Cyril, it is about time that you gave up replicating Inq stories and got down to more direct investigative journalism. Many, many apologies for being this critical, but as a regular reader of Tech Report for many years, I know that you and the TR staff can be well above all this gutter-grubbing.

physical media should die. period.

there's no excuse to fill the world in garbage. we make enough garbage as it is.

i can't remember when was the last time i bought a game from store. 100% of the games i bought in the last 3 years were from Steam and i am very happy with that. being able to play everything i got whenever i want and wherever i go is very fun. i can share my games with friends (i played all HL games with two different friends, it was fun as hell) and doesn't have to pollute the world on the way.

Google's idea of gaming would be to hire a team of graphic artists then to have them put advertisements on the loading screen, walls, dirt, sky, bullets, and HUD

I think this makes a lot of sense. Digital distribution, like it or not, is the way software SHOULD be sold. The expense reduction alone would make it worthwhile, no more shipping boxes filled with mostly air. DRM is integrated right into the client and is unobtrusive.

I was a Steam nay-sayer, but the more I've used it, the more I like it.

What a surprise. The Inq posts another false story

I hope Google does not do this, I don't want them to become the next borg.

Update: Valve's Doug Lombardi has told the MTV Multiplayer blog the Inq's story is a "complete fabrication." Lombardi went on to specify that Google is in fact not buying Valve.

My opinion of the Inq stands unchanged. Complete horseshi*

Could Google purchase Valve?
Sure they could.

The deal fell through because Gabe nixed it. They don't have McDonald's hamburgers in the Google cafeterias......

If there's a God somewhere and he likes gamers, He will not let this happen.

Do I recall correctly Google was experimenting with inserting ads straight to game content? In such case buying Valve is logical thing to do.

I think it's more likely that Google will just buy Steam from Valve, as opposed to the entire company.

Not going to happen. Ever.

Deal... maybe... but i won't like it if they put ads on steam for google.

I guess that means that Half Life 3 will be released as a beta.

That would explain the rumors over the last six months or so that Valve is researching Linux and/or OSX ports. Google likes coverage.

Charlie Demerjian is an idiot and I cannot believe that anyones takes that fool seriously. He has an irrational hatred of Nvidia which I really don't understand.

Don't get me wrong, since I am an ATI man( since 9800pro days) and purchased a 4870 yesterday, you would expect me to deride Nvidia. However nothing could be further from the truth as I respect that company very much.

As for Valve I hope they stay independent, but if they had to be bought then I would rather Google did it, than Microsoft or EA.

You know, I just recently saw a thread about this on the Garry's Mod (HL2 sandbox mod) forum. Maybe an Inquirer journalist took it for real... wouldn't be surprised.

Getting tips from the Inquirer is like getting your facts from Weekly World News.

I can't believe that TR deigned it necessary to link to their tripe.

I wouldn't exactly count the inquirer as a reputable source,,

It was me... :(