GamerMetrics Ranks Most Anticipated Xbox 360 Titles

Media company IGN Entertainment's GamerMetrics, a business intelligence tool that tracks the awareness and activity of over 25 million gamers using IGN's websites, has ranked 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, due for release in North America on November 22nd. IGN specifically ranked only the launch titles by the amount amount of awareness they are generating with consumers seeking information about them, according to three of the firm's largest video game web sites: IGN.com, GameSpy.com, and TeamXbox.com. The survey authors also ranked titles by publisher, and when seen this way, 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. Interestingly, Microsoft and Epic Games' Gears of War, not a release title for Xbox 360, but expected to debut early in 2006, is currently the most anticipated Xbox 360 title overall. The overall rankings are as follows: 1. Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft) 2. Dead or Alive 4 (Tecmo) 3. Madden NFL 06 (Electronic Arts) 4. Project Gotham Racing 3 (Microsoft) 5. Call of Duty 2 (Activision) 6. NBA Live 06 (Electronic Arts) 7. Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft) 8. Need for Speed Most Wanted (Electronic Arts) 9. NBA 2K6 (2K Games) 10. FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup (Electronic Arts) 11. Peter Jackson's King Kong (Ubisoft) 12. Quake 4 (Activision) 13. Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (Activision) 14. Ridge Racer 6 (Namco) 15. Condemned: Criminal Origins (Sega) 16. Gun (Activision) 17. Amped 3 (2K Games) 18. NHL 2K6 (2K Games) David Tokheim, Vice President of Marketing, IGN Entertainment, commented of the rankings: "Each console cycle brings a new set of challenges where understanding consumer behavior is critical towards future success. 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."