HP announced on Thursday that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire VoodooPC, a designer and manufacturer of high-performance and personalized gaming computer systems.

Following the close of the transaction, 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 and co-owner Ravi Sood will become the unit's director of strategy.

We're absolutely thrilled to welcome VoodooPC, gaming industry pioneers and the premier name in gaming, to the HP team. Together with VoodooPC's leadership and influence, HP will have the expertise to become the leader in the gaming customer segment, said Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Personal Systems Group at HP.

HP plans to maintain VoodooPC's current distribution model and brand name along with its marketing, sales, support and development operations.

The move follows the lead that Dell, the number one computer maker, announced last March with acquisition of gaming computer maker, Alienware Inc.

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