Google Wants A Piece Of The Games Biz

[Earnest Cavalli]

Google Wants A Piece Of The Games Biz

A new job listing posted by the ubiquitous search engine firm reveals Google's plot to break into the gaming industry.

A virtual "help wanted" ad appeared on Google's site this morning, seeking a "Product Manager" for the the firm's previously non-existent games wing.

To wit:

We are looking for a strategic, technical and game-loving Product Manager to drive Google's gaming strategy. You will design strategies for game distribution and discovery, player identity, game mechanics, and more. In addition to designing a great user experience and building out key partnerships, you will be significantly influencing Google's social platform as you work directly with a critical set of early adopters, game developers. Interesting and impactful decisions involving social gaming, privacy, virality, business, and technical APIs await you and the strong, passionate team of gamers you will work with.

This being a job listing, it doesn't exactly connect the relevant dots on what Google's plan might be, but Engadget seems convinced the company is eyeing the world of social gaming first and foremost.

"Obviously, with just a job posting to work with, details are scant, but we can tell you that the gaming platform will boast some social features -- an area where the Goog has struggled mightily," the site states, before speculating on how the firm might leverage its existing properties (the Android OS and Chrome browser in particular) toward the establishment of a gaming empire.

If I can play Devil's Advocate for a moment however, I'd like to posit the idea that this "Games At Google" initiative will go off in a wholly unforeseen direction.

If nothing else, Google is a company of creative, brilliant minds, and when they set their sights on a market segment they usually create a huge name for themselves almost immediately. Now, how could a company with vast resources and an army of clever tech folk immediately impress large swaths of the games buying public, immediately earning both immense profits and increasingly valuable positive public opinion?

Exactly. Google is joining forces with Sega to launch the Dreamcast 2*.

It's almost TOO brilliant.

Source: Engadget [http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/uslocations/mountain-view/product/product-manager-games-mountain-view/index.html]

(* - This may or may yes be a lie.)

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[vxicepickxv]

Yeah, I think the Dreamcast 2 part might be somebody's sick fantasy to start a rumor.

I could see Google doing good at games. I could also see them doing poorly at games.

 

[Fayathon]

Google would be heralded for all time if they helped make the Dreamcast 2. That said the successor to the DC wouldn't hold up to the original, not by a long shot, too many people, myself included look back on the Dreamcast with rose tinted goggles.

 

[The-Epicly-Named-Man]

Hey, more competition can only do good for the medium.

 

[viranimus]

NO google, Now please do kindly go away.

Besides why exactly do we want a 4th console? 3 is too much really and all this can do is further divide developers/publishers with "agreements" and exclusives

The only positive I can think of is Google at least would be likely be more willing to allow people to install linux and not remove the functionallity.

Im sorry, I find this to be a horrid Idea, and I know I speak for myself when I say, Google, I dont want your kind around here, So dont let the door hit you on the way out and be sure to take that goofball apple with you when you go.


EDIT: OT In all likelihood this is prolly for the development of android based games and social networking games. At least I hope its relegated to that nonsense.

 

[GroundWalker]

...I SO want this to be true...please be true.
I think I'll go play Soul Calibur on my old Dreamcast...just to celebrate. (Even if it's just a rumor)

 

[Thunderhorse31]

Holy shit, Dreamcast 2?!?

I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT I-

*aneurysm*

 

[vxicepickxv]

Besides why exactly do we want a 4th console? 3 is too much really and all this can do is further divide developers/publishers with "agreements" and exclusives

Who says anyone involved is going to actually use a new system. Platform doesn't always mean new console, or console at all. It's either going to be for Android or for the PC in general.

 

[Earnest Cavalli]

Um, guys? That Dreamcast 2 thing was a joke.

I do not have advance knowledge that Google and Sega are going to launch the Dreamcast 2.




(... or do I?)

 

[GeorgW]

That sounds damn awesome! I want that job! IwantitIwantitIwantitIwantitIwantit!
I'm guessing they'll actually try and take a bite out of Facebook gaming, and being very casual overall.

 

[Beertaster]

From what I can see there is nothing to determine if this is for bigger, console games, or smaller things for some kind of social network. This could be anything.

 

[Alpha Maeko]

Dreamcast 2?

For some odd reason, I like the sound of that, but I dunno...

 

[manythings]

Hey, more competition can only do good for the medium.

Or be the end times!


WOOOOOOOO!!!

OT: Some kind of Android equivalent to Apple's games for iphone and such?

 

[BrotherRool]

They're going to expand on that Angry Birds exclusivity deal they've got for Chrome, merge it with their Android OS apps and try to link them (Possibly even Kongregate style) to add another length of security and make yet another try to break into social networking, probably trying to tie up all their other products (like GMail) with it.

What's more, we know the Google OS design ideal is basically Chrome as an OS with cloud-based applications and information storage. They can turn all their work into Chrome too make their OS a kind of exclusive app-platform to solidify it's a appeal as it very gradually comes into fashion

 

[Dr_Horrible]

I think that they will do games with social elements (if they really start doing games), but I think it will be less Farmville and more like the social aspects of Steam.

...perhaps Google will get into digital distro? I would certainly be interested in that!

 

[iniudan]

I am hoping for Android OS trying to go for compatibility for the video game market and thus maybe finally have a contender with Windows. And since Android is based on Linux it will end up for easy reverse engineering into other Linux distribution, thus finally removing the PC video games monopoly out of Microsoft hand.


P.S. I got right to dream right ?

 

[Ice Car]

Um, guys? That Dreamcast 2 thing was a joke.

I do not have advance knowledge that Google and Sega are going to launch the Dreamcast 2.

I like how everyone missed this comment. XD

OT: Dreamcast 2, eh? I'll get it IF it comes out.

 

[RA92]

Besides why exactly do we want a 4th console? 3 is too much really and all this can do is further divide developers/publishers with "agreements" and exclusives

Exactly. I don't understand why people don't get this. The days of an entire library of games exclusive to that platform are long gone. Everything is going multiplatform these days to recoup the high development costs. If a new console does come out, you'll mostly be playing the same games that the other platforms have.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

If Google keeps going, at this rate, someday they will rule the world.

And people will gladly let them do it.

 

[Dr_Horrible]

If Google keeps going, at this rate, someday they will rule the world.

And people will gladly let them do it.

I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords.

In all seriousness, I don't care if Google has a near-monopoly, as long as they don't turn evil and stop providing us with awesome free services.