The back-to-back debut of new video game consoles from Microsoft and Nintendo is expected to fuel strong sales of home entertainment goods as jittery Americans opt to spend more time at home after the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, analysts said.
They said the launch of Microsoft Corp's MSFT.O Xbox on Thursday and that of Nintendo Co. Ltd's 7974.OS GameCube -- three days later -- could even help lift third and fourth-quarter profits for some of the nation's top consumer electronics stores.
The big boost, the analysts said, will also come on a jump in customer traffic to stores as shoppers seek to be first to get their hands on the much-hyped video gaming consoles and gaming software.
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