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story category Google To Buy Valve?
Rumors surface...
(old news - 10:18AM Wednesday Sep 17 2008)
tags: business · gaming · Google
The Inquirer is reporting that search giant Google will soon be purchasing video game developer Valve, which you might consider a strange purchase unless you're familiar with Valve's broadband game distribution platform, Steam. While Steam started off with a few hiccups and bandwidth struggles we highlighted at the time, Valve has since built the platform into a formidable distribution system and social gaming engine. When getting off the ground, Valve approached several major players (like Yahoo and Microsoft) for help, but nobody was interested. The latest Steam statistics show that frequently, 1.2 million of Steam's fifteen million plus registered gamers are using the system at any one time.

Update: Valve is claiming that the report is a "complete fabrication."

Related:
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  2. Google Voice Invitations Going Out
  3. Australia's Net Filters To Target Games, Too
  4. Google Voice Ban Is Clear Network Neutrality Violation
  5. Onlive Streaming Gaming Service Enters Open Beta
  6. What Network Neutrality Is REALLY About
  7. AT&T Invests In Onlive Streaming Gaming
  8. How Google Voice Could Change Everything
Forums » Google To Buy Valve?
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Post a:
page: 1 · 2

rudnicke
Premium
join:2004-10-23
Rantoul, IL

Oh great!

Guess I better enjoy my games before Google starts injecting ads into them.

DaMaGeINC
The Lan Man
Premium
join:2002-06-08
Greenville, SC
clubs:

1 edit

Re: Oh great!

Google is good. Stop your whining. Would you rather Yahoo or EA buy Valve????

Paulg
Displaced Yooper
Premium
join:2004-03-15
Neenah, WI
clubs:

Re: Oh great!

if thats the choice we have, EA or google... hope to god for google.

EA sucks.
viperlmw
Premium
join:2005-01-25

Re: Oh great!

I guess I like Command and Conquer to much. I also seem to remember some other EA games I liked (to old to remember). So I guess I disagree that EA sucks.
inurenegade

join:2006-06-11
Wilmington, DE

Re: Oh great!

I like command and conquer also. Every game i have purchased so far has not had any drm. Hopefully Red Alert 3 will be the same way... And i don't think Google buying valve is a bad thing at all.
biaachmonkie

join:2001-04-27

Re: Oh great!

Nope, your SCREWED. EA is polluting Red Alert 3 with the same DRM garbage BS that they put into Spore. I was in the beta, and as soon as I heard that, I uninstalled it. I'm done with EA's crap.

FiL
Premium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD
most of the better C&C games came out when EA wasn't the franchise owner.

Tomek
Premium
join:2002-01-30
Brooklyn, NY
Best C&C Games came out when Westwood was developing them.
Good old days. C&C3 wasn't bad, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the original.

anonnnnnn

@rr.com
I would rather have Yahoo then Google, but EA? EA = NOWAY

DaMaGeINC
The Lan Man
Premium
join:2002-06-08
Greenville, SC
clubs:

Re: Oh great!

Yahoo over Google?????? WHAT!!!!!!!!!! Please tell me you are not going to have any kids!

dsldude08
Premium,VIP
join:2008-01-03
La Crosse, WI

Re: Oh great!

lol

Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA

EA has been playing relatively nicely recently. EA also doesn't have a record of your whole life down to what commercial you get up to drop a deuce while you watch Lost. I'd rather have EA.

Either way, I seriously doubt this is at all true at this point. It would be more believable if it were Microsoft.
Cune

join:2005-06-02
West Des Moines, IA

Re: Oh great!

Microsoft had their chance and passed on them. So did Yahoo.

Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA

Re: Oh great!

Doesn't mean they wouldn't offer at a later point. Google and Valve don't seem to be a good fit.

Valve has a very different style of developing games that would likely conflict with the interests of management at a larger company. I seriously doubt that they will sell out until most of the founders are ready to retire/leave.
axus

join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC
Google isn't always good, and they can always get worse. Nobody starts out intending to be a monopoly that behaves badly.
biaachmonkie

join:2001-04-27
Why does anyone have to buy them? If they are successful why can't they just continue on their own?

bear73
Metnav... Fly The Unfriendly Skies
Premium
join:2001-06-09
Grand Forks Afb, ND
·Midcontinent Commu..

Re: Oh great!

one word. GREED.

a profitable business plan can mean long-term profits and long- term wealth, OR you can sell for a butt-load of cash NOW and get rich quick.

then you can concentrate on the Next Big Thing...

not to mention everyone seems to want everything NOW instead of working hard, saving, and accumulating wealth oer time.
--
If ya gotta go, Go with a SMILE!
»www.thereligionofpeace.com/

drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs:
·wavebroadband

interesting. the platform only took off due to the popularity of counterstrike back then. I used it. I hated it. I will likely never purchase another game from that system again. Too many problems with not being able to play in a LAN setting if there was no internet.

However, I do wonder why they didn't approach the Penny Arcade online distribution platform. It's named something with "green" in the title.
--
Come play Mafia!

dnoyeB
Ferrous Phallus

join:2000-10-09
Southfield, MI

Re: Oh great!

Me too. I like Half-Life 2. I put up with Steam because I was forced too. I hate it, and it has kept me from following Half-Life into many of its subsequent additions and enhancements. I love the idea of something to prevent hacking so we can have a fair game. But I can't stand all the junk with Steam.

Plus I paid for my game and I still have to watch Steam adds for more games. Its offensive.

I can't stand installers putting icons on my desktop without asking, I certainly can't stand the way Steam injects itself into my experience.
--
dnoyeB
"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard. " Ecclesiastes 9:16

beatsnpieces

join:2007-12-17


2 edits

Re: Oh great!

said by dnoyeB See Profile :

Plus I paid for my game and I still have to watch Steam adds for more games. Its offensive.

I can't stand installers putting icons on my desktop without asking, I certainly can't stand the way Steam injects itself into my experience.
What ads are you referring to?? I have Steam running on my system 24/7 for the last 4 years and not once have I ever seen an ad. There is the Steam Update News page that sometimes pops up when starting Steam that shows any newly added games or sales which can be turned off within the settings menu. A page that sometimes pops up to inform you of newly available games hardly counts as invasive advertising. Also you can set Steam to go directly to your games list when it starts instead of the store page, again in the settings menu.
Every time I have installed a game with Steam (that would be hundreds of times at this point) the last thing that happens at the end of every install, without a single exception, is it asks "Would you like Steam to place a shortcut on your desktop?" at which point you can say no. It's amazing how much better software works when you learn how to use it and pay attention to what it's doing and what it's asking you.
fenix_jn

join:2006-12-28
Miami, FL

Re: Oh great!

Yep. True. I have Steam since theyreleased HL2. I never seen any ads either outside or in game (like certaim BF versions). As far as invasive, yes they require steam to be running in order to launch games but still you can use 'offline mode'.

drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs:

Re: Oh great!

Every time steam loads itself for me, it pops up with an ad.

spewak
Kiss It, Kiss It Real Good
Premium
join:2001-08-07
Elk Grove, CA
·SureWest Internet
·FrontierNet Intern..

said by rudnicke See Profile :

Guess I better enjoy my games before Google starts injecting ads into them.
Oh, Google will inject something into them alright!
--
The weekend is here, grab a can of beer!

NightLinks
Premium
join:2001-06-04
Bronx, NY
I would also like to go with google.

I just hope that they don't change anything and keep everything the way it is.
--
Noobgamers.com
cornelius785

join:2006-10-26
Worcester, MA

as long as the ads being added into games fit the theme and feel of the game and are not obtrusive (no ads should alter the game play to make it easier or harder and no gigantic ads that cover walls), i probably wouldn't mind too much. i think it would be pretty hard to add ads to the hl2 universe or tf2 without destroying the feel, but CS seems more plausible. instead of generic computers, why not a computer by a real brand? would gun manufactures pay to push their guns into CS? instead of generic bottles and cans, why not coke or bud or smirnoff?

could be pretty interesting if the ads get hacked or adult orientated ads get mixed in, could lead for some interesting reactions.

NOZIREV

join:2008-07-10
New Bedford, MA

Steam

Steam already uses a good amount of ads as it is i dont think that it will get any worse.
--
"Citius, Altius, Fortius" [Faster, Higher, Stronger]
cornelius785

join:2006-10-26
Worcester, MA

Re: Steam

yeah, i know. when you startup steam, i'll get 0-3 ads to buy game X or game X has a price special or game X is free for the weekend. the 'home page' is more or less a store to buy games (doesn't seem too far off from just being considered an ad).

NOZIREV

join:2008-07-10
New Bedford, MA

Re: Steam

i agree completely

swhitney2003
I can't drive 55.
Premium
join:2003-06-13
NH
clubs:

.

Give it fuel, give it fire, give Google all it desires.

Jwobot

join:2002-08-14
Sterling Heights, MI

So much for company slogans

"Don't Be Evil!" Whatever happen to that slogan Google? Stop trying to take over the world.
hottboiinnc
ME

join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH
·Time Warner Cable
·buckeye cable

Re: So much for company slogans

very true. What's going to happen is they're going to buy so much at once and not turn a profit on anything. Their entire company will start go to down hill.

nothing good comes from keeping your services in "beta" for years and under lock and key to join.

The only thing they're doing that helps the community is Grand Central which was fine without them. Google took over and locked them down. for what reason? they can control it all.

They're starting to be worse than Microsoft as far as control.

R4M0N
Brazilian Soccer Ownz Joo

join:2000-10-04
Glen Allen, VA

1 edit
Why is it that when a company becomes successful and tries to expand, they start being labeled "Evil"?

See 6 replies to this post

swhx7
Premium
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia
·RoadRunner Cable

As someone suggested below, maybe Google will improve features of Steam that map to Google services, such as calendar and email. That could be beneficial to users. And Google as a gaming hub? Welll...

I'm certainly never going to install any closed-source application on my computer if Google is involved in it. If it is eventually required in order to use Google services, I'll have to abandon Google.

The Google toolbar is treacherous enough. Steam is an even more powerful application. To have this installed on millions of PCs and reporting back to an omnivorous data-mining company would remove any remaining validity from the "don't be evil" slogan.

Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA
·Cox HSI
·Verizon FIOS
·Cox VOIP
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·Time Warner VOIP


1 edit

I don't like change

I used to hate Steam but now I dig it big time, especially since I don't have to carry discs or use no cd cracks to play on multiple machines. As far as ad injection, I opposed the premise at the time but in playing the games I actually like it a bit. Yeah, I voted against before I voted for it

It's the unknown that I'm not a fan of. I don't like media consolidation and when I have so much dough tied up in Steam titles and we see changes like this it makes me nervous. Nothing may change, a lot may change.

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
·AT&T Midwest
·Site5.com
·Comcast

Re: I don't like change

said by Dogfather See Profile :

I used to hate Steam but now I dig it big time, especially since I don't have to carry discs or use no cd cracks to play on multiple machines. As far as ad injection, I opposed the premise at the time but in playing the games I actually like it a bit. Yeah, I voted against before I voted for it

It's the unknown that I'm not a fan of. I don't like media consolidation and when I have so much dough tied up in Steam titles and we see changes like this it makes me nervous. Nothing may change, a lot may change.
Best comment I have read in this section so far. Its the unknown that makes me nervous as well. Same with everyone who buys games from Steam. To see a system like Steam that has come so far and is already a major player in game distribution being bought out by Google makes me nervous as well. What I can say is that Google does a good job with all acquisitions they have had so far. Take Postini for instance. They integrated it with Gmail and Google Apps to make their spam filtering the best.

This news report is only speculation right now though.

mahony1

@clearwire-dns.net

valve = sooper greed

Valve is taking steam in the wrong direction. VAlve is going to start charging per hour of play if google does not step in
ender7074

join:2006-11-21
Saint Louis, MO

Re: valve = sooper greed

Want to post a source for that pile of BS? Didn't think so.

Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA

Re: valve = sooper greed

said by ender7074 See Profile :

Want to post a source for that pile of BS? Didn't think so.
I just love when people bash valve for being greedy. They've probably given away more free content than any other game company ever.
ender7074

join:2006-11-21
Saint Louis, MO
·AT&T Southeast

Re: valve = sooper greed

said by Combat Chuck See Profile :

said by ender7074 See Profile :

Want to post a source for that pile of BS? Didn't think so.
I just love when people bash valve for being greedy. They've probably given away more free content than any other game company ever.
Agreed! They are one of the few player oriented gaming stuidos left unlike EA and the other giants.

Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA

Re: valve = sooper greed

said by ender7074 See Profile :

Agreed! They are one of the few player oriented gaming stuidos left unlike EA and the other giants.
Now don't get me wrong, most of it isn't truly "free", it's just that they've found a way to make working for them for free beneficial (as in modmakers creating new content and the fact that much of the free content that they produce is there at least partially to test new gameplay concepts for their next game.) It's symbiotic.
--
The world’s elusive, remember
where love's the leaf
faith, the river
what's born as flame dies in ember
see for yourself!
d50man

join:2002-08-27
Hickory, NC

OMG NOOOOOO!

i like valve and steam but after what google did to youtube i don't want any part of this deal.

playing since halflife first came out when my pc had a 56k modem and overclocked PII 450mhz with 3dfx video

I just got the ID pack a few weekends ago even tho i already owned and lost most of those games just to have them again

mahony

join:2000-06-24
Modesto, CA

Re: OMG NOOOOOO!

actually I was playing HL way before a 450mhz came out

HotRodFoto
Premium
join:2003-04-19
Denver, CO

Re: OMG NOOOOOO!

TFC in '99!!!
Stu Pidaso

join:2006-10-12
West Islip, NY
I still have the original box and my 2 3DFX Voodoo 2s that can run in SLI (in the attic though)
spectra

join:2000-07-21
Tempe, AZ
Yeah, I bought Half-Life in Dec. 1998 when I had a Pentium 200 (NO MMX), 24 meg of ram, 3dfx voodoo card. Ran like a pile of turd, but it was fun.

gaforces
United We Stand, Divided We Fall

join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA
·Cruzio Internet

Remember when Sierra ran the show through the WON servers?
It took months for any problems to get fixed waiting for the corporate turds to get things running.

Oh, my OC celeron 300a w v2 sli smoked the p2 450
I was in clan SMACK smacking on LPB's in HLDM with my 56k.
--
There is no greater sign of a general decay of virtue in a nation, than a want of zeal in its inhabitants for the good of their country. ~ Joseph Addison

LaZ3R
Premium
join:2003-01-17

What the hell...

Weird move... Very interesting.

odd

@direcpc.com

Re: What the hell...

i don't know anything about this,but is there any way that they could shut down the game and use it for providing internet like i said i don't know nothing about this system,but find it odd that google would buy a game system unless they have other intentions for it?

bear73
Metnav... Fly The Unfriendly Skies
Premium
join:2001-06-09
Grand Forks Afb, ND
·Midcontinent Commu..

Re: What the hell...

I don't think so. STEAM is a game verification and patch/updater software, among otehr things. it prevents pirating of games and cheating in on-line play (to some degree)
--
If ya gotta go, Go with a SMILE!
»www.thereligionofpeace.com/

grayfox

join:2007-12-10
Whitby, ON
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Bell Sympatico


1 edit

google steam

Interesting this would be a very good thing.

Especially if they integrate gmail,google calender and Google talk into it and remove the god awful current friends & calender system currently in steam.

Plus with the bandwidth problems valves has when new games are released Google would probably fix that.

Vathral
Premium
join:2002-08-26
New York, NY
clubs:

It's all speculation...

Until I see that Press Release
AstroBoy

join:2008-08-08
Parkville, MD

Now google will have a name to go with that IP address.

Now google will have a name to go with that IP address.
With your name, they get your home address and phone number.

ztmike
Mark for moderation
Premium
join:2001-08-02
Michigan City, IN

Countdown.

Won't be long till Google makes the T-Virus.
--
ZZPERFORMANCE
EPS

join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA

Google Valve?

Hm, this would be a very interesting move that would put Google squarely in the content development business, unless they followed their buyout by immediately dumping Valve's game studios off to someone else (I'd guess EA, which just ended their attempt at a takeover of Take-Two)

TechieZero
Tools Are Using Me
Premium
join:2002-01-25
Wesley Chapel, FL

Google & Valve = perfect marriage

...video game developer Valve

Valve produces video games? They start doing that again?

What's there next product, counter-counter-strike? Gordon Freeman gets married? The well is getting dry with these guys. In fact I think Google and Valve should get along just great. Both are companies that produced something really awesome, and then...and then...ummmmmm....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz

I think Steam is the biggest thing Valve got going right now.
Whohangs

join:2001-01-27
Chicago, IL

Re: Google & Valve = perfect marriage

Guess you've never heard of Portal or Team Fortress 2... Oh, and Left 4 Dead is coming out this November.

FiL
Premium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD

Re: Google & Valve = perfect marriage

Portal and TF2, as good as they are, are add-on's. Atleast Portal's short as is. TF2 is HL2 DM with cooler guns and team work mechanics...

TechieZero
Tools Are Using Me
Premium
join:2002-01-25
Wesley Chapel, FL

said by Whohangs See Profile :

Guess you've never heard of Portal or Team Fortress 2... Oh, and Left 4 Dead is coming out this November.
Yes smartass, I have. I have played every Valve game out, which is not hard to say.

TF2Madman

@sfu.ca

Debunked - Valve Denies Google Buyout Rumours

"Rumour", according to Doug Lombardi.

Link:
»www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/54784
JoeBubba

join:2006-11-20
Farmingdale, NY

Banner Ads....

in City 17?

beatsnpieces

join:2007-12-17

1 edit

Valve is already in the advertising biz...

Valve has been hawking Breen's Special Reserve bottled water ingame for at least 4 years now... buncha corporate sellouts!

cho0b

join:2006-09-26
united state

Googopoly

Google's bottom line is to make money off of ads.

'nuff said.

Mchart
Super Joe

join:2004-01-21
Gurnee, IL

It will never happen

Valve is making way to much money on their own right now with steam.
cornelius785

join:2006-10-26
Worcester, MA

so mtv says no?

i don't trust the link of to mtv, mainly because it is mtv. if you've read enough rumors, most of the time the companies involved do not comment on rumors and in general, anything they haven't announced. who is to say that Doug Lombardi (the guy supposedly questioned at Valve) is 'out of the loop' when it comes to the Valve + Google deal? i'll wait till google officially denies the rumors, Valve denies the rumors, or a gamer oriented site asks valve. even then i'll expect a complete denial.
Samwoo

join:2002-02-15
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA


1 edit

Re: so mtv says no?

1. The inquirer is not more credible than MTV.
2. Valve is not a publicly traded company, so Doug Lombardi, marketing director and public voice of valve, doesn't follow the same rules or procedures as them (they may be fine with discussing rumors without a press release).
Forums » Google To Buy Valve?page: 1 · 2


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