New Delhi:
Internet giant Google Inc. is in talks with several makers of popularonline games as it seeks to develop a broader social networking servicethat could compete with Facebook, says a media report.
Attributing to people familiar with the matter, the 'Wall StreetJournal' reported that Google has been in discussions with topdevelopers like Playdom Inc, Electronic Arts Inc's Playfish and ZyngaGame Network Inc, a company in which Google recently took a financialstake, to offer their games on a new service it is building.
However, it is unclear when Google may launch the new gaming offeringand the plans are not finalized, the report noted. Google already ownsand operates social networking site Orkut.
According to the publication, Google's push into social games represents the latest attempt by the web-search leader to capture users and advertising dollars that are increasingly flowing tosocial networking, an area dominated by Facebook, Twitter and others.
For social-game developers, a successful Google offering would meanthey wouldn't be so heavily dependent on Facebook, where the vastmajority of users access the games.