Stay Angry My Friends!
Angry Birds, created by Rovio Entertainment Ltd., has been inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. Originally launched in 2009 – just one year after the App Store debuted – Angry Birds helped define a new era of mobile gaming, introducing tens of millions of people to intuitive, touch-based mobile gaming when smartphones were only beginning to take over globally.With more than 5 billion downloads worldwide, a slate of live games, and new entertainment on the horizon – including The Angry Birds Movie 3, arriving in theaters this December – Angry Birds remains one of the most widely recognized and adaptable franchises in gaming.
While the mobile game market remains one of the most competitive in the industry, Angry Birds’ staying power comes down to more than timing. Its simple, satisfying gameplay, expressive characters, and globally resonant humor have helped it evolve alongside its audience – expanding from a breakout mobile hit into a global, multi-platform entertainment brand.
Ben Mattes, Creative Officer for Angry Birds credits attributes the franchise's longevity to a combination of factors: a simple but enduring core idea, a deeply engaged fan community, a richly developed world, and a distinct style of physical humor with global appeal.
“What started as a game with incredibly simple mechanics and instantly recognizable designs has conquered transmedia categories far beyond its origins. We’ve got our live games, but Angry Birds can also be enjoyed as licensed products, animations, feature films and activity parks. While the brand is very versatile and the different forms it takes allow our fans to experience their world in new ways, at the end of the day, it’s still all about iconic birds, their crafty antagonists, and the conflict between them that results in entertaining and spectacular consequences, all doused with humor,” says Mattes.
Building on that foundation, Angry Birds continues to engage fans worldwide. The brand has expanded significantly through licensing, making the Angry Birds characters a familiar sight in many consumer products around the world. Fans can also enjoy thousands of immersive experiences around the world.
“Characters, emotion and story are what keeps our fans coming back to our games year after year. The induction to the World Video Game Hall of Fame means we are standing shoulder to shoulder alongside the very greatest of gaming. This is a truly special recognition for us and we’re deeply honored by it,” says Mattes.