NPD and NPD Canada are pleased to announce the upcoming launch of the first-ever view of point-of-sale (POS) activity for the video game market in Canada. Beginning in February, NPD Canada will add to its portfolio of NPD Canada Market Measurement Services an exciting new service that will monitor sales performance of video game hardware, games and peripherals sold in the mass, electronic specialty and computer specialty channels. The new Market Measurement Service will provide data from such retailers as Wal*Mart, Zellers, Best Buy, Future Shop and Electronics Boutique.

"We developed the new video game service to address a need identified by vendors in both the U.S. and Canada. To date, no market information company has offered consistent measurement of the Canadian video game market. By introducing this service for the Canadian market, we are helping our clients work within and utilize standardized categorization and methodology for a clear view of video game sales in Canada," said NPD Canada Vice President and Account Director Darrel Ryce, who oversees the new service.

The NPD Canada Market Measurement Service for video games is based on the POS component of NPD Funworld's U.S. video games tracking service. The first report, featuring December 2003 data, will be available to subscribers in January. Early subscribers will also receive reports containing historical data dating back to October 2002. NPD Canada Market Measurement Services information is accessible online through NPD Canada's My Client Centre Web site, with reports delivered in Excel, flat file or NPD PowerView format.

For more information about the new Market Measurement Service for the video games industry or to begin your organization's subscription, contact Darrel Ryce of NPD Canada at 416-383-0225 ext. 5418 or e-mail darrel_ryce@npd.com.