Microsoft/Xbox cute franchise?

So I was having a deep conversation with another avid gamer when we asked each other, if you think mario, you instantly associate him with nintendo, Sonic = sega, Sackboy = Sony/playstation but who have microsoft got?

Over the last 5 years all the consoles and publishers have milked their respective "cute franchise" moneyspinners. When you think about it, nintendo has the most memorable characters but can you compare master chief or marcus fenix to mario and link?

I have racked my brain trying to think if microsoft has even attempted a child frendly puzzle platformer that could potentially explode into a game with a 25 year legacy, but all i came up with was shitty cross platform film related games, lego games and sonic.

Do you think microsoft made a strategic decision, as far back as the original xbox, not to create this type of franchise and try and focus on mature gaming?

With so much shovelware being brought out for kinect, i cant see anything happening in the future that will compare to mario, sackboy or link

No with the original xbox they were aiming at the more mature gamer for example Halo. And to be honest i doubt they will bring any game in the future that has a caractor as such, especially with all the shovelware as u put that comes out for Kinect.

I would have said Master Chief, but for child-friendly characters...I would have to say... Oh, there is none!

EDIT: You could say Viva Pinanta but they haven't released a game in a couple of years.

I would have said Masterchief. Sure he's not cute and friendly but kids play Halo

I think initially they tried with franchises like Viva Pinata, and Kameo, but it didn't pan out.

Kameo that reminds me that was actually a very good game. One bad thing about it was it was really short which id say was its downfall. I'm surprised they never brought out a second one.

I remember Shocker saying Kameo was great as well. I'd pick it up if I ever saw it in a bargain bin.