Microsoft has inked a deal with Build-A-Bear Workshop to introduce a new interactive entertainment experience for guests of its stores. Starting Oct. 11, select stuffed animals sold in Build-A-Bear Workshop stores and at buildabear.com can be imported into the new Kinect for Xbox 360 game, Kinectimals Now with Bears. Each of the four bears will include a special Kinectimals hangtag that features a Microsoft Tag to import these furry friends right into the game when scanned with the Kinect for Xbox 360. Kinectimals With Bears offers training, caring for and playing with cute cubs and taking on challenges across two s islands.

The stuffed animals from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Collection that will be Kinect enabled include Champ – A Champion Fur Kids, Colorful Hearts Bear, Endless Hearts Teddy, and Peace & Hearts Bear.

Select North American and United Kingdom Build-A-Bear Workshop stores will have Kinect for Xbox 360 stations set up to showcase Kinectimals Now with Bears and Kinect for Xbox 360 enabled Build-A-Bear furry friends including: • Bellevue Square in Bellevue, Wash.

• Downtown Disney in Anaheim, Calif.

• Grapevine Mills in Grapevine, TX

• 5th Avenue at 46th in New York, N.Y.

• Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

• Metro Centre in Gateshead, Durham

• Northshore Mall in Peabody, Mass.

• The Plaza at King of Prussia in King of Prussia, Pa.

• Roosevelt Field in Garden City, N.Y.

• Saint Louis Galleria in St. Louis, Mo.

• Vaughn Mills in Vaughan, Ontario

• Westfield Stratford City in White City, London

• West County Center in St. Louis, Mo.

• West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta

• Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg, Ill.

“Kinectimals Now with Bears” will also be available for purchase at these locations and at buildabear.com.

Additionally, from Oct. 11 through 31, guests can enter for a chance to win the Build-A-Bear Workshop Kinect for Xbox 360 Sweepstakes in Build-A-Bear Workshop stores, at buildabear.com/Kinect or on the Build-A-Bear Workshop Facebook page. Winners will receive a Kinect prize pack that includes an Xbox 360 4GB console, a Kinect Sensor, “Kinectimals Now with Bears” game and a $100 gift card to Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Visit www.buildabear.com/Kinect for more details.