You're probably right. But we will have this conversation again in twenty years =p

Haha, yeah, and I am sure there will be some other brand in the mix by then.  This is just one of the topics that can't be truly quantified because a lot of it is based on assumptions and generalizations (even polls are essentially scientific generalizations because not everyone on this planet can be asked who they recognize and there's always some margin of error).  So I guess there's no way of knowing who's right, but it's always fun to debate reasoning for why we believe what we do :)

MasterChief is still too young 

But argueably more recognised by mainstream and gamers of all ages.

Metal Gear innovated, where Halo just perfected. I don't it's a bad game, but once the licence will be gone people will remember it less than Metal Gear, in my opinion.

And again, a 10 years old licence is just known by 30 years old non gamer at most.

I think Jesus must have been in a videogame a few times so i will vote for him. Untill a Justin Bieber videogame gets released that is.

I dont see the logic you are using.

This thread is about iconic characters not innovation.

 Masterchief, Sonic, to name a few all have much more reason to be in the list. 

Halo is the star wars of videogames. Its got a cult following thats growing. Halo 4 has sold more in its lifetime so far than any previous halo title. And is still tracking higher.

That is true that Pac Man hasnt been very relevant for years, but its not like he hasnt dissappeared either,  he still has games that come out on a regular basis. And he still has many pop culture references like other video games, books, movies. etc., I believe he even appeared in the movie Wreck It Ralph,  Hell Pacman even got a Google Home Page dedication to it, there were even companies that complained there was drops in productivity due to this.  Just taking into account the number of people who use Google on a daily basis they would have seen him.  

Because of that and because I believe Pokemon is turning into the defacto game for kids under 13, thats why I think its still Pacman. And I thought the Poll essentailly proved that. I know its anecdotal,  but both my neices (10 and 8) have a Wii and a DS, neither of them have a Mario game, because all they want to play is Wii Sports and Pokemon. I just feel its a similar trend as the reason they play it is because their friends play it.  Which is the reason my generation played Mario, because our friends played it.    But we knew who Pacman was because he was a staple at every Arcade in the world and still is.  They still hold World Championships for Pac Man on a regular basis.