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Google Eyeballing Games

Posted by Soulskill on from the world-of-searchcraft dept.

An anonymous reader tips news of a Google job listing indicating the company's interest in building a gaming division. "The broad job posting requires someone to lead the new venture from designing the user experience, working on partnerships with developers and working with the gaming community." According to the posting, they are "looking for a strategic, technical and game-loving Product Manager to drive Google's gaming strategy. You will design strategies for game distribution and discovery, player identity, game mechanics, and more."

69 comments

  1. What are the odds? by ciderbrew · · Score: 1

    Do you think they'll have an off line mode if they make a solo play game? They'll make some form of DRM just to make thinks searchable and show ads.

    1. Re:What are the odds? by pinkushun · · Score: 4, Informative

      Offline web applications is part of the HTML5 specification: http://www.w3.org/TR/html5/offline.html

    2. Re:What are the odds? by ciderbrew · · Score: 0

      thankyou

    3. Re:What are the odds? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Further, the browser in Chrome OS has an API for local file access, meaning that you could have save games on local disk. I suspect that the idea is to get games on Chrome OS (some remote-only, some local but with saving to the cloud as well as local disk.)

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    4. Re:What are the odds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Making sure that all games (and animated graphics) have 10 fps is also part of the html5 specification and seems to be strictly enforced. That would surely have to be a factor in whether or not google adopt this technology for their games...?

    5. Re:What are the odds? by tepples · · Score: 1

      Further, the browser in Chrome OS has an API for local file access, meaning that you could have save games on local disk.

      How much space is a web application allowed to request for both the game resources (CACHE MANIFEST) and the saved state of the campaign (localStorage)?

    6. Re:What are the odds? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      How much space is a web application allowed to request for both the game resources (CACHE MANIFEST) and the saved state of the campaign (localStorage)?

      Last I checked, nobody knew. But since the functionality is being used for Google Docs, I would assume that the answer is "as much storage as the device has".

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    7. Re:What are the odds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope not, unless there's some kind of mandatory user prompt threshold. That's a pretty obvious DOS-attack vector.

    8. Re:What are the odds? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I hope not, unless there's some kind of mandatory user prompt threshold. That's a pretty obvious DOS-attack vector.

      Without having actually seen the software in question I imagine they will use signatures for passing basic thresholds and increaseable defaults for other programs. It's a reasonable assumption given the use of certificates in Android. This is pretty much how HTML5 handles the issue, but with certs too. I'd imagine Chrome OS would boot even with a full user volume, but what do I know?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  2. A strange game... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?

  3. Pick me! by Mitsoid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Gaming company + Google = sign me up... Though I'd never get in :-(

    1. Re:Pick me! by somersault · · Score: 1

      That's the kind of attitude that ensures you won't :p it's the kind of attitude that led to me not doing my final year project in fact, then it turned out if I'd just asked they would have switched me to the project I wanted since the guy who got the project I wanted switched to something else. I was rather pissed off.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    2. Re:Pick me! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought the same thing.... I applied as a lark, and when I heard from the recruiter, I thought "well, this isn't going to go anywhere."

      At the phone screen, it was the same. For the on-site interview, I thought "I might as well enjoy the trip and the free lunch, because they're never going to hire me."

      I was pleasantly surprised when I got an offer (which I immediately accepted before they could change their minds). Once I started working there, I discovered that many of my colleagues had similar experiences.

      So, the moral of the story is, if you're interested, apply, because you never know how it will turn out.

    3. Re:Pick me! by mlush · · Score: 2

      You'll be fine just remember in the interview when Google when they ask "Are you Evil?" don't answer yes

    4. Re:Pick me! by nschubach · · Score: 2

      I replied "Chaotic Evil mostly."

      I guess that's why they never called me back.

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    5. Re:Pick me! by sorak · · Score: 1

      You'll be fine just remember in the interview when Google when they ask "Are you Evil?" don't answer yes

      When they ask "are you evil", show them a booklet with 50,000 pages saying "yes, he's evil", 100,000 pages saying "no he's not", and 2 million pages saying "Is he Evil? Click here to answer..."

    6. Re:Pick me! by Hazel+Bergeron · · Score: 2

      Google today are Microsoft tomorrow. If you have some good ideas, get to work on them yourself. It's more challenging but your work won't be subsumed by a corporate vision which in Google's case comes down to making a lot of money for shareholders by selling targeted ad space. And remember that the pursuit of happiness involves a journey, not a destination.

      There's street cred but no great progress being a grunt in the cool gang. You're passionate: let it carry you.

    7. Re:Pick me! by larry+bagina · · Score: 1

      Paul Graham, I believe, has advocated not hiring engineers/programmers but rather buying up start up companies that demonstrate interesting ideas and technical abilities. Google, Apple, and Microsoft all buy companies (or hire open source developers) for talent rather than products. Hell, a friend of mine got rejected in a google interview, started a hobby project, and was bought out by google 3 months later.

      --
      Do you even lift?

      These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

    8. Re:Pick me! by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      So, the moral of the story is, if you're interested, apply, because you never know how it will turn out.

      Google are an advertising company looking for staff, not the Second Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ recruiting for disciples.

      Get over yourselves.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    9. Re:Pick me! by tehcyder · · Score: 0

      And remember that the pursuit of happiness involves a journey, not a destination.

      How about if your destination is a boat full of drugs, hookers and cash?

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    10. Re:Pick me! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Of course I'm evil, I'm Customer Service!"

  4. Next: World domination by emilknievel · · Score: 1

    Well, there we go. I really wonder when they will enter the movie business, inevitable as it is.

  5. Street view by MichaelSmith · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Google street view would make a great MMO, particularly with augumented reality through android phones.

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
    1. Re:Street view by alostpacket · · Score: 2

      Only on Slashdot can I read a comment like that and think, "yeah, that's a pretty cool idea!" While simultaneously thinking, "holy crap we all need to get outside and interact with real people more often."

      --
      PocketPermissions Android Permission Guide
    2. Re:Street view by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Combine that with their always popular "Find Free Pr0n" game, and there will be nothing else left to do.

    3. Re:Street view by JasterBobaMereel · · Score: 1

      ..these are the two reasons most of us read Slashdot ...

      Cool stuff

      Reminders we should not be like most of the people on Slashdot ...

      --
      Puteulanus fenestra mortis
    4. Re:Street view by Jamu · · Score: 1

      I hope they take the Google Earth flight sim and give that some love. Release it as a standalone product.

      --
      Who ordered that?
    5. Re:Street view by tepples · · Score: 1

      While simultaneously thinking, "holy crap we all need to get outside and interact with real people more often."

      One advantage of video games over real world interaction is that video games alone don't have real-world physical violence with irreversible effects.

    6. Re:Street view by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      The whole point of a VRG or an ARG is that you get outside and interact with real people. Only on slashdot would someone be so rabid to make first relevant post that they miss the point entirely.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    7. Re:Street view by alostpacket · · Score: 1

      I think you misread my post as serious! Seriously!

      --
      PocketPermissions Android Permission Guide
    8. Re:Street view by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      Google street view would make a great MMO, particularly with augumented reality through android phones.

      Yes, games that run at 2 fps are my favourite.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    9. Re:Street view by witherstaff · · Score: 1

      Grand Theft Street View could be fun. Although with craigslist no longer having the adult section how are we going to find hookers for health?

    10. Re:Street view by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I think you misread my post as serious! Seriously!

      I think you misread your post as funny! Hilariously!

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    11. Re:Street view by alostpacket · · Score: 1

      Jeeze dude, way to kill levity. I think you need a trip outside more than most. :)

      --
      PocketPermissions Android Permission Guide
  6. Angry Birds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...now with the Chromium dimension!

  7. GGT by pinkushun · · Score: 4, Insightful

    My Predictions:
    - a Google Gaming Toolkit for making games on their platform.
    - host your games on their infrastructure just like they do with Google App Engine.
    - social networking built into games linked via Buzz, Wave, and your Google account.
    - Profit!

    1. Re:GGT by c0lo · · Score: 1

      My Predictions: - a Google Gaming Toolkit for making games on their platform. - host your games on their infrastructure just like they do with Google App Engine. - social networking built into games linked via Buzz, Wave, and your Google account. - Profit!

      I bet you're right. TFS

      "looking for a strategic, technical and game-loving Product Manager to drive Google's gaming strategy. You will design strategies for game distribution and discovery, player identity, game mechanics, and more."

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    2. Re:GGT by rumith · · Score: 1

      I believe you are mostly correct, except that Google has not one, but two platforms - Android and Chrome/HTML5. Also, Buzz and Wave have gone the way of dodo, so whatever social product will be used (if any), it's likely something that isn't yet available.

    3. Re:GGT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Awesome. These days we're seeing more and more ways for the single entrepreneur to make money without having to work a day job or go to an office.

    4. Re:GGT by lance_of_the_apes · · Score: 1

      I'd be curious to see what kinds of games we're talking about. Social games or triple A?

  8. update their "about us" page then? by conark · · Score: 1

    i think it's time Google finally updates their page describing whom they are. i think they should be perceived an engineering firm rather than just a search engine appliance (or more specifically "the thing that organizes all information"). most likely, people are in agreement implicitly about that, but it feels that they need to explicitly come out and say that are focused on engineering problems. that little bit of perception probably will go a longer way for them.

  9. Their previous experience was successful by gmuslera · · Score: 1

    Maybe this is still receiving enough visits to make them think that would be profitable.

    1. Re:Their previous experience was successful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All of their widgets could qualify as games or features inside of games. Leveraging Google's core capital - breadth of observation - could result in reactive in-game content presented through mini-game devices instead of outright advertising.

      Social becomes simple with a few interesting widgets. A guitar shop where you can pick out the latest rock single and twist a couple oscillator knobs, trade gear (custom modules), or attend streamed events would fit right in with the evolution of gaming.

      Anyhow, I don't see anyone making another Second Life and click arcades seem saturated.

      In support of the Pacman concept, I find simple reflex games are flat out fun. Snippet or portal style look-ins never seem to go out of style, either.

      Speaking of which - I always know people that are into aquarium desktops/screen-savers even if they don't have aquariums... whoever gets this job should dress up the submarine applet with controls on fish generation, depth, fauna, etc.. and make it a more fully realized environment... Not really a game, but it plays to the same fix and will keep the division from being viewed as simple habit tracking mill.

  10. TELL THEM TO STOP OR THEY'LL GO BLIND !! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Google, always out fucking up something !!

  11. Confused by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    I already thought "Google" was a game.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:Confused by nyctopterus · · Score: 1

      No, it is gamed. Different things.

  12. Another Swat at Facebook? by Bieeanda · · Score: 0

    I suspect this is another attempt at tying social networking into their data mining, rather than anything elaborate like a Steam-alike or diving into AAA title development. Rather, something that can easily plug into iGoogle (does anyone actually use that?) and very likely designed to play nicely with typical Android phone form factors, with an eye toward collaborative gaming. They tried the stick approach with Buzz, and got swatted for it. This time they'd be offering to trade pretty Farmville sprites for your social network data.

    1. Re:Another Swat at Facebook? by lance_of_the_apes · · Score: 1

      Possibly true and if so, that is a lot less interesting.

  13. Slightly different hiring criteria in this div by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We're going to need to see your college transcript.

    Electrical engineering 3.96 GPA? Wow you must've been a barrel of laughs to spend four years of college like that, with all the creativity of a concrete post. Sorry, you're not hired.

  14. On a Related Note... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Anyone else get the sneaky suspicion that this may be related to yesterday's news that an unknown buyer has offered PopCap $1B USD for the company?

    1. Re:On a Related Note... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      shhhhhhhhhhh, the fact that Flash has almost completely taken over and now dominates computer games isn't mentioned around here.

      (it really really upsets some people when they hear stuff about the real world).

  15. As one said by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Everything that rises must converge.

  16. Not Surprised by tbannist · · Score: 2

    I don't find this at all surprising. With the growing convergence between consoles, portable gamin, and cell phones it seems inevitable that Google will have to get in on the action. I'm not sure where they're going to go from this, but I could easily see a Google console eventually. It could be used to drive GoogleTV adoption and could be a hub for gaming on Android devices, thus working to promote Android as well . They are also likely to be looking at first party games for Android as killer apps to drive market share.

    It's a pretty obvious next step, really. I don't know if it will succeed, games and game consoles are a very different business, and unless they are looking at producing an open gaming platform (Chrome Console?) it'll be very different from almost everything Google has done up until now.

    --
    Fanatically anti-fanatical
    1. Re:Not Surprised by Krneki · · Score: 1

      For now, whatever they did was the most open platform you could put your hands on. They might not be an open source company, but they are quite open.

      --
      Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
    2. Re:Not Surprised by yarnosh · · Score: 1

      Wow, and I thought that building a laptop that could only run a web browser was dumb. A game console that only runs Chrome. Now that's just absurd. ;-)

  17. My bet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Massive Multiplayer Online Search Engine!

  18. Popcap Games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wasn't there a mysterious company that was floating an offer to Popcap for one billion dollars? Do we know any companies that can afford something like that?

  19. hmmmmmm by james_van · · Score: 2

    hmmmmmmmmm, not sure how i feel about this.

  20. No publicly traded major record labels by tepples · · Score: 1

    Google really should spend the development money to buy record labels and end the senseless suing.

    It wouldn't be as easy as a hostile takeover because none of the four major record labels are distinct publicly traded entities. Sony Music Entertainment is part of Sony Corp, Universal Music Group is part of Vivendi, EMI Group is part of Citigroup, and Warner Music Group is part of Access Industries.

  21. OK by Forty+Two+Tenfold · · Score: 2

    There you go.

    --
    Upward mobility is a slippery slope - the higher you climb the more you show your ass.
  22. BRB by silentcoder · · Score: 1

    making a resume...

    --
    Unicode killed the ASCII-art *
  23. In game advertising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    More games with advertising inside them. joy.

  24. Kevin Butler by daboochmeister · · Score: 1

    Perfect for them ... and he's probably looking for a job right about now.

    --
    "Ahh! I see you're in that indeterminate Schrodinger state where - oh, uh ... never mind." Dave Bucci
  25. A game suggestion I just made to the Virgle list by Paul+Fernhout · · Score: 1

    http://groups.google.com/group/virgle/msg/1c59bf9a35454b51

    Basically, one could write educational games for Android (like on understanding socioeconics), and in three years, when people replace their current Android phones, the used phones could go to materially poor nations for kids there to learn from all the free educational software.

    --
    A 21st century issue: the irony of technologies of abundance in the hands of those still thinking in terms of scarcity.
  26. designer clothes wholesale by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

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  27. FTFY by mick129 · · Score: 1

    Google is an advertising company. I think you meant: Google gaming eyeballs

    --
    Move along, no sig to see here.