This time last month, rumors began to fly about an upcoming social network from Google, thanks is large part to a number of public leaks from some high profile figures like Digg's Kevin Rose. The Facebook competitor, according to the rumor, will be called Google Me, and it would pick up where other Google-manned social network initiatives like Buzz left off.

Thanks to a new piece in The Wall Street Journal, the rumors are ramping up again. The paper recently interviewed Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who naturally refused to confirm any of the rumors. When the paper asked whether such a service would follow in Facebook's successful footsteps, however, Schmidt did say, "the world doesn't need a copy of the same thing."

While Schmidt isn't talking, apparently some third-party gaming companies are. Google is reportedly in talks with a number of game producers, including Playdom, Electronic Arts, and Zynga regarding a new service. According to the Journal's anonymous sources, the company is looking for content for a site that extends beyond just gaming.

The games will apparently be a vital part to the company's plans for a new social network, leveraging online multiplayer titles, the way Facebook has with games like Zynga's wildly popular Farmville.

Schmidt refused to confirm any existing partnership with Zynga, as recently reported, but he did tell the Journal, "you can expect a partnership with Zynga" in the future.