X

Google, your next gaming destination?

It's got quite a presence at the Game Developers Conference taking place in San Francisco this week.

James Martin
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
James Martin
Google for Games
1 of 13 James Martin/CNET

Google is making itself right at home at the Game Developers Conference this week in San Francisco, as it readies for the expected unveiling of its new cloud gaming platform at a keynote scheduled for Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. PT.

gdc-2019-google-9004
2 of 13 James Martin/CNET

Already, it seems Google is placing its nascent gaming platform into the annals of video game history. A museum of gaming set up in front of San Francisco's Moscone West ends with a "coming soon" glass case with what appears to be a logo with the letter "s." Could that stand for Project Stream? 

gdc-2019-9033
3 of 13 James Martin/CNET

First introduced to bars and arcades, the classic game Pong made its way into homes as an Atari's console in 1975. This console is part of an exhibition set up by Google for the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this week. 

gdc-2019-9027
4 of 13 James Martin/CNET

Also in the exhibition, an E.T. game cartridge from 1982 in its original packaging, alongside an Atari 2600 joystick and a retail sign.

gdc-2019-9035
5 of 13 James Martin/CNET

Next we saw a copy of Nintendo Power, Volume 1, from 1988.

gdc-2019-9024
6 of 13 James Martin/CNET

Remember Mattel's Power Glove game controller accessory from 1989? It allowed users to control games with the movements of their hands.

gdc-2019-9037
7 of 13 James Martin/CNET

Next up, Game Boy Color Pokemon Edition.

gdc-2019-9041
8 of 13 James Martin/CNET

Here we have Sony's original 1995 Playstation console for CD-ROM gaming.

gdc-2019-9015
9 of 13 James Martin/CNET

In 1999, Sega's Dreamcast was the first console with internet access built in. 

Google video games
10 of 13 James Martin/CNET

What's next for gaming? Whatever it is, it's "coming soon." The display aims to empower developers with the tagline "Anything you dream can be built."

gdc-2019-google-9194
11 of 13 James Martin/CNET

What's next for Google? This "s" logo revealed at GDC point to what may be Google's coming Project Stream service.

gdc-2019-google-9080
12 of 13 James Martin/CNET

Inside Moscone West, Google's display proclaims cryptically that "All will be revealed."

gdc-2019-google-9136
13 of 13 James Martin/CNET

A "Google for Games" sign hangs inside Moscone West in San Francisco where GDC kicked off Monday. 

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos