Hot properties should be tied into as much as possible...it just makes good business sense. Granted, it bombed for GW with their Lord of the Rings line. Once the movies finished, the interest dried up and it almost ruined them.
Haloclix never really took off, but at least there are a substantial number of approx.-sized extra figs floating around to expand the new board game into something potentially worthwhile. Of course, the modular terrain is what I'm truly interested in. Instant urban terrain! Can you say military base?!
The Gears of War (GoW) game, if my hopes are fulfilled, will be like Space Crusade (SC). SC was a GW/Milton Bradley joint WH40K venture that was seen overseas. Think Space Hulk lite mixed with HeroQuest-like rules. Doom kind of has that feel, but is not squad-based. MC:SotC was two-man squads, which was fun in its own right. If GoW is like that, I'd be very happy.
Man, I can throw acronyms around like gangbusters!!!