Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

Google invests $100-200 million in Farmville dev - Report

  • By Eddie Makuch, GameSpot
  • Posted Jul 12, 2010 4:16 pm PT

Tech giant quietly invests not-so-small fortune in Zynga to develop proprietary games; first to debut in 2011.

Sergey Brin and Larry Page founded Google in 1998, which has since become one of the most valuable and influential companies in the world. The company has snatched up YouTube, harnessed the power of Google Earth, and developed the mobile operating system, Android. If reports are correct, the company's next move is a heavy monetary investment in Farmville create Zynga to develop its own stable of proprietary games.

World domination is a grassroots endeavor that starts on a farm.

World domination is a grassroots endeavor that starts on a farm.

According to a TechCrunch report citing "multiple" sources, Google has quietly invested between $100 and $200 million in Farmville and Mafia Wars creator Zynga. Deeper in the report is an estimate of Zynga's worth, claiming that its revenue for the first half of 2010 sits at a colossal $350 million.

However, the sources also reportedly say that that investment is only one small piece of a larger endeavor. According to the blog, Zynga will become the cornerstone of Google's own gaming service, Google Games. No further or more specific details on what Google Games would actually consist of was given.

Outside of the report, a new Google job listing asks for a Product Management Leader of Games. According to the job description, this person would "develop and launch new products and enhance existing products," as well as "establish partnerships as necessary to drive the growth of Google's products."

In other Google gaming news, in May, Google announced the Chrome Web Store, an application that will afford users of Google's proprietary browser the ability to download games like Lego: Star Wars and Plants vs. Zombies to their browsers. The Web store will launch for developers and users later this year.

110 Comments

  • freeuser1

    Posted Jul 12, 2011 2:28 pm GMT

    it always makes me laugh when reading a news story years later...

  • SicklySunStorm

    Posted Jul 14, 2010 4:46 am GMT

    @Pandabear86 @izmickey @xTheExploited - LMAO. FIIIIGHT! ha ha

    on topic, and just going back to Panda's rant - it's true that Google haven't contributed to the advancement of gaming, but then, that's what they're trying to do with this move.... it's like, you don't like them for not doing something, and then when they try and do that something, you tell them they're not or shouldn't be allowed. Damn that's confusing and rather unfair(!?) It's clear that you're confusing your own views purely through some personal malice felt for Google.... would you have felt the same if another completely unknown company wanted to expand into the industry with "yet another" gaming platform? I suspect not...

    We should welcome any and all companies who want to put money into the gaming industry, whatever area.... only when they have tried to invest and then had either a good or bad result, should we cast a judgement. If this $100 - $200m results in a game called "Eugenics : A Google and Hitler presentation", then I will happily throw my cap in your corner in agreement Panda... until then, lets give them a chance shall we?

  • SadPSPAddict

    Posted Jul 14, 2010 1:22 am GMT

    Google take over the earth

  • icy06

    Posted Jul 14, 2010 12:02 am GMT

    Way to much money for some crappy flash games.

  • Elvisdogs

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 8:25 pm GMT

    I find it hilarious that google would invest in the moneysucking blackhole that is Zynga.

    They're so bad that they only have like one game that doesn't have the word "Ville" in the title

  • MooncalfReviews

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 3:50 pm GMT

    Smart move. Girly games are where the money is at now. Look at how many harvest moon games there are. Only difference of course is that HM is actually a really good game, and Farmville is shallow repetitive crap.

  • SunOfAtom

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 3:25 pm GMT

    Farmville is the most embarassing 'game' ever created. End.

  • brain3d

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 2:40 pm GMT

    Aren't all of Zynga's games all EXACTLY the same?

  • RadicalToenail

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 12:26 pm GMT

    Give me $100-200 million and you'd get some awesome stuff. Zynga is going to give you farms.

  • Killingspree303

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 12:16 pm GMT

    Investing hundreds of millions of dollars in web-based games... Google should've invested in their own game developing studio, and then I mean for retail games. Not web-based games. I'm sure they're gonna stuff their own games full of Google ads...

  • GabrielOnuris

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 12:12 pm GMT

    I'm seeing a lot of people concerning about what Google could do with its money. I think this kind of game is very like the Wii itself; it has a totally different target audience than the Ubisofts, Eletronic Arts and Biowares products; Google is a good company, a real money-plant. I dare to say that Google someday will be a real life Umbrella Corp., so they can invest their money where they want. Btw, I like to see my mother play Farmville on her PC, I prefer to play games like Fallout 3, Endwar and Call of Duty, but man, watch my mom so quiet in her room concentrated on this game instead of bothering me about almost everything I do in my life is priceless.

  • ptown58

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 11:58 am GMT

    Ha ha ha ha .

  • NoLifeGamin

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 11:47 am GMT

    .......I guess they are suffering from a disease called I D 10T to come up with this decision.

  • carbonic_acid

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 11:37 am GMT

    I can certainly imagine google doing this.

  • CPM_basic

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 11:14 am GMT

    $100-200 million. Imagine that was actually invested in a team like Project Offset? For sure there are better deserving dev teams, investing over one hundred million dollars in a simple web based game seems like a bad idea.

  • metal_militia89

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 10:53 am GMT

    Wow. I forgot Farmville existed because I blocked the app itself on facebook.

    I don't care about your farm, crops and animals.

  • Steyrvolt posted Jul 13, 2010 10:11 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Steyrvolt

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 10:11 am GMT (hide)

    I'm not even sure how to react to something at this level of stupidity. If there is a bar for stupid ****, then Google just raised it to an unprecedented level.

    Money-making schemes like this (Farmville) should be copied and improved. You don't give talentless companies your money. You rip off their ideas and improve upon them. Welcome to business, Google. I hope you learn your lesson.

  • Inconnux

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 10:03 am GMT

    smart move by Zynga and Google. Facebook is trying to force developers to use their credit system which basically skims a large portion of their profits. If Social gaming can find a way to separate themselves from facebook they will prosper. Blue Frog Gaming (Creator of Starfleet Commander) wrote an interesting article about what facebook is doing to developers.
    http://blog.bluefroggaming.com/?p=27

  • Expo_Smacko

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 9:56 am GMT

    Oh god...

  • wwlettsome

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 9:46 am GMT

    Just imagine if some of those people that jump into Farmville and other "click & wait" games (because you do something and then have to come back x hours later) actually started looking into more serious gaming. I think (Wedbush analyst) Pachter's head might explode from the revenue possibilities. Other then that, all I can say is watch out..."casual" gamers are a faddish bunch. Yes, they offer big dollars in the short run but will they stick around. Or will they be off to the next generation pet rocks in a couple of years?

  • TheTwilightGMR

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 9:21 am GMT

    @THE_DRUGGIE: Unfortunately, the folks in the industry these days are caring more about making a quick buck on a fad game like Farmville and more on genuine creativity. They want to make money and Farmville is a far cheaper way to make a lot more profit. The entire industry will suffer in a big way (if they havent already) because these casual gamer targeted projects are dragging the industry down with them. It's ok, though. In the near future (I predict 2-3 years), the casual gamer base will grow tired of this novelty and the gaming world will see somewhat of a bigger renaissance. It's not that bad right now, though. I mean, think...the companies have postponed a ton of games to 2011 because there is no room in 2010. Why? There are too many games coming out already. Everyone is happy right now, except of course for the Wii owners. They got what? Zelda in who knows how long and Metroid Other M. Thats it. Everybody else has it great though and I dont think these Farmville and Mafia Wars games are taking away from anyone.

  • acerpg007

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 9:05 am GMT

    I wouldn't for that..

  • dylan417

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 8:58 am GMT

    damn someone cashed out big time

  • THE_DRUGGIE

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 8:57 am GMT

    Never really saw the point in Farmville. I can feel myself age watching someone else play it, and I bet that feeling would be even more intense if I tried it.

    Also, this kind of money should have been used to fund independent gaming studios to make an excellent game. Spending hundreds of millions on a property such as this seems like a waste when they could've lent a helping hand to independent programmers looking to prove their talent.

  • fattass21

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 8:36 am GMT

    as adam once said on mythbusters "i wouldnt call jamie an evil genius." well, 'i wouldnt call google an evil genius' XD XD XD but i do agree on one thing tho, i think they should have invested into another gaming industry. but hey, thats how some people start

  • Bortson

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 8:23 am GMT

    Google runs on data and metrics which in turn generates advertising dollars. That will always be their bread and butter.

    I wouldnt be suprised if next move is acquiring a portion of Facebook which itself runs on personal data that people willingly provide. Get the most popular sites on the web under one banner in one massive directed advertising machine

  • FaintRain

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 8:12 am GMT

    I like Google as a company,good products,but still i can't believe people really pay money for virtual farms :s

  • iamtheleg

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 8:11 am GMT

    Wow, that money could have been used on GOOD developers.

  • gbrading Site moderator

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 8:04 am GMT

    Google: Taking over the world one small step at a time.

  • pataponplayer

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 7:57 am GMT

    GoogleStation only $199

  • King_Gamer19

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 7:23 am GMT

    Google will own us all on day

  • kweeni

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 6:08 am GMT

    I wouldn't mind Google making games, but I don't want them to make a console though. 3 is enough.

  • PandaBear86

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 6:03 am GMT

    @izmickey

    Like as if there isn't enough competition in the gaming industry already. We don't need Google as well. And no, I did not give myself a thumbs up (I dont think its even possible), nor did I give you a thumbs down (I only give thumbs down to people who insult, and you did not insult me). Me and you aren't alone on this website. It might be likely that somebody else did it? :/

  • PandaBear86

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:58 am GMT

    @xTheExploited

    Well you can define anything as a platform nowadays, but the truth is that there are numeorus platforms competing with eachother and its fragmenting the gaming market too much. Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Steam, GamersGate, Impulse, Direct2Drive, OnLive, Gaikai, Nintendo DS, 3DS, PSP, iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone 7, Android store, Chrome store, and Google wants to add ANOTHER platform into the mix? I think you get what I mean. Competiition is wonderful thing, but I dont think that many platforms are truly neccesary, especially in this economy.

  • izmickey

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:56 am GMT

    @PandaBear86 You just proved my point. You said "Nintendo wasnt involved in gaming either when they started either".....same thing can be said about Google. You act as if companies cant or shouldnt expand. You clearly have something against Google. Is Google not supposed to contribute to the advancement of the gaming industry? In the end people will benefit from the competition. Well thats all i gotta say. I dont think we will agree. Later. By the way...did you really give me a thumbs down and then gave yourself a thumbs up?

  • supershyguy65

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:55 am GMT

    Sad that the most popular game ever is ****ing Farmville.

  • PandaBear86

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:50 am GMT

    @izmickey

    Nintendo wasnt involved in gaming either when they started either. However, Ninty, Sony and MS contributed to the advancement of the industry before they made their own platforms. Even after making their own platforms, they innovated in many ways. What contributions have Google made to the games industry?

  • xTheExploited

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:50 am GMT

    @PandaBear86

    I suppose you could classify those as platforms but then you are taking away the right to compare it to Sony or Microsoft because what google is doing is completely different from those two.

  • izmickey

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:47 am GMT

    @PandaBear86
    When Sony and Microsoft started, they were NOT involved in gaming. Maybe indirectly, just like Google. Whats the big deal? Like xTheExploited said, everyone has got to start somewhere.

  • PandaBear86

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:47 am GMT

    @xTheExploited

    The article above talks about Googles gaming service called "Google games". Oh, and they already have the Android app store which has games. You can classify those as platforms.

  • xTheExploited

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:45 am GMT

    @PandaBear86

    Google isn't making its own platform.

  • PandaBear86

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:35 am GMT

    @xTheExploited

    Nintendo wasn't a gaming company in the past either. They made trading cards and other toys. But the good thing about Nintendo, Sony and MS is that they made games *before* making their very own platforms. That seperates them from Google.

  • xTheExploited

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:29 am GMT

    @PandaBear86 everyones gotta start somewhere. Sony and Microsoft weren't originally gaming companies but in the 80s and 90s they slowly edged their way into the gaming industry. They haven't been making video games since day one. Google is doing the same thing as them, its not like they are making a console, they are just investing in a video game company and thats it. They don't own it, they aren't deciding everything they do, they are just investing.

  • Kleeyook

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:29 am GMT

    Go play Harvest Moon!

  • PandaBear86

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:21 am GMT

    @izmickey

    Sony and Microsoft were involved in gaming before the Xbox and Playstation even existed. Sony partnered with Nintendo in the past, and the SNES uses a sound card made by Sony. Sony made games for the SNES such as Dracula etc.

    Microsoft made games for Windows such as Age of Empires long before they invented the Xbox. As for Google? They have absolutely no relation to gaming at all and have done nothing to push the industry forward.

    As for competition... how many companies do you need? Three consoles is more than enough for me. Dont need 15 different companies making their own platforms.

  • izmickey

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 5:15 am GMT

    @PandaBear86
    Relax dude. Whats the problem with having competition? In the end its better for us consumers. Originally, Microsoft wasnt a gaming company, neither was Sony....what do you have to say about that?

  • Marques123

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 4:35 am GMT

    Google never ceases to amaze me with their ability to corner markets. Great move.

  • krytorii

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 4:12 am GMT

    @jlevin860

    Google are already developing the google chrome OS (a linux distribution) and the unbranded version of it, Chromium, is already in alpha testing.

    Google Chrome OS isnt going to be free to download, it will only come pre-installed on computers.

  • emptyjuicebox

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 4:03 am GMT

    So much for "don't be evil."

  • SicklySunStorm

    Posted Jul 13, 2010 4:03 am GMT

    I don't get it myself, but I have to admit they're clever - Farmville has my wife hooked - properly hooked. They would be fools not to make money off it.

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!