Google as a games publisher?

17 September 2008

Posted by:Ferry

While Google has downplayed rumors of the search engine giant entering the game publishing or development industry, the summer release of the company’s online virtual world called Lively raised doubts about that.

Forbes reports that in March 2007, Google acquired in-game advertising firm Adscape for $23 million. Months later at a conference in July 2007, Bernie Stolar, Google’s Dean of Games (and the former head of both Sony Computer Entertainment America and Sega of America) said that the company was solely interested in the advertising potential of games and nothing else. But as pointed out above the shortly thereafter launch of the Lively avatar-based social site raises questions.

Could these be the first steps Google’s taking into the games industry? It wouldn’t be a bad test, and as Forbes suggests they go enter the gaming market from various corners: free ad-supported A+ quality (MMO) games, a flight simulator using Google Earth, or perhaps something simpler like a Pogo and RealArcade webgames site. Who knows what might happen, after all, some rumors suggest the new Google Chrome webbrowser is the company’s first step to an online OS (an Operating System like Windows XP).

Categories: News, PC News

Wow

Chrome is a web browser, not an Operating System – there is a difference.
joe

no one said they were the same

i for one welcome our google overlords
http://www.fatfoogoo.com fatfoogoo

Given that the big G has been making waves with it’s talk of in-game advertising and creating a player-2-player marketplace within Lively, and the rumor floating that they’re looking at a purchase of Valve, Google looks to be going full steam ahead with the ‘get in the game’ program.

Let’s have a random guess at the distribution platform for the upcoming Android device? Mountain View may very well be posed for another full house.