Angry Birds maker Rovio has today announced the impressive milestone that the latest entry in the Angry Birds franchise, Angry Birds Space, has become the “fastest growing mobile game yet” with 50 million downloads in 35 days.

Angry Birds Space hit 50 million downloads within 35 days, making it the fastest growing mobile game yet and breaking all our previous records. This has been simply amazing, and the whole Rovio team is thrilled to see such a fantastic reception for the game.

It’s unclear whether Rovio is counting desktop versions in the total number of downloads for the mobile game, but the figure is still impressive and substantial nevertheless of how iOS, Android, PC, and Mac downloads have been split so far. Considering Rovio’s previous numbers, it is safe to assume the majority of downloads are really coming from mobile platforms like iOS and Android.

Angry Birds Space was released on March 22. In the three days following the launch, the company announced users had already downloaded the game over 10 million times.

Angry Birds Space, the first new game from Rovio in over a year, is now available on the App Store. Officially announced back in February, Angry Birds Space takes a radically new approach to the series by setting the war against the pigs in outer space, thus bringing completely re-imagined dynamics and physics to the franchise.

From our previous coverage:

Based in a weightless environment, the basic gist of the game seems to be that in such conditions, trajectories are affected by gravity, and objects end up following curves, rather than straight lines. Using a “galactic slingshot” in footage shot on-location at the International Space Station, NASA’s Don Pettit explains how astronauts and scientists have to consider these changes in physics and gravity when they are in outer space; apparently, this mechanic will be brought to Angry Birds Space in a fairly accurate representation.

Angry Birds Space, unlike the Rio and Seasons spin-offs, brings a new gameplay that has allowed Rovio to design a whole set of different birds, levels, and in-app purchases. Angry Birds Space comes with 60 levels, new superpowers, hidden bonus levels, and a zero-gravity mechanic that, for those who have played with the Nintendo Wii in the past, somewhat resembles Mario Galaxy’s unique approach to planets and interstellar jumps.

Early coverage of the new game positively remarked how Angry Birds Space will feel familiar to the franchise’s veterans, while still adding a new way of thinking and constructing trajectories on screen. Angry Birds Space is now available on the App Store, both in iPhone and iPad editions. You can check out the game’s trailers and first hands-on videos after the break.

- Angry Birds Space for iPhone

- Angry Birds Space for iPad

- Angry Birds Space for Mac
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Rovio has released the final trailer for Angry Birds Space, the fourth game in the Angry Birds series (following the original, Seasons and Rio). The trailer introduces the space theme with an introduction scene showing the birds being flung into space. The rest of the trailer mixes quotes, shots of each of the birds (such as the one seen above) and some gameplay footage of the new levels.

Naturally the new game features some twists such as zero gravity and a “light speed destruction” feature. Angry Birds Space launches tomorrow, March 22nd on iOS, Android, Mac and PC. Jump the break for the full trailer, or watch it on YouTube.

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The first new game by Rovio in over a year, Angry Birds Space is the next step in the company’s franchise, and it’s coming out on March 22. Previously teased online, Rovio has now updated the game’s webpage with an official trailer featuring a NASA engineer talking about the game and the new physics engine behind it. Based in a weightless environment, the basic gist of the game seems to be that in such conditions, trajectories are affected by gravity, and objects end up following curves, rather than straight lines. Using a “galactic slingshot” in footage shot on-location at the International Space Station, NASA’s Don Pettit explains how astronauts and scientists have to consider these changes in physics and gravity when they are in outer space; apparently, this mechanic will be brought to Angry Birds Space in a fairly accurate representation.

Angry Birds isn’t new to physics. In fact, we could say that the entire franchise has been so successful thanks to its user-friendly implementation of actual law of physics that take into account gravity, weight, trajectories, and speed through a multitouch interface. From what we can see in the trailer, surprisingly demoed on a Galaxy Note, the new Angry Birds will work as a crossover between the original game and Super Mario Galaxy — those who have played Nintendo’s Wii game might remember how planets affected Mario’s jumps and moves when floating in space. It looks like Angry Birds Space will somehow translate that gameplay in 2D scenes while mixing it with new birds, new pigs, and new actions with the ultimate goal of giving the franchise a new spin and an entirely new set of physics users will have to adapt to.

Angry Birds Space will be released on March 22 on iOS, Android, Mac, and PC. Check out the official video below.

Update: More screenshots and information directly from Rovio.

Features:

• 60 interstellar levels!
• Regular free updates!
• Brand new birds!
• Brand new superpowers!
• Zero-gravity space adventures!
• Trick shots using planets’ gravity!
• New in-app purchases for iOS!
• Hidden bonus levels!
• Beautifully detailed backgrounds!

Description:

After a giant claw kidnaps their eggs, the Angry Birds chase it into a wormhole and find themselves floating in a strange new galaxy – surrounded by space pigs! Luckily the Angry Birds have super powers of their own…

Angry Birds Space features 60 interstellar levels on planets and in zero gravity, resulting in spectacular gameplay ranging from slow-motion puzzles to lightspeed destruction. With regular free updates, new in-app purchases, brand new birds, brand new superpowers, and a whole galaxy to explore, the sky is no longer the limit!

Screenshots

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It may be on every platform under the sun and there may already be three versions of Angry Birds, but Rovio isn’t stopping any time soon with their Angry Birds franchise. In fact next month they will be launching the third game in the series: Angry Birds Space. Teaming up with NASA and the National Geographic, the new app will (naturally) feature some twists on the physics used in the game, including zero gravity and a new “lightspeed destruction” feature.

Angry Birds Space is a completely new game with innovative new gameplay, but with some of the familiar Angry Birds elements that fans already know and love — plus some surprises!

Rovio is planning on making it their biggest game launch since Angry Birds was first released and is targeting a launch on not only multiple platforms but also push the retail and publishing aspects of the game as well. Rovio will reveal more details about the game in early March, but until then you can visit the teaser site or view Angry Birds Teaser trailer below the break.

[Venture Beat via Eurogamer, Engadget]
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To celebrate the second birthday of Angry Birds, which was first released on the iPhone on December 10th, 2009, Rovio has released version 2.0 of its popular game, adding new menus and graphics and a series of new birthday-themed levels. Since its release in 2009, Angry Birds has become a worldwide phenomenon, spurring the creation of spin-offs and sequels on a variety of gaming platforms and eventually finding its way to Apple’s iPad with properly scaled “HD” versions. Rovio recently announced the franchise has reached over half a billion downloads, with 300 million minutes played daily across all platforms and 400 billion birds “shot” by players.

Whilst today’s update isn’t exactly the highly anticipated “Angry Birds 2″, it is version 2.0 of the original game, and as usual with software updates Rovio has made sure to include bonuses and treats to dedicated players that have enjoyed the app over the past two years. For one, all episodes are now unlocked, meaning you can pick up Angry Birds from any world inside the game and start playing through all levels (which, obviously, aren’t unlocked). Alongside the slightly reworked interface and menu graphics, Rovio has designed 15 new “birthday cake” levels, and introduced a new orange bird that can be “expanded” to destroy level elements upon touch. Last, new achievements will allow Angry Birds fans to show their dedication to the series on Game Center thanks to this birthday update.

To celebrate the “birdday”, Rovio has also announced a series of initiatives across the globe, including a special presentation by Rovio’s Peter Vesterbacka at the Apple Store in Ginza, Japan. Angry Birds 2.0 for iPhone is available now on the App Store at $0.99, and you can find the just-updated HD version for iPad here. Check out more screenshots below. (more…)

Rovio today announced a massive milestone for its hit game Angry Birds, revealing that the game has been downloaded more than half a billion times in less than two years. In a short video celebrating the milestone (shown after the break), Rovio also throws out some other interesting statistics including:

• #1 in 79 countries
• 266 billion levels played
• 400 billion birds shot
• 44 billion stars collected
• 200,000 years played Angry Birds total
• 300 million minutes played daily

The app, which originally launched on iOS on December 10th, 2009 has now gone on to be a worldwide hit and has spread to a large swathe of both mobile and desktop operating systems including Android, Symbian, Windows Phone, WebOS, OS X, Windows, Google Plus and more. Last October Rovio also released a special Halloween edition of the game called Angry Birds Hallloween, which was subsequently renamed ‘Angry Birds Seasons’ – it has seen regular updates featuring new levels that are themed by various holidays. This year Angry Birds Rio was released in March, this version tied in with the 20th Century Fox animated film Rio.

Note: Angry Birds Downloads includes downloads from all the platforms it is available on.

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