Google Likely Developing Facebook Gaming Adversary

[Tom Goldman]

Google Likely Developing Facebook Gaming Adversary

Social networking games are big business, and Google wants in with its own Facebook competitor.

Whether you love or hate social networking games, prepare to see a lot more of them. Sources at the Wall Street Journal [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703292704575393531040685308.html] report that Google has been in talks with top social gaming developers to have their games offered on a service it hopes will compete head-on with Facebook.

Facebook's 500 million members bring tens of millions of players to social networking games such as Zynga's Google Buzz [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/101249-Zynga-Rides-Into-the-Wild-West-On-FrontierVille], though it may incorporate Buzz features.

Sources say Google has been in talks with many social gaming developers such as Playdom, EA's Playfish, and Zynga. Google recently invested $100 million [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102005-Google-Invests-Over-100-Million-Into-Zynga] in Zynga alone, lending credence to rumors of a new Google-owned social gaming destination.

Don't expect a Facebook clone, as Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said that "the world doesn't need a copy of the same thing," though he didn't confirm the future launch of a Facebook rival. At this point, it seems to be only a matter of time before Google reveals what it's up to, because every indication is that Google wants a piece of what Facebook has going on in the gaming space.

Source: WSJ [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703292704575393531040685308.html]

Permalink

 

[Fox242]

Aye. The internet does not need more of this! Do we really need a split in the uber-casual market? Do we? We don't need a civil war between the Zynganites and the Googlers.

 

[tomtom94]

Oh yes, because Buzz was such a roaring success.

Is it just me who can only see this failing?

 

[Jared]

Well, dosnt surprise me to see Google casting there lot in with the rest of them...everyone on the bandwagon!

 

[Stabby Joe]

Google already know all and see all... now they must own all!

 

[Premonition]

Who the hell would want a Facebook clone? It's like the least accessible social network site in the world! Thank god Google is bringing something new in. maybe it won't suck.

 

[Heart of Darkness]

It's bad enough the head of Facebook thinks its a bad idea for people to trust them with private information. Imagine what would happen if Google got ahold of said information.

Forget customized ads. Now your telemarketer calls will get more relevant!

I think it's going to bomb, like Buzz did (never even heard of it, so assuming it did). It'll be adopted by the Google fans, but I don't expect it to jump off from there. I mean, c'mon, it won't have FarmVille!

 

[TheJwalkR]

The only reason I ever played farmville(yes I know... I played it..but I have quit now) was because I spend so much time on facebook to talk to my friends and stuff.

If all of my friends used buzz and we communicated using it I might play a few games.

 

[Waif]

Google sure is a powerful company, and it's good to see that they are finally getting into the gaming side of things. It's definitely a good idea on their part to keep the ball rolling on new features. I am definitely interested in how this is going to unfold ^~^!