One of the most popular iPhone apps is now available on PC
As the global phenomenon lands on PC, Helen French examines the game that made us look at the pig/bird relationship in a whole new light.
If you ever see someone sighing in exasperation at a smartphone or tablet – or perhaps even sending it hurtling across a room – chances are it’s down to missing a key shot in Angry Birds, rather than the more obvious go-to causes like an argument on the phone or bad news via text.
Angry Birds is a casual puzzle game by developer Rovio Entertainment that launched in 2009 on smartphones. Now it’s the number one paid app of all time, with over 500 million downloads so far globally.
After flying onto devices and services like phones, tablets and Google+, the franchise is finally making its way into boxed PC games, after Rovio struck a deal with publisher Focus Multimedia for exclusive UK distribution. The original Angry Birds will hit shelves on November 25th, with an SRP of £10.20, which should make it a good item to stock as an impulse purchase or as a Christmas gift.
In the game, players take control of some birds made angry (hence the name), by pigs that have stolen their eggs. They have to use a slingshot to shoot the birds towards the pigs, smashing them and their surroundings into bits. There are a variety of birds, each introduced as the levels progress, and each with a unique destructive ability. It’s intuitive and addictive – a simple mix that makes it near impossible to tear yourself away after a few goes.
AN EGGCELLENT OPPORTUNITY
Whilst the brand has had huge consumer awareness for some time, as a download product the massive wave of enthusiasm for it could only tapped into by retail with toys and accessories – until now.
Focus MD Craig Johnson said: “Angry Birds is everywhere, successfully penetrating ever deeper into the mainstream on a daily basis. We’re thrilled to be working with Rovio on the distribution of the Angry Birds PC games across our territories.”
The agreement with Rovio covers all three of the Angry Birds games released so far: Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Rio.
Angry Birds Rio will come out from Focus Multimedia before Christmas, the publisher says. This title was based on a collaboration between Rovio and Twentieth Century Fox (which also led to a film), and it has similar gameplay to the other two Angry Birds titles, but also includes a variety of new birds and settings, and a slightly different graphical look. Instead of pigs, the birds fight gibbons to smash cages open.
The fun doesn’t stop there. Angry Birds Seasons will be released from Focus in 2012. It comes packed with a range of levels inspired by holidays and festivals from around the world, such as Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, Easter, Summer Pignic, and Moon Festival.
Kill many pigs with several birds this Christmas, and consider ordering Angry Birds for your holiday stocklist.
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