Sunday, October 12, 2008

YouTube to start selling games

Google has announced that it is to start selling games through YouTube soon thanks to a partnership with Amazon.com, as well as MP3s through a deal with Apple's iTunes store.

YouTube, which is owned by Google, is one of the most popular sites on the internet thanks to the plentiful amount of LOLcats, faceplants, sneezing pandas and other truly fantastic videos, but has so far not managed to turn a single penny of profit.

In an effort to try and get a bit of money out of the video-sharing website then, Google has partnered with Amazon and Apple to put 'Buy it now!' buttons below certain videos. The idea then is that if you were watching a gameplay video of FIFA '09 for the Xbox 360, for example, then you would be able to buy it on the spot if you so chose.

While game videos will be linked to Amazon.com, similar buttons will be available on music videos that will allow the user to buy the song through Apple's iTunes music store. Both Apple and Amazon will be sharing revenue with Google as part of the deal, according to Reuters.

Youtube, which is so popular that around 13 hours of video are uploaded every minute, will continue to explore other ways of generating profit, including on-site advertising. Google paid $1.65 billion USD for the site back in 2006, which is enough to put a dent even in Google's bank account, so getting a few bucks back is a good idea.

What do you think of online advertising and the option to buy games or music directly through YouTube? Let us know in the forums.

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