The 'Halo [3] effect'

Get ready, parents of gamers. You may've already heard from a real authority at your house that today's the day for Halo fans - Tuesday is release day for Halo 3, and it's " almost guaranteed to be a blockbuster hit," the San Jose Mercury News reports, citing the view of many analysts that it's likely to be the top-selling videogame of 2007 and likely to "boost flagging sales" of the Xbox 360. After all, "the evil aliens of the Covenant and the Flood" have taken control of Earth, and it's up to Master Chief, "humanity's last defender" to take control back. Halo 3 is rated M (for "Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Violence") by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.