Noting Gen Alpha’s obsession with video game walkthrough content on platforms such as YouTube and Twitch, PBS Kids is about to launch a digital activity-centered television series entitled “Odd Squad Gaming Unit” (OSGU).
Produced by Fred Rogers Productions and Thinkingship Entertainment, “OSGU” is said to be “a partially scripted 4-7 minute gameplay series hosted by two agents, Oaklin Universe, Oaklin and Orindo.”
“In each episode, they hold shows from different strange squad districts, communicate through two video chat windows, helping them get the most out of the game from the PBS Kids world,” reads the series’ description. “The heart of the show is that hosts interact with each other, play and respond to both the game and the other.”
For each data collected by PBS Kids, gaming content is one of the most popular types of videos on YouTube for kids, with 50% of PBS Kids Viewers watching gameplay videos of 3-8 people. However, according to Common Sense Media, one in four children viewed by children under the age of 8 are actually targeted older target audiences. “OSGU” released on September 5th is intended to be a “safe” age-appropriate alternative to this content.
“OSGU” focuses on the fundamentals of problem solving when each game was played and features a rotating lineup of over 375 free educational PBS kids games, including “Wild Kratts”, “Arthur”, and “Lyla in the Loop”.
“At PBS Kids, we know that the more ways children interact with our content, the more they learn. That’s why games have been an important part of multi-platform content for over 25 years.” “In a space filled with chaos, we continue to build safe, high-quality products for our children, and we continue to meet them in this ever-evolving world of media.”
