Ubisoft giving King of Pop Jackson new life in videogame

French videogame titan Ubisoft is making a videogame that lets players "step into the shoes" of legendary King of Pop Michael Jackson.

Ubisoft chief executive officer Yves Guillemot unveiled the game Beat It, the title of one of Mr Jackson's most famous songs, with the help of a high-energy dance team.

"I am very happy because we have signed a legend," Mr Guillemot said of the deal that cleared the way for Ubisoft to craft a dancing and singing game based on Jackson's life and music.

The game will combine Jackson's music with his renowned dance moves, calling on players to learn and emulate the King of Pop's skills.

Players will also be able to sing along to Jackson songs including Billie Jean and Beat It, and have their vocal performances rated by the game.

"Michael always pushed every limit when it came to technology to give his fans unforgettable entertainment experiences, whether it involved his videos, his recordings or his concerts," said John Branca, co-executor of Mr Jackson's estate.

"Now, with this interactive product, we have the chance to bring Michael, the artist, into households around the world in a perfect match of Michael's artistry and the family entertainment which he always highly valued."

The title will be playable on videogame consoles and handheld gaming devices.

A version being made for Kinect gesture-based controls for Microsoft Xbox 360 consoles will use cameras to put players virtually into the game with Mr Jackson.

"This game is a natural extension of what he would be doing today to raise his artistry to even greater heights for his fans of all generations," said Mr Jackson's estate co-executor John McClain.