With Google increasingly willing to explore areas beyond its search engine roots, I've started wondering: Is Google as a videogame publisher within the realm of possibility?

It's not as crazy as it might sound.

Google already has its toes dipped in the gaming waters on a couple of fronts. "Google Lively," an avatar-based social interaction site, launched in July and appears to target "Second Life" players. And in March 2007, the Internet king acquired in-game advertising firm Adscape for $23 million.

So far, Google hasn't done much with either. After an initial surge, "Lively" users are minimal--and Adscape has been quiet since the takeover. But the understated nature of these divisions could be temporary.