Difference between revisions of "Angry Birds"
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
|URLTEXT=Angry Birds Official Site | |URLTEXT=Angry Birds Official Site | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''{{initial|A}}ngry Birds''' is a video game developed for mobile devices by [[wikipedia:Rovio Mobile|Rovio Mobile]]. The object of the game is to use a slingshot to shoot birds at pig enemies that are perched atop or protected within structures made of wood, ice, stones, and other materials. The game was first released in 2009 on Apple's [[wikipedia:App Store (iOS)|App Store]] for iOS enabled devices, | + | '''{{initial|A}}ngry Birds''' is a video game developed for mobile devices by [[wikipedia:Rovio Mobile|Rovio Mobile]]. The object of the game is to use a slingshot to shoot birds at pig enemies that are perched atop or protected within structures made of wood, ice, stones, and other materials. The game was first released in 2009 on Apple's [[wikipedia:App Store (iOS)|App Store]] for iOS enabled devices, and additional versions of Angry Birds have been released since then. The game gained so much popularity among mobile phone users that Rovio later released a version for [[Android]] devices and Windows devices. Similar to other popular video games, Angry Birds has its own set of [[#Ethical Concerns|ethical concerns]] which include violence, battery life, and copyright infringement policies. |
[[File: angrybirds.jpg|right|300px|thumb|]] | [[File: angrybirds.jpg|right|300px|thumb|]] | ||
__TOC__ | __TOC__ | ||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
==Gameplay== | ==Gameplay== | ||
| − | During gameplay, players place their finger (on the touchscreen) within the slingshot, causing the next bird in the queue to be instantiated. As the player pulls their finger down and to the left, the bird follows and pulls the slingshot's sling taught. When the player releases their finger, the selected bird is fired to the right across the level, with the goal being the destruction of all green pig enemies. The goal must be completed using only the number of birds provided - with bonus points awarded for completion of a level with extra bird ammunition remaining. Depending on the map, pigs may be protected by wood, concrete, ice, stone, and many other materials - in addition to the natural terrain. Using the bird projectiles, the player can hit the pigs directly or through chain reactions using unstable structures and explosive objects. Additional elements are introduced as the game progresses that aid the player in eliminating pigs, such as rocks and explosives. As the player advances through the different levels, players | + | During gameplay, players place their finger (on the touchscreen) within the slingshot, causing the next bird in the queue to be instantiated. As the player pulls their finger down and to the left, the bird follows and pulls the slingshot's sling taught. When the player releases their finger, the selected bird is fired to the right across the level, with the goal being the destruction of all green pig enemies. The goal must be completed using only the number of birds provided - with bonus points awarded for completion of a level with extra bird ammunition remaining. Depending on the map, pigs may be protected by wood, concrete, ice, stone, and many other materials - in addition to the natural terrain. Using the bird projectiles, the player can hit the pigs directly or through chain reactions using unstable structures and explosive objects. Additional elements are introduced as the game progresses that aid the player in eliminating pigs, such as rocks and explosives. As the player advances through the different levels, players are introduced to different "angry birds", each with different features. |
===Type of Birds=== | ===Type of Birds=== | ||
| Line 49: | Line 49: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | The size of the pigs also varies from level to level. Small pigs are | + | The size of the pigs also varies from level to level. Small pigs are weaker and large pigs are tougher to destroy. Some pigs wear helmets that act as armor, increasing their difficulty to destroy. |
Each level has a predetermined bird and pig count. When all of the birds have been shot, the player advances to the next level. Points are awarded based on each pig destroyed, damage to each pig and structure, and unused birds. At the end of each level, stars are awarded depending on the score received. The maximum amount of stars for each level is three stars. Levels may be played more than once. | Each level has a predetermined bird and pig count. When all of the birds have been shot, the player advances to the next level. Points are awarded based on each pig destroyed, damage to each pig and structure, and unused birds. At the end of each level, stars are awarded depending on the score received. The maximum amount of stars for each level is three stars. Levels may be played more than once. | ||
| Line 65: | Line 65: | ||
In May 2011, Mattel released an Angry Birds board game, entitled "Angry Birds: Knock on Wood" <ref>Stelter, Brian.[http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/angry-birds-at-ces/?src=busln "Angry Birds at C.E.S."] 7 January 2011. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.</ref> | In May 2011, Mattel released an Angry Birds board game, entitled "Angry Birds: Knock on Wood" <ref>Stelter, Brian.[http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/angry-birds-at-ces/?src=busln "Angry Birds at C.E.S."] 7 January 2011. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.</ref> | ||
| − | Angry Birds has even received publicity from piracy. | + | Angry Birds has even received publicity from piracy. Angry Birds’ Chief Executive Mikael Hed didn't denounce piracy and claimed that it could increase business.<ref>Telegraph. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9049423/Angry-Birds-chief-piracy-is-good-for-business.html "Angry Birds Chief: Piracy is Good for Business."] 30 January 2012. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.</ref>. Many people are able to "jailbreak" [[iOS]] and [[Android]] mobile device to download paid versions of the game for free. The extra downloads increase the game's popularity and consequently spurs more interest around the world. Mikael Hed also noted that unlicensed merchandise sold in Asia can actually draw more fans and contribute to the worldwide popularity of Angry Birds. |
In September 2011, the Window of the World theme park in Changsha, China opened an unlicensed Angry Birds attraction. Visitors to the park use a large slingshot to launch stuffed versions of the bird characters at green balloons representing the pigs. Upon learning of the attraction, Rovio Mobile was reported to consider working with the theme park to officially license the idea. <ref> Cooper, Charles.[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/16/scitech/main20107294.shtml "China Steals "Angry Birds" for Theme Park."] 16 September 2011. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.</ref> | In September 2011, the Window of the World theme park in Changsha, China opened an unlicensed Angry Birds attraction. Visitors to the park use a large slingshot to launch stuffed versions of the bird characters at green balloons representing the pigs. Upon learning of the attraction, Rovio Mobile was reported to consider working with the theme park to officially license the idea. <ref> Cooper, Charles.[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/16/scitech/main20107294.shtml "China Steals "Angry Birds" for Theme Park."] 16 September 2011. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 17:14, 11 April 2018
|
Contents
History
Angry Birds was created by Finnish game developers in 2009. By 2015, 3 million people downloaded the game. Due to the popularity, many other versions of the game were created for PCs and various gaming consoles.[1] Angry Birds Online, Angry Birds Rio, and Angry Birds Bad Piggies are different versions of the game that were added. In 2015, Angry Birds became part of a theme park and a movie was released in 2016.[2] The full version of the app costs $0.99 in the app store as well as the option to download a free version with advertisements.
Gameplay
During gameplay, players place their finger (on the touchscreen) within the slingshot, causing the next bird in the queue to be instantiated. As the player pulls their finger down and to the left, the bird follows and pulls the slingshot's sling taught. When the player releases their finger, the selected bird is fired to the right across the level, with the goal being the destruction of all green pig enemies. The goal must be completed using only the number of birds provided - with bonus points awarded for completion of a level with extra bird ammunition remaining. Depending on the map, pigs may be protected by wood, concrete, ice, stone, and many other materials - in addition to the natural terrain. Using the bird projectiles, the player can hit the pigs directly or through chain reactions using unstable structures and explosive objects. Additional elements are introduced as the game progresses that aid the player in eliminating pigs, such as rocks and explosives. As the player advances through the different levels, players are introduced to different "angry birds", each with different features.
Type of Birds
| Color of Bird | Description |
|---|---|
| Red | This is the only bird used in the earliest levels of the game. As the player advances, additional types of birds become available. |
| Blue | When the screen is tapped, turn into three, small, fast flying birds. |
| Black | When screen is tapped, explodes like a bomb. |
| White | When screen is tapped, can drop explosive eggs. |
| Yellow | When screen is tapped, speeds up. |
The size of the pigs also varies from level to level. Small pigs are weaker and large pigs are tougher to destroy. Some pigs wear helmets that act as armor, increasing their difficulty to destroy.
Each level has a predetermined bird and pig count. When all of the birds have been shot, the player advances to the next level. Points are awarded based on each pig destroyed, damage to each pig and structure, and unused birds. At the end of each level, stars are awarded depending on the score received. The maximum amount of stars for each level is three stars. Levels may be played more than once.
Publicity
Angry Bird characters have been featured in many advertisements for other products. Characters began appearing in advertisements for Microsoft's Bing search engine. Airlines have also decorated their aircraft with angry birds.
To the right is a video of angry birds airplanes in Microsoft's Flight Simulator. Angry Airbus
In attempts to expand the Angry Birds brand name, the official website offers plush birds and pigs, T-shirts, iPad cases, Christmas stockings, backpacks, and key chains. Over 10 million Angry Birds toys have been sold thus far. [3]
In May 2011, Mattel released an Angry Birds board game, entitled "Angry Birds: Knock on Wood" [4]
Angry Birds has even received publicity from piracy. Angry Birds’ Chief Executive Mikael Hed didn't denounce piracy and claimed that it could increase business.[5]. Many people are able to "jailbreak" iOS and Android mobile device to download paid versions of the game for free. The extra downloads increase the game's popularity and consequently spurs more interest around the world. Mikael Hed also noted that unlicensed merchandise sold in Asia can actually draw more fans and contribute to the worldwide popularity of Angry Birds.
In September 2011, the Window of the World theme park in Changsha, China opened an unlicensed Angry Birds attraction. Visitors to the park use a large slingshot to launch stuffed versions of the bird characters at green balloons representing the pigs. Upon learning of the attraction, Rovio Mobile was reported to consider working with the theme park to officially license the idea. [6]
Film
On December 11, 2012, the third anniversary of Angry Birds, Rovio announced that plans for producing and financing a full-length feature film surrounding the characters and other properties of the game. John Cohen, producer of the hit animated movie of 2010, "Despicable Me", was a producer of the movie. This was Rovio's first venture into the film industry as the Angry Birds brand was expanded into other sources of entertainment besides just mobile devices. [7] The finished film was released on May 20, 2016, starring Jason Sudeikis and Josh Gad. [8] The film received mixed reviews. Some praised the film's moral, saying that "Agreeability gets you so far in life, but when the chips are down, it helps to lose your temper sometimes." [9] Others say that "There's a little bit of a moral about being inclusive, but that's not why this movie was made: It's about angry outbursts, birds catapulting through the air, and big explosions." [10]
Special Editions
Angry Birds Seasons
Updates: Halloween-includes Halloween-themed music and graphics (October 2010) Seasons- introduced 25 Christmas-themed levels for each day leading to Christmas (December 2010) Valentines Day (February 2011) St. Patrick's Day (March 2011) Easter (April 2011) Summer Pignic (June 2011) Mooncake Festival (September 2011) HamO'Ween (October 2011) Wreck the Halls (December 2011) [11]
Angry Birds Rio
This version was launched in March of 2011. It is a version based on the 20th Century Fox animated film Rio. The setting is Rio de Janeiro and Angry Birds characters interact with key characters from the film.
Angry Birds Space
Released March 22, 2012, Angry Birds Space includes the effect of the terrain on the birds' trajectories. Each planet contains a different gravitational field, thus changing the birds' trajectories.
Angry Birds Star Wars
On November 8, 2012, the fifth version of Angry Birds was released. Each of the birds is modeled after a different Jedi, with variations in skills from the original version. The pigs are modeled as members of the empire.
Angry Birds Magic
When developed, this version will be exclusively for Nokia. It will include the function that allows people to unlock levels upon contact with another Nokia device that is running the game.
Angry Birds Chrome
Angry Birds has also been modified so people with the Chrome internet browser can play as well. This version is not the real version but a modified version that is free to play on Chrome.
Angry Birds Go!
On December 11, 2013, Angry Birds Go! was released as the first non-traditional edition of the Angry Birds franchise[12]. Go! is classified as a "downhill racing" game that features both online and offline racing. With the traditional Angry Bird characters as the drivers, players can race against one another and upgrade their carts to their own liking. While all upgrades are obtainable through gameplay alone, Go!, like many other Angry Birds releases, offers users in-app purchases to upgrade their carts more quickly. Upon initial release, the game was available on iOS, Android, Windows, and Blackberry mobile platforms[13].
Other Related Games
On September 27, 2012, the creators of Angry Birds released Bad Piggies.[14]. This game mimics Angry Birds but is from the perspective of the pig characters in the Angry Birds games. The game gives the pigs, who were the victims in Angry Birds, a chance to "fight back" against the Angry Birds. Instead of the original Angry Birds, where the birds are launched at the pigs, this game is based around creating flying machines to create a safe destination for the pigs.[15] Levels allow the user to create contraptions using a variety of different elements and tools in order to transfer the piggies to safety. The game has over 100 million downloads and has a 4-star rating on the App Store and a 4.5-star rating on the Android Store.
Ethical Concerns
Violence
Concerns have been raised about Angry Birds' popularity among younger audiences in regards to its use of violence . Usage of slingshots to kill the pig characters sparked controversy, some arguing that Angry Birds promotes violence against animals.[16] Commonsense Media is a website for evaluating games for parents to reference when questioning the content of the games their children are playing. The site declares Angry Birds as appropriate for those eight years old and older, giving it a rating of 2/5 for violence. The children and parents on the site rate the game as appropriate for children age six and up.[17]
Battery Life for Advertisements
In a report by The Verge, Angry Birds was cited as an instance of a resource-heavy application, with claims that it consumes nearly twice as much battery then necessary. Most of the drainage is is due to the free version of the game, which utilizes 70% of the application's resource usage to access and upload information as well as download advertisements. The premium version is $0.99 and does not include these features and battery concerns.
Other apps on the Android Market face the same battery consumption issues between premium and free versions. Angry Birds is a more commonly known for this problem due to its widespread popularity.[18]
Video Game Addiction
Angry Birds has been linked to video game addiction. The inherent simplicity of the game makes the application easy to learn and encourages players to replay levels through trial and error. The game incorporates a difficulty curve which increases expected playtime per level as the game progresses. There are many levels that are relatively short, which allow the players to feel like they are constantly improving their skills. Movement to higher levels is satisfying to players and is a way to make them stay interested in playing. Despite the increase in difficulty with proceeding levels, the general simplicity of the game allows players to have a difficult time separating themselves from the screen.[19]
Angry Birds also incentivizes players to replay previously completed levels. More skillful completions of a level award players with more stars and points, which creates player competition to achieve higher scores. These mechanics have been shown to raise endorphin levels, increasing the risk of addiction.[20]
Freemium-based Model
While some Angry Birds require an upfront purchase of the content, most games are free to download and later include in-game purchases. Users often enter the gaming environment expecting to have all of the content in the game available to them as they advance in their play. When a user reaches a point in the game where a purchase will advance their game-play significantly, users agree to pay a small dollar amount that over time, accrues. Overtime, the price of freemium models such as Angry Birds ends up having a significant cost to the user. However, users don't need to spend any money unless the want to and unless they enjoy the experience. [21] The App store on iOS devices has attempted to remedy these concerns by displaying whether or not an application has in-app purchases at the time of download.
The concerns about in-app purchases have increased with the introduction of new versions of the game. Angry Birds 2 was met with a lot of criticism for its style of gameplay which is said to encourage in-app purchases. Users are given five attempts within a certain amount of time to beat a level. If the user fails within those five attempts they must either wait until their lives are replenished after a certain amount of time, or they can redeem gems for more lives. Users are able to collect gems through completing challenges within the game or they can purchase them with cash in the game's store. The levels become increasingly difficult throughout the game but the number of lives that the user is allowed remains at five. This encourages the user to purchase gems in order to get more lives and and progress through the tougher levels.
Privacy Concerns
Angry Birds tracks the location of players and collects their data to make personalized advertisements. [22] Advertisers are able to use user data because privacy laws are evolving at a slower rate than technological innovations, creating vulnerabilities in the system. This raises concerns among users that have downloaded the game but do not want the application to utilize their personal information. Leveraging consumer data can cause ethical concerns when a device is personalized with target adds, and if the device changes to a new person, such as in a workplace, the advertisements shown may reveal private information about the previous user. Applications often do not share privacy policies with the user, and if they do, the user cannot use application unless they agree to the terms.[23] Free apps face greater ethical scrutiny because their revenue comes from advertisers, and the developer is incentivized to sell personal data since the survival of the app depends on advertising funding. [24]
Child Privacy
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) prohibits advertisers from collecting personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 13. However, there have been many allegations about advertisers going around this law to collect information in order to advertise to them. Since the regulation around these laws is not air tight, and many advertisers are able to find easy loopholes to target children, it becomes the responsibility of the parent to monitor where their child is leaking information. Companies are able to collect data on their users, whose age is often not apparent. They can then categorize users as children based on their actions and target relevant advertisements at them. There are many applications specifically built to help protect these consequential scenarios. For example, apps such as "App Lock" and "Net Nanny" can refrain children from using an app without parental permission. Requiring a passcode on the iPhone is also another example of this. [25]
External Links
See Also
References
- ↑ "Angry Bird (series)," Retrieved on 4 April 2018.
- ↑ “History Of Angry Birds.” Free Angry Birds Game, Retrieved on 4 April 2018.
- ↑ Fox News. "Angry Birds Aim for World Domination." 19 October 2011. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
- ↑ Stelter, Brian."Angry Birds at C.E.S." 7 January 2011. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
- ↑ Telegraph. "Angry Birds Chief: Piracy is Good for Business." 30 January 2012. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
- ↑ Cooper, Charles."China Steals "Angry Birds" for Theme Park." 16 September 2011. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
- ↑ Moscaritolo, Angela. "Angry Birds Movie Landing in Theatres by Summer 2016." 11 December 2012. Retrieved on 16 April 2016.
- ↑ IMDB."Angry Birds Movie" Retrieved on 7 April 2017.
- ↑ Lodge, Guy. "Film Review: The Angry Birds Movie". 7 May 2016. Retrieved on 7 April 2017.
- ↑ Common Sense Media. "The Angry Birds Movie" Retrieved on 7 April 2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia.Angry Birds Wikipedia Page Retrieved on18 December 2011.
- ↑ AMSlimfordy. Angry Birds Go Official Gameplay Trailer and Release Date. 15. Oct. 2013 . "Angry Birds Nest"
- ↑ Rovio. Angry Birds Go! 2017 . "Angry Birds Go!"
- ↑ Phys.org. [http://phys.org/news/2012-09-pigs-revenge-angry-birds-makers.html "Pigs' revenge as 'Angry Birds' makers launch the new game (Update)."] 27 September 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ↑ Rovio."What is Bad Piggies?" 10 December 2012.
- ↑ bubbybobble. "Angry Birds Promotes Violence Against Animals." Retrieved on 16 April 2016.
- ↑ Common Sense Media. "Angry Birds." Retrieved on 16 April 2016.
- ↑ Bohn, Dieter. "Mobile Ads: Angry Birds." 23 March 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ↑ "Angry Birds Addiction" 2012. Retrieved on 4 April 2018.
- ↑ Parrack, Dave. "5 Reasons Angry Birds is So Damn Addictive." 7 March 2012. Retrieved on 16 April 2012.
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/mar/10/angry-birds-epic-stella-toons-freemium-sxsw
- ↑ Conner, Cheryl. "Your Privacy has Gone to the Angry Birds." 5 December 2012. Retrieved on 16 April 2016.
- ↑ Conner, Cheryl. "Your Privacy has Gone to the Angry Birds." 5 December 2012. Retrieved on 16 April 2016.
- ↑ Nolan, Dan. "Angry Birds Leak: Why App Developers Should Guard Their Users' Privacy" 28 January 2015. Retrieved on 11 April 2017.
- ↑ Conner, Cheryl. "Your Privacy has Gone to the Angry Birds." 5 December 2012.
