In a statement today GameStop announced that in the 9-week period ending December 30th their sales reached $1.7 billion with games like Gears of War, Final Fantasy XII and Guitar Hero 2 leading the way.

CEO R. Richard Fontaine said, “Without question this holiday season was one of the most successful ever for GameStop.”

He went on to mention that he is “particularly pleased with the robust sales of hardware systems, even in the face of ongoing shortages of PlayStation 3 and Wii.”

Hopefully now they can pay their employees enough to wash the Cheeto-dust out of their goatees. Seriously. Get it together, Gamespot counter dudes.

Check out NextGen's report HERE

In related news, rumors are flying that Gamestop is set to purchase the 70-plus Rhino Games chain based out of Gainesville, FL.

I went to college in Gainesville and even purchased Symphony of the Night and Crash Bandicoot at the original Rhino. I actually had no idea there was more than one store anywhere else but there. *SHRUG* Good for them for ca$hing in.