Diablo III a top Google search in 2012

Google today published its annual Zeitgeist 2012 results, revealing Diablo III landed at the number five position for trending searches during the year. Blizzard Entertainment's role-playing game was topped only by iPad 3, Hurricane Sandy, Gangnam Style, and Whitney Houston. Diablo III has sold over 10 million copies to date.

Diablo III was a more popular search item in 2012 than Kate Middleton, Olympics 2012, Amanda Todd, Michael Clarke Duncan, and BBB12. Google's top "trending" searches are those that generated the highest amount of traffic over a sustained period in 2012 when compared to 2011.

No other game or gaming-specific product made it into Google's overall trending searches list, though gaming had a presence elsewhere. "PlayStation" came in at number six in the Consumer Electronics section for top trending searches of 2012.

To compile its 2012 Zeitgeist, Google factored in over one trillion searches typed into Google Search this year. The company used data from a range of sources like Google Trends and unspecified internal data tools. Spam and repeat searches were tossed out in an effort to create lists that "best reflect the spirit of 2012."

Top Trending Searches of 2012, per Google data:

1. Whitney Houston
2. Gangnam Style
3. Hurricane Sandy
4. iPad 3
5. Diablo 3
6. Kate Middleton
7. Olympics 2012
8. Amanda Todd
9. Michael Clarke Duncan
10. BBB12