Gamestop Outs Xbox 720 But Claims People Want PS4 More Than "All The Other Things They Could Buy"!

Tony D. Bartel is the president of USA-based game retailer Gamestop, he's seen the new Xbox (aka the Xbox 720) but he can't say much about it. GameStop CEO J. Paul Raines has also seen it, and he thinks it's "hot".

For his part, Mr Bartel told investors that, "we think that there will be an acceleration in the digital sales that we will participate in. The problem is that we just -- we have one console (the PS4), and we have some knowledge that we can share, more knowledge that we can't. We also have knowledge of the second console, but I'd rather that, that be out in the public before we discuss our digital goals for 2014." Fairly obviously the second console is the new Xbox.

Letting Mr Bartel's comments to investors sink in for a moment, Mr Raines' comments made to GamesIndustry at GDC are even more telling:

"We've been spending a lot of time with Microsoft, but we have to let them take the lead on this," he says following the agreed line, until... "but it will be a very hot, compelling device. They are doing some really cool stuff, and I'm eager to hear them start their announcements because I think the world is going to stand up and take notice

So, what of the PS4 then? Michael P. Hogan - Executive Vice President of the company is crazy in love with it, as he believes other people are too, "So the thing, for me, the real benchmark is the fact that our PowerUp members are saying that they're much, much more likely, and more excited about buying a PlayStation 4, even than around getting a new smartphone, a new tablet, a new laptop, all the other things they could buy."

Yes, more excited about the PS4 than "all the other things they could buy"!