Google invests in Farmville-maker Zynga: Bad for Facebook?

By Andrew Couts Published July 19, 2011

Team Zynga — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Google has invested in Facebook‘s leading social video game-maker Zynga, reports Tricia Duryee in All Things Digital. The revelation appeared in a 619-page document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Thursday by the maker of Farmville, which is preparing for its initial public offering (IPO). Zynga’s new SEC filing is triple the length of its original filing on July 1, and contains a trove of new information about the company, including a new list of investors.

Google’s name appears at the top of the list, though it is not known the significance of the placement of names on the list as the amount invested was not disclosed in the filing. Other notable investors include Peter Thiel, an early investor in Facebook; investment firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Union Square Ventures; and LinkedIn Chairman and co-founder Reid Hoffman, among others.

Word of Google’s investment in Zynga has been floating around for more than a year. The news was originally reported by Michael Arrington at TechCrunch, who said Google had thrown in around $100 million. (Later reports estimated that the number was closer to $200 million.) According to Arrington’s report, the deal was a “high strategic” move against Facebook. It’s possible that the Zynga investment is part of Google’s plan to build its own social gaming network that would run in conjunction with Google+.

While it might seem easy to view Google’s Zynga investment as a covert attempt to thwart its biggest rival, Facebook, the filing also shows how difficult it will be to slip through the gates of the enemy unharmed. Facebook, the filing shows, has enormous leverage over Zynga, more than was previously assumed.

According to AllThingD‘s Liz Gannes, Zynga must tell Facebook about all new games at least a week before they launch; any game that includes Facebook integration is exclusive to Facebook; and Facebook disproportionately favors Zynga over other game makers.

None of this may surprise anyone who watches these types of things closely. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth watching at all. In fact, the war between Facebook and Google has only gotten hotter in recent months. And with both companies invested in Zynga, you can bet its quickly approaching IPO will be a major battleground.

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Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…

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Wordle Today: Wordle answer and hints for June 28

Someone playing Wordle on a smartphone.

We have the solution to Wordle on June 28, as well as some helpful hints to help you figure out the answer yourself, right here. We've placed the answer at the bottom of the page, so we don't ruin the surprise before you've had a chance to work through the clues. So let's dive in, starting with a reminder of yesterday's answer.
Yesterday's Wordle answer
Let's start by first reminding ourselves of yesterday's Wordle answer for those new to the game or who don't play it daily, which was "ORDER." So we can say that the Wordle answer today definitely isn't that. Now, with that in mind, perhaps take another stab at it using one of these Wordle starting words and circle back if you have no luck.
Hints for today's Wordle
Still can't figure it out? We have today's Wordle answer right here, below. But first, one more thing: Let's take a look at three hints that could help you find the solution, without giving it away, so there's no need to feel guilty about keeping your streak alive -- you put in some work, after all! Or just keep scrolling for the answer.

Today’s Wordle includes the letter D.
Today’s Wordle uses two vowels.
Today's Wordle can refer to a large number of animals, particularly livestock like cattle or sheep, that are moving together in a group.