This looks very interesting and is currently invite only. http://www.ingress.com/ go there for more info and an invite.

So, Google of all companies is making a game? do you know about any news of that company having larger plans for gaming?

Holy shit Google is making a game!! :O

Google is starting to add location based advertising, this could be google's way of promo'ing that function or at least that's the only reason that I can think of to do something like this.  I mean google almost exclusively lives off of its advertising $$$, so that would/could be a possibility, i guess.

Location based ads are the next frontier for mobile advertising, where you can, for example, receive an ad on your cellphone when you're right at the cereal aisle or what have you. This could have a lot of potential for Google and Apple and Microsoft as well if they are able to command any market share with their upcoming push.

At CES2012 Google said they would expand greatly into gaming with Android/Chrome in early 2013.

Got it. Still wondering why it is invite only. New blood coming into the mobile industry seems like it could do wonders to enhance the quality of games on android.

This looks like its going to be an ARG

EDIT: Just signed up for an invite, lets see what happens

I wouldn't have too high expectations for it. The only decent apps that I used from Google were the maps (along with sky map) and gmail. All their other apps usually have either average or terrible ratings. Their book, music, etc are all outclassed by other apps. Also, most of their apps have decent amount of problems with various devices and usually the updates just make it worse.

meh.

cool!