up a lot of new stores.

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.