BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese computer maker Lenovo Group plans to launch gaming computers by targeting serious gamers in an effort to push up sales, the company said on Tuesday.

    The company will release a series of new gaming computers, including desktops, laptops and all-in-one computers, in the next few months to win more Chinese gamers who are expected to reach 100 million by the end of 2009, reported Wednesday's China Daily, citing Liu Jie, Lenovo's vice president.

    According to Liu, the company's gaming computers, which are mainly sold between 4,000 yuan (571.4 U.S. dollars) to 7,000 yuan, accounts for 17 to 20 percent of the company's total sales.

    Figures from research firm IDC showed the global economic downturn had dragged down global PC shipments by 7 percent during the first three months of 2009. That has made the world's major PC makers strive to release new products to stimulate consumer demand for technology products.

    Dell, for example, launched earlier this month a high-end game laptop Alianware M17, priced at 1,399 U.S. dollars, in an effort to tap serious gamers.