Halo 3: ODST Buyers Likely to Also Purchase Modern Warfare 2, Assassin's Creed 2 and Left 4 Dead 2

With Microsoft's Halo 3: ODST launching this week, the research and consulting firm OTX decided to take a look at the game buying audience and specifically those gamers who are purchasing ODST.  

The game has actually been at the top of OTX's GamePlan Insights tracking charts since the beginning of the summer, ahead of other major releases such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Assassin's Creed 2. "This widespread consumer interest for a $60 'expansion' is a testament to the staying power of the franchise and the high expectations generated by the folks at Bungie," OTX noted. In fact, according to eBay sales data provided to OTX by AERS, Inc., Halo 3 has actually been the top selling title during the last three months, going for $25 a copy on average.

Among Halo 3: ODST purchasers, OTX found that the median number of planned game purchases over the next three months (the crucial holiday sales period) is three. What other games do these players intend to pick up? Their first choice is Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Over half of ODST purchasers will be buying Modern Warfare 2 (see chart below). This is followed by games like Assassin's Creed 2, Left 4 Dead 2, and GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony.

As OTX points out, Modern Warfare 2 and Halo 3: ODST could make it difficult for other games to see huge returns: "With most gamers planning two or three holiday purchases, it quickly becomes difficult for second and third tier titles to navigate around the two-headed beast that is Halo and Call of Duty." This is, of course, one of the reasons we've witnessed so many game delays into 2010 already.

Interestingly, OTX also points to a strong interest in God of War III by ODST buyers, indicating more overlap between the PS3 and 360 markets. With PS3 now $299, IndustryGamers thinks certain Xbox 360 gamers might actually buy a PS3 just to be able to play God of War III next year. "...nearly one in five ODST intenders plan to buy God of War III next year, which is emblematic of a growing confluence between the Xbox 360 and PS3 markets," the firm stated