December 2nd 2009 12:05 pm PT

When I said I wanted a pony years ago, this isn’t quite what I had in mind .

rut row, I may have to finally chip in for an avatar item… (falls on sword)

Pretty cool, but these things are still just too expensive for something that serves no purpose. If there were at least games they could be used in… Does this mean we’ll be getting our baby Chocobo’s though?

I want a TURTLE.

Will e’s dog be jealous?

What variety is the large dog?

This is somehow awesome?
i will be buying the pug dog…

oh yeah,as always remeber to have your pets spayed or neutered

Glad to see Guinea Pigs will be available. I may finally cavie in (pun intended).

Now you just need a chihuahua…..and not the Paris Hilton type. Just a regular brown one.

A Border Collie w/ frisbee would be awesome.

I’ll likely be getting the cat at some point. Going to wait and see if next week’s rumoured XBLA game is true though as I may have to save my points for that.

I will definetly buy my girl friends avatar a cat and hope she’ll be very thankful for that.

I hope the “Dog in Bag” is like the dog Kathleen Sanders carries around with her, (sorry, but I forget the dog’s name). She always had it in the 1up show and I saw her with it on the Microsoft Campus this year during the PAX tour.

(but really, these things are way too expensive… I hope the market will show that after the shinny wears off)

Oh, jeez… I think these are gonna sell like mad, especially that “purse dog”. And, I predict that many gamers who’d sworn not to purchase any pricey avatar items will be finally giving in.

I wonder if the interaction is going to be a pets or props thing. i’m not sure if they are having the avatar interact with both of them. maybe they will alternate. ???

Oh great… but wait, there an’t no rat ? I want a rat running on my shoulders and arms

LOL this is hilarious, I can’t wait.

I’d like to see my Fable 2 dog, and Buttercup (Fallout 3 Pony).

Despite the heading I didn’t even notice the pony. Looks like “dog in a bag” has some competition.

And, how about a FREE pet for us cheapskates. Maybe a pet rock?

Siam cat is so cute

I want my BABY chocobo!!! ALREADY

Major how do these link with props – are they instead of or as well as a prop?

Can you have a prop and pet active on your avatar at the same time?

too bad, no duck for e.

Def a dog for me.

My avatar doesn’t want to see other avatars pet their snakes! Ewww… what’s next? Avatars making out?

Lol m$ you sure know how to sucker money outta me. Cat or dog purchase for me depending on what they look like

Major, I hope that Microsoft considers greatly expanding the number of options; I think that any pet owner would prefer one that resembles their own real-world pet. Why not the top 30 most popular dog breeds?

Retrievers (Labrador)
Yorkshire Terriers
German Shepherd Dogs
Retrievers (Golden)
Beagles
Boxers
Dachshunds
Bulldogs
Poodles
Shih Tzu
Miniature Schnauzers
Chihuahuas
Pomeranians
Rottweilers
Pugs
Pointers (German Shorthaired)
Boston Terriers
Doberman Pinschers
Shetland Sheepdogs
Maltese
Spaniels (Cocker)
Great Danes
Siberian Huskies
Pembroke Welsh Corgis
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
French Bulldogs
Spaniels (English Springer)
Mastiffs
Australian Shepherds
Brittanys

This lack of choice reminds me of how limited the college clothing options were; I’d hoped that you would expand those options quickly to include a much larger selection of schools, especially since the object models and animation don’t change between items. While I’m sure the licensing requires effort, the initial release seems like a promise unfulfilled and releasing only two dog breeds tomorrow is similarly disappointing.

Monkey monkey monkey. Excellent news. I, too, want to know if they replace the avatar prop spot. Can I dance with my monkey?

Also, anyone wanting a free avatar item should have signed up for the final fantasy xiii chocobo giveaway; might still be able to.

Awesome!!! Can I haz a kat that makes nom nom nom sounds? ^_^

I’m glad you posted pictures. The image that formed in my head when I read “dog in bag” was… not pleasant… X{

Omg i want theee Guinea Pig XD

I like it

Do the pets get summoned and dismissed as the props currently do? Or will they remain with my avatar the entire time?

I’d feel a tad bad if I kept snapping my fingers and my pet disappearing into nothingness

I can haz PrONY too ?

Is this anything to do with PS3 launching a pet store for Home soon?

As long as you put a rottweiler or a Siberian husky (adults or puppys)ill buy them but E or Major Nelson can you tell the people who are making joy ride to add pets to the passenger seat, it would be awesome to have my dog looking out the window as I’m driving just a thought

Man that’s stupid. Better to support the game companies by buying their products then this crap. How can a virtual pet ever be worth as much as a game. Ok if you could do something with the pet, but no. I just feel at this point that the Xbox division has run out of ides. With the PS3 in their heels the Xbox people are desperate to put something out there. The Xbox is mainstream at this point. I feel like I’m not the main consumer target any more.

Almost $3 bucks seems a little expensive. Hopefully avatar items will drop in price as they age. Unlike downloadable MP maps for certain games that are 4 years old and they want more for the DLC then the game sells for.

Dinosaur, pterodactyl, tarantula, and – I agree – a turtle. Oh, and a dragonfly.

Any hope to be able to have two pets on my avatar at a time? I’d love to combine chocobo and parrot.

I like turtles.

Yay, now there’s an avator prop I want to spend points on

Woot

As an animal lover this is a sweet little addition
Hope in the future to see Black Panther *grins*

Seriously? People buy this stuff? I’ll never understand why you would pay actual money for how you little cartoon guy looks. As far as PS3 being on XBL’s heels, if they’re even that close, that’s where they belong, yapping like the little pugs you’re selling here. PSN will never be as good as XBL, so I hope this isn’t some sort of gimmick to stay ahead of them. Seriously, real money?

As Glenn ZA is an animal lover, it would be great if there was an option to donate that $3 to the National Humane Society.

EEEEEEEeeeeeeeee!!! I’m getting a monkey I’m getting a monkey *does the happy monkey dance* Wait, is it going to fling poo?

A virtual Gold Fish that costs more than a Real one , nice.

Shlugendah that sure opens an entire new dimension of “selling” these pets!

Positive spin off I think

Getting me a dog tomorrow.

this…is…stupid. MAKE ALL AVATAR STUFF FREE

I can has Chinchilla please?

Lmfao wow, that’s actually a cool idea. I’ll be waiting for my Chocobo to arrive.

I just want a German Shepherd or a longhaired Cat like Maine Coon couse siam cats are really ugly

Yay! You took my idea (I’m sure others thought of this too though…but I did post it back in the old update preview program forums) Awesome.
- Kick

Can we select the color of the cat?

^^of course you cant choose a color. M$ frowns upon free customization

I actually think it’s pretty cool… I’m sure that my son will love having a dog with his avatar

Just a personal request for a German Sheppard Dog and a Rabbit please

Pets? That makes sense… you cannot have Horse Armor overpriced DLC without the Horse…

we need to be able to customize our Avatar pets,because if a Tri-Color/Tortoise shell moggy isn’t there,then its no buy for me

http://forums.xbox.com/28800792/ShowPost.aspx

Can I have a free dog? lol…

Em i want a BEAR please Grrrr! LOL

What I’d love is a penguin. Might not happen anytime soon though. Can we name them? lol

If there can be unicorns, then my vote is a dragon, thanks.
All of this makes me think the next Pinata game will have some incredible unlocks.

I own an cat so this is a good ideal for animal lover.

No baby dinosaurs? Awe…

Is there any way for Canadian (or other non-US) users to get the Chocobo pet? When I try to register I get the following message:
You cannot sign up for FF XIII Promo – US because this program is not offered in your region.

How about some love for your friendly northern neighbours .

facepalm

What Gonzo said..

A penguin would be nice.

To update my previous question: the promotion is actually available outside the US (in Canada and the UK at least), you just have to use the correct region-specific link.

No offense Major, but we can buy up to 3 Indie Games or we can get a pet people only see on the off chance they look at their friends list? The only time I really look at my friends list is not on the NXE window, but in the plain gray box. Not a very hard choice for me. But truth be told I’m saving up to replace my PC and then I’ll only be buying exclusives (not timed ones, I can wait) for my 360.

While many (I hope) people won’t be interested in buying these I bet I know something we’ll all almost pay for: A faster, cleaner, smoother interface.

Bah, what am I saying? They won’t care about any of this. If people will pay more to change their brown dog to a black dog then MS will happily charge them. Who am I to change their minds?

Pity I cannot have a pet cow. I would call it Microsoft…Because they are good at milkin money from consumers

Australian consumers DEMAND a bilby. Demand it we say. And a Roo. And a Sheila.

Can we also have ‘on the arm’ Supermodels? I want some of what Tiger Woods is having

@HFC LOL Seconded!

i want a koala

@Shlugendah – I like your thinking! If all the points spent on certain items went to charity I’d be willing to part with some points. I’d happily donate to the RSPCA for an avatar animal.
Until then, I’ll be sticking to my Monitor and Chocobo. Charity is a worthy cause, you are not.

Everybody loves Bilbies, I know I do-woo-hoooo
Everybody loves Bilbies, most Australians have 32
Bilbies, bilbies, bilbies
bilbies, bilbies, bilbies.

A’hm originally fae Scotland ken ya bass

Ah want a haggis. Tae pit in mah sporran Ken.

And where’s mah Avatar kilt? Eh? Clan McRadge colours ken.

Noo Ahm off. Tae get pished and batter mah missus. Kilts MSFT or i’ll stitch ye.

Dear Mr Nelson,

I’d very much like to see the 8 inch Australian one eyed trouser python appear as part of this release. It is my bestest pet ever and I know it is a huge hit with the ladies.

Muchly,
HFC

Pet monkey?, sweet!. Waste of money?, yes!.

I’m so going for the “Large Dog” hopefully it’s a Dobermann

wonderful..

I am normally of the opinion that paying for “Virtual Items” for my avatar is absurd…with that said, if they had a Dalmatian I’d be all over that puppy!

Don’t know, doubt it though, like my Waypoint awards.

Do people actually buy this crap? 240 points??? LOL!

So the Pets are Live but they don’t look real.
Labrador is not a Labrador and longhaired Cat has not really long Hair….

trixie360: I actually requested that exact feature, when aceybongos & majornelson first announced the pets. Oddly, neither has gotten back to me, yet.
–
DarkGin87: Your JoyRide window idea is cute, but how would you implement the other pets (eg. bag o’ dog, the bird, the pony).
–
Veg1vo: Doh! Oh, yeah there already is a FREE pet, the Final Fantasy baby chocobo. I still would love to see my pet rock. I think it strikes the perfect balance of giving a pet to ALL members, while also goodheartedly penalizing us non-subscribers. :-p It should just lie there on the ground doing absolutely nothing despite the increasingly frantic attempts of your avatar to interact with it.

Major – My suggestion for a pet is a Black Panther!

For 240 pts, I wanna at least be able to RIDE that pony. And c’mon guys, you can’t have Avatar pets without a pot-bellied pig on that list!

this is sad soon ur going to have to get a job for ur avatar to buy all this crap

Can I haz Bayonetta demo instead?

I’d rather have a pedobear.

THERE NEED TO BE SOME CHANGES MADE, FAST

1. The Props need to appear instantly when you look at a friend. I’m not staying on there for 10 seconds just to see if he may have a prop.

2. Use more than one Prop and let it cycle through the ones you chose.

3. Why cant I pan the Gamerpic-Camera down to my frickin dog. I want to use it as my Gamerpic but I cant pan down to my feet. I hate you

Speak of the devil, the Bayonetta demo just turned up on Live

Speak of the devil, the Bayonetta demo just turned up on Live

Speak of the devil, the Bayonetta demo just turned up on Live

What happened to the Guinea Pig? Its not on the UK marketplace

They forgot to feed the Guninea Pig, it is now an Ex Guinea Pig!

Yeah, I’m missing the Guinea Pig, too!

That would have been cool if the proceeds from these pets went to some kind of charity or shelter for animals. It would probably generate some great press for the 360 and even the avatar haters would jump on board.

Anyway, I want the monkey from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

I cant take a gamerpic of my pet its too low.

Cute idea, pets are nice even if they could be rendered/designed better.
The charity idea would be great!

Well, I don’t know about this.

How about…

Viva Pinata Pets!!! Fudgehog, Macaraccon, or Chippopatamus anyone???

Useless, if at least was a Skag =p . Major i’m dissapointed with u, u didn’t post important things on ur blog like, Zombie Island for Borderlands and Bayonetta demo today o.O

@ zeDuffMan

LULZ @ Pedobear. Me too !!!

Loving the pets but I don’t see a guinea pig… /

I love this idea, but I have to say…the animations are a bit…well, lacklustre? The labrador walks round once (badly), sits, and then appears to fall over and – as far as I can tell – die. Which would be about right for my pet-handling abilty

It just seems a bit lacking and spal-dash considering the usual funky animations we get.

Would also be awesome for them to be permanent rather than pop-ups like props. But I guess there are memory constraints.

I’ll hold out for a husky

Bought the cute pug dog then 5min later got the rrod. Awesome

expensive

I just had to buy that damned bird. -_-

@ XandizitxU: Great idea! Having little Scrappy the Skag from Borderlands as a pet would actually be worth the 240 points! Now if there was just some way MS and Gearbox could make it happen…

Great stuff. Monkey is always cool

The best two are the Pug and the Monkey. Well, they would be the best if it wasn’t for the Chocobo being free.

Got my kid the pug and the snake, I got myself the monkey. Monkeys are way cool

I can’t wait for the chocobo the mid of this month.

i was disappointed in these pets..
i mean i was hoping they were pets and would be by your avatar at all times
even if they just laid there and got up every couple of minutes to do the same thing lol

instead these are just props that look like pets i mean you should have posted it as

“New props available for your avatar PETS style”

you tricked me..and its sucks..

I’m quite happy with Guilty Spark thanks! Though I’m quite fond of Akitas.

“I Can Haz OverPriced Digital Content?” says gamer
“Yes You Can!!!” says MS

Gosh stop charging these mad prices for such content.

Alright, since I know you’re looking at the requests due to the most recent show, I’ll put this out there: Cthulu!

I’d suggest a bunch more of anime-themed pets,(Totoro, Kodama, etc) but we subscribers in Canada don’t get access to the Anime stuff as is.

//Still bitter about not having Gunslinger Girl
///Not for me, the Missus
////Slashies

so do the pets just magically appear & run around & then disappear after a few seconds, cause that is just too creepy. too bad there isn’t a way to customize your pet, might be worth the price then

Yeah, the animals disappearing doesn’t feel right. The labrador laying down to take a nap but then being magically disintegrated by the avatar does feel like a death animation. As a dog person who lived through the passing of a dog a few years ago, it really gives me bad vibes (losing a dog == walking through hell). So no virtual dog for my avatar. It would have more tasteful if the pets had “homes” to stay in upon spawning and unspawning.
In a nutshell, depicting animals spawning and unspawning the same way as toys and gadgets just doesn’t work out. The pets should have stuck around and have separated animation schemes that wouldn’t require dedicated avatar animations, or at least have graceful spawning and unspawning animations.

Pet or lightsaber… pet or lightsaber. If my daughter has her way, the lightsaber will be gone.

I have to agree with Zakabeb, though I wont mind summoning and dispelling my mythical chocobo. This is why I’d be prone to suggesting more mythical beasts as avatar pets.