Google Zeitgeist 07 ranks console searches

Billions of searches every year, and at the end of each year, we're rewarded with Google Zeitgeist, "the aggregation of billions of search queries people conducted on Google." Naturally, our attention is turned towards the gaming section, prominently displayed atop the "All the Rage" tab.

All we've got to go on is the above chart, which tells us what exactly? Notably, that the Xbox 360 was the dominant console search term for 2007, only eclipsed by the Wii (and how!) once the holiday shopping season got started (check out November's US sales numbers here). And that the PS3 has been woefully ignored by millions of Google-goers. But you know what, we're left curious about the DS and PSP numbers. What gives, Google?

[Update: Fascinating follow-up work by commenter 3cubed minus 3squared plus1 who points us to this Google Trends page, adding search values for "PS3" and "PlayStation3" along with "Xbox 360" and "Xbox360". Evidently, things aren't as crystal clear as the Zeitgeist would have you believe. What gives, Google?]

Reader Comments (29)

Wow... that's actually pretty telling...

Interesting...but think about it-- most people who are searching google for game consoles like that are casuals. Most casuals that I know wouldn't input Playstation 3 or Xbox 360, they'd put just plain ol' "Playstation" or "Xbox". Wii certainly seems to be the hot item this holiday season regardless of this report.

Also interesting-- Input "porn" as a word comparing against the other three, you'll see what really matters in life....haha, jk.

HD DVD more queried than Blu-Ray? I've been living a lie!

Double whammy to the ps3 :(

why "xbox" and not "xbox 360" if they're being specific about "playstation 3"

You can look at google trends and compare with DS and PS as well:

http://www.google.com/trends?q=ds%2C+psp%2C+wii%2C+xbox%2C+ps3&ctab=0&geo=all&date=2007&sort=0

I switched it to ps3 from playstation 3; it moved the numbers much closer to the other consoles, interestingly; ps3 is apparently a more popular search term than playstation 3.

Wow. PSP kicking ASS in Spain... Either that, or there's a TV network, etc. with the same abbreviation.

As you can see here:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=Wii%2C+PS3+%7C+Playstation3%2C+Xbox360+%7C+xbox+360&ctab=0&geo=all&date=2007&sort=0

The PS3 appears to be searched more than the 360.

Well this one would be more accurate I guess.
http://www.google.com/trends?q=Wii%2C+%28PS3%29+%7C+%28playstation+3%29+%7C+%28playstation3%29%2C+%28Xbox360%29+%7C+%28xbox+360%29&ctab=0&geo=all&date=ytd&sort=0

Well what about the people who simply google 360? Or xbox looking for 360? Or Nintendo looking for the wii? Or simply playstation for ps3? Every way you cut it, the searches are an inaccurate measure of interest, due to variability, typos, etc...

http://www.google.com/trends?q=%28Wii%29%2C+%28PS3%29+%7C+%28playstation+3%29+%7C+%28playstation3%29+%7C+%28Playstation%29%2C+%28Xbox360%29+%7C+%28xbox+360%29+%7C+%28Xbox%29+%7C+%28360%29%2C+porn&ctab=0&geo=all&date=ytd&sort=0

There you go, I think its clear what beats all these out ;)

lol taiwan doesn't like porn?

i'm guessing they have a word for it in their language

Thanks 3cubed for the clarification. It's really breathtaking to see how popular the Wii is in every corner of the world...well, except Spain and Portugal/Brazil. Apparently they breathe Playstation.

While I don't give to shakes (see what I did there?) about the Wii, I welcome our new casual gaming brothers and sisters (and grandparents!) who I hope will someday graduate into the ranks of the hardcore.

~

to = TWO. Ugh.

~

nothing beats porn - it's higher than all the consoles combined!

Now console manufacturers know exactly what to name their next console - PornStation4 perhaps?

no... wait... XXXbox!

If you add "xbox" and "playstation" to the trend search, the 360 is back on top. Seeing as the original Xbox is pretty much dead, most people searching for it would probably be looking for the 360. As for playstation though, the PS2 isn't quite giving up just yet, so that would include people looking for the ps2 (to an extent), weighting things in Sony's favour for these results: yet the 360 still beats it. There's still that upturn for the Wii at the end though.

http://www.google.com/trends?q=Wii%2C+%28PS3%29+%7C+%28playstation+3%29+%7C+%28playstation3%29+%7C+%28playstation%29%2C+%28Xbox360%29+%7C+%28xbox+360%29+%7C+%28xbox%29&ctab=0&geo=all&date=ytd&sort=0

When you add Xbox you can see that it nearly follows the same pattern, just above the PS3. I agree with these results.

It's just fun to follow this Wii-out-of-stock-happening. Here in Finland the stores are stacked with the Wii. I just don't know why but I don't think the major population switches to new things quite as fast as the rest of the world.

I'm not saying the Wii isn't selling well here, but man, when something is "selling well" in Finland, it's like 1000-2000 sold a year, I think. That's just.. hilarious.

I think you crazy Finnish need to get those Wiis out to the needy Wii-less people of everywhere else.

This is my favorite, Christmas 2006:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=Wii%2C+ps3+%7C+playstation%2C+xbox&ctab=0&geo=all&date=2006&sort=0
(even assuming xbox means the 360 and playstation means the ps3)

Playstation rockets to the top of the searches, and immediately thereafter tanks horribly while Wii rockets right up after it and doesn't drop.

Obviously the Wii wins. I don't even like the Wii or even play but guess what I OWN ONE.

If your walking down ToyRUs and the announcer says "Dear Customers, the last Wii is available at the Electronics. Get yours while supplies last." And I'm walking right past the announcer's counter.(Mind you the Wii is freakin hard to get) You know it's a sign! Bought it, played all the games once, don't like, but still own it. Meh! it's a Wii, everyone has one. It's just like a PS2. You just gotta own it.

DS vs. PSP.

http://www.google.com/trends?q=DS%2C+%28PSP%29+%7C+%28playstation+portable%29+%7C+%28playstationportable%29&ctab=0&geo=all&date=ytd&sort=0

No.

http://www.google.com/trends?q=Nintendo+DS%2C+Playstation+Portable&ctab=0&geo=all&date=ytd&sort=0

I'd go for:

http://www.google.com/trends?q=%28nintendo+ds%29+%7C+%28ds+lite%29+%7C+%28nintendo+ds+lite%29+%2C+%28sony+PSP%29+%7C+%28playstation+portable%29+%7C+%28playstationportable%29&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

Interesting how in the second link, when you change the region to Japan, the 360 takes the lonely spot on the bottom all the way across.

Zeitgeist says FOR THE U.S., meaning all the links posted here to Google trends are useless, since all of them are for "all regions".

Kthxbai

Google Zeitgeist 07 ranks console searches

Reader Comments (29)

Posted: Dec 13th 2007 11:19PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Dec 14th 2007 6:49AM Stevorino said

Posted: Dec 14th 2007 6:52AM Stevorino said

Posted: Dec 13th 2007 11:21PM ThornedVenom said

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Posted: Dec 13th 2007 11:26PM Sean C said

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Posted: Dec 13th 2007 11:50PM iBubbles said

Posted: Dec 13th 2007 11:59PM iBubbles said

Posted: Dec 14th 2007 12:15AM R V said

Posted: Dec 14th 2007 12:29AM iBubbles said

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Posted: Dec 14th 2007 1:05AM Jeremy White said

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Posted: Dec 14th 2007 2:05AM Geist said

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