Google Shopping For Social Games For "Google Me" Facebook Rival?

Google's supposed plans to take on Facebook are being picked over again, with the rumored "Google Me" project being connected with online casual game studios Playdom, Electronic Arts' Playfish and Zynga Game Network.  According to the WSJ's sources, the games will "be part of broader social-networking initiative that is under development" and which would " incorporate and go beyond Buzz".

However, when questioned about Google's social networking intentions, CEO Eric Schmidt said of the home-grown Facebook rival rumors that "the world doesn't need a copy of the same thing."  He also insisted that "Facebook users use more Google products than any other users" and declined to confirm that the search giant was indeed looking to take on the service.

Last month, Digg founder Kevin Rose tweeted that a "very credible source" had told him of the Google Me plans; however the tweet was then deleted.  That was followed by former Facebook CTO Adam D'Angelo claiming that Google Me was, indeed, real and that it was a high-priority project being modelled on Facebook.