HP is acquiring Calgary-based VoodooPC, purveyors of aesthetically sexy, high-performance computers for hardcore gamers.

Following the close of the transaction at the end of November, HP will form a separate business unit within its Personal Systems Group focused on the gaming industry. VoodooPC co-owner Rahul Sood will become chief technologist for the unit while co-owner Ravi Sood will become the unit's director of strategy. Both executives will report to Phil McKinney, who will become general manager of the gaming business unit while maintaining his current role as chief technology officer of HP's Personal Systems Group.

The acquisition is expected to "extend HP's presence into the high-performance gaming market and globally expand the reach of the VoodooPC brand" in much the same way PC giant Dell did when it acquired dream-machine giant Alienware last March.