There was actually a bit of a social vision behind G+ Hangouts. The idea was that people would start "hanging out" in each other's web spaces, like dorm rooms.

There was actually a bit of a social vision behind G+ Hangouts. The idea was that people would start "hanging out" in each other's web spaces, like dorm rooms. I was skeptical of this but (as a Googler, and at the time, a drinker of the Kool-Aid) I wanted to see it work. Hence, my suggestion that (a) we re-orient G+ Games around high-quality games (such as German-style board games, 2D adventures and collaborative RPGs, etc.) instead of giving preferential treatment to Zyngarbage, and (b) integrate high-quality games (which we didn't have, but third-party developers will build them if you create the platform) with Hangouts. I knew people wouldn't "Hangout" just to watch Youtube videos (really, who wants to hear others' reactions to YT videos? the comments are horrific enough without having to hear associated voices) but I figured that a high-quality game experience around truly social games (not anti-social Zyngarbage that merely marketed itself through social networks, like Farmville back when Zynga was more obviously Facebook's Tapeworm) gave Hangouts a chance of looking more like that original vision. A high-quality and social German-style board game experience is one thing that would get a critical core of tech-savvy people using Hangouts for multiple hours per day. Then... I was erroneously tagged as a union activist and my psychotic manager at the time had a field day with the "make 'im quit" game, but no need to say more on that. The Internet has had more than two lunches on that one. It's interesting to see Google making this ambitious of a venture into games and the concept of a game. Augmented reality is an interesting field and it's admirable that they're trying this space out. Say what you will about Google (I've said plenty) but their ambition and commitment to R&D is a very good thing.