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MySpace Jumps Into Games Fray

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 23, 2007 2:42 PM CDT

(Newser) – There are tens of thousands of people in your extended network, and they might be playing Gem Quest come January. MySpace plans to host hundreds of easy-to-learn online games to, as one company VP put it, “enhance the fun factor”—and grab a slice of the game industry’s fastest-growing segment, the Journal reports.

The $380 million segment is tiny compared with the $4.78 billion console industry, but revenue is expected to increase 35% this year. To launch the service, MySpace is teaming with Oberon Media, which provides games for Yahoo, Microsoft, and Comcast. MySpace will differentiate itself by working in social features, like inviting friends to multiplayer games or in-game chats.

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Casual games like Game Lab's "Diner Dash" accounted for $380 million in revenue last year in the US, at twice the growth rate of the console business. (Gamelab.com)

Having already devoted spaces to movies, music, comedy and various other promotions, MySpace is now set to be a hub for casual gaming. (KRT Photos)

Australian media baron Rupert Murdoch, owner of, among other things, MySpace. (Getty Images)

Founder, and official "First Friend" of MySpace, Tom, attends a Hollywood premiere. (Getty Images)

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