[MikeMaz]

A friend of mine received a message that they are running “live tests” on some of the classic games (Seasons, Rio, Space) and that they will be back when they are finished.  I didn’t receive anything like that and it seemed as if my correspondence took a much more ominous turn.  Could it be that Rovio support has no clue?

[MikeMaz]

Another update on how things have changed and it doesn’t look like Seasons/Rio/Space are coming back.

I always had my daughter play the games with the phone on Airplane mode so that she avoided the ads (I didn’t want her downloading anything).  But you don’t get powerups on Airplane mode so I would let her, now and again, to play with the internet on and she could get powerups on every level.

She’s playing Seasons though very sad about most of the levels she’s finished and all of the Pig Days (she LOVED the Pig Days).  She asked today if she could run with ads to get some powerups.

Ads still run, powerups no.  Just FYI.

[MikeMaz]

I don’t have an Android but if I can get Angry Birds Seasons, to turn everything to zero again, for my daughter, then I will switch.  She is crushed.   The wait has never been this long before. I think it is gone for good.

[MikeMaz]

I’m afraid to delete it and go to Purchases and re-download it. It’s there but I’m afraid that I’ll go to download it and won’t be able to and will have lost it forever.  I hate Rovio.

[MikeMaz]

I can’t believe they sent me an email today suggesting my daughter try the bubble games…No word on Seasons and Rio and all those games that really SPARK her imagination.   SHE HATES THOSE GAMES and why should girls be relegated to bubble games.  Rovio has lost its damn mind.  I’m going to have to break out the old Mac so I can bring the Seasons back to zero….but there are so many seasons that are not on the Mac.  I hate this.

[MikeMaz]

I had 2 email conversations with them. This is very different than what they said last time.  I encourage everyone to write to them. It looks like Seasons, Rio etc. are gone for good. Last time they said that they do updates from time to time and the yearly meeting was in progress.  This time it sounds like they are NOT coming back.  THAT IS TERRIBLE NEWS!!!    EVERYONE WRITE TO THEM PLEASE!!! 

1st letter:

Thank you for getting in touch with us and for your interest in our game. My name is Steve and I will try my best to assist you.

I can totally get how being unable to download Angry Birds Seasons can be upsetting. I realize that this kind of circumstances can be disappointing to players and we are always aiming to improve. I want to assure you that it was never our intention to spoil the enjoyment of Angry Birds. Hearing the voice of such a devoted player as your daughter is very important to us. While I cannot promise any particular change on my end, I will make sure to forward your feedback to our development team.

In case of any other inquiry, please do not hesitate to contact us again. Have a nice day!

Best regards,

Steve
Rovio Support Team

I told them about the last time this happened, it was temporary and I was assured they were coming back.  I asked if that is what is happening now.  This is his response.  It doesn’t sound good!!!

2nd letter:

Hello there,

thank you for getting back to us!

I understand that this whole situation may be confusing. Currently, I cannot provide you with more specific information about the future plans for the titles removed from the store. Thank you for your understanding.

In case of any other inquiry, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

[MikeMaz]

Just FYI…if you have these games on your phone – don’t delete them.

They’re gone again. Seasons, Rio, Space.  Others too, but those are the ones my daughter loves. Thankfully I didn’t let her delete them before I checked the App store.  I just got her to try some of the games on Seasons she doesn’t play…but her favorites are all 3 starred out.  I wish I knew how to change it to zero like I could on a Mac.

Why can’t they leave well enough alone?

[MikeMaz]

If you play on airplane mode, no ads.

[MikeMaz]

THANKS!  I did this and I’m really glad. I also got the exact same letter he posted on the other thread. I appreciate your help!!!!

[MikeMaz]

There are some games on my Purchased list that are greyed out so I would not be able to download them (none of the AB ones were greyed out).  So check that before deleting them.

[MikeMaz]

I DID manage to get Seasons back…just now by going to the Purchased section of the iPhone.  My daughter can stop mourning the loss of the Fairy Hog Mother and the circus.  She was truly in a funk for the past 48 hours.  I wrote to Rovio but they did not write back.  I finally did a search today on finding a deleted app and found directions to restore.

My 9 year old is now in blissful paradise but I explained to her that I’m not sure we can keep zeroing it out and deleting it. I think one day it will be REALLY gone.

I downloaded Rio and Space…both of which are missing out of the App store and she loves.  But nothing like Seasons.  She’s created entire stories around each level.  I wish Rovio never put this thing out to pasture.  For little girls, it really is enjoyable for them.  They love “stories” more than the boys do. She called all her friends who were experiencing the same funk.  Now they’re all happily off to Seasons story land.

Damn you Rovio.  You suck.

[MikeMaz]

It looks as if Angry Birds Seasons is gone and I have a very upset little girl on my hands. I deleted it off the phone to reload it fresh for her (she played it every day for years) as she had completed every game 3 stars everywhere.  That was our routine. She would get enough stars to get an “unlock” game – her favorite being the circus and the Halloween ones, and then when she finished, I would delete and download.

We deleted last night and then there was no Seasons in the app store.  She was crushed.  Absolutely crushed. I still have it on an old Mac, but it’s not the same.

Damn Rovio.  I never thought you’d do this. Why?  So unnecessary. It looks like Rio and Space are gone as well.  Thankfully I have Rio on my phone and won’t delete it, but what fun is it is you have 3 stars on everything already?

[MikeMaz]

I found out the issue.  I don’t know why but it has to have wireless on for Ragnahog to go beyond Level 1 and for powerups to be given.  I try to keep the internet off when she’s playing the game but left it on one day and noticed she was getting notifications that she hadn’t gotten before.  That’s a relief, but it’s weird.  You can download the game, but if you do what I did – which was turn off wireless and put in airplane mode as soon as it’s downloaded, it will not give you a level after 1 or any powerups.  BUT you don’t get ads either which is why I turned it off in the first place.

[MikeMaz]

Thanks so much for your response Karen!  If there was news about it going away I would try to prepare her.  I wish there was a way to reset it to zero on the phone like I can do on the Mac.  There are more seasons on the iPhone than on the Mac but thankfully I never have to re-download the AB games on the Mac as I just delete the file that has the scores on it.  But when we’re traveling the Mac is tough to haul around.

Her stories are really cute, especially for Fairy Hog Mother and Summer Camp (though she wasn’t crazy about sending all the pig kids off the cliff so she imagines there are big mattresses down there like some of the levels seem to have and all the pig kids survive.  She also wanted to know the story behind the Marie Hamtoneitte season and it was good fun showing her the garden of Louis (whatever number) and showing that it’s real. She also loves all the Halloween ones though I think the first one requires over 600 points.

I wish Rovio would appreciate a story like this.  Seasons is really creative.  My understanding is that the original team have all left Rovio.  Maybe that is the reason for no new seasons.

The boys love the newer versions but she’s seasons slingshot flinger.  I’ve also looked for similar games for her but she grows bored and comes back to Seasons time and again.  Her stories are fantastic.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.