Despite fears that the on-going trend of digital distribution may be bad for retailers, analyst Arvind Bhatia of Sterne Agee believes that retailers and walk-in stores have nothing to worry about. At least not yet. Meeting with four key GameStop execs, the analyst shares his thoughts and predictions regarding digital downloads.

We're only a quarter a way into the year and we've already seen several big games come out. Reports from the NPD Group indicate that both hardware and software sales are up, up, up. However, with GTA IV and Wii Fit to be released in the next few months, what's left for the rest of the year? One analyst worries that after those games, the video game business is going to experience a slump. Save your comments for the full article.

Just because a company is down doesn't necessarily mean that a company is out. As analysts Michael Pachter and Colin Sebastian have pointed out, THQ's underperformance in 2007 is "a painful step" to a more successful showing in the future. Fellow analyst Arvin Bhatia concurs, and he has his own words of encouragement for THQ.

You can read more about them in the full article after the jump.

Despite a sales boost from games such as Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC), Halo 3, Madden NFL 08 (PC, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, DS) and others, it looks like GameStop's third quarter performance was downplayed by the general market, a trend that rather "baffled" noted analysts such as Michael Pachter. Read on to get more details.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) has been getting great reception left and right as evidenced by Arvind Bahtia's findings. Bahtia, analyst from Stern Agee & Leach, observes that the title - which was already expected to do well - is outperforming expectations judging from sales.

Bhatia comments that the game will drive sales through the holidays and may even drive up the firm's quarterly estimates for Activision.

In what could be perceived as a move to boost sales, consumer electronics retail chain RadioShack has started selling video game consoles beginning with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and its much-anticipated title, Halo 3.

The news was confirmed by a Pacific Crest Securities analyst Evan Wilson and Arvind Bhatia of Sterne Agee & Leach, saying that RadioShack will indeed stock its shelves with the gaming console and Bungie's latest title.

The move indeed helped increase RadioShack's stocks by US$ 1.60 or 7.3 percent, scoring a total of US$ 23.66. With the upcoming video game frenzy this coming holiday season, there is little doubt that the sale of video game consoles will boost RadioShack's revenue.

Will the consumer electronics mogul eventually provide other consoles like the Wii and PS3? We certainly hope so; there's no doubt that there's going to be lots of gamer stockings that need stuffing this Christmas.