'Life in Hell' trademark points to game adaptation
by David Hinkle 
{ Apr 15th 2009 at 11:00PM }
Those of you familiar with Matt Groening outside of his Simpsons and Futurama endeavors likely raised an eyebrow after reading the title to this post. It's okay, we did the same thing when looking at the trademark.If you're unaware, Groening has had a strip called Life in Hell (renamed to Life is Swell in 2007) going since 1977. Life in Hell (we're staying O.G. with it) revolves around rabbits in hell, and is very different than his more popular works. Now it would seem to be at least in the planning stages of a video game adaptation, as it is one item on a long list at the US Patent and Trademark Office site. Given how many things are listed on the trademark, it would seem there's going to be an all-out merchandising blitz for the property. That, or absolutely nothing will happen. It's usually how these things go.
[Via Kotaku]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brendan H @ Apr 15th 2009 11:12PM
Joystiq: Where the Elite Meet to Beat, Not Cheat (games, that is)
The Dark Wayne @ Apr 15th 2009 11:26PM
by beat I will assume you mean solve
rileysayrs @ Apr 16th 2009 1:02AM
The life in hell rabbits already made an appearance in the Simpson's arcade cabinet. i think that it was on the first level.
Michelobius @ Apr 15th 2009 11:39PM
Futurama is terribly underrated, btw. Love that show. Also, Life in Hell is funny sometimes. But it's stark, simple (usually has the same panel 9 times in a row with different dialog), and in my infinite creativity cannot come up with a way to make it into a compelling videogame. It's barely a compelling comic.
brickwalker0 @ Apr 15th 2009 11:52PM
i think it had a rough start, as it was compared to Simpsons a bit too much, imo.
it seems once it started airing on Adult Swim, it became huge.
Ezio Auditore de Firenze (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Apr 15th 2009 11:55PM
futurama was hilarious. bender is one of my favorite cartoon characters ever. he ranks up there with cartman and stewie griffin.
CH3BURASHKA @ Apr 16th 2009 12:19AM
I got into Futurama way after it got cancelled and felt enraged that those stupid people with their stupid Nielsen boxes didn't watch the greatest show on the magic tube and got it shot dead.
Draco Basileus @ Apr 15th 2009 11:59PM
"Life in Hell" used to be one of my favorite strips when I was younger. I still own the "Childhood is Hell", "Love is Hell", and "School is Hell" books. Absolutely hilarious stuff.
Hopefully they consult with Groening when doing the writing for this game.
CH3BURASHKA @ Apr 16th 2009 12:17AM
BRING BACK FUTURAMA!!!
Courtney @ Apr 16th 2009 12:42AM
Ummm, but they did, for 16 episodes at least:
http://www.amazon.com/Futurama-Movies-Collection-Benders-Game/dp/B001M5U7ZU/ref=ntt_tv_ep_opt_006
It's not clear if Fox will greenlight more Futurama projects or not.
Sorry if you knew all this, not everyone does.
CH3BURASHKA @ Apr 16th 2009 1:05AM
YES I KNOW ABOUT THE MOVIES!!1!1! NOW WE NEED MOAR SEASONS!1!!!11!!!! RAGE!!!!!!7!!!!!!
To paraphrase, yes I do know about the movies, and I loved the first one. The ending and Fry's and Leela's relationship is what makes the series unique: there's a real connection and love going on few shows and even fewer cartoons can claim to have.
Courtney @ Apr 16th 2009 1:24AM
I got the first one, really enjoyed it, but haven't got the rest yet. I had figured I would rather wait until they are all out so I can totally binge one Saturday afternoon watching them all.
Now I just need to actually get them.
Courtney @ Apr 16th 2009 12:38AM
If I remember right, some of the newspapers that ran Life In Hell failed and/or dropped it due to their budgets shrinking. This may be Groening and company working on preparing for a future of the property that doesn't include alternative weeklies.
madhat @ Apr 16th 2009 8:59AM
Haven't read Life in Hell in many years. He renamed it to "Life is Swell"?? Um.. lame.
Alex @ Apr 16th 2009 3:11PM
I hope they make a game, The Simpsons Game was hilarious, and I'm sure this would be the same! Even if the gameplay was mediocre I would still love it!
RichChap @ Apr 16th 2009 6:36PM
I can really see this as another telltale game. At the same time, telltale does not need any more franchises to make point-and-click adventure games out of.