Niko News is a filter of the most important news items and bits of information concerning the games markets of China and Southeast Asia uncovered by Niko each week. Our multilingual analysts review dozens of news sources from several countries, and as a team Niko reduces the long list of articles to 3-4 "must read" items for you. We then provide our Niko analysis to these items, making them relevant and highlighting the importance for the market. This service is one of the many ways we help distill the confusing, conflicting information about the games markets of Asia for our clients and readers. 

Tencent's Q3 financial results show continued growth in online games revenue with an increase of 7.3% quarter on quarter. The company's online games revenue in Q3 reached RMB 5,972.9 ($951 million) led by strength of League of Legends, Cross Fire, QQ Dancer, QQ Speed and the company's in-house developed title Legend of Yulong. Next year the company plans to launch Activision's Call of Duty Online, which should compete against Riot's League of Legends (also operated by Tencent). Tencent continues to have the dominant market share for online games in mainland China, build its international business, and remain strong in mobile and social games. Niko will take a closer look at Tencent and its competitors in our 2012 Year in Review for clients in December. 

Gartner research states that the Android platform holds 90% market share in China now, per data referenced by Slashdot, and Analysys is a Chinese research firm that also says the share is now 90%. CocoaChina is a major Chinese mobile games developer of games including the wildly popular Fishing Joy. The CEO of CocoaChina posted a link on his weibo to a lengthy article he wrote regarding the promise of Android in China and other topics of interest to mobile game developers. He says Android's share is currently about 70% not 90%, but either way it is a big share and it surely is important for mobile game development. On the other hand, iOS is also important and will continue to remain that way. Apple iPhone owners may well spend more money on games and other apps than the Android phone owners do, and revenue generation is all that matters. 

One of the important components of China's Communist Party's 18th National Party Congress that was held last week was the appointment of a new party secretary, 59-year-old Xia Jinping, who will also become President early in 2013. Mr. Xi leads the Politburo Standing Committee that was also reduced from 9 members to 7 during this congress. Mr. Xi and his new second-in-command, Mr. Li Kequiang, are regarded as reformists who favor continuation of the opening up of China's economy. The Communist Party has 82 million members. The outgoing leader is Mr. Hu Jintao. Few surprises ensued during the congress. It is unclear what impact, if any, there will be on the games industry as a result of instating the incoming government.