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Google to buy Valve?

gary price [PersonRank 10]

Wednesday, September 17, 2008
15 years ago4,202 views

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/09/17/google-valve

DPic [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

What will this mean for software freedom? I mean Google is supposed to be committed to that, right? but Valve makes commercial video games (proprietary) and i couldn't imagine Google freeing those up. Then again, would Google actually want to own the games? Perhaps they would sell those?

Ionut Alex. Chitu [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

Maybe Google will release the games for free and monetize them with in-game ads (http://www.google.com/press/annc/annc_adscape.html).

DPic [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

Oh and what about steam itself? Is there a reason why Google wouldn't free that up? Of course they wouldn't do it immediately but i could still see them doing it. And what about the DRM?

Ionut Alex. Chitu [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

Also read this:
http://www.forbes.com/2008/09/08/google-games-adscape-tech-enter-cx_cm_0909google.html

Mrrix32 [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

Steam is a lot better than Google Updater :P

As for adverts instead of paying for games, I wouldn't mind if they where not that obvious (not 'in your face'), or on loading screens.

DPic [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

I don't know about in-game video game ads. If it's anything like product placement, i would hate it. When will we get to a point where companies just hire tons of people to go out in public an sing praises about a product to or near strangers? Paid product placement IRL!

Mrrix32 [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

You mean you don't see people out on streets in citys handing leaflets out? Or Bill boards all over the place? Or even a friend who keeps going on about an amazing game he's playing?

Anyway blatant product placement makes me think less of the company who's advertising (Unless I really liked the company to start with in which case it stays the same :P)

David Mulder [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

Just read about it, but to be honest I don't expect google to make such a move, especially because I don't see any reason why valve would ever allow such an acquisition. For valve this would mean that it primary focus would become advertisements and this would result in the rest of the company becoming misoriented... although they could simply sell the rest of the company...

David Mulder [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

Aside from that google could also use all the information valve already has in its profiles and combine it with its current advertising network...

Zim [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

Oh, just imagine playing Counter Strike with the Google Bot!

Mrrix32 [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

The news is a lie!

http://kotaku.com/5051164/valve-kills-google-buy+out-rumor

Colin Colehour [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

Google did buy a Adscape Media back in 2007 that was involved in in-game advertisements. I don't think I've seen anything come out of that deal yet.

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

Official answer from Valve : "not true."

Colin Colehour [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

Another post saying it's likely to happen:
<< Google gains Steam with Valve acquisition >>
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Google/?p=1143

DPic [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

Gah >< What is box happeningggg

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

15 years ago #

Garett only read The Inquirer's article, no the denials from other sources ;-)

Tomi Häsä [PersonRank 5]

15 years ago #

Valve's Steam is a "content distribution platform" but what is Steam in _practise_? I don't play games with my computers, but I do play with my game consoles (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii). So, is Valve like Xbox Live and PSN where you can download stuff (game maps, game videos, gamer pictures, music, etc.) from servers and discuss online with your friends? I only have a couple of laptops (and an old desktop PC) which are not meant for playing games, so I can't test Steam to get a real life experience and I'm not planning to buy a new PC for a while.

Gray [PersonRank 1]

15 years ago #

It seems to be hot air, BUT...

If you get creative with the idea of this partnership, it actually COULD work really well. Steam is an EXCELLENT content distribution platform. Imagine Google buys Valve, and with Google behind Steam, it could potentially expand into movies and music. Taking on Apple. I don't know, just spitballing.

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