Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Double Fine Productions |
| Publisher(s) | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
| Director(s) | Nathan Martz |
| Designer(s) |
|
| Programmer(s) |
|
| Artist(s) | Greg Knight |
| Writer(s) |
|
| Composer(s) |
|
| Platform(s) | Xbox 360 |
| Release date(s) | October 11, 2011 |
| Genre(s) | Adventure, edutainment |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster is a fun video game based on the famous Sesame Street show. It was created by Double Fine Productions and released by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment with Sesame Workshop. This game came out on October 11, 2011, for the Xbox 360 console.
Players use the Kinect motion sensor to control beloved characters like Elmo and Cookie Monster, plus new friends like Marco and Seamus. You'll get to sing, dance, and play along! The game is split into chapters, and each one has a new monster with a problem for you to help solve. Interestingly, this game started as a small idea during a special creative time at Double Fine. It was later realized that it would be perfect for the Sesame Street world! An early version of the game, called Happy Song, was released for computers in 2012. Another Sesame Street game using Kinect, called Kinect Sesame Street TV, also came out in 2012.
Exploring the Game: Gameplay Fun
The game feels like an interactive storybook, with many exciting chapters. In each chapter, you meet a monster who needs help from Cookie Monster and Elmo. For example, one new character named Marco was the only one at his own birthday party, and you get to help make it special!
Each chapter has fun minigames that use the Kinect motion sensor. In Marco's birthday chapter, you might play a race where one player controls Marco, moving side-to-side and jumping, while the other player controls Elmo, ducking to avoid branches. It's a team effort! Another game is a dance-off where you copy the moves of the monsters on screen. The chapter ends with a big birthday party for Marco, and you even help him blow out the candles!
How the Game Was Made: Development Story
While Double Fine was making another game called Brütal Legend, they had a special two-week event called "Amnesia Fortnight." During this time, the company split into small teams to create new game ideas. This is where the idea for Once Upon a Monster began! After Brütal Legend was finished, the team decided to develop these smaller game ideas further. Even though Once Upon a Monster was one of the first ideas from that creative period, it was released after other games like Costume Quest and Stacking. The game was officially announced in February 2011.
The game started as an idea from Nathan Martz, a lead programmer at Double Fine, who also led the development of this game. His original idea was about monsters singing and dancing, much like the characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets. Nathan wanted to create a game that felt "uplifting" and "passionately upbeat," like other happy games he enjoyed. The early version was called Happy Song, and it was like a musical toy where players helped monsters make music. At first, it used regular controls, but Nathan realized it would be perfect for the Kinect motion sensor, especially since Kinect was popular with families. The game combines physical activities with music and art, making everything more interactive with Kinect.
The first version had unique characters designed by Scott Campbell, an artist at Double Fine. When they showed the game around, many people thought it would be a perfect match for the Sesame Street monsters. At first, Tim Schafer, the head of Double Fine, wasn't sure about making a game based on an existing show, as they hadn't done that before. But when they learned that Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Sesame Workshop were working together, Tim and Nathan decided to try and get the license.
Many at Double Fine, including Tim and Nathan, grew up loving Sesame Street. Once they got the chance to make the game, they felt a big responsibility to honor the show's spirit and characters. They even visited the Jim Henson studio to learn how the Muppets are made, so they could make the game characters look and move just like the real ones, with furry textures and lifelike movements. While Cookie Monster and Elmo are in the game, Marco, one of Nathan's original characters, stayed in the game. Another new monster, Seamus, who is very shy, also came from early drawings and needs players to help him feel comfortable by finding clothes that match his mood.
Working with Sesame Workshop, Double Fine learned about their special goals, like helping kids grow socially and emotionally, and promoting healthy habits. The Kinect controller was perfect for encouraging fitness! They teamed up with Sesame Workshop's education experts to make sure the game taught important lessons and fit the show's mission. This made the game "emotional entertainment," teaching young players about important feelings like shyness, friendship, bravery, and empathy. Tim Schafer also noted that Sesame Street is full of humor. He saw the Muppet performers as live comedians, always ready to make people laugh. They wanted the game to be fun for both kids and parents to play together, not just something to keep kids busy.
Meet the Voices: Game Cast
- Kevin Clash - Elmo
- David Rudman - Cookie Monster
- Eric Jacobson - Grover
- Caroll Spinney - Oscar the Grouch
- Martin Robinson - Slimey the Worm
- Dee Bradley Baker - Doo-Rays
