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Google Terminates Lively

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the we-hardly-knew-ye dept.

FornaxChemica writes "In a surprise move, Google announced today, both on-site and in its blog, that it will permanently shut down its 3D virtual world, Lively, by the end of the year. This makes Lively one of Google's few scrapped products, and one of the most short-lived, too, barely lasting 6 months. No official reason was given, only that Google wants to 'prioritize [its] resources and focus more on [its] core search, ads and apps business.' Lively might have taken too much and given back too little, even by Google's standards."

20 of 186 comments (clear)

  1. Oblig. by cosmocain · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...They should change the name in Deadely.

    1. Re:Oblig. by Mister+Whirly · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah because outside of Slashdotland (a.k.a. "The Real World") the use of Vista or XP is almost nonexistent. Everybody knows that the masses use OS/2 with Gopher primarily.

      --
      "But this one goes to 11!"
  2. Anthropomorphism by multisync · · Score: 4, Funny

    Google wants to 'prioritize his resources and focus more on his core search, ads and apps business.'

    Google wants to prioritize his resources?

    Well, good for "him."

    --
    I don't care why you're posting AC
    1. Re:Anthropomorphism by truthsearch · · Score: 4, Funny

      Oh, you haven't heard? Google's become a sentient being. Google scrapped the project because there's no reason for him to live in a virtual world when he can simply live in the real one.

      --
      Developers: We can use your help.
    2. Re:Anthropomorphism by iamapizza · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nothing wrong with your cache, Google Lively is just that bad.

      --
      Always proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
    3. Re:Anthropomorphism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Glad I got that unlisted number.

      --Sarah Connor

    4. Re:Anthropomorphism by multisync · · Score: 2, Funny

      Considering this comment, maybe we should be calling the Google "sir."

      --
      I don't care why you're posting AC
  3. Re:Not surprising... by oodaloop · · Score: 5, Funny

    Then again, so was going outside, soap, and leaving the basement.

    --
    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
  4. Re:Mis-quoted by ari_j · · Score: 4, Funny

    The standard rule on Slashdot is that the summary can only correctly quote the original article if it does so in a way that makes context inscrutable. Otherwise, the only option is to horrendously misquote the article.

    The best part here is that the summary uses the right possessive pronoun to refer to the blog that it quotes, but changes to the wrong one in the quote.

  5. Line of thought by Thanshin · · Score: 5, Funny

    > Then again, so was going outside, soap, and leaving the basement.

    "Leaving the basement IS going outside. What's he talking about?"

    "hmm"

    "I should make a post pointing that clear mistake... clickity post reply... Let's see... how to point the mista... waaaaaait a second..."

    OUTSIDE THE ENTIRE HOUSE?!

    1. Re:Line of thought by Enderandrew · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yes, you can even find yourself west of house, next to a mailbox.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
  6. Now let's look back on some stupid reporting by patmfitz · · Score: 5, Funny
    http://blogs.computerworld.com/why_googles_lively_is_great_for_telecommuters

    Remember the date: July 8, 2008. Today is the day virtual worlds go mainstream. The reason is that Google has launched its own 3D virtual world called Lively. It's free. And it changes everything. Especially for telecommuters.

    The current iteration of Lively seems to border on the goofy and cartoonish. But eventually, it's likely that Google's virtual world will become mainstream to the point where enterprises actually conduct real business there.

    Like instant messaging and social networking, Lively will probably start out as a trendy hangout for teens, only later to become indispensable for professionals first for internal communication, then later to replace some business travel and even trade shows and the like.

    Kudos to you, Mike Elgan, for your keen insight.

  7. Good by ethana2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Those resources are better used porting sketchup to linux. You know, after Duke Nukem 3 is out..

    1. Re:Good by ethana2 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Grarghg, Duke Nukem Forever, sorry. Duke Nukem 3 has been out for a while I think.. Comment preview needs to be a post-post edit period.. When you just want to post something, how long are you going to look it over for typos you're sure you haven't made? How do you edit comments here? ..hmm.. Evidently not after posting. Which is just like.. you can't. Blast.

  8. Deadly by oodaloop · · Score: 4, Funny

    when I play a dope melody. Anything less than the best is a felony.

    Ah, the classics.

    --
    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
  9. Re:Good Riddance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    *GOD* that's awful

  10. Re:Not surprising... by HardCase · · Score: 5, Funny

    Shampoo is for posers. I use Realpoo.

  11. Re:Not surprising... by jambox · · Score: 2, Funny

    SOAP? WE use that all the time thanks. Nothing wrong with lightweight text interchange protocols...

    --
    You thought you could break the laws of physics without paying the PRICE?
  12. Re:Good Riddance by vux984 · · Score: 4, Funny

    they can turn search results into 3D experience.

    It's UNIX! I know this!

  13. Re:No, it was Niniane's pet project by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hot? This???

    Seriously dude, eww. I wouldn't screw her with YOUR dick.