Angry Birds downloads soar past 100 million across all platforms

by Ben Gilbert on Mar 14th 2011 12:00PM

During a panel at this past weekend's South by Southwest Interactive conference in Austin, Rovio exec Peter Vesterbacka told attendees that the company's bird-flinging pig terrorizer, Angry Birds, has been downloaded over 100 million times. As Vesterbacka revealed during GDC, more than 30 million of those downloads have been of the game's freemium Android version, and both the lite and paid versions topped 2010's iOS charts. Since its release on PSN in January, Angry Birds has also dominated PlayStation Minis sales. So many scared pigs!

During his presentation, Vesterbacka went on to make a somewhat dubious claim, however, saying, "Tablets are killing consoles. Four generations of new tablets come before a new console, if one ever comes." While hardware iteration of tablets has certainly been speedier than that of consoles, we don't see tablets "killing" the home console market anytime soon. Nokia interim VP of services Tero Ojanpera apparently agrees with us, as he countered Vesterbacka by arguing that, despite the iPad 2's ability to output 1080p video, most folks won't ever plug their tablet devices into their televisions.

Not to mention, Vesterbacka and company recently hired Remedy co-founder Petri Järvilehto to spearhead Angry Birds expansion to consoles. "We want to make Angry Birds a long-lasting global gaming franchise, and we see the console platforms as a way of delivering an even more entertaining, powerful and involving experience," Rovio CEO Mikael Hed said last month in an announcement of the company's intention "to take the Angry Birds success story to current and emerging console platforms."

Source: Mobile-Ent.biz

Tags: angry-birds, downloads, microsoft, minis, mobile, nintendo, nokia, peter-vesterbacka, playstation, ps3, psn, psp, rovio, sales, sony, sxsw-2011, tero-ojanpera

Reader Comments (58)

this seems silly but is it worth checking out on PSN? I've never even seen the game in action. I don't have a smart phone.

@eat it
Probably not. It's a nice game (with a TON of content in the free version) for touch screens, I can't see it translating well to a controller.

@mywhitenoise

Actually it is fine on the controller. It does better on the PS3 controller than the PSP. I play the PSP version all the time and its a blast.

An update to the PSP actually fixed a lot of the slowdown issues and it seems to be running a lot better.

@mywhitenoise
It's terrible when you're not using a touchscreen. It's great on my Android and iPhone, but would I play it on my Mac or PS3?

No! Urgh!

@FriedConsole
You're comparing it to the PSP version...

@eat it I thought about getting it to use on ps3 and changed my mind. This is one game that works exceptionally well on a touch screen device. If they update PSN Angry Birds for NGP It might be worth checking out if they use the touch screen.

@eat it

sup eat it... PSN version? naw not really worth it, get the iOS version since i think its also cheaper and updated more often. Now if you don't have an iOS device get the PSN ver. If you ask me though, Angry Birds is a little over rated and its novelty dies out eventually, Like PAIN, fun game but it got reparative and such

@eat it

I have it for iOS, PSN and PC.

By far my preferred version is the PSN. Getting the same shot over and over (when trying to up your score for a level) is much easier when using a joystick.

Whichever version you get it's still fun.

I dont see that happening nothing is better than a controller and a huge TV.

I honestly don't see the appeal of angry birds. I bought it to see what the commotion was all about and I absolutely hate it.

@Tommy758 That's like with a lot of iPhone's top games. When they're top of the chart, everyone's curious and drops 99 cents to see what it's about. Some like what they bought, others hate. But the creators don't care, they got you (and me too) and added us to their 100 million number.

Not to mention all the stuff like Conan doing a live action version of it on his show. There's nothing, absolutely nothing you can do with game design or anything else that can trump advertising like that.

You could say that in this day and age, the actual content of a game has nothing to do with whether or not it will sell. The game could consist of a picture of a turd that makes sounds when you poke it, as long as the advertisement is good, it will sell ungodly amounts. Meanwhile, the best game ever made is going to sell 3 copies if it's not advertised on TV and painted on the side of a skyscraper, and if the price is any higher than 99 cents.

"Game industry" isn't a good name. "Ad industry" is what they should call it.

Whats the appeal of angry birds? It looks like a alternate version of Pain

@Faenix

Now that I think about it, might be closer to penguin toss.

@Faenix its something to play while waiting at the Dr. office, in line at the store or while taking a shit.....thats the only times I have ever played it.....

scratch that....I have played it while on hold on the phone with AT&T a few times...

@Faenix

It's Boom Blox but popular and actually made the developer money. That's why it's annoying to see him talk crap about the industry as a whole. "Tell you what, guy, design a game that can't be replicated by wooden blocks and a nerfball then we'll talk about how you're going to kill gaming consoles."

@Faenix
Simple fun is all on the phone. My wife and I play it on the train and it's like crack. Is it a full exciting game play experience? No. It's just simple fun like peggle was. Don't over think it and it's entertaining.

@Duke,

But I LIKE overthinking games. It's fun for me and it's something the mobile platform isn't providing.

I tried Angry Birds as well, can't say I was all that impressed.. yet another pretty much luck-based puzzler. Wife likes it though, she bought it on her phone.

Eff this douche...."Mobile is killing consoles"??

ROFLMAOOOO

When are these people going to learn that GAMERS are a NICHE group....sure you have the casuals....and they are fair weather....but Sony and MS....and sometimes Nintendo know that they make games for Gamers and let the Casuals come later....

**looks at Wii and Kinect**....well at least SONY Targets gamers first then Casuals later....MS did as well up until Kinect launched.....Nintendo....man...I dont damn know....

fact is....Consoles wont go anywhere....tru we may start getting closer to that "One console future" but thats still decades down the road.....anyone that HONESTLY thinks that playing a game on a 3-4.5" screen is the way to go is a big dummy....even tho I may play games on a PSP or DS, it will NEVER replace playing my PS 3, 360 or Wii on my 46" TV....

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi uh... u mad bro?

@MEMgrizzlies7

Nah, he aggie.

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

Casuals tend to buy anything.. so..

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

I began agreeing with you, but... unfortunally, here comes the feud war: Microsoft didn't join the ranks of Nintendo with Kinect. Their support to hardcore gamers is as strong as ever, just because Kinect is some sort of runaway success, it doesn't mean that they "abandoned" us. Meanwhile Nintendo is *ALMOST* done with us. By almost I mean that, for instance, I'm wrapping up The Other M and DKC Returns is the next on the list, so they still have some fancy things to show us.

And... Are you forgetting about Move? It's basically Sony's attempt to go Nintendo, so to speak. So if MS tried to appeal to "casuals first" to put in your terms, so did Sony. Unfortunatelly for them, the Playstation Move isn't doing as well as Kinect ("'the' Kinect"? I honestly don't know).

But yeah, this guy is a douchebag and is talking off his ass, that much I agree with you.

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

yeah what the hell happened to MS? are they done with cool exclusives. Gears 3 lshould be good but is there anything else on the horizon? any new IPs? They seem to be very quiet in that area

@TheShaper

right but Sony still has, LBP2 and KZ3 that just realesed, socom 4, infamous 2, last guardian, uncharted 3, racthet and clank, a few re-releases and maybe a few others that I'm not thinking of.

MS seems to be completely focused on kinect. they have Gears 3, is there a new forza coming out? idunno what else are they releasing? they can release all the kinect games they want but the crowd here probably doesn't care too much about that.

@TheShaper oh I didnt forget about Move....but Sony has put it in "hardcore" titles while MS hasn't done that with Kinect yet......of course they haven't joined the ranks of Nintendo...neither has Sony....but what I was getting at is Nintendo has gone after casuals from launch....MS and Sony haven't......now fast forward to the "HD Motion Wars"....Kinect v. Move....Kinect went STRAIGHT for the Casual market....that was proven by going on Oprah, Ellen, etc....Soccer Moms....thats a HUGE part of why it is doing so good. Look at the current line up of Kinect games....not a singe M rated title or shooter in the bunch....havent seen any RPG's or Announced RPGs....Move on the other hand pretty much went straight at the crowd....the "Core" crowd....and it shows no signs of stopping....sure there are the EyePets and Party games on move as well...but they didnt say "Core titles coming later"

@eat it
Actually, it's a big nope.

Couldn't think of anything except Gears of War 3 myself and did some googling for this years' most anticipated games. Nothing. Found some Kinect games that I've never heard about before in some lists and that's it. I'm so focused on catching up (huge stack of games, little time to play) that I didn't even see that. I refuse to believe that MS is gonna pull a Nintendo on us, but, as everything is, it would seem that both of you are right. Or, to quote Chris: "What the hell happened to MS?!"

@eat it

well in MS defense they dont announce stuff MAD early like Sony and Nintendo does....they are more like Apple when it comes to keep stuff unannounced until they have to release it....

Forza 4 is coming this fall I think...maybe next year...Kinect enabled of course....Gears 3 this fall...possibly that Halo remake....but aside from that...all we know of are Kinect games....the Star Wars one comes to mind.....but as far as THIS year goes.....Sony's Exclusives FAR outweigh MS ones...unless they pull something out of their ass at E3 and have the balls to put out an UNANNOUNCED title this fall.....only Call of Duty can do that I think....

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
I have to agree with the fact that Sony has done better with the Move for core gamers than MS has done with Kinect so far. I haven't used my Kinect lately at all because the titles are just not there yet. I am sure they will pick up and do something, but Sony's game releases thus far are much more interesting for those of us who like shooting in games.

Angry Birds is popular and it's fun for a little while, but I wouldn't have bothered with it if it wasn't free.

I don't see cell phones or tablets as gaming devices, sorry. It's nice when there's something more than a Bejeweled clone for killing time while using the toilet, but I'll never spend hours and hours of time playing something on a touch screen phone.

@zero2dash

The only difference between a smartphone/touchscreen device and a handheld game system is this:

Buttons

Once smartphones and other touchscreen devices get gaming buttons, then they'll be in the same market as handheld game systems.

Oh look, the Xperia Play has gaming buttons!

@zero2dash

Another thing, get Dead Space for the iPod Touch. It's the closest you'll get to a console-style game on an iPod. I have it and it's amazing.

Also, the NGP combines the best elements of touchscreen devices and game systems, so in a way it's like a hybrid device.

Also, see the Xperia Play. A smartphone with gaming buttons. It seems Somy is trying to combine the features of smartphones and game systems.

I think the news of the demise of consoles is greatly exaggerated.

In fact, I'd say that things like Angry Birds are more likely killing off Flash and Facebook games ( or at least porting them ) than console games, as they provide an easier way to monetize to the developers, and their publishers....

The likelihood is that games like AB and devices like the iPad,etc are bringing more people to gaming in general, rather than making people crossover from consoles.

@blarty

Off the top of my head, Mark Twain?

@King Johngie the Fourth

sure is

I think we just found the identity of Meat Boy.

Everyone attributes the success of "Angry Birds" to "the death of home consoles" yet no one seems to take into consideration that.

1. It's aimed at a mass market of casual users, people who only play the game ever so occasionally while waiting

2. It's cheap, 99 cents the last time I looked, which in turn translates to high sales because every casual user buys it as a time killer

3. It's easy, As in REALLY easy. As in, a dumbed down experience for a quick fix.

Sure it's sales are phenomenal and it's made a fortune but it's merely based upon the business model which is, it's major appeal is the casuals market that DON'T play games for an extended period of time and that it's a mobile phone game. How many people own cell phones? How many of those people are actual avid gamers as opposed to phone owners? Exactly.

@ItchyBarracuda
You forgot:
4. It's boring, a snorefest. Or at least it would be if you didn't turn it off before snoring a second time.

@ItchyBarracuda

Interesting generalization.

I'm an avid gamer and I love my iPod touch. I have Angry Birds, Dead Space, Cut the Rope, NBA Elite, Splinter Cell Comviction, Asphault 5, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, etc. ALL ON MY IPOD. And yes I enjoy playing them all.

The games are cheap and fun. Yes a few of them may be shorter than console and handheld games, but that doesn't matter. They have high replay value, which many console games lack.

Good for them. It's a fun game and it's more than reasonably priced for the amount of content. Kudos, Rovio.

Rovio made one successful game and Peter Chewbacca is already talking bullshit.

Got it for free on Android and it was fun in the beginning, but got old real fast. As it has been stated before, the guys sells 70mil pieces of crap at 1 buck a piece (and gives away more 30mil pieces of crap) and things he can take on the console industry? Someone is waaaaay over his head.

Doesn't anyone remember those tank attack games in the early, early, EARLY days of videogames? That's all Angry Birds is.

As far as Vesterbacka's ridiculous statement is concerned, executives are taught in marketing training that if you say something often enough it will become truth. Vesterbacka is just taking his shot at manufacturing reality. Unfortunately, in doing so, he's making himself look like an industry moron who doesn't understand the core demographic of the multi-billion dollar videogame business.

@boblinds

I remember those. Not really the same when you are putting in coordinates with your keyboard. A lot of the strategy in Angry Birds is figuring out how to cascade the structure which isn't in those tank games.

Angry Birds gets a lot of hate because it brings in a different audience but it is an awesome well designed game.

Are we going to see a 3D version on consoles or something?

"a way of delivering an even more entertaining, powerful and involving experience"

Implies over and above the current versions...

Cut the Rope is way better than Angry Birds.

Just sayin'.

@(Unverified)
Agreed, Cut the Rope is probably my favorite Iphone game ever. I love puzzle games, but I could not get into Angry Birds. Like probably 75% of people, I bought it on word of mouth alone, but don't see what all the fuss was about. Not that I'm bitter for its runaway success (how bitter can you be for a buck??), I just think the game is HIGHLY overrated.

Wow, that whole "Four generations of new tablets come before a new console, if one ever comes." line is the most uninformed, idiotic thing I've ever heard. Consoles have lasting power; we don't need a new one every year, unlike the tablets. Historically, console systems have always lasted at least four years before the next generation has come around and software quality increases as time goes on within the life cycle. The reason why this current generation of consoles has lasted for so long, I feel, is because they've become more popular than any consoles that had come before them.

I don't understand why the iPad 2 even exists already. I feel like the iPad hasn't been around long enough yet to warrant a successor. Also, I don't understand how these people can make claims such as this about how console systems will die when their tablets are not gaming systems! Sure, you can play games on them, but that is not their primary purpose. It's delusional to say and genuinely believe such things.

Am I the only one thinking that this whole Angree Birds thing is just a bubble waiting to burst?

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Angry Birds

Angry Birds downloads soar past 100 million across all platforms

Reader Comments (58)

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:07PM eat it said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:15PM mywhitenoise said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:19PM FriedConsole said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:50PM VeeDeeVee said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:04PM mywhitenoise said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:18PM dragunrising said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:18PM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 2:35PM GreenElf said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:08PM TyRetr0 said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:16PM Tommy758 said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:25PM rpny said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 2:01PM bm111 said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:19PM Faenix said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:19PM Faenix said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:53PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:12PM SheppyReturns said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 5:11PM Duke said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 6:28PM SheppyReturns said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:21PM Arkanaloth said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:27PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:42PM MEMgrizzlies7 said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:44PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:45PM Faenix said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:52PM TheShaper said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:53PM eat it said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:02PM eat it said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:06PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:09PM TheShaper said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:13PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 5:15PM Duke said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:27PM zero2dash said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 10:13PM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 10:17PM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:29PM blarty said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:26PM King Johngie the Fourth said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 3:22PM eat it said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:31PM The Only Girl said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:37PM ItchyBarracuda said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:59PM TheShaper said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 10:27PM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:49PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:55PM SewerShark said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 12:58PM TheShaper said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:00PM boblinds said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:23PM FriedConsole said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:06PM Gooblechev said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:18PM Naoki7 said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:35PM timkins themediocre said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:37PM KenobiEagle said

Posted: Mar 14th 2011 1:48PM 2late2die said

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