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Google dumped by Dodgeball founders

I wrote just days ago that Google's Dodgeball buyout is a case study in the not quite fairy tale happy ending for Web 2.0 hackers hoping to gain fame AND fortune via a quick Google flip.
Written by Donna Bogatin, Contributor
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I wrote just days ago that Google's Dodgeball buyout is a case study in the not quite fairy tale happy ending for Web 2.0 hackers hoping to gain fame AND fortune via a quick Google flip.

(see Google buyouts are BAD business)

There is now an official (unhappy) ending, an anti-Google one: So.... "Alex and I quit Google on Friday," Dodgeball co-founders happily announce (at their Yahoo flickr page!).

In declaring their emancipation from Google, Alex Rainert and Dennis Crowley reference my analysis of their unfruitful "buyout" by the Googleplex.

Dennis:

"It's no real secret that Google wasn't supporting dodgeball the way we expected. The whole experience was incredibly frustrating for us - especially as we couldn't convince them that dodgeball was worth engineering resources, leaving us to watch as other startups got to innovate in the mobile + social space. And while it was a tough decision (and really disappointing) to walk away from dodgeball, I'm actually looking forward to getting to work on other projects again.
So, what's next? Starting today (Monday!) I'm joining the kids at area/code who are knee-deep in building all sorts of Big Games (remember PacManhattan? ConQwest?). Alex is moving on to IconNicholson where he took a gig as a Creative Strategist focusing on mobile and emerging technologies. (And sorry, but I don't know what Google has planned for dodgeball going forward.)"

Perhaps Alex and Dennis will trade Google buyout war stories with the departed dMarc founders!

First up though, Alex and Dennis will be celebrating their "escape."

Hat tip: Andrew Krucoff

ALSO: Microsoft vs. Google: Crazy acquisition strategies? and Microsoft to Google: Play fair with your billions

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