We don’t doubt that Microsoft and Bungle will move heaven, earth and beyond to satisfy the huge demand when Halo 3: ODST arrives this autumn. However they’ve concocted a tempting offer for gamers who absolutely have to guarantee their copy come launch day.

Yup, punters who pre-order ODST through participating retailers will be rewarded with a code enabling them to unlock ‘Sergeant Avery Junior Johnson’ as a playable character in the brand new Firefight mode. Well that’s cool.

ODST, lest you’ve forgotten, is a prequel to the events played out in Halo 3, albeit as viewed through the eyes of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper rather than good old Master Chief. The main game is supplemented with a separate disc containing 24 Halo 3 multiplayer arenas, old and brand-spanking new. Oh, and there’s an invitation to the Halo: Reach beta test when that kicks off too. Meanwhile Firefight is the new co-op option where players form squads to fight off wave after increasingly dangerous wave of bad guys across a series of battlefields. The integration of ‘Halo 3 ‘Skulls’ apparently intensifies the action even further.

Sergeant Johnson himself (pictured) is a “tough as nails” series stalwart who, we’re assured, has survived infectious floods, been the veritable scourge of the Covenant and partaken of more life-or-death battles than you’ve eaten hot dinners. Will his participation make the ensuing battles easier to win? Er, no...

Halo 3: ODST hits UK retail on September 22, priced £39.99. Microsoft didn’t think it necessary to actually name its retail partners for this offer. We’re guessing it’ll be the usual suspects, but you’d better keep an eye out just to be sure.