There are numerous high-profile new titles headed to retail in 2012, but which are the most hotly anticipated for each console? According to a new study from audience measurement firm Nielsen, across all consoles, Halo 4 and Assassin's Creed III are the most eagerly awaited. Xbox 360 owners are hot for Halo.

　　Nielsen's "Game Rank" is the result of the firm combining eight "key consumer metrics" like awareness and purchase interest into a total rank, and then comparing it to scores for previously released games on the same platform. This is represented in a percentile ranking, denoted in parentheses below.

　　According to Nielsen's findings, top Xbox 360 titles for 2012 are Halo 4 (98 percent), Assassin's Creed III (94 percent), and Max Payne 3 (91 percent). PlayStation 3 gamers are most interested in Assassin's Creed III (98 percent), Max Payne 3 (96 percent), and Madden NFL 13 (96 percent).

　　The top three most anticipated 2012 Wii titles, based on Nielsen's findings, are Madden NFL 13 (96 percent), Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (94 percent), and Battleship (84 percent).

　　Titles included in Nielsen's analysis were those announced before March 23, 2012, and expected to ship between April and December. Below are Nielsen's most-anticipated 2012 titles, denoted by platform. Italicized titles are platform-exclusives.

　　Most-anticipated 2012 Xbox 360 titles:

　　Halo 4 - 98 percent

　　Assassin's Creed III - 94 percent

　　Max Payne 3 - 91 percent

　　Madden NFL 13 - 90 percent

　　Resident Evil 6 - 89 percent

　　Ghost Recon: Future Soldier - 85 percent

　　Fable: The Journey - 85 percent

　　Kinect Star Wars - 85 percent

　　NCAA Football 13 - 82 percent

　　BioShock: Infinite - 77 percent

　　Tomb Raider - 77 percent

　　Most-anticipated 2012 PlayStation 3 titles:

　　Assassin's Creed III - 98 percent

　　Max Payne 3 - 96 percent

　　Madden NFL 13 - 96 percent

　　Resident Evil 6 - 94 percent

　　Medal of Honor: Warfighter - 87 percent

　　NCAA Football 13 - 85 percent

　　Prototype 2 - 85 percent

　　Ghost Recon: Future Soldier - 80 percent

　　BioShock: Infinite - 79 percent

　　Tomb Raider - 79 percent

　　NBA Live 13 - 79 percent

　　Most-anticipated 2012 Wii titles:

　　Madden NFL 13 - 96 percent

　　Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two - 94 percent

　　Battleship - 86 percent

　　Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes - 82 percent

　　The Amazing Spider-Man - 82 percent

　　Men in Black - 81 percent

　　The Last Story - 64 percent

　　Xenoblade Chronicles - 50 percent