Google promises a unified social and mobile game platform

The problem is that Google has the wrong people making major decisions, and if it doesn't find a way to fix that, its next 50 years will be pure mediocrity. Talent doesn't matter if the direction is nukular buttfail.

One thing I like about Google is the ideology of being non-editorial. This served it very well in web search, where being non-editorial is necessary (because of the size of the problem) and stately, but it's an unmitigated disaster in game selection. Farmville was good for Zynga but bad for Facebook; it clogged the channels with spam, contributed to social network fatigue, and marred Facebook's reputation.

To get games right, you have to be editorial. The only way a general-purpose social network is going to beat Facebook in the next 5 years is if it generates an excellent games brand. In-house game development wouldn't work at Google, so the solution is to form relationships with top indie developers, not to promote (and give preferential treatment, such as early inclusion) whatever mainstream publishers like Zynga throw at them.

If any Google execs are reading this, that'll be $17,500 for the advice. A bargain.