Angry Birds activity parks set to launch in the UK

If you thought Angry Birds was conquering the virtual world, it seems that it is about to take one giant step into the physical realm too, launching at least one activity park in the UK in 2012.
As the Telegraph reports, the first Angry Birds activity parks are going to launch next year, and will feature themed slides, towers and rope-swings all built around the smartphone game that has taken the mobile world by storm.
Angry Birds has been taking massive strides into the merchandising world this year already, with soft toys, clothing and even an Angry Birds Cookbook, which The Next Web got a sneak peak at when we visited the game’s creators’ (Rovio) HQ in Finland earlier this year.
Rovio has penned a global deal with activity park manufacturer Lappset Group which will see the first two parks launch in Finland, with several others expected to spring up in the UK throughout the year. When this will happen, and where the UK parks will be based, remains to be seen.
“The activity parks tie in perfectly with the Angry Birds world and our way of thinking,” said Rovio’s Chief Marketing Officer Peter Vesterbacka. “We will be developing a service which brings together the digital world and the physical world in a way that’s never been seen before. The popularity of Angry Birds isn’t restricted to any age, sex or social group, and the activity parks will be designed to be interesting places for absolutely everyone, all around the world.”
The Angry Birds park will include around twenty products, including animal spring riders, swings, sandpits and a range of climbing towers with slides. Familiar characters from the mobile game will be incorporated into the playground equipment, with a colour scheme to reflect the Angry Birds environment. There will also be an Angry Birds arcade game that can be played outdoors in the park.

We also reported earlier this year that a feature-length animated movie based on the game is on the cards at some point too, with a shorter animated series thought launching in early 2012, so we can really expect to see Angry Birds’ omnipresence cranked up a few notches in the months and years ahead.
Angry Birds is played by some 30m people each day, and as we reported back in June that it is well exceeding 1m downloads each day.
If you think the activity parks will be aimed purely at children, then you can think again. Earlier this week it was reported that the Angry Birds game was most popular in the 35-44 age-group on Android. Will this trend translate into slides and swings? Only time will tell.

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Angry Birds send Seasons greetings via the Samsung Galaxy Note

Without a doubt, Rovio’s Angry Birds is the darling of the mobile gaming world. It’s sold millions of downloads, made at least as much in advertising revenue, and is now a household name amongst people who couldn’t pick Mario and Sonic out of a lineup. The most prudent thing that Rovio has done is release Angry Birds Seasons, periodic themes updates with brand-new levels and elements to keep the simple physics game fresh. Now they’ve teamed up with Samsung for a little cross-promotion of everyone’s crossover device, the Samsung Galaxy Note.

In the short video the green pigs are up to their old tricks, using a little Photoshopping skills via the Galaxy Note’s S-Pen to make the Angry Birds, uh, frustrated. Since there’s no such word as “overkill” when translated into squaks, the Birds respond in kind, sending the pigs a little holiday cheer with the same general enthusiasm. Fun times are had by all, with the exception of the pigs, who can rest easy in the knowledge that at least they haven’t been pummeled into dust beneath the usual pile of broken rubble.




Check out the video below. The Christmas themed commercial was developed for Samsung and published on their YouTube page. Viewers in the UK may be seeing it soon, but anyone can visit note.angrybirds.com to see the high scores for a special web level of Angry Birds “Seasons Greedings”, featuring the Galaxy Note itself. You can play the level yourself online and submit your high scores on the website. The fifty highest scores are eligible for prizes, including a free Galaxy Note and Angry Birds plush toys. What are you waiting for? Get crashing!

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Fake Rovio apps show up in the Android Market, already removed

GoAndroid readers are sophisticated, intelligent technology aficionados who would never be taken in by crude attempts at subterfuge. Even the ones who leave those less-than-intelligible responses in the comments section (you don’t know who you are). That said, if you should happen to, you know, know anyone who might be likely to purchase Angry Birds in the next few weeks, make sure and be extra cautious. I mean, tell them to be extra cautious. According to TechCrunch, there are unscrupulous people selling fake Rovio apps in the Android Market and refusing to refund the purchase price.

It looks like Google has already booted the dastardly “devs” out of the Market – none of the bogus apps listed by TechCrunch can be found anymore. The fakes were listed under the “ROVIO” publisher; the real Rovio is listed as “Rovio Mobile Ltd.” The copies weren’t limited to Angry Birds, either – favorites like Zombieville USA, Cut the Rope and Resident Evil were also copied. Once users installed the apps, they wouldn’t launch, and after 15 minutes the purchase can’t be refunded. There’s no word from affected users, but given how I’ve been treated by Google over malfunctioning Market videos, I’ve no double they’ll be getting a full refund and an apology.
Unfortunately, if one fake app publisher made it onto the Market, it’s likely that more will follow, and the original perpetrators will probably try again. Be wary of Market purchases in the upcoming holidays, and tell any new Android users in your family to do likewise. The best way to spot a fake app is to check the latest user reviews in the Market listing. If there aren’t any, it probably isn’t the game for which you are looking.

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