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In this post, I will discuss the mobile app Angry Birds. Angry Birds is a mobile game that was developed in 2009 by Rovio Mobile, a Finnish game developing company. At first, it was just for Apple iPhones, but because of it's instant popularity it soon became available on all touch screen smartphones. It is the most downloaded app ever. The characters have been featured in various television ads and referenced in everything from talk shows to sitcoms. Merchandise from shirts to hats have been made, and there are even special stores that sell them. China is said to have over 200 of the Angry Birds stores. In 2011, China opened an Angry Birds theme park attraction in which you could play a real life version of the game. There is even talk of a television show being created from the Angry Birds characters. We'll see if it actually happens.

Some of the reasons why Angry Birds has been so successful is the simplicity of the game, the cuteness of the characters, and the low price it comes at. The game is played by using your finger to slingshot birds to try to knock down pigs. It can be played minutes at a time and resumed later. It's something you can do when you're bored, during your train commute, or as competition between friends. The characters are amusing and creative, featuring bright colors and interesting landscapes. The app is very cheap, only $1, and upgrades and add-ons are usually free. The app was promoted heavily by Apple because it was the only phone it could be downloaded to, at first. After it took off, it spread via social media, word of mouth, and TV references.