I can definitely say that Halo 3: ODST will win Game of the Year.
In order to play Halo 3: ODST this weekend, I stood in line for 3 hours 30 minutes at the Halo 3: ODST Troop Transport that is travelling across the country. Everyone who played the game agreed on the following things:
* Halo 3: ODST has absolutely awesome gameplay that is incredibly fun -- the funnest since the original Halo: Combat Evolved.
* Halo 3: ODST has graphics that are far superior to Halo 3. The new graphics engine is awesome. The Visor Mode looks incredible, and it changes the way everything looks. The enemies have much more detail, especially when you zoom in; it allows you to see their faces when sniping and during melee attacks.
* The new weapons are awesome. The Pistol weapon that everyone loved in the original Halo: Combat Evolved is back and it adds an incredible amount of fun to the game with its zoom and power.
* The FireFight Co-Op mode is awesome -- it really is similar to the Horde mode from Gears of War 2, but it gets more intense. There are weapon drops in order to keep the team supplied with weapons and health equipment. The enemies are also getting supplies, and you are attacked by enemy ships. You must work together as a team to win, and it adds a lot of co-op strategy that is very cool.
* Everyone who waited over 3 hours to play Halo 3: ODST was in agreement that the long wait was worth it to play such an amazing game.
I also think it is awesome that Halo 3: ODST comes with a bonus disc that includes every map ever released for Halo 3, including three new maps. Halo 3: ODSTreally is wonderful, and Microsoft did a great job designing the Troop Transport. I took lots of pictures on my cell phone; it really was a special event.