Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth announced for Xbox 360 Kinect, Wii U

Ubisoft Entertainment announced a partnership with Marvel Entertainment to release Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth, a new motion-based video game based on the popular posse of superheroes.

With The Avengers film being a smash hit at the box office, Ubisoft is hoping the popularity translates over to the video game which will be released for Microsoft's Xbox 360 Kinect and Nintendo's upcoming Wii U console.

"The idea that we're making a motion-control version of `The Avengers' is a unique proposition if you compare that to superhero games of the past," said Tony Key, Ubisoft's vice president of sales and marketing. "This is the perfect type of game for that because these characters are very action oriented. They're always fighting and throwing things."

Developed by Ubisoft Quebec, Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth will focus on many the characters many will recognize from the film, like Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and the Hulk as they fend off an invasion of genetically altered Skrull aliens.

Despite the timing of the announcement, Marvel Avengers will not be based on the recent film, but instead on the "Secret Invasion" comic series.  The title will feature more than 20 characters from the Marvel universe.

Details about the game are vague at this point, but Key did say that Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth would be family friendly despite the game's focus on fighting.  More details about Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth will be unveiled at E3 next month, Key noted.

A release date for Marvel Avengers was not announced, but Tony Key did say the game is expected to launch after Nintendo debuts the Wii U later this year.  It's an interesting release window considering many games based on Marvel movies are released around the same time as their film counterpart to benefit from the buzz.  The Avengers are big now (earning $207.4 million domestically at the box office in its opening weekend), but will they remain popular later this year?

[Associated Press]