Substantiating an earlier story on the TechCrunch blog, the New York Times (NYT) has recently reported that Google has acquired the San Francisco-based online entertainment firm, Slide, which develops social-games apps for sites like Facebook, MySpace, Friendster, Bebo, and Google’s own Orkut.

Some of the virtual community applications developed by Slide – which was founded by PayPal co-founder Max Levchin - include Top Fish, SuperPoke Pets, FunSpace, Top Friends, Rock Riot, SPP Range and SuperPocus Academy of Magic. 

According to Slide’s website, the key aim of the company is to build communities that facilitate the creation and distribution of virtual goods. It also cites projections that market for virtual goods will likely reach $1.6 billion in the US this year.

Meanwhile, though neither Google nor Slide have officially confirmed the acquisition, TechCrunch, first reporting the deal, said that Google had taken over Slide for US$182 million. However, the NYT report, citing unnamed sources, has put the value at $228 million.

Noting that the Slide acquisition will essentially be part of Google’s ongoing endeavors to mark to break venture further into the social-networking arena, TechCrunch has reported that the announcement of the acquisition will probably be made on Friday.

Already, Google has reportedly invested in Facebook’s Farmville-creator Zynga; and is also rumored to be in talks with other gaming companies, apparently attempting to launch a gaming-centered social-networking platform.