Gaming is not just on the up on Facebook, as Google ups its preparations for muscling in on the action, adding virtual currency platform company Jambool to its social networking and gaming toolbox.
Google is reported to be acquiring Jambool, which comes complete with an in-game payment credit infrastructure, the transparently titled currency, Social Gold. TechCrunch tags the purchase at costing Google around $70m.
It’s another sign that Google intends to square up to Facebook in the social networking gaming space, and brings them into a potential direct competition with Facebook’s Facebook Credits. Facebook takes a 30 per cent cut of all currency exchanges, making gaming on Facebook a lucrative avenue for Facebook to be headed in.
Jambool has been hit hard by Facebook Credits, one of its founders has been critical of the economy behind Facebook Credits in the past. Word has it that the Jambool system is being added as a complement to Google checkout system already in place.
Do you use any virtual currencies? Which ones?
