When Microsoft announced the creation of Avatars to go along with the New Xbox Experience at E3 this year, one of the jokes that began circulating was how long it would take before the company tried to monetize the little creatures, charging you for every shoe and sport coat. Turns out the answer is next Spring and no, I’m not joking.

In a recent interview with VideoGamer.com, Robin Burrowes, Europe, the Middle East and Africa product manager for Xbox LIVE stated that the company is planning to open an Avatar store in 2009, complete with premium branded merchandise.

"The plan of record will be to launch a more extensive Avatar Store from spring time onwards next year, and that store in theory would have branded content in there, game publisher IP stuff in there as well."

Burrowes said there won’t be anything available at launch, but future products will be "tied to game releases and us working with publishers very closely to encourage rewards from those games to be tied to your Avatar."

"Right now when you express yourself there’s certain games where you’ve won a Gamer Pic within that game," Burrowes said. "Future versions of things like Guitar Hero or Rock Band or any other music game, if you win that particular Achievement everyone can see it within your friends list."

He foresees more animations, emotions and features, plus wardrobe enhancements, with fashion brands possibly getting in on the action. It could even be possible to customize your Avatar to look like a game character.

Of course, none of these grand ideas are free and Burrowes would only state that the pricing structure for items in the shop is currently "under discussion."

I don’t mind the idea of unlocking Avatar gear a’la Achievements, but the prospect of paying for items to deck out my digital self is quite irritating. First Microsoft tells us that Avatars will be mandatory, which is a contradiction to what we all heard at E3, and now they also inform us that if we want to look snazzy, we’re going to have to pay extra. Ugh, suddenly I’m hoping November 19 never comes.