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Avatar Pets kenneled on Xbox Live Dec. 3

Twelve digital companions, including dogs, cats, ponies, headed for Microsoft's online platform for $3 each; Final Fantasy XIII tie-in chocobo coming this holiday.

At the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Microsoft touted a number of new features coming to Xbox Live this year, including the now-available Avatar Marketplace and Facebook application. One addition that Microsoft didn't mention, but that was spotted later in July as part of a US Patent and Trademark Office filing, was Avatar Pets. Today, Microsoft made Avatar Pets official, announcing the digital companions will be available beginning December 3.

Twelve pets will be available as part of the initial run for Avatar Pets: Large Dog, Pug Dog, Dog in Bag, Cat, Siamese Cat, Long-Haired Cat, Goldfish, Guinea Pig, Pony, Monkey, Bird, and Snake. Pets will be available through the Avatar Marketplace for MSP 240 ($3) a piece.

As expected, limited edition Avatar Pets will also be available, beginning with a Final Fantasy chocobo this holiday. A tie-in to the March 9 release of Final Fantasy XIII, the chocobo pet will be available to gamers who register on the game's Xbox.com page.

Microsoft did not indicate how gamers will be able to interact with their Avatar Pets. However, as part of Microsoft's patent application in July, the publisher indicated that pets would play a role in future advertising campaigns. Namely, Microsoft's filing suggested a way in which gamers would be compensated for advocating certain products with virtual pet food.

367 Comments

  • rabidjack

    Posted Jan 14, 2010 1:58 pm GMT

    i want my monkey to fling poo at your avatar.

  • Aesahaettr

    Posted Dec 27, 2009 8:28 am GMT

    WHERE'S MY CHOCOBO!?!?!?!

  • mesk14

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 6:28 pm GMT

    ppl actually paying for pets for their xbox avatar....sigh

  • Noremak_Sillac

    Posted Dec 10, 2009 1:04 am GMT

    i love paying ms for there awesome social network. i wish ps3's social network was better than what it is right now. oh well

  • Krystyan68

    Posted Dec 9, 2009 3:15 am GMT

    Well said Haunted shadows, I'm over all the fanboy stuff too! I also own a PS3 & 360 but prefer gaming on the MS product, Japanese exclusives just don't appeal to me.

  • Noremak_Sillac

    Posted Dec 8, 2009 12:44 pm GMT

    has anyone gotten the chocobo yet?

  • ali-009

    Posted Dec 8, 2009 4:23 am GMT

    @Haunted_shadows:

    it comes with the camera for free,and they didn't add the full price of a game to the camera,microsoft is stealing your money don't you get it??,you will,when your pet dies because you left him without buying food from the pet store,LOL.

  • ali-009

    Posted Dec 8, 2009 4:18 am GMT

    @Haunted_shadows:

    come on,sony had crash bandicoot and then jak and daxter,but microsoft don't have any great games at all,the only exclusives that are amazing on Xbox 360 are gears of war 2 and forza 3 but other than that,there is nothing,and i'm not a big fan of PS Home,and 1$ for an item is not bad (since you will have 1$ left on your PSN wallet),i just like the look of Xbox 360 which beats the PS3,new Xbox experience is no doubt better than the PS3 XMB,and the Xbox 360 system looks better,but PS3 can do more than what Xbox 360 can do,and what is this great online gaming,we can play MAG for FREE and it have 256 players,now that is superior,but playing in a 16 players lobby was free years ago,don't you remember the days of dreamcast and PS2!!!,and master chief is not a mascot anyway,and hope you have fun with your pet,LOL.

  • CPTrandom1982

    Posted Dec 8, 2009 1:04 am GMT

    Got a pug and well impressed - should be free though!

  • Flint247

    Posted Dec 7, 2009 8:18 pm GMT

    *sigh*

    People are still complaining about paying $50 a YEAR...

  • Haunted_shadows

    Posted Dec 7, 2009 7:59 pm GMT

    @Ali-09
    1) "PS3 did this before, remember Eyepet? and it was free" It's not free, its bundled with an eye toy which you have to pay for. "Now that is what I call gaming", that doesn't even make sense... nor is Eyepet OR these Avatar pets any good.
    2) The most expensive avatar item is just around $4, sure its overpriced, PSN's most expensive clothing is $1.99. Pets required animating etc, sure. Both are overpriced, but if Microsoft can make money from it, they will.
    3) It is FREE to use Facebook etc, you're an idiot. You do not need XBLGold to use Facebook, MSN, Zune or any other program either. XBLGold is only needed for online gaming.
    4) We do pay for online gaming, but our online gaming is superior.
    5) Consoles don't need mascots.
    6) XBox has many good exclusives.
    7) These items don't affect your games etc, Just like with Playstation Home's items, you can see them within games, which is why some people purchase them. Pets will be put into games aswell at a later date.
    8) The cheapest 360 model is now $299. It's worth its price if you know the RIGHT facts. You obviously don't.

    @BigBacon87
    1) Avatar's are there to appeal to children.
    2) Both consoles have great exclusives. I myself prefer Xbox ones, though Uncharted 2 and LBP rank as some of my favourite games of all time, the others on that list didn't really make me care.

    All prices I listed are AUS and I am an xbox and ps3 gamer. Stop being such fanboys, all of you.

  • chimera23

    Posted Dec 7, 2009 3:25 pm GMT

    FAIL

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Dec 7, 2009 1:13 pm GMT

    I assume this will be one of those things that all of the 'hardcore' gamers on here conveniently forget about when blaming Nintendo and Nintendo only for catering to families and casual gamers.

  • Supreme4dmira1

    Posted Dec 6, 2009 10:01 pm GMT

    This is wierd......

  • xemnas_kh64

    Posted Dec 6, 2009 8:33 pm GMT

    Man, when you get a pet, you have to get pet food. You're gonna have to pay a lot of money a year to feed a pet!

  • shakensparco

    Posted Dec 6, 2009 2:05 pm GMT

    Who wastes money to customize a little Avatar no one cares about?

  • shooters125

    Posted Dec 6, 2009 1:06 pm GMT

    Avatars become more like The Sims every day

  • ali-009

    Posted Dec 6, 2009 9:07 am GMT

    How cute!!!,LOL,what does this have to do with gaming???!!,and anyways even PS3 owners had this before,remember Eyepet??,at least i have a pet that i can play with him using my hand and it almost comes free with PS3 camera,now that is what i call gaming,and lets not forget how expensive this things are in Xbox 360,but in PS home you buy stuff when you have few dollars left in your PSN wallet,in Xbox 360,the amount of money you pay for a T-Shirt and a hat is as expensive as an arcade game on PS3,and they make you pay 49$ to use facebook on Xbox 360,WTF!!!!!!!!,get a life Xbox 360 owners,you just suck every junk that microsoft creates for you,they are taking all your money without giving you nothing!!!!,they make you pay to play COD:MW2 online but did they create the game???!!!,microsoft is taking over your money but some people are just fanboys and wont understand.

  • BigBacon87

    Posted Dec 5, 2009 12:53 pm GMT

    Ansem_Rev rather than make up lists of exclusives that just make everybody laugh at you why don't you log onto live with your non-threatening avatar and pay for a cutesy little tweety bewrd? Serious kid you've never picked up a PS3 have you? Your number 2 was Halo 3 and it's overpriced map-pack on a disc. BAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Halo 3 was fun for about 3 weeks until COD:MW dropped. Killzone 2 destroys Halo in every conceivable way and is nothing like KZ1 so you obvious haven't played it. Your obvious too dumb to know that PS3 has more exclusives AAA rated exclusives than your outdated holding back the generation 360. Go to Metacritic and find out for yourself it's fact, in the meantime here's a list to dominate your life and all those OK exclusives you think rule because you have so little to work with.
    - Uncharted 1 and 2
    - Killzone 2
    - InFamous
    - Motorstorm 1 and 2
    - Resistance 1 and 2
    - MGS4
    - Little Big Planet
    - Ratchet and Clank: FTOD and ACIT
    - Demon Souls
    - White Knight Chronicles
    - God of War Collection
    - Buzz! Quiz TV and Quiz World
    - Heavenly Sword

    I wouldn't even suggest looking forward if I were you either. You have Alan Wake, more Halo garbage and Milo for your non-threatening avatar and cutesy berwdy combo to tag team... meanwhile

    - God of War 3
    - Gran Turismo 5
    - The Last Guardian
    - ModNation Racers (if you don't know, you will)
    - The Agent and more, but Im tired of learning you lessons Im getting all worked up to play some PS3.

  • hollow56771

    Posted Dec 5, 2009 10:08 am GMT

    Has anyone gotten the chocobo???

  • MeikoTevko

    Posted Dec 5, 2009 1:12 am GMT

    @SauhlGood it seems you belong to this base! What gives?

  • SauhlGood

    Posted Dec 5, 2009 12:39 am GMT

    gimmicky crap, deserving of the xbox user base

  • MeikoTevko

    Posted Dec 5, 2009 12:05 am GMT

    Because people will oogle and pay! This is the reason we are all here complaining everyday about monthly fees, costly systems, overpriced accessories, and inflated game costs. There always will be those select people that just have to have that cute puppy or that stupid a$$ remote control car. I mean give it a break and stop buying this crap. You stop buying it and eventually it will cost less or go back to opening up free content. They don't have to work hard to find a way to make money they just throw out some new garbage and people jump on it. I saw a kid yesterday holding a flippin gigantic q-tip! I mean you have a Canadian in here that seems butthurt over not getting a Chocobo! Get real, eh!

  • aka_Carbon

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 11:28 pm GMT

    wow r u serious, microsoft trys to find ways to make money, y not make all the avatar clothes and stuff for free, like ho it used to be wen avatars first came out?

  • protokyoto

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 5:35 pm GMT

    WTF...us Canadians are getting screwed over...AGAIN!!!

  • shinchy

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 5:23 pm GMT

    You cant get the free Chocobo outside the US.

  • Awful_Cleric

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 4:11 pm GMT

    Why?

  • GokiLives

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 3:27 pm GMT

    I'll probably wait until they actually play a role (like the pet food and such). In the meantime I'll use my MS points to rent a movie.

  • prioritymail

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 2:56 pm GMT

    Boo!

  • Zerosumgame

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 2:04 pm GMT

    Avatar is a conceptual copy of Wii's Mii, there is no value. I do not want to be a part of it.

  • DKant

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 1:01 pm GMT

    Good god.

    And the worst part is people will buy this. In the hundreds of thousands if not millions. THREE dollars. When people think twice before spending ONE dollar on iPhone apps that actually DO something other than generate fart noises. Geez.

  • oneligas

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 12:07 pm GMT

    it is a good thing the Wii does not have Avatars cause if they copied this there would be 2 million Pokemon for sale and Wii morons would buy themselves out of house/home

  • rabidjack

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 10:21 am GMT

    I wuv my xbox and my ps3. both for different reasons
    i never understood why you have to take sides.. Ansem_Rev.. why do you care so much? you made me laugh
    lol

  • Ansem_Rev

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 9:49 am GMT

    I love how this article is ABOUT XBOX NOT Playstation. And ALL THE SONY FANS ARE ON IT! lol

  • GOR_TAK

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 8:52 am GMT

    I miss the good old days when game developers MADE GAMES FOR GAMERS.

    Not novelties for mainstream idiots with more money than brains.

  • GOR_TAK

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 8:50 am GMT

    Fanboi -ism of any sort = epic lame

    You corporate cheerleaders couldn't be more pathetic. You're just like the sports fans who think they're actually part of the team.

  • MeikoTevko

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 6:47 am GMT

    I say we get together and set up some avatar pet fights! j/k I have to agree with Ansem though. PS3 must be so bad that all cows can do for fun is flame MS and anything they do. Must be all the server update and down time that frees them up to graze on these stories.

  • kuroshiro99

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 6:40 am GMT

    i wouldnt get this crap even if MS paid ME 3 bucks.

  • deanxxczx

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 4:08 am GMT

    go home ansem and play your xbox.

  • Noremak_Sillac

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 2:39 am GMT

    Classic Microsoft

  • Bad_Medicine

    Posted Dec 4, 2009 12:51 am GMT

    Ansem... grow up son and get a set of balls

  • Ansem_Rev posted Dec 3, 2009 10:53 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Ansem_Rev

    Posted Dec 3, 2009 10:53 pm GMT (hide)

    I love Sony Fans .. They are so stupid! Its like watching the special olympics They always bash because they don't know what good games are AND they lost all their Exclusives....

    Lets Play LITTLE BIG PLANET GUYS NARRRRRR

    XBOX 360 OWNS YOU

    1. GEARS OF WAR ( part 1) score 9.6 (part 2 ) 9.0
    2. Halo 3 / Halo ODST
    3. FABLE
    4. GTA IV The lost Episodes 5. LOST ODYSSEY
    6. FORZA 2 /3 REAL DRIVING SIM WITH GUESS WHAT DAMAGE!!!!
    7. Splinter Cell : Conviction
    8. Blue Dragon
    9. Perfect Dark
    10. Crackdown 11. Prey 12. Mass Effect

    Sonys Exclusives besides ATV offroad 20141234515
    1. Little Dumb Planet
    2. Uncharted ... Unchartedly bad 3. MGS 4 WOW lOOK 1 GOOD GAME SINGLE PLAYER ONLY
    4. ....... Tumbleweed
    5. .................Crickets
    6. Killzone 2 ... ...... .. .... .. .Are u serious? KILL ZONES ? the garbage i nearly burned on ps2.
    7. Final Fantas.... O wait thats NOT EXCLUSIVE ANYMORE

    Wow and you lost Metal GEAR NOW? Well Not really surprised there considering Kojima gave MGS 1 to Game cube and PC part 2 XBOX and PC! Sony must have had their head up their A$$ to lose all the exclusives. Sony fans dont even know what Lost and the Damned is and TBOGT. Its SO FUNNY!

  • blackmage0_15

    Posted Dec 3, 2009 9:50 pm GMT

    dude i would pay money for a yellow chocobo only flat out

    ed:discreetly....

    seriously though my avatar needs a chocobo :'(

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