GameStop, the go-to retailer for many millions of online entertainment afficionados, has created a new position – General Manager, Digital Media. Chris Petrovic, recent VP of digital media for Playboy Enterprises, has been named to this position.

Why this is important to publishers and broadcasters has to do with the demographics and numbers of its following. The world’s largest retailer of new and used game and entertainment software, GameStop has 6244 stores in 17 countries. Not just another retailer, GameStop takes “reservations” for highly-anticipated new products, such as the latest World of Warcraft, or Grand Theft Auto. Either of these two alone are anticipated by multiple millions.

Publishers have ignored this industry, and its younger, immensely-devoted followers. Now, with a digital media executive, GameStop.com might well be signaling its openness to collaboration and new ventures that perhaps could include traditional media, if publishers and broadcasters act quickly.

FYI, here’s Wired Magazines’ list of the top most anticipated games of 2009. Have you written about any of them?