Some of the boys over at MCV have been doing a spot of maths this week, revealing that the could overtake this as the world's second largest games market.

The Japanese market was apparently worth just half-a-million pounds more in 2008, having declined by a huge 15% from 2007.

By contrast, UK game rocketed 18.5% between 2007 and 2008, gamers sinking their teeth into next-gen consoles, and of course the ever disruptive and handhelds.

UK videogame-related sales are expected to hit 4.77 billion GBP in 2009, and if Japan's decline continues then that market could be worth just 3.86 billion GBP by comparison.

Recession who?

By Luke Guttridge