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Google Takes on Facebook With Games

Watch out, FarmVille

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 28, 2010 7:13 AM CDT

(Newser) – Google wants to get in on FarmVille and Mafia Wars. The search engine giant's latest run at rival Facebook is an attempt to get a piece of the social gaming pie. Google recently took a financial stake in a social game developer, and is reportedly in talks with other online game companies about offering their games on the new social networking service it is building, the Wall Street Journal reports.

It's not clear when the new service would launch or what exactly it would be, but Google denies it's mimicking Facebook. "The world doesn't need a copy of the same thing," said a Google exec. Social game developers, who give Facebook a 30% cut of virtual purchases made in their games, may welcome the Google offering as a chance to decrease their booming businesses' dependence on Facebook. Click here for more on Google's "Facebook killer."

FILE - This file photo made April 9, 2010, shows a Google banner at the company's headquarters in Mountain View, CA. Google Inc. reports its second-quarter earnings July 15 after the market closes.
FILE - This file photo made April 9, 2010, shows a Google banner at the company's headquarters in Mountain View, CA. Google Inc. reports its second-quarter earnings July 15 after the market closes.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 14 comments
myflap.blow
Jul 28, 2010 5:49 PM CDT
...never fear the Google. The Google is your friend... Tell your babies, "googley-googley-goo"... "Wait a sec, and the menu pops you!... ("googlygooglygoo...") *seriously though, i dare you to try it on your baby kid! ..say it cute now! & give 'em a tickle too!
Altoecko
Jul 28, 2010 11:38 AM CDT
Funny thing is, Google owns majority stake in Zygna (Farmville, Mafia Wars, etc.) so they're making bank regardless.
Lewdac
Jul 28, 2010 8:12 AM CDT
....and as soon as Google appears on the View thier bid for global domination will absalutley complete.

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