[Valigarmander]

Banjo-Kazooie, Avatars Added to Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

While it's being released on nearly every system under the sun, Xbox 360 owners are getting an extra roster boost in their version of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. Sega and Microsoft have announced that Rare mascots Banjo-Kazooie and Xbox Live Avatars will be playable in the upcoming kart racing game.

Sega proclaims that this will mark the first time Avatars will be playable in a racing game on the Xbox 360, which suggests Sega is confident the game's February release will pre-date Microsoft's still-undated Joy Ride. And for scholars of pointless trivia, this will be the third outing in a racing game for Banjo-Kazooie, following Diddy Kong Racing on the Nintendo 64 and Banjo-Pilot on the Game Boy Advance.

"Not only are we thrilled to be able to work so closely with Microsoft and Rare, but we recognize that Banjo and Kazooie -- like Sonic -- are some of the video game industry?s most loved characters," said Sean Ratcliffe, vice president of marketing for Sega of America. "Between them and the Avatars, we are really happy to offer gamers the racing game we know they have been waiting for."

"What the f***?," said 1UP editorial director Sam Kennedy upon hearing the news. "This means we could see Banjo-Kazooie racing against David Ellis and Shenmue guy in his forklift? This game blows my mind."

While we absolutely do not recommend it, we can only imagine playing the game after 24 hours of no sleep will only heighten this hallucinatory experience.

Neato.