I'm in two parts, firstly I'd like Valve to remain independant as they've had no trouble remaining so and have done very well for themselves in the process. On the other hand Google has a frankly scary penchant for getting whatever it releases/improves/buys pretty damn good.

No, valve put a crowbar through that rumor.

And so one internet giant is trying to expand it's power over another.

With Microsoft holding a decent portion of the gaming community and trying to force a merger with Yahoo to infringe on Google territory, it was only a matter of time until Google struck back.

This'll be yet another way for them to trick me into downloading the google toolbar

"Well placed sources" / "A reliable source" / "an unnamed source"

=

"We made this up:"

Nah

thank god its not true, this would be the biggest failure in the history of gameing, valve the most awesum games dev team ever being bought out by...Google *shudders*

Angron:
thank god its not true, this would be the biggest failure in the history of gameing, valve the most awesum games dev team ever being bought out by...Google *shudders*

What's wrong with Google? Everything they touch seems to turn to profit and awesome.

Short answer, no.
Long answer, Google have as much chance in that venture as if they tried to buy out Blizzard; ie. none.

Probably fake.
Although, it would make sense, then they could compete with Microsoft.

memejoey:
"Well placed sources" / "A reliable source" / "an unnamed source"

=

"We made this up:"

You excpect less from the Inquierer?

In other news, 'reliable sources' report seeing Hilary Clinton egg Sarah Palin's house in the early hours of this morning screaming "it was MY DREAM!!! MY DREAM!!! MINEEEEEEEEE!". Witnesses report Hilary drinking heavily during the incident until Palin shot her.

Leaves room to wonder what kind of games Google will come up with.

ney

Hope not. I'd like Valve to stay like it is, and don't think that being bought out would be the best idea for the consumer.

Seems unlikely that Google will buy Valve. Why would they have any interest in games?

Fire Daemon:
Seems unlikely that Google will buy Valve. Why would they have any interest in games?

Google = Money hungry giant?

Valve = Good source of income.

It does seem unlikely that they would, but it would make sense for them. They're trying to get something that makes millions of dollars.

Google requires more minerals! Damn google, they own enough of the world as it is. Valve could go downhill if they don't keep it independent.

DeadlyYellow:
And so one internet giant is trying to expand it's power over another.

With Microsoft holding a decent portion of the gaming community and trying to force a merger with Yahoo to infringe on Google territory, it was only a matter of time until Google struck back.

Valve is hardly what I'd call an internet giant. Especially when measured up against Google. Though this rumour is just that and nothing more I am noticing some interesting trends in this thread that I would like to point out because I would love to see them go the way of the dodo.

1. Just because you like a company doesn't mean it is a corporate Juggernaut: Valve is a successful and established company with a significant game portfolio and a successful business model. But it is no EA, MS, Vivendi, Google, THQ or GM. If you love it so much, you should accept this.

2. It's dumb to hate companies because they are big: What if Google acquisitioned Valve, how would that make the products worse? Because that be corporate and soulless. Everyone waits with baited anticipation of the next BioWare title since it has been acquired by EA. As much as people hate Microsoft, GoW and Halo seem to be awesome enough. Likely a company merger like this would mean the same people making the same games in the same way with more money. That's good.

3. The idea that a corporate giant is going to fail miserably because of taking on a new challenge or entering into a new industry is tired: So XBox 360 sold more units in Japan last week than Wii. I thought the Xbox was doomed to failure. The PS3 was a gong show for Sony, but you can still buy it and Sony is still pulling in billions every quarter. EA decided not to acquire Take Two and they are in a stock drop, yet I don't see anyone worrying about their jobs with the company. If Google acquired Valve there might be some transition pains and two months of people posting "I told you" to forums. Then they'll all get gmail accounts to access the new features that have come up since the merge.

Meh, its fake - like Gabe said on the Rock, Scissor, Shotgun site:

"Which is all it is... a rumor."

And article went on to say:
"Last year we had the following exchange with Valve boss/owner Gabe Newell:

RPS: I have a friend (an idiot) who is determined that in six months Valve will be owned by either Microsoft or EA...

Gabe: Tell him that I'm not interested in buying either one of them."

I'd laugh with a smile if Valve bought out EA - it'd be a huge undertaking to switch EA's clone-vats onto a Valve style Game's workshop.

Still, I doubt anyone will buy Valve as Valve has money enough to avoid it (I assume its a Public Limited Company? Not a Private LC? Or Gabe's own property?) and presumably the confidences of its owners to make cash.

Now, licensing the code/technology behind Steam, I can see that happening (although I sorely wish EA would abandon their awful EA Download manager for a licensed version of Steam - although they won't abandon their anklet-chain 'Digital Rights Management').

Valve must have been approached to sell loads of times by now, and they haven't. They're not about to sell up to Google, who have no previous history in games and just want Steam.

Doug has killed the rumours.

Well places sources. If that were wikipedia, it would be removed as "weasel words".

At any rate, what I've got from 1fort is it's fabrication. Which he got from MTV's multiplayer, who called Doug Lombardi.

What does buying Valve get Google, anyhow?

This just in: Steam value climbs on the back of Google interest

Just sayin'

TheBadass:
What's wrong with Google? Everything they touch seems to turn to profit and awesome.

YouTube and censorship... 'Nuff said.

mark_n_b:

DeadlyYellow:
And so one internet giant is trying to expand it's power over another.

With Microsoft holding a decent portion of the gaming community and trying to force a merger with Yahoo to infringe on Google territory, it was only a matter of time until Google struck back.

Valve is hardly what I'd call an internet giant. Especially when measured up against Google. Though this rumour is just that and nothing more I am noticing some interesting trends in this thread that I would like to point out because I would love to see them go the way of the dodo.

1. Just because you like a company doesn't mean it is a corporate Juggernaut: Valve is a successful and established company with a significant game portfolio and a successful business model. But it is no EA, MS, Vivendi, Google, THQ or GM. If you love it so much, you should accept this.

2. It's dumb to hate companies because they are big: What if Google acquisitioned Valve, how would that make the products worse? Because that be corporate and soulless. Everyone waits with baited anticipation of the next BioWare title since it has been acquired by EA. As much as people hate Microsoft, GoW and Halo seem to be awesome enough. Likely a company merger like this would mean the same people making the same games in the same way with more money. That's good.

3. The idea that a corporate giant is going to fail miserably because of taking on a new challenge or entering into a new industry is tired: So XBox 360 sold more units in Japan last week than Wii. I thought the Xbox was doomed to failure. The PS3 was a gong show for Sony, but you can still buy it and Sony is still pulling in billions every quarter. EA decided not to acquire Take Two and they are in a stock drop, yet I don't see anyone worrying about their jobs with the company. If Google acquired Valve there might be some transition pains and two months of people posting "I told you" to forums. Then they'll all get gmail accounts to access the new features that have come up since the merge.

On the money. Valve is in such a strong bargaining position anyway. Yes google is the Mega Corporation but if they wanted to get their foot in the door of game development, they would throw money at Valve to hold their hand rather that restricting their operations.

Hey Joe:
This just in: Steam value climbs on the back of Google interest

Just sayin'

And that. Both companies would win from a buy-out as they are considered some of the best in their respective fields.

It could be good, as long as google is willing to throw money at them and not fuck with their ideas. If they just gave them more funding great, but I'd hate if they tried to use Valve's good name to sell a bunch of crappy games, which since they are a big company they might try to do. They've gotta understand the implications of what they could be doing. Valve will only last if they continue to make great games, it's not the equivalent "we buy Valve no matter what" it's "we buy Valve as long as they stay Valve".

holy necro batman!

It just goes to show; you can make ridiculous amounts of money and pretend to care about gamers and games as well. Backstage: if it makes you more money. =D

MosDes:

TheBadass:
What's wrong with Google? Everything they touch seems to turn to profit and awesome.

YouTube and censorship... 'Nuff said.

actually they have to take down videos by law, it's not them doing something bad, it's them stopping illegal activity

Google must die!
MICROSOFT WARRIORS ASSEMBLE!!!!!!!!!