Official Angry Birds Space Announcement

We have all been waiting anxiously for more details about Angry Birds Space, which is set to be released on March 22nd for iOS, Android, Mac, and PC. If you missed our original post on the topic, along with many teaser trailers, be sure to check them out here.

On to the new stuff. Rovio’s official announcement came in many portals, but most information can be found on the official app page at space.angrybirds.com. The video comes live from the International Space Station and includes a very nice introductory physics lesson about how gravity acts on projectiles. In space, however, the effects of gravity are significantly less. In fact, gravity is nearly zero unless near an object with significant mass. The Angry Birds even landed the cover of National Geographic, which looks like a very interesting edition!

Angry Birds Space will feature a clever mixture of zero and low-gravity situations. As the birds fly through “open space”, their trajectory will be perfectly straight. However, objects such as planets and asteroids have their own gravitational field, which will pull the birds inward! This will result in very nifty, looping, spiral shots to pop the piggies! (Important lesson about gravitational forces: The closer two objects are, the stronger the attractive force between them. This appears to hold true in Angry Birds Space as well.)

The announcement also gives a preview of a few new birds (for a much more detailed breakdown of the new birds see, “Meet the Birds in Angry Birds Space”) — and a few old birds with makeovers.

  • At first glance, the video suggests that the Red, Black, and Big Brother birds all have the same abilities as before, though newly-designed.
  • The Blue birds have the same ability, though they seem a bit stronger than in the original apps.
  • There also seems to be a purple-colored bird (we are not going to speculate as to its name right now), whose ability is to redirect and accelerate. Personally, I believe this is a new ability of the existing Yellow bird.
  • There is also a new “icy” bird (again, no speculation as to name), whose ability is to freeze its contact area on a structure.

The following statement is per Rovio’s Press Kit:

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 [iOS only], brand new birds, brand new superpowers, [hidden bonus levels,] and a whole galaxy to explore, the sky is no longer the limit!

A few other interesting tidbits:

  • If you pop the helmet or air-bubble around a pig, it freezes and drifts. It is not clear if a frozen pig counts as popped, or if it will eventually pop on its own.
  • This will be the first time in the Angry Birds series where you must target a bird’s ability: Where you tap on-screen determines the new trajectory line for the purple-colored (revamped Yellow?) bird.
  • The first two episode names were revealed on NASA’s website: Pig Bang and Cold Cuts will each feature 30 levels. The scroll bar at the bottom of the image could mean that more names will be known, or perhaps more than 60 levels will be available in v1.0.0, but we aren’t sure exactly.
  • Introductory videos for each of the birds will be released between the 10th and 16th. Click here to see that post! Note that the White, Orange, and Boomerang birds are not featured (if we assume the purple-colored bird is simply a revamped Yellow bird).

So be sure to check out the video above (it really is a must watch). If you just can’t get enough of Angry Birds Space? Check out these other fine articles, each containing some awesome tidbits about what is to come:

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Category: Angry Birds News & Updates, News, Updates

Comments (177)

Rank: Sling God with 26055 points
By sal9 (@sal9)

It’s on here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxI1L1RiSJQ&feature=youtu.be
Some pretty cool previews of AB Space gameplay.

Rank: Slinger with 1015 points
By alaskari (@alaskari)

You beat me by a minute. My thougts after watching the clip is the gameplay is much different because the pigs are not behind towers or barriers but they are hanged in the space. Also, the pysichs are different too. I wonder if we will have constant updates.

Rank: Sling God with 26055 points
By sal9 (@sal9)

The birds seem to have some sort of power ( i.e blue birds freeze the blocks on contact )
We’ll have to play with the gravitational pull of planets.
Looks awesome :D

Rank: Slinger with 1015 points
By alaskari (@alaskari)

Yes I noticed the freezing power. Also it’s seems that all ABSpace birds are different (Yellow Bird is purple and big brother is green).
I don’t think we will have the mighty eagle, perhaps we can get some sort of a grand space shuttle.

Rank: Champion with 3070 points
By bigbrotherbird97 (@bigbrotherbird97)

I know. But looks like there will only be 6 birds to use. Unless I’m wrong and there are more birds to use

Rank: Explosive with 2325 points
By MUFC (@mufc)

I think the “Freezing Bird” is the Globe Bird because on this side there are some other birds that is the Blue Birds.

Rank: Sling God with 28590 points
By MVNLA2 (@mvnla2)

The freezing bird doesn’t really act like the globe bird, since it doesn’t inflate. So maybe it is a new bird?

Rank: Slinger with 1015 points
By alaskari (@alaskari)

Yes, according to this: http://space.angrybirds.com/announcement/ (scroll down)
No boomerang nor white bird included.

Rank: Hardened with 530 points
By KeimaKatsuragi (@keimakatsuragi)

I think that with updates, both white and green bird will be introduced. I don’t see why not. Only time will tell.

Rank: Out of this World with 2590 points
By rocklands (@rocklands)

gameplay looks awesome it seems like there will be some serious challenges with the new game looking forward to it

Rank: Sling God with 28590 points
By MVNLA2 (@mvnla2)

The link to the microgravity discussion by NASA provides some useful info for those planning to fight piggies in space. Don’t think the outer-space physics is going to be that easy to adjust to. It is, of course, the same physics, just with different values of g.

By uncle nacho

With no gravity, the boomerang bird would just shoot strait backward and there would be no gravity to pull the exploding egg down to it.

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Actually, the egg from the White bird is projected downward from the bird, not simply dropped.

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Thanks guys. I’ll try to draft a post soon.

Rank: Master Slinger with 6960 points
By iamMighty (@iammighty)

Wow! Really awesome footage there.
Love the part when the guy takes a balloon and draws a Piggie!

Rank: Pig Leader with 12140 points
By sunshine (@sunshine)

Very cool NASA!! Now I’m really psychic! IamMighty, how do you think he got the eggs on board? :)

Rank: Master Slinger with 6960 points
By iamMighty (@iammighty)

Hey, the guys in the spacecraft also need to eat something ;)

Rank: Sling God with 28590 points
By MVNLA2 (@mvnla2)

Yes, the eggs could have gotten on board along with the rest of their food, but I expect it would be a serious protocol / safety violation — What if they floated into something and broke? Egg yolk and whites all over everything. Alternative is that they are empty egg shells: make a small pinhole in one end and suck contents out; classic way to make long-lasting Easter eggs.

By PopOutAngryBirds

They might be fake plastic eggs. They look like fake ones…

Rank: Debriefed with 1435 points
By razlopa (@razlopa)

http://www.nasa.gov/microgravity/
in the end there is the levels names

Rank: Debriefed with 1435 points
By razlopa (@razlopa)

“Pig Bang”, “Cold Cuts”

Rank: Debriefed with 1435 points
By razlopa (@razlopa)
Rank: Champion with 3070 points
By bigbrotherbird97 (@bigbrotherbird97)

Awesome

Rank: Slinger with 1015 points
By alaskari (@alaskari)

If you click on the bird pic, a window will pop-up about an introductionary video.

Rank: Shooter with 975 points
By AngryMiko (@angrymiko)

I can’t click on it…maybe the video will be unlocked on the date stated beside the pics???

Rank: Sling God with 28590 points
By MVNLA2 (@mvnla2)

Each bird has a pic and a video with staged release dates. Pics look like they might be IPhone wallpaper.

Rank: Slinger with 1015 points
By alaskari (@alaskari)

2 episodes, 30 levels each. Sweet.

Rank: Shooter with 975 points
By AngryMiko (@angrymiko)

May be more than that…there are 6 dots between the two green arrows, it’s like there is 6 pages…it may indicate other planet level….

Anyway i could be wrong…they also can include pages such as “like on facebook” page or “gift this app” page

Rank: Sling God with 28590 points
By MVNLA2 (@mvnla2)

You can also reach the NASA page by clicking on the space station icon at the bottom of the announcement page. The icons that link to The Daily and National Geographic don’t seem to link to AB related news, yet.

By Oobgular

I Love the new theme song!!

By JimGenious

oh my gosh! This is so exciting!

Rank: Hardened with 530 points
By KeimaKatsuragi (@keimakatsuragi)

I can’t wait to get my hands on this.
It looks like a vacation from normal AB and ABS because of all the new elements it will
include. Guess there will have to be much more thinking and tactic planning. :)
In one word: AWESOME!!! ^^

Rank: Master Slinger with 6960 points
By iamMighty (@iammighty)

I personally don’t like the tap-on screen trajectory idea, because I think it makes game-play a bit easy. But the other features are really awesome. Looking forward to the game-play!

Rank: Sling God with 26055 points
By sal9 (@sal9)

Only time will tell :D

By Caleb

I’m thinking that they probably replaced the Orange Bird with that Ice Cube Bird.

Rank: Hardened with 505 points
By RayManUnited (@raymanunited)

That is exactly the same I was thinking.

Rank: Sling God with 28590 points
By MVNLA2 (@mvnla2)

Be sure to read the NASA page on microgravity — You’ll need to understand this to play ABiS (what are we calling it?). Note that we are promised that we will have to navigate through multiple, simultaneous gravitational fields! Crack out the physics texts! As before AB in ABiS will be governed by the real rules of physics (although in 2D).

Rank: Gold Flinger with 8570 points
By Kartflyer (@kartflyer)

Based on a past comment, BL approved of the acronym: ABoS (oS for outer space)

Rank: Master Slinger with 5655 points
By Angrybirdy0420 (@angrybirdy0420)

ABoS it is, then

Rank: Hardened with 735 points
By Bob (@nnll14)

I’d call it ABSS

By Jacob

Super Mario Galaxy anyone?

By Timbo4815

Dude I was just about to comment on how the levels reminded me of Super Mario Galaxy!! That is one of my all-time favorite games, and I can’t wait to play Angry Birds Space!!!

Rank: Pig Leader with 11200 points
By FujiToast (@fujitoast)

Wow this looks like quite the difference! Interesting!

By g196

and what about the mighty eagle?

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

There was no information that I saw regarding the Mighty Eagle.

My prediction: The Mighty Eagle will not be available in v1.0.0. Perhaps down the road it will be added, but it will not be part of the initial launch.

Rank: Hardened with 505 points
By RayManUnited (@raymanunited)

I think that there will be a sort of variation to the Mighty Eagle like all the other birds.

Rank: Hardened with 505 points
By RayManUnited (@raymanunited)

Yes!! My prediction was right!!

Rank: Master Slinger with 5655 points
By Angrybirdy0420 (@angrybirdy0420)

Wow. This just so amazing I’m gonna die waiting!!!

By Kirby Mass Attack

Will Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser (and Rosalina and Lubba and the Lumas) show up?

Rank: Champion with 3295 points
By Laurence (@laurence)

Another pic here!!! :)

Rank: DaBomb with 360 points
By stopshootinme (@stopshootinme)

Finally back since my ipod is now working again. This new app look amazing and Im so happy right now. I just have a ? thou. Does anyone know if ABSpace will be compatible for ipod Touch 2nd gen (what I use to play all of the AB apps)? I twitter Rovio but I didn’t get a replay back so I thought I would try here. Thanks

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Sorry, we don’t know how far back on iOS it will run.

Rank: DaBomb with 360 points
By stopshootinme (@stopshootinme)

So Rovio contact me today “We’ll keep you posted on the specific hardware requirements… We haven’t announced anything further on that yet”.

So I guess I just have to wait and see.

I don’t know if anyone said this already but the space theme reminded me of Mario Galaxy.

Rank: Gold Flinger with 9025 points
By laurafj (@laurafj)

With AB Space, Rovio is limited only by their imagination which, in their case, isn’t a limit at all. If they get tired of low gravity at some point (in the distant future) they can simply travel to a new planet where the gravity is twice as strong as on earth, or there are gale force winds, or it is underwater, or, or, or.. . . Gonna be fun!

Rank: Hardened with 735 points
By Bob (@nnll14)

Love the levels!

Rank: Fling King with 4430 points
By Andreas189 (@andreas189)

juat a question: will it be only for ios 4.3 ? or older ios versions too? cause there are some games now (prince of persia,…) that need 4.3. hope it wont be so, cause i d need to update an re jailbreak my ipod which i dont want!

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Not aware at this time.

By Nathan

I wonder where the boomarang,white,and orange birds are?anyway I can’t wait

Rank: Explosive with 2105 points
By nascarboy (@nascarboy)

There will be 60 levels, with one hidden bonus level. Also new In App Purchases for iOS. The app will regularly update for free.

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

You have no evidence of any of this.

Rank: Explosive with 2105 points
By nascarboy (@nascarboy)
Rank: Sling God with 28590 points
By MVNLA2 (@mvnla2)

It also says the ABs have new powers and that there are “six new characters!”
@nascarboy — You can add web link to your post to substantiate your claim, and to let others view the complete info.

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Thank you. These sorts of references are necessary.

Rank: Champion with 3630 points
By spoonmon (@spoonmon)

Looks like it will be quite challenging! I can’t wait…looks incredible!

Rank: Explosive with 2070 points
By darthvader (@orangebird09)

This game will be OUTTA THIS WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rank: Explosive with 2070 points
By darthvader (@orangebird09)

And I’d better see the Black Bird becoming a meteorite when it hits the gravity layer of the planet!

Rank: Master Slinger with 6700 points
By wanda (@wanda)

Nice play on words. I am really excited about this game! This is going to be so great.

Rank: Sling God with 28590 points
By MVNLA2 (@mvnla2)

The purple bird also seems to leave little purple things behind (space mines???)

By JeeJee

corny video. Looking forward to the game though.

Rank: Debriefed with 1260 points
By chirpy43 (@chirpy43)

I might have to buy a tablet for this, as the levels appear to be longer (horizontally).
I shrink my levels to a single screen as my trajectories are far more accurate that way.

By luke

i bet that myghty eagle will be replaced by a meteor XD

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Please watch your language. Your other post was removed.

By luke

fine …

Rank: Shooter with 910 points
By alden (@alden)

this looks insane! (in a good way)

Rank: Debriefed with 1390 points
By concretebrunette (@concretebrunette)

I see a lot of rage quitting in my future, lol.

Also, SIXTY LEVELS?! Holy cow!

Rank: Fling King with 4660 points
By AngryBirds549 (@angrybirds549)

Wow!The gameplay looks sick!I can’t wait for more news!

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