Videogame market to grow 0% in 2004

Video game sales soared to a record $18.2 bln last year, but the days of strong growth are on pause as players await a new generation of consoles in 2005 and 2006, according to Screen Digest. 2004 sales are expected to be flat compared to 2003, at $18.2 bln. The British video game market, the third-largest in the world behind the United States and Japan, jumped almost 20% to $1.88 bln. The Western European market climbed 21% to $6.4 bln. Global retail sales will rise a further 16% to $21.1 bln by 2007.