GameStop (NYSE: GME - option chain) shares are falling today after data from market researcher NPD group showed that U.S. video game sales growth is slowing. NPD reported that U.S. retail sales of video game hardware, software and accessories rose only 9% in August which is much less than July's 28% growth rate. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on GME.

This morning, GME opened at $42.08. So far today the stock has hit a low of $40.41 and a high of $42.08. As of 12:35, GME is trading at $41.32, down $1.38 (-3.2%). The chart for GME looks bullish and S&P gives GME a positive 5 STARS (out of 5) strong buy ranking.

For a bearish hedged play on this stock, I would consider an October bear-call credit spread above the $50 range. A bear-call credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of call options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think but still leverage nice returns. For this particular trade, we will make a 4.2% return in 5 weeks as long as GME is below $50 at October expiration. GameStop would have to rise by more than 21% before we would start to lose money. Learn more about this type of trade here.

GME hasn't been above $50 since May and has shown resistance around $46 recently.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer.

DISCLOSURE: Mr. Archer owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about. At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in GME.