http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2006-11-23T112431Z_01_N22294883_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-MICROSOFT-GEARS.xml&archived=False

I'm astonished by the last paragraph:

Microsoft also said subscriptions to its Xbox Live online gaming service have increased because of "Gears of War". Paid registrations per day for the online gaming service have climbed 50 percent since the game's debut.

That's absolutely amazing!  Though, I do have to say that I do wish the GoW match making system would be more like Halo's.