I don't know--Halo 2 moved a respectable amount of hardware, so anything's possible.

It will sell systems to the casuals. MARK MY WORDS!

You'll still see an increase in sales just because of the press and because it's coming out right in the middle of the Holiday sales period, but it won't be similiar to the type of sales when Halo 3 came out.

Using crude language is not required to state a fact. It colours said fact with bias and makes anything you post irrellivant. Hardcore gaming isn't obsolete, many hardcore games still sell very well. The market has simply expanded, hardcore games will continue to be made no matter what your views about "hardcore" games are. Games are about fun, one mans garbage is another mans treasure, as much as you may think said games are crap, many still enjoy them. There is room enough for both in the gaming market.

In regards to the op. Yes Gears will move hardware. With the drop in the 360's price, the positive word of mouth about the original and the holiday season the media blitz microsoft and Epic are sure to make will definetely get some people to buy the console for the game. It wont be as much as last time and it wont increase demand for an extended period of time. The massive sales in the holidays will likely help to maks any consoles gers sells though, so we'll never get an definitive answer as to how many consoles it sold.