"It's a very simple formula, but thanks to precise controls, great puzzle designs, and excellent atmosphere, Angry Birds is outrageously addictive. (Really, I am sleepy today because I played this until three in the morning.)" -IGN.com"Angry Birds might not have a lot of extra features besides its single player mode, but to be honest, that mode alone makes the game a fantastic value." -TouchArcade
"What does it take to make an addictive game? Not much -- just throw in some super simple controls, cute graphics, and basic physics. Rovio Mobile's Angry Birds is one such game that includes all these elements..." -Engadget
"The reaction of the objects as they topple and splinter, knocking other sections over and (if you're lucky) squishing the pigs within is a constant delight, and ensures that you'll play the same levels multiple times in a bid to get a full three-star rating. It's a shame they didn't take the final step of including online high-scores, but the core game is just as maddeningly addictive as ever...to all those who've been waiting - here comes a very good thing."
Mention Angry Birds and, chances are, people will know what you're talking about. The colorful birds and their furious purpose have catapulted themselves into an outright phenomenon.
The road to Angry Birds began in 2003, when three Finnish students entered a mobile-game development competition. Their game, King of the Cabbage World, was the first real-time, multiplayer game for mobile phones. The trio soon formed what would become Rovio.
Angry Birds was released in December 2009, after the iPhone and just as the Android universe started to explode--a climate ripe for innovation. The game achieved unprecedented success: to date, the game and its sequels have generated more than 50 million downloads.
Flash forward a year and Angry Birds is a household name, having made the leap from popular game to popular culture. YouTube videos providing tips and tricks, life-sized Angry Birds-themed sketches on Conan O'Brien, cuddly plush toys--they all come with the territory.
Regardless of what Angry Birds holds as a cultural touchstone, it's a safe bet that more games, more levels, and more birds are on the horizon.
