"Recession? What recession?" That's what execs at the game retailer Gamestop are bascially saying today. Indeed their press release that announced its holiday sales numbers for 2008 is actually titled "Gamestop Rises Above Recession". For the time period between Nov. 2, 2008 to Jan. 3, 2009 Gamestop's sales were $2.85 billion, a 22 percent increase from the same period last year. Same store sales were up 10 percent from the same period a year ago.

A PC game exclusive, Blizzard's MMO expansion World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, was one of the top five best selling games at Gamestop during the period. Activision's WWII shooter Call of Duty World at War was also among the top five.The news has set Gamestop's stock price up over 12 percent as of this news post.