Sydney, Australia — 19 September 2012 — For kids across Australia who have dreamt of being a guest star on Sesame St and having a conversation with Elmo or Cookie Monster, the possibility will become reality from tomorrow with the launch of a new entertainment category from Xbox 360, ‘2-Way TV’.

Xbox today previewed the first ‘2-Way TV’ titles, ‘Kinect Sesame Street TV’[1] and ‘Kinect Nat Geo TV’[2] at an event in Sydney, delighting kids and parents alike.

Harnessing the innovative technology of Kinect for Xbox 360, ‘2-Way TV’ will bring children’s favourite TV programs to life like never before – merging educational television and cutting-edge gaming technology into brand new series that will assist in kid’s learning through interactive play.

“Research has shown that children retain information most effectively when they are ‘doing’ rather than just ‘seeing’ or ‘hearing’[3],” explained Kimberley Francis, Head of Marketing and Interactive Entertainment at Microsoft Australia.

“For the first time, kids will be able to step inside the television and have truly interactive adventures with their Sesame Street friends, providing meaningful opportunities for kids to be a part of the story.

“Children’s television has previously been a one-way street. Now, using a series of cameras and microphones in the Kinect sensor, these 2-Way TV programs have the ability to hear, see, recognise and respond to you, with your actions changing the adventure along the way.”

“Recently it was revealed by Bond University that seven in ten Australian parents actively use games as an educational tool with their children,[4]” added Ms Francis. “Part video game, part children’s show, we believe 2-Way has the potential to completely change the way children learn through entertainment.”

Ben Britton, face of Nat Geo WILD Australia & New Zealand, attended the event and helped spread the message about the importance of conservation of wildlife, encouraging children to be passionate about our environment.

“I’m really excited to help launch ‘Kinect Nat Geo TV’ in Australia and to inspire a sense of wonder about nature in kids,” said Mr Britton.

“It’s a unique experience when technology connects us to nature in this way. With ‘Kinect Nat Geo TV’, kids can get up close and personal with creatures great and small, and come to grasp basic concepts about our natural world,” he said.

Kinect Nat Geo TV and Kinect Sesame Street TV will be available in stores on 20 September.