China Online Gaming: China moved in August to ban under-18s from playing video games for more than three hours a week, saying this was needed to curb a growing addiction to what it once described as "spiritual opium".

China has temporarily suspended approval for all new online games in a bid to curb a gaming addiction among young people, the South China Morning Post reported on Thursday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

The decision was revealed at a meeting between Chinese authorities and industry giants Tencent Holdings Ltd and NetEase Inc, the report said, adding that it was not clear how long the suspension would last.

Beijing on Wednesday summoned gaming firms, including Tencent and NetEase.

Tencent declined to comment. NetEase did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

China moved in August to ban under-18s from playing video games for more than three hours a week, saying this was needed to curb a growing addiction to what it once described as "spiritual opium".

China has conducted a broad crackdown on a wide range of sectors including technology, education, and property, to strengthen government control after years of runaway growth.

China Online Gaming: China moved in August to ban under-18s from playing video games for more than three hours a week, saying this was needed to curb a growing addiction to what it once described as "spiritual opium".

China Online Gaming: China moved in August to ban under-18s from playing video games for more than three hours a week, saying this was needed to curb a growing addiction to what it once described as "spiritual opium". China has temporarily suspended approval for all new online games in a bid to curb a gaming addiction among young people, the South China Morning Post reported on Thursday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The decision was revealed at a meeting between Chinese authorities and industry giants Tencent Holdings Ltd and NetEase Inc, the report said, adding that it was not clear how long the suspension would last. Beijing on Wednesday summoned gaming firms, including Tencent and NetEase. Tencent declined to comment. NetEase did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. China moved in August to ban under-18s from playing video games for more than three hours a week, saying this was needed to curb a growing addiction to what it once described as "spiritual opium". China has conducted a broad crackdown on a wide range of sectors including technology, education, and property, to strengthen government control after years of runaway growth.

China suspends approval for new online games to curb addiction: Report

In a bid to make sure the future generation does not become video game addicts; China has ordered all online gaming companies to restrict gaming hours for kids.

&nbsp;As per new regulations issued by the National Press and Publication Administration, all gaming lovers under the age of 18 will only be allowed to play for one hour now. The government has decided to reduce the gaming hours for Friday, weekends and holidays.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-students-greeted-with-grandpa-xi-jinping-thought-in-classrooms-409948">Chinese students greeted with 'Grandpa Xi Jinping thought' in classrooms</a>

Now, the online gaming companies will not be allowed to provide their services to minors in any form other than 8 pm to 9 pm on the mentioned days. The companies will also have to ensure that the children use their real name for verification.

This new regulation has been implemented as the experts found out that many children had been using adult IDs to bypass the limited hours rules which allowed children to play only for 1.5 hours in a day and three hours on holidays.

The administration claims these rules have been implemented to "effectively protect the physical and mental health of minors" and has directed the online gaming companies to "always prioritise the social good and actively respond to societal concerns."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-xi-jinpings-thought-to-be-taught-at-chinese-schools-408386">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-xi-jinpings-thought-to-be-taught-at-chinese-schools-408386/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Companies will also have to ensure that no kid uses fraudulent ways to bypass the set regulations and the government officials will also make regular check to ensure the same.

Online gaming industry has been a profitable business in China as the habit has been catching on in the young people of the country. However, the state worries about the side effects of increased gaming hours which poses a threat of producing gaming addict generation.

In a bid to make sure the future generation does not become video game addicts; China has ordered all online gaming companies to restrict gaming hours for kids. As per new regulations issued by the National Press and Publication Administration, all gaming lovers under the age of 18 will only be allowed to play for one hour now.

In a bid to make sure the future generation does not become video game addicts; China has ordered all online gaming companies to restrict gaming hours for kids. As per new regulations issued by the National Press and Publication Administration, all gaming lovers under the age of 18 will only be allowed to play for one hour now. The government has decided to reduce the gaming hours for Friday, weekends and holidays. Also read | Chinese students greeted with 'Grandpa Xi Jinping thought' in classrooms Now, the online gaming companies will not be allowed to provide their services to minors in any form other than 8 pm to 9 pm on the mentioned days. The companies will also have to ensure that the children use their real name for verification. This new regulation has been implemented as the experts found out that many children had been using adult IDs to bypass the limited hours rules which allowed children to play only for 1.5 hours in a day and three hours on holidays. The administration claims these rules have been implemented to "effectively protect the physical and mental health of minors" and has directed the online gaming companies to "always prioritise the social good and actively respond to societal concerns." WATCH | Companies will also have to ensure that no kid uses fraudulent ways to bypass the set regulations and the government officials will also make regular check to ensure the same. Online gaming industry has been a profitable business in China as the habit has been catching on in the young people of the country. However, the state worries about the side effects of increased gaming hours which poses a threat of producing gaming addict generation.

'Prioritise social good': China says kids can only play video games for 1 hour

Twitch, the world’s largest game streaming portal on Wednesday said that it was enabling multiple new labels to videos. Now, users will be able to add a transgender label to their videos among many. The gaming company hopes this move would aid inclusion among its gamers.

Daily, 30 million gamers log on to Amazon-owned Twitch, which allows people to broadcast themselves playing video games.

Among the 350 new tags are "transgender", "bisexual", "Black" and "disabled”, Reuters reported. These tags are essentially labels which gamers can add to their clips.

"This has been one of the most popular requests we've heard, and the simple truth is that we should have done this sooner," Twitch said in a blog post last week. The news was made official to users on Wednesday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/lifestyle/news-miss-south-africa-pageant-opens-to-transgender-entrants-387603" hreflang="en">Miss South Africa pageant opens to transgender entrants</a>

Recently, tech firms are facing increased scrutiny to make their products more inclusive to represent the transgender community. Instagram and LinkedIn recently allowed users to add their pronouns to their profiles.

Data from Twitch Tracker says that 70 per cent of its users are aged between 13-34. Collectively, they watch 68-73 million hours of gameplay everyday.

But there’s still a long way to go. In the United States alone, 18 anti-LGBTQIA+ state bills were signed in 2021 which would bar trans youth from playing sports or seeking medical help.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/arkansas-becomes-first-us-state-to-ban-transgender-treatment-for-minors-375853" hreflang="en">Arkansas becomes first US state to ban transgender treatment for minors</a>

Twitch, the world’s largest game streaming portal on Wednesday said that it was enabling multiple new labels to videos. Now, users will be able to add a transgender label to their videos among many.

Twitch, the world’s largest game streaming portal on Wednesday said that it was enabling multiple new labels to videos. Now, users will be able to add a transgender label to their videos among many. The gaming company hopes this move would aid inclusion among its gamers. Daily, 30 million gamers log on to Amazon-owned Twitch, which allows people to broadcast themselves playing video games. Among the 350 new tags are "transgender", "bisexual", "Black" and "disabled”, Reuters reported. These tags are essentially labels which gamers can add to their clips. "This has been one of the most popular requests we've heard, and the simple truth is that we should have done this sooner," Twitch said in a blog post last week. The news was made official to users on Wednesday. Also read: Miss South Africa pageant opens to transgender entrants Recently, tech firms are facing increased scrutiny to make their products more inclusive to represent the transgender community. Instagram and LinkedIn recently allowed users to add their pronouns to their profiles. Data from Twitch Tracker says that 70 per cent of its users are aged between 13-34. Collectively, they watch 68-73 million hours of gameplay everyday. But there’s still a long way to go. In the United States alone, 18 anti-LGBTQIA+ state bills were signed in 2021 which would bar trans youth from playing sports or seeking medical help. Also read: Arkansas becomes first US state to ban transgender treatment for minors

Game streaming service Twitch adds 350 new 'tags' including transgender, bisexual

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar launched a new interactive video game 'FAU: G' a few days back. There have been rumours that the game was actually conceptualised by late actor Sushant Singh Rajput months before his death. 
Now, the team behind the game has issued a clarification, refuting Rajput's involvement with the project. 
 
Co-founder of Indian game developing company nCore Games, Vishal Gondal, took to Twitter on Monday and said the rumours were false and baseless. He clarified that only Akshay Kumar, who is the face of 'FAU: G', has been a mentor to the company. 
 
A statement issued by the company read as, "This statement is being issued to address certain ongoing conversations/rumours on social media that FAU: G was conceptualized by late actor Shri Sushant Singh Rajput, which is completely false and baseless. &nbsp; 
 
nCore was founded in 2019 by an Indian entrepreneur Mr Vishal Gondal and&nbsp; Mr Dayanadhi MG &amp; others who have been in the gaming industry for over 20 years. It involves a team of over 25 programmers, artists, testers, designers who have worked on top gaming titles in the past and are currently developing the FAU: G game.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Clarification <a href="https://twitter.com/vishalgondal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vishalgondal</a> ⁩ <a href="https://twitter.com/dayanidhimg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dayanidhimg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/akshaykumar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@akshaykumar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FAUG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FAUG</a> <a href="https://t.co/qVFMjv5Crt">pic.twitter.com/qVFMjv5Crt</a>
— nCORE Games (@nCore_games) <a href="https://twitter.com/nCore_games/status/1302846300262596608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;Vishal Gondal started his 1st gaming company Indiagames in 1998 which was sold 100% to Walt Disney in 2012 and he is also called the father of the Indian gaming industry. 
 
On the plagiarism row, he adds, “Further, there are stories doing the rounds that the poster of our action game, FAU-G, is plagiarised. We would like to further clarify that we have officially bought the license to use the image from Shutter Stock. Additionally, this is just a teaser poster and we would be releasing the official game Title Screen and in-game art soon. &nbsp; 
 
To protect our interests, nCore and our founders will be initiating all the necessary actions as may be legally advised against all such persons including any foreign nationals who may be percolating such baseless and fake news for the reasons best known to them.#JaiHind” 
 
An Indian alternative of popular PUBG Mobile, 'FAU: G' is short for Fearless and United-Guards, and makers have said the game will donate 20 percent of its revenue to the government's fund-raising initiative Bharat Ke Veer, a trust started by Akshay Kumar.

&nbsp;

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar launched a new interactive video game 'FAU: G' a few days back. There have been rumours that the game was actually conceptualised by late actor Sushant Singh Rajput months before his death.

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar launched a new interactive video game 'FAU: G' a few days back. There have been rumours that the game was actually conceptualised by late actor Sushant Singh Rajput months before his death. Now, the team behind the game has issued a clarification, refuting Rajput's involvement with the project. Co-founder of Indian game developing company nCore Games, Vishal Gondal, took to Twitter on Monday and said the rumours were false and baseless. He clarified that only Akshay Kumar, who is the face of 'FAU: G', has been a mentor to the company. A statement issued by the company read as, "This statement is being issued to address certain ongoing conversations/rumours on social media that FAU: G was conceptualized by late actor Shri Sushant Singh Rajput, which is completely false and baseless. nCore was founded in 2019 by an Indian entrepreneur Mr Vishal Gondal and Mr Dayanadhi MG & others who have been in the gaming industry for over 20 years. It involves a team of over 25 programmers, artists, testers, designers who have worked on top gaming titles in the past and are currently developing the FAU: G game. Clarification @vishalgondal ⁩ @dayanidhimg @akshaykumar #FAUG pic.twitter.com/qVFMjv5Crt — nCORE Games (@nCore_games) September 7, 2020 × Vishal Gondal started his 1st gaming company Indiagames in 1998 which was sold 100% to Walt Disney in 2012 and he is also called the father of the Indian gaming industry. On the plagiarism row, he adds, “Further, there are stories doing the rounds that the poster of our action game, FAU-G, is plagiarised. We would like to further clarify that we have officially bought the license to use the image from Shutter Stock. Additionally, this is just a teaser poster and we would be releasing the official game Title Screen and in-game art soon. To protect our interests, nCore and our founders will be initiating all the necessary actions as may be legally advised against all such persons including any foreign nationals who may be percolating such baseless and fake news for the reasons best known to them.#JaiHind” An Indian alternative of popular PUBG Mobile, 'FAU: G' is short for Fearless and United-Guards, and makers have said the game will donate 20 percent of its revenue to the government's fund-raising initiative Bharat Ke Veer, a trust started by Akshay Kumar.

Was Akshay Kumar's 'FAU: G' conceptualised by Sushant Singh Rajput? Here's the truth

We are living through unprecedented times. The world as we know has been profoundly altered. Some sectors have been hit hard (hospitality, retail, aviation etc) and some have been indirect beneficiaries (remote working tools, digital media, mobile gaming). As we go through this turbulence, I do a deep dive to see the impact on the gaming industry. &nbsp;

Global Gaming is a $149 billion industry, with mobile gaming accounting for 46 per cent of revenues i.e. $68 billion (growing at nearly 9 per cent), expected to achieve $180 billion by 2021. 2.2 billion gamers across the world mean that the business of fun is serious business. &nbsp;

Typically, gaming as a sector is more resilient than other tech sectors in down cycles. In 2008, a Nielsen study revealed that players devoted 1-2 hours of additional gameplay, corresponding with a secular rise in average minutes/month played in 2008 continuing through Q1 2009. When console sales declined, gamers migrated to mobile, web-based or second-hand games. Real annual economic growth among game makers topped 10 per cent between 2005-2009 even as economies contracted.&nbsp;

In times of stress and forced solitude, the immersive and social nature of games can bring people together like no other medium can. Last week, Verizon reported that videogame usage in the US was up 75 per cent in comparison to video streaming which increased by 12 per cent (while overall web traffic was up nearly 20 per cent and social media usage remained largely flat). A week back, Steam hit its all-time concurrent user peak of 20 million users. In China, average weekly downloads of apps/games during the first two weeks of February jumped 40 per cent compared with the average for the whole of 2019. Revenues followed a similar trajectory. Daily usage of games increased by 40 per cent to 159 minutes. Report says Honor of Kings achieved a new record of 150M DAUs; other titles like Peacekeeper Elite achieved 100M DAU’s. Certain genres i.e. card games, board games, female-focused content also did particularly well.&nbsp;

Given that games deliver a higher value to price proposition there is an increasing desire to get more value out of games often at the cost of costlier forms of entertainment. As discretionary expenditure on vacations/dining out/events etc wanes those freed up consumer dollars divert to gaming. However, as the inevitable unemployment events take place, certain demographics of gamers will cut back on playing and spending. The substitution effect above will tend to offset any direct demand destruction. &nbsp;

On the e-sports side, conspicuous lack of sports competitions will drive enthusiasts to virtual sporting events. ESL Pro League reported a 27 per cent year over year increase in online viewership with its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive&nbsp;March 16 event. However, actual e-sports tournaments/ticket sales will take a hit with cancellations.&nbsp;

In India, gaming is witnessing a similar boost. Time spent and mobile game downloads both increased by 20-30 per cent, over a time span of a week across the board for companies like Adda52, WinZO, Games 24*7, Gametion and many others. However, fantasy games will be impacted due to the eventual cancellation of IPL/sports matches and have to experiment with content, resort to daily rewards and other give-aways to retain users. As anxiety, stress, boredom and desire for stimulation all trigger, it will result in an increase in wagering/lottery style real money games. Cost of user acquisition will go down as ad inventory frees but conversely ad-based business models will be impacted as brands pull back. Games streaming and influencers will see a surge in popularity. In a milestone event, two home-grown streamers, CarryMinati and Mortal attracted 200,000 concurrent users on a live stream last week. &nbsp;

On the flip side, global supply chain disruptions will impact console sales/peripherals given that China is a major supplier. Expect wider disruption in manufacturing and sales of smartphones particularly as factory units shut down. Delays in the release of next-generation consoles will adversely impact console studios in the mid-term. AAA updates and new game releases will be pushed back. Live operations for mobile games due to remote working could be a challenge if the current period of lock-down extends further. Cancellation of GDC/E3 events will hurt small indies hoping for product launches. &nbsp;

While an extended period of social distancing could result in lost productivity games companies are far better prepared than other entertainment industries (TV studios/content producers etc) on building products with remote teams. Glu Mobile recently launched Disney Sorcerers Arena in the midst of remote working without disruption. &nbsp;

There is no doubt that Covid-19 will have far-reaching consequences. However, as we seek to soothe frayed nerves, a little escapism, frivolity and seeking alternate realities where you have some control won’t be a bad thing. &nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

We are living through unprecedented times. The world as we know has been profoundly altered. Some sectors have been hit hard (hospitality, retail, aviation etc) and some have been indirect beneficiaries (remote working tools, digital media, mobile gaming).

We are living through unprecedented times. The world as we know has been profoundly altered. Some sectors have been hit hard (hospitality, retail, aviation etc) and some have been indirect beneficiaries (remote working tools, digital media, mobile gaming). As we go through this turbulence, I do a deep dive to see the impact on the gaming industry. Global Gaming is a $149 billion industry, with mobile gaming accounting for 46 per cent of revenues i.e. $68 billion (growing at nearly 9 per cent), expected to achieve $180 billion by 2021. 2.2 billion gamers across the world mean that the business of fun is serious business. Typically, gaming as a sector is more resilient than other tech sectors in down cycles. In 2008, a Nielsen study revealed that players devoted 1-2 hours of additional gameplay, corresponding with a secular rise in average minutes/month played in 2008 continuing through Q1 2009. When console sales declined, gamers migrated to mobile, web-based or second-hand games. Real annual economic growth among game makers topped 10 per cent between 2005-2009 even as economies contracted. In times of stress and forced solitude, the immersive and social nature of games can bring people together like no other medium can. Last week, Verizon reported that videogame usage in the US was up 75 per cent in comparison to video streaming which increased by 12 per cent (while overall web traffic was up nearly 20 per cent and social media usage remained largely flat). A week back, Steam hit its all-time concurrent user peak of 20 million users. In China, average weekly downloads of apps/games during the first two weeks of February jumped 40 per cent compared with the average for the whole of 2019. Revenues followed a similar trajectory. Daily usage of games increased by 40 per cent to 159 minutes. Report says Honor of Kings achieved a new record of 150M DAUs; other titles like Peacekeeper Elite achieved 100M DAU’s. Certain genres i.e. card games, board games, female-focused content also did particularly well. Given that games deliver a higher value to price proposition there is an increasing desire to get more value out of games often at the cost of costlier forms of entertainment. As discretionary expenditure on vacations/dining out/events etc wanes those freed up consumer dollars divert to gaming. However, as the inevitable unemployment events take place, certain demographics of gamers will cut back on playing and spending. The substitution effect above will tend to offset any direct demand destruction. On the e-sports side, conspicuous lack of sports competitions will drive enthusiasts to virtual sporting events. ESL Pro League reported a 27 per cent year over year increase in online viewership with its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive March 16 event. However, actual e-sports tournaments/ticket sales will take a hit with cancellations. In India, gaming is witnessing a similar boost. Time spent and mobile game downloads both increased by 20-30 per cent, over a time span of a week across the board for companies like Adda52, WinZO, Games 24*7, Gametion and many others. However, fantasy games will be impacted due to the eventual cancellation of IPL/sports matches and have to experiment with content, resort to daily rewards and other give-aways to retain users. As anxiety, stress, boredom and desire for stimulation all trigger, it will result in an increase in wagering/lottery style real money games. Cost of user acquisition will go down as ad inventory frees but conversely ad-based business models will be impacted as brands pull back. Games streaming and influencers will see a surge in popularity. In a milestone event, two home-grown streamers, CarryMinati and Mortal attracted 200,000 concurrent users on a live stream last week. On the flip side, global supply chain disruptions will impact console sales/peripherals given that China is a major supplier. Expect wider disruption in manufacturing and sales of smartphones particularly as factory units shut down. Delays in the release of next-generation consoles will adversely impact console studios in the mid-term. AAA updates and new game releases will be pushed back. Live operations for mobile games due to remote working could be a challenge if the current period of lock-down extends further. Cancellation of GDC/E3 events will hurt small indies hoping for product launches. While an extended period of social distancing could result in lost productivity games companies are far better prepared than other entertainment industries (TV studios/content producers etc) on building products with remote teams. Glu Mobile recently launched Disney Sorcerers Arena in the midst of remote working without disruption. There is no doubt that Covid-19 will have far-reaching consequences. However, as we seek to soothe frayed nerves, a little escapism, frivolity and seeking alternate realities where you have some control won’t be a bad thing. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How coronavirus outbreak is impacting the gaming industry

World Health Organisation officially classified video gaming as a mental health disorder in its list of modern diseases during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

The move&nbsp;comes in less than a year after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaming-addiction-classified-as-mental-health-disorder-by-who-145220">WHO added gaming addictions as a potential mental disorder </a>in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).

The WHO's ICD, a reference bible of recognised and diagnosable diseases, describes addiction to digital and video gaming as "a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour" that becomes so extensive it "takes precedence over other life interests".&nbsp;

"For gaming disorder to be diagnosed, the behaviour pattern must be of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning and would normally have been evident for at least 12 months," WHO said in a statement.

The decision regarding the inclusion of gaming disorder in ICD-11 was based on reviews of available evidence that reflects "a consensus of experts from different disciplines and geographical regions that were involved in the process of technical consultations undertaken by WHO in the process of ICD-11 development," WHO said.

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which has been updated over the past 10 years, now covers 55,000 injuries, diseases and causes of death. It forms a basis for the WHO and other experts to see and respond to trends in health.

The ICD is also used by health insurers whose reimbursements depend on ICD classifications.

This latest version - known as ICD-11 - is completely electronic for the first time, in an effort to make it more accessible to doctors and other health workers around the world.

The revision will come into effect on January 1, 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)

World Health Organisation officially classified video gaming as a mental health disorder in its list of modern diseases during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

World Health Organisation officially classified video gaming as a mental health disorder in its list of modern diseases during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. The move comes in less than a year after WHO added gaming addictions as a potential mental disorder in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). The WHO's ICD, a reference bible of recognised and diagnosable diseases, describes addiction to digital and video gaming as "a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour" that becomes so extensive it "takes precedence over other life interests". "For gaming disorder to be diagnosed, the behaviour pattern must be of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning and would normally have been evident for at least 12 months," WHO said in a statement. The decision regarding the inclusion of gaming disorder in ICD-11 was based on reviews of available evidence that reflects "a consensus of experts from different disciplines and geographical regions that were involved in the process of technical consultations undertaken by WHO in the process of ICD-11 development," WHO said. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which has been updated over the past 10 years, now covers 55,000 injuries, diseases and causes of death. It forms a basis for the WHO and other experts to see and respond to trends in health. The ICD is also used by health insurers whose reimbursements depend on ICD classifications. This latest version - known as ICD-11 - is completely electronic for the first time, in an effort to make it more accessible to doctors and other health workers around the world. The revision will come into effect on January 1, 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

World Health Organisation officially recognises gaming addiction as 'mental disorder'

Chipmaker Nvidia Corp reported its fastest quarterly sales growth in nearly five years, powered by strong demand for the company&#39;s processors used in gaming computers and in data centres. 
 
Shares of the company, which also forecasts current-quarter revenue above analysts&#39; estimates, were up about 3 per cent at $61.43 in after-hours trading on Thursday, on pace to open at a record high on Friday. 
 
Nvidia has emerged as a dominant player in the high-end PC gaming market, where its chips power graphics for popular video games such as &quot;Grand Theft Auto&quot; and &quot;Call of Duty&quot;.&nbsp;The gaming division accounts for more than half of the company&#39;s total revenue. 
 
The company is also benefiting from the rising popularity of e-sports, or competitive games played online for big prize money.&nbsp;Nvidia has been diversifying into fields such as self-driving cars, virtual reality and into making processing units for deep learning, a fast-growing field of artificial intelligence that helps computers crunch and make sense of huge amounts of data. 
 
The chipmaker in May unveiled its GeForce GTX 1080 and 1070 graphics processors (GPUs) based on its Pascal technology. 
 
&quot;Strong demand for our new Pascal-generation GPUs and surging interest in deep learning drove record results,&quot; Chief Executive Jen-Hsun Huang said in a statement. 
 
Jen-Hsun Huang said on a post-earnings call that he expected deep learning to drive growth in the current quarter as well.&nbsp;Data centres have emerged as a growth engine for the company, notching a near 110 per cent jump in sales in the latest quarter from a year earlier. 
 
Revenue from the company&#39;s gaming business, which makes chips that render graphics in video games, rose 18.3 per cent to $781 million in the second quarter ended July 31. 
 
&quot;Nvidia had a great quarter and appear to be hitting on all cylinders,&quot; said analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights &amp; Strategy.&nbsp;Nvidia forecast revenue to increase to $1.68 billion plus or minus two percent in the current quarter. Analysts on average had expected a rise to $1.45 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. 
 
Revenue rose about 24 per cent to a record $1.43 billion in the three months ended July, topping analysts&#39; average estimate of $1.35 billion.&nbsp;Nvidia&#39;s net income soared to $253 million, or 40 cents per share, in the latest quarter from $26 million, or five cents per share, a year earlier. 
 
Analysts on average had expected a profit of 37 cents per share.&nbsp;Up to Thursday&#39;s close of $59.70, the company&#39;s shares had gained about 81 per cent this year. 
 
(Reuters)

The US company makes chips for games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, and is diversifying into self-driving cars and virtual realiy

Chipmaker Nvidia Corp reported its fastest quarterly sales growth in nearly five years, powered by strong demand for the company's processors used in gaming computers and in data centres. Shares of the company, which also forecasts current-quarter revenue above analysts' estimates, were up about 3 per cent at $61.43 in after-hours trading on Thursday, on pace to open at a record high on Friday. Nvidia has emerged as a dominant player in the high-end PC gaming market, where its chips power graphics for popular video games such as "Grand Theft Auto" and "Call of Duty". The gaming division accounts for more than half of the company's total revenue. The company is also benefiting from the rising popularity of e-sports, or competitive games played online for big prize money. Nvidia has been diversifying into fields such as self-driving cars, virtual reality and into making processing units for deep learning, a fast-growing field of artificial intelligence that helps computers crunch and make sense of huge amounts of data. The chipmaker in May unveiled its GeForce GTX 1080 and 1070 graphics processors (GPUs) based on its Pascal technology. "Strong demand for our new Pascal-generation GPUs and surging interest in deep learning drove record results," Chief Executive Jen-Hsun Huang said in a statement. Jen-Hsun Huang said on a post-earnings call that he expected deep learning to drive growth in the current quarter as well. Data centres have emerged as a growth engine for the company, notching a near 110 per cent jump in sales in the latest quarter from a year earlier. Revenue from the company's gaming business, which makes chips that render graphics in video games, rose 18.3 per cent to $781 million in the second quarter ended July 31. "Nvidia had a great quarter and appear to be hitting on all cylinders," said analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy. Nvidia forecast revenue to increase to $1.68 billion plus or minus two percent in the current quarter. Analysts on average had expected a rise to $1.45 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Revenue rose about 24 per cent to a record $1.43 billion in the three months ended July, topping analysts' average estimate of $1.35 billion. Nvidia's net income soared to $253 million, or 40 cents per share, in the latest quarter from $26 million, or five cents per share, a year earlier. Analysts on average had expected a profit of 37 cents per share. Up to Thursday's close of $59.70, the company's shares had gained about 81 per cent this year. (Reuters)

Nvidia Corp quarterly growth fastest in five years

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