So you get to be disappointed before the rest of us! I ENVY you. I predict that, while Crackdown is going to earn sales just because it's Crackdown, a percentage of sales are going to be eaten up by Halo fanboys that are willing to shell out any amount of money for buggy gameplay.
Speaking of Crackdown: prediction? Meh. Looks like The Incredible Hulk meets RoboCop meets GTA. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I feel the hype is unjustified. Don't get me wrong, I'll be first in line to rent it, and I expect a decent game, but I don't expect a GREAT game.
I think VALVe will do good when the Episode 2 pack comes down. If they had bundled all the games separately (Ep.2, Portal, TF2), they could easily charge $30 for each, and get it. Instead, the entire pack is only $20. There's no doubt in my mind that Episode 2 will be just as lovely as #1, and Portal seems like a good bit of fun (especially once they incorporate the entire thing into GMod!). There is, however, something to be said about sequels, and TFC was about as classic a game could get. I'll be interested to see if TF2 catches me in the way the original did. I'm optimistic.
I got in for free...and I fully expect buggy gameplay, I signed up to actually beta test, and not just get to play it before everyone else. I'm a bigger fan of other games, but being able to make it into a beta where perhaps .05% of the Halo 1 and 2 players get in is something to brag about. Plus, I'm trying to get a job at a game testing company near my place, and having that on my resume is going to look good.
I might as well say what I want this year, now. I'm looking forward to Bioshock, Mass Effect, Rogue Galaxy, the 360 Half-Life 2 package, Haze, Blue Dragon, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, Overlord, UT2007, Shadowrun, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Edgy about: Two Worlds, Too Human, Assassin's Creed. Probably some others that I'm missing. And obviously, Halo 3. But I'm not shilling out 100$US for a helmet that I can't wear.
Out of curiosity, have you read any of the novels? It gives you more story to work with as opposed to most shooters, and going back and playing Halo: CE again, I actually enjoyed it more. The games aren't perfect, but the multiplayer is quite addicting (I know it isn't CS), and having that added bonus of a decent story (providing you've read any of the books) makes it worthwhile, in my opinion.