LONDON, September 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
According to KPCB, there are 2.6 billion gamers worldwide - that's 2.6 billion people turning to video games for relaxation,
entertainment or to kill time on the bus or metro. The Institute for the future estimates that gamers spend well over 3 billion
hours per week playing games on smartphones, laptops, PCs, hand-held devices, and gaming consoles like Microsoft's Xbox or Sony's
Playstation.
Video games, which used to be considered a niche market with little mass appeal, has grown 26x in the last 20 years to become
a hugely valuable part of the modern technology consumer market. Companies in focus today include: Intel Corporation
(NASDAQ: INTC), Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), Tencent Holdings
Limited (OTC: TCEHY), Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE: DVMT)
What's more, it's a market with tremendous diversity. While some game developers focus on single-platform releases with high
name-recognition, on a model similar to big-budget movie releases (think of Halo, Call of Duty, Destiny, FIFA), others try
to carve out a new market through innovation.
The rise of hand-held, casual gaming has also presented opportunities for games-based marketing, direct-to-consumer
advertising and micro-transactions that can turn a single game into a cash machine for whichever company develops it.
Savvy investors, therefore, have a lot to choose from. Here are just a few companies looking to take advantage of the gaming
boom that investors can look to for strong current and future growth:
1. Nintendo Co., Ltd.
The famous developer was a pioneer in the gaming industry thirty years ago. After passing through a rough period, amidst
fierce competition for platform market share with Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo has bounced
back.
Recent quarterly earnings were $1.37 billion, a leap of 150 percent from a year ago.
Expectations for future profits are high, thanks in large part to Switch, a new gaming platform that debuted earlier this year.
Light, portable and multi-purpose, the Switch has driven strong sales for Nintendo, which expects to move 10 million units in
this fiscal year.
Nintendo shares have jumped to a 52-week high and now sit near $42. An analyst from Credit
Suisse forecasts the company will sell 130 million units through 2022.
The reason is the platform's small size, which has allowed it to be marketed like a hand-held despite its design as a
traditional platform, and the positive buzz it's generated since its debut.
A few years ago, market-watchers were unsure that Nintendo could stage a comeback. Those doubts look like they've been put to
rest.
2. Versus Systems, Inc. ( VS
; VRSSF )
The rise of PC and mobile gaming has brought with it a potent opportunity for advertisers, as well as a significant challenge.
The new, and fast-growing market of interactive media advertising is set to become a $7 billion market by
2019, according to Statista - but game developers, and brands have yet to hit upon a scalable, flexible solution for in-game
brand engagement.
As video games and interactive media look to surpass TV, radio, and movies as the most-consumed forms of media in the world,
companies looking to expand their brands and attract new customers have found it difficult to penetrate gaming in a way that
appeals to users.
Versus Systems, Inc. has developed a bold new way to address these problems. A small-cap company with some big ambitions,
Versus seeks to do for gaming what Google AdWords has done for search ads, and what Facebook has done for social media
advertising.
The Versus approach centers on prizes and promotions. The Versus platform allows game developers and publishers to offer real
world rewards in-game. When players win matches, or reach specific in-game achievements, they are rewarded with real prizes that
are sponsored by brands they likely already engage with. The Versus platform connects players' in-game behavior to real-world
rewards.
This system eliminates the need for intrusive pop-ups or advertising unconnected with the gaming experience, making the games
more engaging and fun while allowing brands to reach the most engaged audience on earth.
Versus is inked a major deal with 704Games, the company with exclusive rights to develop games for NASCAR, which, according to
Forbes, was the biggest spectator sport in the United States.
NASCAR has over 1000 brand sponsors, which means hundreds of brands that Versus could potentially harness for prizes and
promotions in 704Games' new releases on mobile, PC, and console.
Versus' model should attract more developers like 704Games, as it drives additional player engagement and creates a new
revenue stream for game developers through these targeted prizes and promotions.
By creating additional reasons for players to play longer and more often, and by sharing the advertising revenue from brands
looking to engage with players, Versus aligns the incentives of the game developers, players, and brands - all of whom want to
create a seamless and engaging experience for players.
Versus is poised to solve one of gaming's biggest challenges: how to work with brands and advertisers in a unique way to make
games more engaging for the world's 2.6 billion gamers. With a system that integrates ads in an organic, experienced-based way,
Versus (CSE: VS; OTC: VRSSF) could be the company that really breaks open the
box on this enormous, and fast-growing market.
3. Dell Technologies (NYSE: DVMT)
Once one of the world's largest computer manufacturers, Dell suffered some significant set-backs when it ran into competition
from newer, leaner tech companies. The company has since recovered and is pushing some new frontiers in gaming tech, including VR
and high-performance gaming rigs and laptops.
In January the company announced a range of
new gaming laptops. Dell's premier brand, Alienware, which markets mostly to casual gamers and those looking to customize their
gaming experience, will be releasing new models in 2017 in all three size ranges.
Apart from its Alienware brands, Dell has marketed its Inspiron laptops to more budget-conscious consumers, or those
looking to get a slightly less-bulky gaming model. The Dell Inspiron 15 is sleek, dependable and comes in at just $799 (the cheapest Alienware is $999, and that's before customization).
These popular brands, name-recognition and strong marketing has made Dell the top name in laptops, both for dedicated gamers
and casual consumers.
Dell share price has been on the up-swing since January 2017, rising from $54 to a current high of near $77. Should the company continue to prosper, its
likely share price will increase by an even greater margin.
4. Tencent Holdings (OTC: TCEHY)
A major player in the rapidly-expanding realm of "esports," Tencent Holdings owns Riot Games,
the developer of the popular League of Legends. Esports, the genre of hand-held and online games that allows players to
compete with one another, often for money prizes.
Tencent Holdings is a Chinese tech giant based out of Hong
Kong. Along with Alibaba, it's widely considered one of the
most dynamic Chinese tech firms. Its resources are immense, as evidenced by its $8.6 billion
acquisition of Supercell, the Finnish developer of hand-held games like Clash of Clans, another popular title.
Games held by Tencent attract massive audiences. League of Legends, just on its own, saw
14 million people view its championship tournament, with 30 million tuning in at some point or another.
With its acquisition of Supercell and its constant expansion into the esports and handheld gaming realms, Tencent Holdings looks set to
continue its rise. Share price traded in the U.S. has shot up like a rocket since January 2017,
rising from $25 to $40, and there doesn't seem to many signs that the share price will decline any
time soon.
Tencent Holdings is definitely a strong buy for anyone looking to burnish their gaming
portfolio.
5. Asustek Computer Inc.
While not strictly a gaming stock, the Taiwan-based laptop manufacturer Asustek maintains a
presence on the gaming market with its range of affordable, multi-purpose laptop computers.
After a rough few years, where it launched an expensive foray into the realm of smartphones, the company set about
restructuring in 2016 and early 2017. It's now set to re-engage markets and focus more heavily on its gaming laptop division,
according to the Nikkei Asian Review.
The strategy seems to be working. The company
expects revenues in Q3 of 2017 to grow 15-20 percent on last year, with a major rebound coming in late 2017 and stability in
2018.
While sales volumes are expected to be lower, with only about 18 million units moved in 2017, higher item prices means bigger
profits, while cost-cutting will improve overall free cash flow.
Many PC gamers prefer to use high-end gaming rigs, which can run in the $2000 or $3000 range. Gaming laptops, however, have become increasingly popular. Light, cheap and capable of playing
even new games on lower graphics settings, the proliferation of affordable gaming laptops from Asustek and other developers
indicates how the market has grown.
Recent research shows that gaming hardware sales
were $26 billion in 2016 and likely to rise above $30 billion by
2017. While "heavy" gamers accounted for 46 percent of total sales, they constituted only 3 percent of the total consumer
base.
Should Asustek succeed, it could tap into that potential market and reap some significant profits.
Other companies to have on your radar :
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is one of the most innovative and well-known companies within the tech sector, but with its Xbox
video game system, the company has made waves in the gaming world. Microsoft's Xbox Live gave gamers a way to communicate, face
off, or make purchases on an entirely new platform. The landmark addition created an ease of access that has changed the gaming
market forever.
But Microsoft is appealing to investors for more than just its gaming platform. Like Intel, Microsoft is diving head first
into an entirely new market. With key partnerships utilizing and implementing blockchain technology, the company's upside could
have huge potential as the tech takes off.
Snap Inc. (NYSE:SNAP) To much fanfare, Snap IPO'ed earlier this year and managed to surprise many analysts. Snap Inc.
operates as a camera company. It offers Snapchat, a camera application that helps people to communicate through short videos and
images. The company also provides a suite of content tools for partners to build, edit, and publish snaps and attachments based
on editorial content.
The company IPO'ed at $17 and quickly saw its share price reach $25, before falling back to
IPO levels and below. While snapchat continues to look for ways to innovate, investor sentiment in this stock has soured and
some now see it as a 'dead stock walking'
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is a leader in multiple fields of technology. The forward thinking industry giant is the
backbone of many laptops and PCs running the Windows operating system. The company has been so successful in its deal-making and
advertising that it is impossible to escape its influence.
Not only is Intel running our laptops, it may soon be taking over the financial industry. As a leader in the blockchain push,
Intel has partnerships with banking heavyweights worldwide. Intel is also expanding its reach within the Internet of Things,
creating new ways to receive, process, and store data.
Savvy investors are definitely following Intel closely, as many see it as a leader in the race to create an entirely new
internet. September to drive more demand for HDMI 2.0 products.
By. Charles Kennedy
**IMPORTANT! BY READING OUR CONTENT YOU EXPLICITLY AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY**
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. Statements in this communication which are not purely historical are forward-looking
statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, intent, predictions or other statements of future tense. Forward
looking statements in this article include that the gaming industry continues to grow; that Versus Systems may have a system that
would be accepted by gamers; that its prizing platform will appeal to video gaming companies and will encourage gamers to play
more and buy more; that Versus Systems' patent applications will become patents and that the patents can protects its
intellectual property; the size of the potential market and market demographic for gaming prizes; that a lot of brands and prizes
are expected to be added to the platform; that new games will join the Versus platform; that data gathered from gamers can be
used and can be a potential revenue stream for Versus; that Versus will have a major financial impact when NASCAR Heat Mobile
game goes live, expected in Q1 2018; that Versus can potentially partner with NASCAR brand sponsors; and that Versus can partner
with a number of game developers for inclusion of Versus' platform in new games. Forward looking statements involve known
and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from
what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Matters that may affect the outcome of these forward looking
statements include that markets may not materialize as expected; prizes in gaming may not turn out to have as large a market as
thought or be as lucrative as thought as a result of competition or other factors; Versus Systems may not be able to diversify or
scale up as thought because of potential lack of capital, lack of facilities, regulatory compliance requirements or lack of
suitable employees or contacts;; Versus is dependent on the success of game developers; Versus' patents may not be granted and
even if granted, may not adequately protect Versus' intellectual property rights; Versus is a development stage company and to
date has no revenues; and other risks affecting Versus in particular and the gaming industry generally. The forward-looking
statements in this document are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update such
forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws.
Risk factors for the video gaming industry in general which also affect Versus include the following: please also review the
risk factors listed in the annual filings of public companies in the gaming industry:
- The business is intensely competitive and "hit" driven. Versus may not deliver "hit" products and services, or consumers may
prefer competitors' products or services.
- The business is dependent on the success and availability of products developed by third parties, as well as Versus' ability
to develop commercially successful platforms for these products.
- Technology changes rapidly in the business and if Versus fails to anticipate or successfully implement new technologies or
adopt new business strategies, technologies or methods, the quality, timeliness and competitiveness of its products and services
may suffer.
- Versus may experience security breaches and cyber threats.
- Versus' business could be adversely affected if consumer protection, data privacy and security practices are not adequate,
or perceived as being inadequate, to prevent data breaches, or by the application of consumer protection and data privacy laws
generally.
- The products or services Versus distributes through its platform may contain defects, which could adversely affect Versus'
reputation.
- Versus' business partners may be unable to honor their obligations or their actions may put us at risk.
DISCLAIMERS
PAID ADVERTISEMENT. This communication is a paid advertisement and is not a recommendation to buy or sell securities.
Safehaven.com, Advanced Media Solutions Ltd, and their owners, managers, employees, and assigns (collectively "the Company") has
been paid by the profiled company or a third party to disseminate this communication. In this case the Company has been paid by
Versus Systems one hundred and twelve thousand five hundred US dollars for this article and certain
banner ads. This compensation is a major conflict with our ability to be unbiased, more specifically:
This communication is for entertainment purposes only. Never invest purely based on our communication. Gains mentioned in our
newsletter and on our website may be based on end-of- day or intraday data. If we own any shares we will list the information
relevant to the stock and number of shares here. We have been compensated by Versus Systems to conduct investor awareness
advertising and marketing for [VS and VRSSF]. Safehaven.com receives financial compensation to promote public companies. This
compensation is a major conflict of interest in our ability to be unbiased. Therefore, this communication should be viewed as a
commercial advertisement only. We have not investigated the background of the company. The third party, profiled company, or
their affiliates may liquidate shares of the profiled company at or near the time you receive this communication, which has the
potential to hurt share prices. Any non- compensated alerts are purely for the purpose of expanding our database for the benefit
of our future financially compensated investor awareness efforts. Frequently companies profiled in our alerts experience a large
increase in volume and share price during the course of investor awareness marketing, which often end as soon as the investor
awareness marketing ceases. The investor awareness marketing may be as brief as one day, after which a large decrease in volume
and share price is likely to occur. Our emails may contain forward looking statements, which are not guaranteed to materialize
due to a variety of factors.
We do not guarantee the timeliness, accuracy, or completeness of the information on our site or in our newsletters. The
information in our communications and on our website is believed to be accurate and correct, but has not been independently
verified and is not guaranteed to be correct. The information is collected from public sources, such as the profiled company's
website and press releases, but is not researched or verified in any way whatsoever to ensure the publicly available information
is correct. Furthermore, The Company often employs independent contractor writers who may make errors when researching
information and preparing these communications regarding profiled companies. Independent writers' works are double-checked and
verified before publication, but it is certainly possible for errors or omissions to take place during editing of independent
contractor writer's communications regarding the profiled company(s). You should assume all information in all of our
communications is incorrect until you personally verify the information, and again are encouraged to never invest based on the
information contained in our written communications.
DISCLOSURE. The Company does not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. The Company is not
affiliated with, any specific security. While the Company will not engage in front-running or trading against its own
recommendations, The Company and its managers and employees reserve the right to hold possession in certain securities featured
in its communications. Such positions will be disclosed AND we will not purchase or sell the security for at least two (2) market
days after publication.
NOT AN INVESTMENT ADVISOR. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to
give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH and consult with a licensed investment
professional before making an investment. This communication should not be used as a basis for making any investment.
INDEMNIFICATION/RELEASE OF LIABILITY. By reading this communication, you agree to the terms of this disclaimer,
including, but not limited to: releasing The Company, its affiliates, assigns and successors from any and all liability, damages,
and injury from the information contained in this communication. You further warrant that you are solely responsible for any
financial outcome that may come from your investment decisions.
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. Investing is inherently risky. While a potential for rewards
exists, by investing, you are putting yourself at risk. You must be aware of the risks and be willing to accept them in order to
invest in any type of security. Don't trade with money you can't afford to lose. This is neither a solicitation nor an offer to
Buy/Sell securities. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to
those discussed on this web site. The past performance of any trading system or methodology is not necessarily indicative of
future results
AFFILIATES. Some or all of the content provided in this communication may be provided by an affiliate of The Company. Content
provided by an affiliate may not be reviewed by the editorial staff member. Our affiliates may have their own disclosure policies
that may differ from The Company's policy.
The information contained herein may change without notice.
DISCLAIMER: Safehaven.com is Source of all content listed above. FN Media Group, LLC (FNM), is a third party
publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media
channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with Safehaven.com or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and
opinions expressed in this release by Safehaven.com are solely those of Safehaven.com and are not shared by and do not reflect in
any manner the views or opinions of FNM. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. FNM and
its affiliated companies are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT a registered
broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM was
not compensated by any public company mentioned herein to disseminate this press release.
FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future
expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned",
"will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are
subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially
from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual
report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should
consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such
statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to
update such statements.
Media Contact:
editor@financialnewsmedia.com
+1(954)345-0611
SOURCE Safehaven.com