Googlefight

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Original version of Googlefight showing comparison for Keep vs Delete

Googlefight was a website that output a comparison of the number of search results returned by Google for two queries, presented as the result of a fight. It was a project of Abondance, the company of Olivier Andrieu.[1]

History and description[edit]

Googlefight was developed by Andrieu with two friends.[2] The results of comparing two Google searches are presented as a bar graph using animated HTML segments, presented as the outcome of a fight. Historically the results were displayed graphically in a mixed Flash and JavaScript animation, with two animated stick figures fighting on screen after the queries are entered and before an animated bar graph appeared showing the results.[3] The stick figure animation had no impact on the results.

Between 15 and 27 June 2015, the website was updated to a new version, designed by Andrieu, which the About page stated was powered by Semrush and took into account Google search volume as well as the number of results returned.[2]

The site also expanded in 2015 from French and English versions to 11 geographic versions, including German, Italian, Spanish, and Belgian.[4]

Uses[edit]

The site is used for entertainment, for example comparing Microsoft and Google, with Google the winner.[5] The results may be comforting, funny or self-referential.[6][7] It has been used to check spellings.[8] It can also be used as a measure of competitiveness; Salam Pax posted a Googlefight result between himself and Raed Jarrar on their blog in 2002, as their worldwide readership rose in the prelude to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[9]

Googlefight has been highlighted as an example of a site making money from contextual advertising, as well as one that derives its longevity from community participation (in this case, the always changing search terms).[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Olivier Andrieu (February 7, 2005). "Nouvelle version pour Googlefight!". Abondance.com (in French).
  2. ^ a b "About us". Googlefight. Retrieved October 11, 2018. Googlefight was originally designed by several friends (Sébastien, Frank and Olivier). This new version is conceived by Olivier.
  3. ^ "Googlefight result 'Keep vs Delete'". Googlefight. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  4. ^ Olivier Andrieu (September 3, 2015). "Googlefight s'internationalise en 11 versions géographiques". Abondance.com (in French).
  5. ^ Plugged In: Gaga Over Google Games
  6. ^ Ellen Henderson (July 6, 2006). "Extra: Google games". The Dallas Morning News.
  7. ^ "Googlefight settles any score". The Washington Post. March 6, 2005.
  8. ^ Catherine Rampell (December 3, 2015). "You're a Nazi, and other shocking truths according to Trump's fact-checking rules". The Washington Post. I occasionally use Googlefight to check the more commonly used spelling of a word.
  9. ^ Salam Pax (2003). Salam Pax: The Clandestine Diary of an Ordinary Iraqi. Grove Press. ISBN 0-8021-4044-0. The Original blog post was October 9, 2002.
  10. ^ Harold Davis (2006). Google Advertising Tools. O'Reilly Media. ISBN 0-596-10108-2.

External links[edit]