"GameTap is all about great games, so we're thrilled that the first GameTap-produced title and the first brand new game to debut on our service is a 'Sam and Max' episodic series," said Ricardo Sanchez, GameTap's vice president of content. "We're also very excited to be working with Telltale Games to pioneer episodic game development."

"GameTap is a great fit for Sam & Max," said Telltale CEO Dan Connors. "They have a tremendous amount of respect for the series, and their online channel makes them an ideal partner for episodic content. We look forward to our collaborations for accelerating innovation in the interactive entertainment space."

Steve Purcell's Sam & Max property began life as an independent comic, and has also seen life an an animated television series, but it is best known among gamers for the classic 1993 adventure Sam & Max Hit the Road from LucasArts. Telltale Game was founded largely by former LucasArts employees following the 2004 cancellation of Hit the Road's sequel, Freelance Police. The current Sam & Max game in development by Telltale, however, has no relationship to the cancelled LucasArts game. It is being planned as a series of episodes, each telling the story of a new case to be solved by the destructive dog and rabbit duo.