Quick: What's a video game that Microsoft is known for?

And you can't say the "Halo" series. That's too easy. Name another one.

Hello?

Microsoft is desperate for another big-name franchise. It's got a few candidates lined up, and is going to pour a significant amount of marketing energy into pumping one in particular: "Gears of War." The action game, according to Microsoft, is about mankind's struggle against the Locust Horde, a race of creatures "from the bowels of the planet."

Today, Microsoft said that "Gears of War" will go on sale in North America on Nov. 12 for $60. A collector's edition will sell for $70.

That's a lot to charge for a video game, even one that Microsoft is calling "the must-have game of 2006." Will it be worth it?