It's called GamerMetrics.
It cross-refferences the clickthrough, and other properties of a particular game getting associated with another.
IE, what the chances are that a person that is interested in game X is also interested in game Y.
IE: Gamer Bob checks out Super Mario Galaxy Page, then goes over to Super Smash Brothers Brawl. 80% of the people do this for SMG>SSBB, but only 25% from SSBB>SMG. This would illustrate the anticipation of a given game, and the fanbase connected to it (Im just using a random idea).
Having said this, it means that the X360 fanbase was already very, very strongly looking at Call of Duty 4 to buy as well as GTAIV. This means that CoD4 is going to massively benefit from a delay in GTAIV. How much? Who knows. There is no extrapolation data to sugguest given numbers. However, without GTA, that leaves litterally MILLIONs of gamers worldwide without the GTAIV Holiday purchase option.
So this *might* give us a good idea where sales will go: Call of Duty 4 and Assassains Creed are going to benefit the most. Likewise, Mass Effect and Rockband for X360 and Heavenly Sword and Drake's will probably garner more sales too. The rest are unknown - they should increase too.
Another great example would be Call of Duty 3 last year (X360) versus Gears versus Rainbow Six Vegas, and recent Japan bombs/ubersellers Dewy's Adventure and Mario Party 8.
In the first example, Gears outsold CoD3 and RSV combined 2:1, and just trounced them for the holiday season. However, CoD3 and RSV eventually were million-sellers. Nevertheless, they didn't live upto CoD2 and GRAW1 precedents for sales. Gears was *the* shooter of 2006 for those owners. Both RSV/CoD3 ended up doing very well, but without Gears, they would of done better.
Likewise, Dewy's Adventure was a moderately-hyped game that was supposed to do One Piece-ish numbers (40k first week, give or take), but bombed horridly. Why? You had MP8, DQS and Gundam 0079 selling huge ammounts, leaving consumers with little extra cash to pick up a more niche title like Dewy's that woulda sold well had it released 2 weeks from now or 2 weeks before DQS.
Back from the dead, I'm afraid.
