Are you ready to join the birds and the pigs as they head back to school! I hope so, as the birds need your help take back the playground from those not-so-menacing pigs. After a short wait we are excited to report that the Angry Birds Seasons Back to School update (v2.5.0) is now available for iOS, PC, Mac, BlackBerry Playbook, and Android via Google Play and Amazon Appstore! This update includes a bunch of stuff and lifts the veil of secrecy surrounding the brand new pink bird, which we reported about last week. We’ve outlined below what we know so far about the pink bird, her power, and this update in general:
Note for PC users: Some people have not been notified by the in-game updater. Instead, go to download.angrybirds.com and click on “Download Free Demo” on Seasons to get the newest .exe file. If you are worried about your progress, check out our Ultimate Backup Tutorial.
- 20 new schoolyard levels decked out with back to school gear, such as textbooks, pencils, and pigs in dunce caps. If you’re stuck be sure to check out our 3 star walkthrough videos.
- Golden Eggs! There is likely at least one Golden Egg hidden in-game, and the 3-star bonus this time around is a “Big Notebook”. Our Complete Angry Birds Seasons Golden Eggs Guide has the location of every single Golden Egg in Angry Birds Seasons, including Back to School.
- No power-ups! I know 99% of our users will be thrilled about this.
- No new achievements for iOS. This is expected, since there is really no space for Seasons achievements points.
- The numbering of the Twitter and Facebook levels has changed.
- On the main screen there is a new refresh Mighty Eagle icon (under the gear icon). I presume this is there for those who need to restore their purchase. I could be wrong though.
The Lowdown on the New Pink Bird
The pink bird first appears on level 1-5. Her power is the ability to blow bubbles, which can trap blocks and — you guessed it — pigs. Once trapped the bubbles rise slowly with their cargo and then pop moments after, letting the blocks/pigs fall back to earth. This is definitely a unique ability that will take some getting used to. It’s also important to note that, much like the sardine can, she is very bouncy, so direct hits don’t do much, if any, damage.
What follows is my opinion of the pink bird (for those who care). At first I was a little skeptical about the new pink bird, but after having played through all the levels I have to say I’m very impressed. Not only is her power very creative, it is also extremely well executed. Rovio could have opted for something easy and predictable, but alas, the pink bird and her ability are nothing of the sort. I’m not sure if the pink bird is filled with flubber or what, but unlike the rest of her flock she bounces like crazy and can only penetrate the most damaged wood. There are no other birds even remotely like this (well, I guess the red bird can’t inflict much damage either). Not only that, her bubbles don’t affect all objects equally. Heavier objects float up slower than lighter ones, and if there is too much weight above them, they don’t do much of anything. All this means that you have to plan your shots and they need to be quite strategic. To me this boils down to very fun gameplay and a welcome addition to the flock. I can’t wait to see her make her way into future levels (could be very interesting in Space!).
New Bugs
We are compiling this list to keep an organized, easy-to-reference list for users and developers alike. We are confirming platforms as the update is released.
Update: Angry Birds Seasons v2.5.1 has been released on iOS, presumably with more platforms coming soon. Repaired bugs still include their details for the sake of completeness.
Bug 45 (iOS/PC/Mac):Bug has been fixed in v2.5.1.
The Level Selection Screens for “Wreck the Halls” and “Season’s Greedings” are not displaying properly (see this image for an example). As a side effect, there are some issues with unlocking the “Big Cookie” and “Big Present” Golden Eggs. This is a bit less common on Mac/PC.- Bug 46 (iOS/Android/PC/Mac): Seasons Golden Egg 16 (in Easter Eggs) is now a broken Rube Goldberg machine (see the walkthrough page for more).
- Bug 47 (iOS/Android/PC/Mac): The Golden Eggs in Moon(cake) Festival have been flip-flopped (see this comment thread for more). As a side effect, the “Golden Mooncake” and “Big Mooncake” unlock backwards (i.e., collecting all 8 slices unlocks the Big instead of the Golden; 3-starring unlocks the Golden instead of the Big).
- Bug 48 (iOS/Android/PC/Mac): The “New Year Egg” from Wreck the Halls cannot be unlocked in v2.5.0.
- (iOS/Android/PC/Mac): Piglantis 2-9 minimum 3-star score has changed. It was 100,000 in the original release and was changed to 102,000 in v2.5.0. This is likely unintentional, but we are checking with Rovio.
Below are some helpful links:
- Back to School 3-star walkthrough videos
- Check out our Complete Angry Birds Seasons Golden Eggs Guide
- Enter your Back to School scores on the Seasons and Seasons Golden Eggs leaderboard
Main Screen
Episode Selection
Pink Bird in Action
Level 1-1
Yep, the threshold for Piglantis 2-9 is now rised up. I 3-starred the location upon its release, but now, after this update, I have 89/90 on my scoreboard.
Reports say, that threshold was changed from 100 000 to 102 000 pts.
Well… Strange, but… While Rovio doesn’t do that too often, it’s fine with me.
OK, that’s not only that.
My “Wreck the Halls” progress is… somehow damaged. Episode selection screen is fine, it shows my score, my 75 stars and 25 feathers. The Big Cookie egg and two golden eggs are there, as well.
However, on level selection I have only first four levels as completed, 3-starred and feathered. Others are displayed as blank squares without stars and even without their numbers. Respectively, I can’t select them to play.
I only can access level 1-4, play it and proceed to the next one. After that, hi-score and stars for 1-5 are restored, and it becomes selectable on the level selection screen again. I believe that’s the way for quick restore.
However, I’d like guys from Rovio to fix this issue with something like 2.5.1 patch. Sreenshot of the issue is available on demand.
Same here…thanks for the help!
Yep, me too.
cc @Birdleader
Same here. Bug reported entered and Rovio notified. Thanks all.
I did not have the Wreck the Halls bug. All my levels are there and playable.
I was on iPhone. When I checked on the iPad, all the levels were there
Me neither. Odd it only affects some.
Not really proggesed yet but I don’t have the bug yet(maybe because I’m still opened 7 levels only???)
I don’t have the Wreck the Halls issue, but I did get reverted to three stars on Piglantis. How annoying..
I guess Nothning is broken. You just need to redo the last level open, so to get 1-5, you will need to redo 1-4.4. Using the mighty eagle will speed up things. Thanks to @Sal9
@Birdleader Did the update include retina display because the graphics seem clearer to me…
Also, did anyone else notice that when you shoot/activate the pink bird that it makes different noises on different slings and activations (if that makes sense)? Also, I just went to replay the golden egg and when i shot the bird it was choppy (which is kinda usual) and it seemed to bounce around on invisible walls and rotate itself independently. I didnt get any screenshots of it though…
Yeah, she is the first bird to have 3 different battle-cries!
I have noticed that, too. In fact, one “cry” sounded like “Ita!” (the Japanese equivalent of “Ouch”).
That level is very glitchy, but is playable.
Yeah, me too. It’s making me dizzy, causing me to fail the level.
There are retina graphics, but I thought those were there before (could be wrong).
Usually, the only time the game gets choppy on my iPhone 3GS is when Game Center is loading. For this update, it happened several times for no particular reason. Mid-flight, Yellow Bird would get jerky, then be fine on the restart..
However, only the bird, scenery, pig and background GFX was retinaified, the menu buttons remained still blurry.
They improved the mighty dragon in the update! Here are the improvements:
1. There is no longer a launch noise when you launch the Koi fish! It’s just a clear fling.
2. More powerful! Make sure to have the Koi fish land near or on the ground, when It goes in a spiral, every time it hits the ground a “BOOM” noise happens and the level is torn to pieces!! (I am pretty sure it can happen 3 times)
Very interesting. Thanks fro the report.
I can’t wait until it out for PC!!!!!!
Me neither. The pink bird looks like a lot of fun.
Did anyone else’s levels just unlock? I know I didn’t complete all the levels, but they all showed that they areunlocked, up to level 20. I knew I stopped at level 1-15…
I got to around level 16 and noticed the other levels were unlocked.
I want To Play It !
The update for symbian is true? Where can I upgrade? In store nokia I saw nothing.
We saw one report in the comments. Don’t know much.
Hi Slim — Welcome back! So are you still on “vacation” ? Have you played Back to School?
Symbian? I can’t see any update, i check update showing ‘You already have the newest version.
My score for Piglantis is 101, 060 and it’s still 3-starred. Why is the new score listed as 102,000?
Are you sure you’re on the right level? Or have updated to v2.5.0?
I definitely checked the level twice to make sure I had the right one and yes, I have the new update. Anyone else have a threshold lower than 102,000?
My was 100 890. But before this last update was 3 starred after the update was 2 starred and was89/90 …!!! I played for more than an hour last night ; …!!! And finally I got 106 360 . I forgot to take an screenshot ; because it was a nice notice telling me ” thank to do the 3 stars an complete the episode.” But my score it is good on the level as well on episode and total score.
I don’t know if anybody noticed, but seems Seasons has now adopted the new font and graphics used by ABO, especially the Level Completed/Failed screen, which now resembles that of Rio.
some like off topic.
I more like Rio Level Completed/Failed screen, because can know you already over 3star thershold more or near exectly, and silver plat High Score.
Maybe I’m just spoiled, but I really didn’t see much of a “Back to School” theme to it.
Year of the Dragon had Chinese themed backgrounds, fireworks, Mighty Dragon, paper lanterns, etc. Piglantis had Greek columns, the new water element, starfish, etc. Back to School seems to just throw pencils and books in some standard levels. But that’s about it. I thought maybe it would be in a classroom or something.. I don’t know. Just seemed to be a new bird and some extra props.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the game and the Pink bird and all, but it just seemed like a kind of weak premise/story/theme. Even the music. Sounds like 1950’s surfer music or something, but doesn’t really scream “Back to School.”
i cannot agree more with you!!
The music theme actually was way more Summer Vacation then back to school. XD
Whoa!!! Can`t wait for PC. Very happy that comes early than we though. Now Rovio can sent out and the update for Space and everyone will be happy complietly :)
This looks cool! I’m downloading it right now :)
@sal9 you should make some wallpapers for this.
I think you are being rather impatient and rude, @hristaki032
Now golden eggs’ scores count towards the leaderboards.
And also Mighty Eagle is free.
I haven’t downloaded the update yet because the comments in the app store almost all say the game crashes after the update. I’m curious as to why no one on here is having that problem. Are only old devices having that problem and everyone on here has newer Iphones/Ipads/Ipods?
It works excellent on iPad 2!
It didn’t crash on my first gen iPad at all
Yeah i have it. Not a crash. I use 2nd gen ipod when i play it it’s really lag when i throw a ME can near the slingshot the ME appear at the top of the level
Angry Birds HD (with King Pig) is now $0.99 in the App Store this weekend!
Hey, I found a bug. On the easter version, the golden on the top of right, try that…
Indeed, the seasons golden egg #16 is unachievable.
cc: @AMslimfordy
I’ll add this to the list and ping Rovio.
it is achievable, but the score will be maximum in the 30,000 and we get a star. maybe they lowered it
I got 57k with the bug. Also, 14k is still good enough for the star.
58.250 with 1 bird. I throw the yelliw bird to the bottom right tnt and it just happen
something went weird when i update this gmame on my iphone, i haven’t buy the mighty eagle,but somehow when i press the button on level,it activates itself.
It seems that this update is giving away ME for free.
We do not know if this promotion is permanent though.
Enjoy!
My brother has an iPhone 4S n he just happened to come over so I jacked his phone from him so I can play the new seasons update bcz I have an Android. I’m noticing that it takes quite a few seconds from when I press pause and restart a level r advancing to a new level. It’s slow. (I just timed it and its taking as long as 27 seconds). I know 27 seconds isn’t that long but it’s usually instant. I’m wondering if anyone else is having issues and if that might be a bug.
Odd, for me the white bird has stopped responding to egg bomb drop taps when it’s just under half a body width from horizontally impacting something. Seems more pronounced when zoomed out.
In the new update there is a change in the music for Piglantis. There should be a ‘Pia!’ but it’s replaced.
i don’t know what is happening with the delay of this update to other platforms, in the lastest update of seasons (piglantis) i had to wait until midday of the next day (for pc) to update my angry birds seasons.
Is the mighty eagle free? Cos I don’t remember purchasing it yet I can play..
Please read the comments above . Thanks
I’m loving the new pink bird. Can’t wait for her to be put into ABO. i think her power is very useful if used right.
Excuse me anybody, but can anybody get me a close-up of a picture of Pink Bird In Game? I like to draw the birds and cut them out, and I don’t have an IPad. Thanks.
Or IPhone.
What about the walkthrough videos?
Check the Angry Birds Friends’ avatar selection screen on Facebook. You can use her, as your avatar and it’s big enough to draw her. I drew her this way too. (Sorry for my English, I’m Hungarian.)
Thanks Golden. Slim I did try your videos but she is so small that it’s to hard to see her, even in HD. Well, better get drawing!
AB facebook page has some good quality images.
I already finished drawing her!!! :D Now I can add her to my vast collection!
It usually doesn’t take this much time to release update in Android. What could be the problem? I think they are trying to make the update Data-clearing bug free,which is good. And, no offense, but even PC update doesn’t get this much late, saying it by judging previous updates for PC
Yup, probably just trying to fix all the bugs. :) I hope it will be in a day because I want to try the pink bird haha. :D
I think, than they’re trying to add ME like in ABO.
I think @witeek is right.Rovio is adding ME for Android so maybe that is why it is taking so long.
Or fixing iOS bugs. Mayby IOS was test version, before android. It can be this too.
Rovio answered for my e-mail:The new AB Seasons episode will be available for Android very soon.
Hey I just saw, than in pause menu(android), pink bird commercial disappeard. I think than it mean, the update is comming in few days! Like with AB Space. The day before, it disappeard. I hope, than I’m right!
Rovio News can be changed at-whim. They likely removed it since, well, it’s no longer coming soon but has already arrived (on iOS). But yes, Android is likely this coming week.
Talking about waiting for the update for PC… We still waiting for Amazing Alex. I don’t mind, but I think that it will be released when an update will come for iOS and Android. Then I think that it will be released for PC.
Rovio never said anything about a timeframe for the PC release of Amazing Alex. Actually, they said it’d be a ways, but it would arrive eventually.
Hi Slim: so I am waiting for A Alex new update. I am iOS platform my 2 devices iPod Touch 4G and my iPad 3G still 0/1 Achievements even that I finished I have 336/336 in both my devices: So usually they fix bugs and other matters on updates: but know there is a big one on ABS: so you thing so will take longer for AAlex. And will fix the bugged Achivement and also not Friends on the blue shaded right line…!!!
I hope that the ME will be added in Seasons on Android (Google Play)! Maybe it will take time if they should add IAP! :)
@MUFC – I really have this feeling that Rovio is adding the ME to AB Seasons for Android and other platforms as an in-app purchase. They did for Space and Original. I actually went back and looked at the original release of AB Space for the 1st 10 levels of Utopia because that was when the Mighty Space Eagle was added for iOS….it took 5 days to be released for Android (I don’t know about other platforms). The recent release of the next levels of Surf & Turf with additional features in AB Original took 6 days to be released for Android which had the ME. That’s why I think the ME will be coming to Seasons this week for Android and other platforms. (I really hope so and I definitely don’t mind the wait.)
great update!
little comment on the wth bug! dont know if it has been mentioned, but if you play level five and finish (with eagle or only birds) it unlocks level six! and it also stays unlocked so if you replay all levels, the bug will be not viewable anymore! maybe you could add this to the description?!
While what you say is certainly true, a side-effect of the bug is that the Big Cookie (and Big Present in SG) can be non-responsive.