Google has released some details on an additional game-based revenue stream: In-game advertising via Google AdSense.
Doug Lombardi who replied to my request for comment on this news with just two words: “complete fabrication.”
Just to make sure Lombardi wasn’t being cagey, I asked if it’s be correct if we posted that (my words) “Valve says Google isn’t buying the company.” He said that would be correct. So… no sale!
If you add 1 and 1 you will get __ ?
Well it seems to me that indeed it would be a good business idea for google to buy Valve (along with Steam of course) - if they did that they would soon become able to introduce commercials into all the games that are (and will be) published by Steam.
Will this kill democracy on the Internet the same way it already killed democratic elections?
The Internet has become the last vestige of democracy and freedom of speech simply because up until now no corporation tried to play the marketing card. Once all games feature (paid) advertising - Internet will become very much akin to American democratic elections system - the one with the biggest wallet will always win the race - and once again the people will be left far behind to eat the dust from the privileged few (those who can afford to advertise).
This in turn will give birth to political propaganda (as it always does) and the Internet will become just another indoctrination system (ab)used by the privileged few in order to influence the many. The freedom of information will be lost, forever.
Just because of this Orwellian possibility it is quite inevitable that this will happen, sooner or later, with or without google.
So, is this a case of complete and utter fabrication of the truth or is the denial itself a fabrication of truth? Where there's smoke there's bound to be fire!
Let us close up with a quote by E.Bernays - the father of propaganda:
"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society,"
"Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. . . . In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons . . . who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind."
This definition of "democratic society" is itself a contradiction in terms--a theoretical attempt to reconcile rule by the few with the democratic system which threatened (and still threatens) the privileges and powers of the governing elite.
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