Lots of thoughts going around as to how much interest there is in Wii U. Well, Google Trends will tell you that combined interest for Wii + Wii U for December 2012 is already at a relative score of 70 compared to an all time peak of 100 for the wii in December 2009. This is getting reasonably close to the December 2006 Wii interest rate of 97. Interest was somewhat higher for wii in advance of it's launch, but through November and December Wii U catching up...perhaps due to the lack of promotion until just before launch. An interesting side note is that interest in Japan was well above the pre-launch wii interest. Searches skyrocketed in Dec '06 to an all-time Japan high (a score of 100) and that appears to be happening again (currently 56 through the first few days of Dec '12).

I find these stats intersting because there is a direct relationship between Google searches and purchases. Lots of people post anecdotal examples of whether the Wii U matches the Wii in terms of interst, but really it's a bunch of he said- or I think- stuff not looking at the greater picture. What we can say right now is on the web interest in Wii U worldwide seems to have been about 70% of wii pre-launch interest with that gap rapidly shrinking in the last month. Interest may soon match or exceed '06. Specifically in Japan interest is well beyond Wii interest and it hasn't launched there yet.

I think we will see sales of Wii U that match Wii worldwide. I think in Japan we may see total 3DS-like domination. I could see Wii U approaching PS2 levels in Japan.

wii u interest will be going up

Well i have one and it's great!!!!

sounds reasonable!! I also believe that we will be able to see which console will do the best next year between all new gen consoles!

Really nice find! How do one go about gathering data like this?

TheLastStarFighter, you are my hero.

Thank you for using data to back up your argument. And not the testimony of your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate :P

It's pretty cool, google "google trends" and you can find out the relative frequency of search terms. Each search term is unique, so "wii" and "wii u" are sperate. Wii U didn't exist in '06 and a lot of people searching wii u now will just search wii, so you should enter both as seperate searches and combine the totals to see total searches on wii products. You can see the peaks and valleys over the years, with the highest intersts during Christmas of peak years '06-'09. Further to this, an investment research firm found stats to directly link google searches with eventual purchases. Their research found overal searches down from wii levels but up in Japan. This was well in advance of peak search season however, so I've continued to follow the trends.

interesting stats but i'd need more evidence before i called the WiiU matching Wii sales

it's at 100 now

Absolutely you need more info, and it's impossible to use stats to predict the longevity of the system. That take some instinct for human nature and possibly an Ocarina of Time. But as of right now, interest is high. It's at about 70% of wii peak interest with the month just underway. It's something I'm going to continue to watch closely. And Roma, it's not at 100... the term wii is at 49 and the new duplicate serch of wii u is at 21.. so combined searches are still at 70. If it were to hit 100 that would be exciting as it would mean interest was now exceding that of what the wii had at any point. We can safely say that's not the case yet... though it may become that in Japan soon enough.

http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=wii%20u

It says 100 now, for both Wii U and Wii.