Google Fills New Games Position

Google has hired industry veteran Mark DeLoura as a developer advocate, as the giant lumbers towards relevancy in the gaming space. In addition to its search engine, Google is a player in the cell phone space with its Android OS and Nexus One handset.

"I personally feel that Google hiring someone specifically to focus on games is a signal from the company that they recognize the growing importance of games as a medium," DeLoura told Gamasutra. He’s been a games consultant for the past several years and has served on the board of the International Game Developers Association. Before that, he worked at a diverse group of companies, including Ubisoft, SCEA, and Nintendo of America.

It’s curious that a company as savvy as Google has waited this long to explore gaming. Perhaps it has been biding its time for a sensible opportunity, or maybe it has just been too busy scanning library books and mapping the globe. Regardless, the company is capable of attracting talented people, and games are a sector that seems to be magnetic to bright, creative folks. Now let’s just see how long it takes Google to catch up with Facebook and (gasp) Apple.