The company behind Farmville is sealing a deal with Google and has been embraced by Apple and Facebook. That such companies would associate themselves with the exploitation of children and financially depleted addicts is alarming, even in hyper-aggressive Silicon Valley.

Gaming accounts for 10 percent of time spent online in the United States - overtaking email - according to research by Nielsen, which doesn't sound like a lot but it is the second-leading reason, and one that's growing.

The game-oriented social network GamerDNA launched an enhanced version of its site today, promising it not only delivers gamers to the kinds titles they'd enjoy, but also other gamers they'd enjoy playing with.