THQ Kinects with Fantastic Pets

When Kinect launches for the Xbox 360 on November 4, gamers will be able to put the camera-based motion-sensing controller through its paces in 12 games, with five more confirmed to arrive before the year is out. While THQ isn't represented among those launch titles, the publisher isn't neglecting Kinect, announcing today that it will bring Fantastic Pets to the Xbox 360 in March 2011.

Described as Kinect's "first augmented reality game," Fantastic Pets initially presents players with four prosaic animals: a dog, cat, horse, and lizard. However, throughout the course of gameplay, these animals transform into mythological creatures, ranging from unicorns to dragons.

Fantastic Pets plays on Kinect's voice-recognition technology, as gamers are able to command their pets in minigames and talent shows through audible cues. Players will also be able to photograph themselves with their pets as they attempt to achieve the rank of a professional pet trainer.

Blitz Games Studios has been tasked with creating Fantastic Pets. Blitz Games is perhaps most noted for its work on the Burger King adver-games Sneak King and Big Bumpin'. The British studio has also handled development on other license properties, including The Biggest Loser, as well as Konami's Karaoke Revolution.