Top XBox 360 Games to Buy for Christmas

Wondering what XBox 360 games to buy your kid(s) for the Christmas holiday season? (ditto for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.) Well, IGN Entertainment's GamerMetrics has pulled consumer data from three leading video game sites (IGN.com, GameSpy.com and TeamXBox.com) to rank the most anticipated XBox 360 launch titles. GamerMetrics tracks the awareness and activity of over 25 million gamers across IGN Entertainment's network of video game news and information sites, with the largest audience of video gamers online. Check out the Top 18 XBox gaming titles list below. You'll notice the Top 10 XBox 360 game titles dominated by the major gaming franchises.

I say forget the Top 18 or Top 10 Xbox 360 titles - I'm trying to figure out who is going to pay a whopping $399 for a gaming console? Of course, you could go with the non-hard disk cheapo $299 model, but where's the fun in that? If you get your kids the cheapo model and not the "tricked out" model, all his/her friends that DO have the expensive XBox 360 model with a hard drive will just make fun, i.e. "Your XBox 360 is lame. It can't even rip CDs for a customized soundtrack during gameplay"

I did play a short stint of an XBox 360 "exclusive" - King Kong at Best Buy. The graphics were amazing - the lighting effects were pretty cool as was the falling rain effects. It was very realistic. Would look really cool on my 65" television screen, but $400 is a ton of money. I should get in touch with my contacts at Microsoft and ask for a review unit.

THE XBOX 360 LAUNCH LINEUP BUZZ:

"PERFECT DARK ZERO" RANKED MOST ANTICIPATED XBOX 360 LAUNCH TITLE BY IGN ENTERTAINMENT'S GAMERMETRICS

Popular Franchises Dominate the Top 10 Launch Title List, Emphasis on Sports Games

IGN Entertainment's GamerMetrics, a business intelligence tool that tracks the awareness and activity of over 25 million gamers, shows Microsoft's Perfect Dark Zero, Tecmo's Dead Or Alive 4, and Electronic Arts' Madden NFL '06 as the most anticipated launch titles for Microsoft's new Xbox 360 console that hits store shelves November 22nd. Microsoft has officially confirmed the 18 video game titles that will be available when the Xbox 360 goes on sale later this month. Following is how these games rank in terms of the amount of awareness they are generating with the millions of consumers seeking information about these titles on three of the leading video game web sites: IGN.com, GameSpy.com, and TeamXbox.com.

XBox 360 Launch Titles Buzz Ranked by GamerMetrics:
1. Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft)
2. Dead or Alive 4 (Tecmo) (I recommend Dead or Alive Xtreme 2)
3. Madden NFL 07 (Electronic Arts)
4. Project Gotham Racing 3 (Microsoft)
5. Call of Duty 3 (Activision)
6. NBA Live 07 (Electronic Arts)
7. Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft)
8. Need for Speed Carbon (Electronic Arts)
9. NBA 2K7 (2K Games)
10. FIFA 07: Road to FIFA Worldcup (Electronic Arts)
11. Peter Jackson's King Kong (Ubisoft)
12. QUAKE 4 (Activision)
13. Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (Activision) (I recommend Tony Hawk Project 8)
14. Ridge Racer 6 (Namco)
15. Condemned: Criminal Origins (SEGA)
16. GUN (Activision)
17. Amped 3 (2K Games)
18. NHL 2K7 (2K Games)

Electronic Arts is leading the way with four of the top ten launch titles, Microsoft follows with three top ten titles. Sports games are the most popular genre, representing four of the top ten titles. Microsoft's Gears of War, is not a launch title but came out soon after and is one of the best Xbox 360 titles you can buy.

GamerMetrics analyzes the online activity of visitors to IGN Entertainment's network of video game news and information sites, the largest audience of video gamers online, and determines the level of awareness and interest in video game titles among that audience.

"Each console cycle brings a new set of challenges where understanding consumer behavior is critical towards future success," said David Tokheim, Vice President of Marketing, IGN Entertainment. "Exposing the awareness and purchase intent preferences of over 25 million potential customers allows game companies, retailers, analysts, and potential licensors a valuable source of information to guide their decision making process."

Update. I found a new list with several new games topping the hottest Xmas list that will make for excellent Christmas gifts. Here are the latest Top 10 XBox 360 games according to Amazon:

1.  Gears Of War by Microsoft   "Gears of War is the hottest game this year" $52.49   Used & New from: $51.99 Average Customer Rating:

2.  Call of Duty 3 by Activision   "The hottest game of 2005 is still a winner" $57.99   Used & New from: $54.99 Average Customer Rating:

3.  Perfect Dark Zero Limited Collector's Edition by Microsoft   "One of the hottest launch titles with excellent replayability" $37.97   Used & New from: $17.00 Average Customer Rating:

4.  Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent (Includes Golden Key Promo) by Ubisoft   "This game is all-consuming. You feel like you're there." $54.99   Used & New from: $42.95 Average Customer Rating:

5.  FIFA Soccer 07 by Electronic Arts   "FIFA Soccer 07 will not disappoint soccer fans" $55.95   Used & New from: $46.99 Average Customer Rating:

6.  WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2007 by THQ $54.99   Used & New from: $42.88 Average Customer Rating:

7.  Dead Rising by Capcom $47.99   Used & New from: $35.90 Average Customer Rating:

8.  Project Gotham Racing 3 by Microsoft $26.99   Used & New from: $17.96 Average Customer Rating:

9.  NBA 2K7 by 2K Games $39.99   Used & New from: $35.02 Average Customer Rating:

10.  F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon by Vivendi Universal $57.99   Used & New from: $47.99 Average Customer Rating: