FitzRoy Awards Gaming Rights on Heathcliff, Funny Face

NEW YORK: Axis3 Apps has taken the exclusive rights to develop and distribution games and applications for iPhones for FitzRoy Media’s Heathcliff and Funny Face properties.

As part of the four-year agreement, Axis plans to release the first games this fall, with the November 2009 debut of Heathcliff and Funny Face applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. Both games will be available for download through iTunes. Targeting an adult and tween audience, the new Heathcliff—an update of the 1973 comic strip—will focus on comedy set against a hip, club-music sound. Funny Face presents the wry, high-spirited adventures of Loud Mouth Lime, Jolly Olly Orange, Goofy Grape and their fruit-flavored pals.

“The new deal with Axis will play a key role in FitzRoy’s strategy to extend these iconic brands to our target audience of children, tweens and young adults, with innovative and fun applications from a company that is known for creating games that are immediately embraced by this all-important demographic,” said Hamp Hampton, the CEO of FitzRoy.

“We are very excited to have secured the rights to two classic properties that are poised for success with new generations of adults and children in the 21st century,” added Axis3 Apps’ president, AJ Shaker. “I grew up with both Heathcliff and Funny Face. I am confident these properties will attract strong followings across all platforms given the technology and gaming innovation we have available now.”