Google launches social networking initiative, more Farmville than Facebook
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted July 28th 2010 12:24PM
posted July 28th 2010 12:24PM
It looks like there is a social networking initiative in the works at Google, which will presumably start with social gaming (think Farmville) and move outward from there. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company's been in talks with game developers, including Playdom, EA's Playfish, and Zynga (which Google's recently invested in). While sure to incorporate Buzz (remember that?), one thing Google does not want to do is come across as just another Facebook, with Schmidt addressing the possibility thusly: "the world doesn't need a copy of the same thing." OK, then. How about Google Match? We already have an idea for your homepage design. One thing is certain, however: expect the service to be in beta until early 2037.
What is it with excessively long betas on websites? I think Kongregate has been in beta for several years now...
@NCase just because some dork at engadget said 2037 doesn't mean it's actually going to be in beta until 2037.
@NCase in gives them an excuse if there are bugs and google in particular likes to field test their products with the general public whereas apple likes to keep it a secret and only test it with employees and make a big launch when it is (hopefully) bug free. The iphone 4 obviously being where this plan failed miserably
@grundy923
I know satire when I read it. I'm not an idiot.
@grundy923 woah there! I hear that grundy923 is no Charles Atlas himself
@NCase Apparently he however does not...
@NCase
i wish Sony would put Android on the ps3.. Atleast on the ps4.. That would be awesome..
I mean they're already making sony tv's with google tv (android) built in.. why not go ahead and make our ps3's do it? I mean it only does everything!!!
@grundy923
Ya....it might be longer lol
@elijahblake
Android on the PS3? ...how would that work?
If you mean cheap, open-source, open-platform applications and games then hell yeah, bring it on, Sony.
On topic: I have no interest in crap like FarmVille and MafiaWars, but I am interested to see where Google goes with this. If it only manages to bring some new ideas to the table, then at least other companies will gain some new ideas, and that's a good thing. Much like how smartphone gaming has inspired consumer ratings for content on the PS3.
LOL
Google Sex finder, facebook killer
Farmville is definitely not an incentive to swap.
@phlex the incentive to swap is that it's NOT facebook.
@phlex
Yeah really, I have farmville blocked on facebook.
Googles making a good move
@Iamthewalrus dude google has been trying this move for years and failed every time, orkut buzz etc.
@dagetz Except for the fact that Orkut is majorly successful in Asia and that Buzz is nothing like Facebook.
@Iamthewalrus
A good move? For a younger market and/or gamers. But for me? No thanks, I'm a tad to old for games.
@chaddledee I agree totally. Orkut is actually better then facebook in so many ways but non engadget readers wont switch for that reason alone. If there were people on orkut then i would be on orkut straight away but a social network is kinda lonely by yourself haha.
And yes, buzz was more of an attempted twitter killer, i guess i was saying their move into the social networking space in general
@MiddleWay
You're never too old for games. Just have to find the right ones. I'm not just talking about video games here,
@MiddleWay
Ignorant words, you are never too old to play video games, even games like farmville, it's simply whatever thrills your mind. Now, if you are playing some type of very young childs learn how to type adventure game, that's a whole different story, but pretty much anything teen and up, there is no age limit.
Didn't they already try Orkut as a Facebook-killer? Did anyone ever sign up for that?
@jjsavage
No because Orkut sucked/s. Is it still out there?
@glamajamma
Tell Brazil that
Orkut is the only game in town there
@glamajamma
Maybe Orkut will improve over time. It is still only in beta. :)
@jjsavage orkut didnt really suck tho. as a platform its nice and flexible and much better then facebook. Problem is everyone is on facebook and nobody is on orkut which makes a social networking site kinda useless even tho the privacy and tech behind it is better.
@jjsavage I think orkut was meant to be a myspace killer?
@DefPoet is correct, in Brazil Facey is a distant 2nd.
Beta is the new RC, Alpha is the new Beta and Pre-Alpha is the new Alpha.
Don't respond to this comment so you can get on the front page of comments.
@glamajamma Do you really think you have a right to stop people commenting just because they want on the front page ?
What kind of idiot would do that anyway ?
@glamajamma
Well you just ruined your chances by posting that last part.
Sorry.
@fourthletter
I can't stop anyone from doing that but as long as I keep signing my front page posts like that I may bring other people's attention to it.
It happens all the time on Engadget. It basically makes for one long series of replies that have nothing to do with the original post. It is some desperate plea to be seen on the front page.
"HEAR ME! THE INTERNETS MUST HEAR WHAT I HAVE TO SAY!"
@glamajamma stop trolling
@dagetz
Its an anti-troll troll coupled with a fail. I find this funny.
@glamajamma Hm, but if we all reply to the comment above yours, then we can push you off.
@glamajamma
Response, Response, Response, Response, Response, Response, Response. I enjoy spite.
@glamajamma
I like pancakes!
@glamajamma
Why the hell do you care? Everybody replies to first-page posts because everybody else replies to first-page posts and everybody wants to be heard. Read. Whatever. You're bellyaching at people for behavior that makes perfect sense and is completely explained by the enviroment that it occurs in, which is only going to get every one of your posts downranked into oblivion, and makes you look like a clueless idiot. Actually, it makes you look like a douche AND a clueless idiot.
Google making a good move
Meh google should combine buzz and orkut and make one mega thing
@Nintendoftl thats what she said
@hazard96 the he'll it is
@Nintendoftl oops hell stupid motorola keyboard
Article pic not funny. Paul miller fail
@Jordus Jordus fail. Paul Miller didn't write the article.
google is trying to take over the world they started with search engine then they made a browser, then they are trying to make phones, now they are trying to make a facebook cause they know most of the world are on facebook and twitter.
@BallastatuzX Facebook has 500 million people. That really isnt most of the world.
I think Engadget sometimes posts legitimate tech news(like Google creating a social networking site) on alt just to get more alt hits.
what is the real website in the picture?
I think Google is overextending themselves with this one - even if web based content is more up their alley than say software, mobile phones or providing broadband internet. They should focus on aggregation of social networking (which isn't available, yet) rather than develop it. From the tone of this article, it seems there were planning for the latter, but if Google does what Google does, hopefully it will be the former.