What is your view of the videogame industry today? Do you think it's about time to take it as a serious industry from a business prespective?

Yes, we live in the digital golden age of videogames. 

Some facts, examples and figures:

1. The size of the video games indsutry market is worth about $80 million. This says more than enough.
2. Its recorded revenue of2009 alone was $10.5 billion, and it grows every year.
3. Games are no longer limited to Pac Man & Super Mario, but crossed the border between fiction and3D reality with early manifestations of such leap forward, such as Second Life with marvelous semi-real graphics and visualization not far from the ones used in multi-million film productions.
4. In terms of animation, the video-games was first before the film-industry could come with the likes of digitally created Disney films like the Aladdin's and Lion King's of the90's and later the Shreks, Final Destination and Ice Age's of the2000's.
5. In terms of target group (market) they are certainly not limited to any age-category anymore. Actually the only category in terms of customer demographics is having the right device, which can be a Pc, laptop, tablet, a dedicated PlayStation or Ninetendo or a small affordable smart-phone or even a stupid phone.
6. There is a video-game (or online game) for everyone, whether4-years old,40 or84!
7. A world renowned football game such as Pro Evolution Soccer (Winning Eleven in Middle East), by Japanese leader Konami, comes with a new version every year with realistic simulation of looks, moves and abilities for every individual player, using information and feedback gathered from industry specialists, players, databanks, national associations and coaches around the world. Imagine the scope of development, cost and then imagine profit given the fact it's the number one sport game in the world.
8. The gaming industry is not as young as people think. It actually dates back to late70's and early80's, and as such is a quite mature industry. We may remember the first manifestations like Atari, SEGA and others.
9. Localization (software translation) of video-games is a very profitable main branche within the translation and localization industry.
10. Since the advent of high internet penetration rates, playing video-games became a top-5 internet activity world-wide and in some developed countries a top-3 activity by a certain demographic!

It's only logical and fair that it is now mentioned in one category with traditional big industries like the film and music industries. It is big and it is here to stay & evolve. 

Being a marketing professional i believe that Video Game industry is becoming very important as we can see that more than70% cellphone users are having Smart Phones now so yes i guess it a time to take MOBILE GAMING INDUSTRY bit more seriously.

With new Mobile App phenomena , game industry revitalized Beside consistent innovation in console producers. Candy crush saga reported606 million $ in first year. 

yes you can take industry as a business because i have done animation and i know we are living in21st century and people still play video games for eg: need for speed,gta, call of duty , max payne and if you organize a carnival in which you can invite people to come and play games i am sure they ll definately buy the game

simply put yes. From a business perspective , it's a very successful industry with a wide audience. I for one hope to become a game developer and i hope the industry grows in more areas, like the middle east.

Though i think passion is what determines a successful game among other factors but to keep it short and as others have mentioned the evolution of games and how it's become a multi billion $ industry, then yes it should be taken very seriously. But personally i hope it's isn't treated like a normal business where the only factor is generating money and instead to create passionate games as this is what made it the industry it is today.

actually it is serious industry45 years ago since Atari was the leading company for videogames.

Yes.

Habit change--More usage of I phones--A need to refresh mind from serious work nature --Already game industry gained strength by its divergent usage among the young and old--There is no going back--All want to explore new gaming solutions---Prospects are bright and no serious threat for  this kind of gaming solutions. 

Exploiting the need of the modern society and brain-washing the new gen or Gen-X .........

Games are addictive and consume your time/effort and money. 

In the Middle East, South Asia and some other regions, video games are still frowned upon and merely nudged off as a childish thing. This school of thought is being clouded at a rapid pace by the undeniable advancement and profitability in the gaming industry.

Let us consider the example of the game "Call of Duty: Ghosts", which exceeded $1 billion in sales on its first day of release. The COD franchise over the years have earned over10 billion USD in sales. and that is just the one video game. The growth of online gaming has spawned a new kind of addiction.

According to a report by Forbes, the global videogame industry is predicted to grow from $67 billion in2012 to $82 billion by2017, surpassing sales in the film industry.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2012/07/18/new-reports-forecasts-global-video-game-industry-will-reach-82-billion-by-2017/

by the amunt of money they making yes it is a serious entartainment business that most young lads are addicted to and it deals on a global scale