Tim Schafer brings Sesame Street to the Kinect

Tim Schafer brings Sesame Street to the Kinect Ok, for me it was more about Jamie and the Magic Torch, Mr Benn, Why Don't You? and Grange Hill but Sesame Street is definitely up there when it comes to kids telly from back in the day. Warner Bros will be banking on this nostalgia as they have just announced Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster for the Kinect (Xbox 360). Most surprisingly of all the game will be developed by Tim Schafer of Monkey Island and Brutal Legend fame. Quite what influence he will have on the finished game will be revealed when released this Autumn, but he certainly seems
keen.

Sesame Street had a profound effect on me, and many members of the Double Fine team, when we were children. So did video games. Now many of us are parents and we want to share with our kids the great experiences we had, but also the completely new ones made possible by cutting-edge technology such as Kinect for Xbox 360. So it's a labour of love on many levels.

The game itself sees kids and parents team up with Cookie Monster, Elmo and co as they adventure in a "living storybook". The press release promises plenty of dancing, jumping and flying. Being Sesame Street there is some education involved too with the ability to "learn key life skills".

Yes, it's easy to be cynical but with Schafer's team adding some sparkle to the script and action sequences Sesame Street could be one of those family games that – while likely to be ignored by most hardcore gamers – achieves a Just Dance-style crossover.

What do you think? Intrigued by the premise or will you be too busy playing the new Call of Duty to even notice?

This article was written by Greg Howson, for guardian.co.uk on Tuesday 15th February 2011 16.00 Europe/London