Google Wants In: “Platform” For Gaming, Hardware and or Streaming

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https://kotaku.com/sources-google-is-planning-a-game-platform-that-could-1827217387/amp


Over the past few months, the wildest rumors in video game industry circles haven’t involved the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Two. The most interesting chatter has centered on a tech company that’s been quietly making moves to tackle video games in a big way: Google, the conglomerate that operates our email, our internet browsers, and much more.

We haven’t heard many specifics about Google’s video game plans, but what we have heard is that it’s a three-pronged approach: 1) Some sort of streaming platform, 2) some sort of hardware, and 3) an attempt to bring game developers under the Google umbrella, whether through aggressive recruiting or even major acquisitions. That’s the word from five people who have either been briefed on Google’s plans or heard about them secondhand.
 
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I hope they don't succeed. Google has becoming too big & this will increase their influence. Given more influence to fewer entries always smells bad.
 
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Google could be very relevant in 5 years if they can figure out how to start some projects now that turn into AAA IPs in 5 years...which is when streaming will begin to work well for average consumers. They don’t need to sell consoles so their barrier to entry is minimal. They simply need good software.

I don’t see it being dangerous for the industry. They’ll push Microsoft and Sony. 5 to 10 years when 5G and 5ms latency is mainstream around the world, it won’t cost consumers much of anything to enter a new ecosystem. If Google is peripheral agnostic as well as hardware agnostic, why wouldn’t you log into their app and buy an exclusive that looks good?
 
Good read:

https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/29/17519074/google-video-game-console-exclusives

Conclusion:

"So for now there’s no reason to be interested in Google’s moves from the point of view of the players, because there has yet to be any news that would indicate Google knows how to make a new console attractive to publishers or players. Streaming is going to be a non-starter for a large number of players around the world without the necessary connections, so it’s hard to take companies seriously on that issue until they announce a plan to somehow improve internet speed and availability for much of the country.

Google may be taking meetings, but it’s not time to get excited or concerned about its gaming efforts yet."
 
My favorite part of the Polygon article...

"Kotaku’s report does suggest that Google may just buy a few developers to gain instant exclusives to its platform. That approach seems antiquated in 2018 — and players may in fact turn against Google due to being forced into buying a new box to play their favorite games if the exclusives are big enough. It’s a risky strategy."

Um, no. Microsoft just did it and was overwhelmingly congratulated for doing so.
 
My favorite part of the Polygon article...

"Kotaku’s report does suggest that Google may just buy a few developers to gain instant exclusives to its platform. That approach seems antiquated in 2018 — and players may in fact turn against Google due to being forced into buying a new box to play their favorite games if the exclusives are big enough. It’s a risky strategy."

Um, no. Microsoft just did it and was overwhelmingly congratulated for doing so.


Technically they bought devs that either only worked with them or have one to a handful of titles under their belt with no sequels.

Had they bought one where it would significantly effect other consoles like say Capcom there would be a huge uproar. Street fighter V fans would um laugh like M Bison
 
Technically they bought devs that either only worked with them or have one to a handful of titles under their belt with no sequels.

Had they bought one where it would significantly effect other consoles like say Capcom there would be a huge uproar. Street fighter V fans would um laugh like M Bison

I can't take this seriously. I'm sorry.
 
Its a race to the sreaming age between MS and google. Ms stuffed up with mobile phones they dont want to be behind in streaming.
 
I don't see a Google inspired platform succeeding. At best, a player for mobile games and cell app stuff. But core gaming still hasn't resonated outside of dedicated beefier platforms like console and PCs.

Google can try the streaming thing like others have tried, but I don't see that working for big budget games either. The lag is too much.

And since Google is a software company at heart, I don't see them coming out with pricey hardware. Although never say never.... MS was a software company too but got into Xbox hardware.

Steam tried it. it sounded easy on paper. Make a streamlined PC box that console gamers can easily use. It has steam UI too. Valve would add console gamers to their PC Steam population...... and they failed miserably. It was so bad, Valve seemed to give up before it even launched. You heard news about Steam boxes and that funky controller..... and that's it.
 
I don't see a Google inspired platform succeeding. At best, a player for mobile games and cell app stuff. But core gaming still hasn't resonated outside of dedicated beefier platforms like console and PCs.

Google can try the streaming thing like others have tried, but I don't see that working for big budget games either. The lag is too much.

And since Google is a software company at heart, I don't see them coming out with pricey hardware. Although never say never.... MS was a software company too but got into Xbox hardware.

Steam tried it. it sounded easy on paper. Make a streamlined PC box that console gamers can easily use. It has steam UI too. Valve would add console gamers to their PC Steam population...... and they failed miserably. It was so bad, Valve seemed to give up before it even launched. You heard news about Steam boxes and that funky controller..... and that's it.


Like Microsoft, google makes some pc, laptops, tablets, wireless speakers and phones.
 
My favorite part of the Polygon article...

"Kotaku’s report does suggest that Google may just buy a few developers to gain instant exclusives to its platform. That approach seems antiquated in 2018 — and players may in fact turn against Google due to being forced into buying a new box to play their favorite games if the exclusives are big enough. It’s a risky strategy."

Um, no. Microsoft just did it and was overwhelmingly congratulated for doing so.
And that's because two of the teams they acquired were already solely making MS games. One studio is brand new and another is a small indie studio. The only one that came out of nowhere was acquiring NT who makes most of their games multiplatform.

MS is congratulated because it combines solidifying their studios with ones that make existing franchises and the newer ones will add more first party diversity, which MS needs help with. And if it means NT never makes games for Sony and Nintendo again, too bad.

Also, it shows MS isn't going anywhere. And in an industry where studios close up shop all the time, MS is investing. They also released X which is praised for its power, functionality and form factor. So gamers can see MS has been making good strides since X1 launched in 2013.

Sony does the exact same thing. During the PS3 days they acquired GG, Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, Evolution Studios. As well as some small players. The big studios mostly made Sony games, so they decided to buy them out to continue the trend. And every Sony fan (like you) surely loved it. Most of PS's biggest franchises now come from these studios.... all from bought out third party devs.

And before that Sony bought out Psgynosis during a time when third party devs were loose and made games for various platforms. There weren't locked up agreements like now. Psygnosis was a popular third party dev who made games for PC and consoles and had roots in Amiga. Sony saw something they liked and bought them out. After a few years, Sony prevented Psygnosis from making games for other platforms and became a sole PS developer.
 
Like Microsoft, google makes some pc, laptops, tablets, wireless speakers and phones.
The key difference with console hardware is that they typically are sold for a loss, or at best breakeven or tiny margins. The goal is to sell a crapload of them and hope to make money off software.

Google computer gadgets are money makers right off the bat. I highly doubt any of their chromebooks, speakers and such are breakeven..... but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe some of these products lose money and Google hopes to make revenue back on ads.
 
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And if it means NT never makes games for Sony and Nintendo again, too bad.

Exactly my point.

It just supports my theory that this industry is filled with entitled, out of touch, whiners.

If Google enters this space they're more than allowed to secure talent via large checks.

It's not "antiquated" (lol) like the article says, and no one meaningful is going to get upset at them for doing so. If Google puts together an enticing product gamers will support it. Doesn't matter how they do it.

The Polygon author should be embarrassed to have his name on that piece.
 
I’m struggling right now...because I find myself agreeing with Sunset on something...which makes me question what drunk texts I sent prior to writing this...

...but what that Polygon writer said was silly. Google can buy their way into relevance...and sure there will be backlash...if the messaging, policies and overall ecosystem are done poorly. If Google buys studios, invests additionally in tools and support and helps push out new quality games, ideas or ecosystem features...be ready to applaud them.

I’m not a Google fan. I have Alexa over Google Home. I have IPhone over Android. I use Apple Maps over Google Maps.

...but just because Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have been around longer doesn’t mean that what’s good for them doesn’t apply to Google. If we applaud Microsoft (and Sony in the past) for buying studios, it’s fine for Google too.

Google could either grow the industry or hurt it. I see no reason to be for or against them without understanding their strategy. Wait and see what they do. Be for the things that are good for the industry. Against the stuff that’s bad. Hold all corporations accountable.

As the walls between AAA games and the average consumer fall, the big console makers are going to become known more as mega publishers and service providers. Whatever play Google makes, it’s more about 5 years from now than right now. Right now is just creating awareness.
 
My main takeaway from the Polygon article is there's nothing to get excited/interested about at this point. Maybe 3 years from now. But lots of stuff can get researched by a company like this, without anything coming of it.

As for the buying up studios thing, I agree with the writer that this can be risky (although I don't think it's an "antiquated approach," as he says). MS's acquisitions came after many years of promises to invest more, and many years of being criticized on this score, so there was almost an audible sigh of relief ("finally!") when they were announced. Another difference is that MS's major acquisitions were either studios that were already Xbox exclusive (Playground #1, Undead Labs) or studios that were building new exclusives from scratch (Playground #2, The Initiative). That's very different than a newcomer moneyhatting a bunch of multiplatforms and making them exclusive, basically forcing people to buy another console just to play games they're used to playing on other systems. That bothers people and would be very different than MS's approach.
 
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But will I be able to read my gmail on it? Which, for the tech-savvy, means, will third parties be able to read my gmail on it?
 
They don't want none of Sony and Nintendo but i always could see someone like Google or Apple competing for Microsoft's spot in the industry. If having the most apps, best online, or third party games is their priority then they could fit in.
 
They don't want none of Sony and Nintendo but i always could see someone like Google or Apple competing for Microsoft's spot in the industry. If having the most apps, best online, or third party games is their priority then they could fit in.


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Nah, if they go in they go in charging....it would a waste of effort not to.
 
Not worth its own thread, but I heard Tommy Tallarico (remember him from that TV show with Victor Lucas, Electric Playground?), who is now CEO of Intellivision, believe it or not, saying that he plans to bring a new Intellivision console to market. Not anything to compete with the Xbox and PS, of course, but something like the Atari reboot.
 
Not worth its own thread, but I heard Tommy Tallarico (remember him from that TV show with Victor Lucas, Electric Playground?), who is now CEO of Intellivision, believe it or not, saying that he plans to bring a new Intellivision console to market. Not anything to compete with the Xbox and PS, of course, but something like the Atari reboot.

Intellivison Classic maybe?

Wasn’t he know for music from the 16-32 bit era?
 
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