Rovio Hits 1 Billion Downloads & Purchases the iPad Game Casey’s Contraptions

We all know how popular Angry Birds is, but it’s always fun to put a number to the ridiculousness. The Angry Birds franchise (the original, Seasons, Rio, and Space combined) has just passed a whopping 1 billion downloads. (Official Rovio statement.) To put this incredible number into context, let’s include a few notes. First, Apple announced in March that the iOS AppStore just passed 25 billion downloads. Angry Birds is a single app (well technically four apps, but still). Also, we posted on 2 November that Angry Birds reached half-a-billion downloads and included some mind-boggling statistics in that post. But this also means that, in the past 189 days, the franchise was downloaded more than 2.6 million times per day! Hats-off to Rovio on their incredible feat.

But, that’s not all.

At the end of the video Rovio teases a new game that is not Angry Birds. Bird Leader checking in now. I noticed that this “new game” looks eerily similar one of my kids other favorite games, “Casey’s Contraptions”. I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure it’s not Cut the Rope or something brand new like others are speculating. Well, I guess it could be brand new game play. If this turns out to be true it’s actually kind of funny because I contacted the developers of Casey’s Contraptions about a year ago to tell them how much my kids like their awesome game (and that they should promote it on ABN). Again, I may be wrong (I wasn’t — see the update below), but above is a side by side comparison, so you can decide for yourself. The image on the left is a screenshot from the Apple App Store and the one on the right is a screenshot taken from the video above.

Updates!

May 11th, 2012

We now know the official name of the new game will be Amazing Alex. The website is AmazingAlex.com and you can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

May 10th, 2012

Rovio has confirmed that it has purchased Casey’s Contraptions! It has been removed from the AppStore while Rovio redesigns and revamps the app, though exactly what they plan on doing remains a mystery. The initial relaunch window is this summer on iOS and Android, then “extending to further platforms rapidly after that”.

For those not familiar, Casey’s Contraptions actually has some really neat game play and functionality. It is a child-friendly app that uses a lot of Rube Goldberg machines, demonstrating the concept of chain reactions for youngsters. It also has an awesome level builder, where you can design and share your own levels. You can also download levels (for free) that other people have created and shared. For a long time we’ve wish this existed in Angry Birds. Well, now they own a game that has this baked in. Does this mean we’ll soon have the ability to create and share our own Angry Birds levels? I for one think so… eventually.

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Comments (138)

Rank: Champion with 3815 points
By kinkykiwi (@kinkykiwi)

http://rov.io/1billioncomp

good evening fellow flingers
the above link is to the 1 billion comp and all you have to do is post …. #oneofthe billion…. amazing achievement , amazing competition and amazing prize

good luck guys :)

( sorry if this has been posted b4 but couldnt find anything on here)

Rank: Boss Hog with 13330 points
By kathi17 (@kathi17)

That link goes to rov.io, before I click on it, is it a Rovio site, or something else?

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

Yep, it’s Rovio’s site, just the link from their twitter feed I’m guessing. It shortens the link so that it fits into the 140 character limit :)

Rank: Boss Hog with 13330 points
By kathi17 (@kathi17)

Thanks Laurence, and thanks kinkykiwi for posting it!

Rank: Champion with 3815 points
By kinkykiwi (@kinkykiwi)

oh gosh, i forgot that it is not best practice to click on a random link but it was on my facebook wall after i finished work n it was cool on my mac so i rushed here to make sure all my fellow flingers were aware of the comp….. and its would be so cool if a nest flinger won it :)

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

That’s Rovio’s custom shortcode (usually called a “dot-co”). As another few examples, there’s youtu.be and fb.me and angrybir.de.

Rank: Master Slinger with 6760 points
By username12345 (@blahalb09)

Will the game still be $2.99? I’m not that kind of guy who likes paying for apps.

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

We can only guess at this point.

Rank: Champion with 3750 points
By Oobgular (@oobgular17)

Will it only be out for iPad and Android Tablet like before, or do you think they will expand it to smaller devices?

Rank: Master Slinger with 7205 points
By TruckDriver (@truckdriver)

Wow, a billion downloads!!!! Let’s see, last I heard there were nearly 7 billion people on this planet, so that would mean that AB has been downloaded, in one form or another, by approximately 14% of the global population.

Quite the feat, indeed.

Rank: Master Slinger with 5690 points
By Peatree2 (@peatree2)

Not necessarily, most AB players have all four apps, and some have all four on more than one platform. But still an impressive number. :)

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

@Oobgular Rovio did not give us that many details. So we don’t know yet.

Rank: Explosive with 2125 points
By xXAngryBirdLover2214Xx (@angrybirdlover2)

i hope rovio does’nt forget about angry birds

Rank: DaBomb with 355 points
By Kun Parekh (@kun-parekh)

Not happening, considering a billion downloads of the game(s).

Rank: Hardened with 530 points
By DrummerBird (@rockerbird123)

Looks pretty cool, I’m getting it when it comes out! I wonder when Utopia is coming out to Angry Birds Space, it’s taking pretty long. Well, I hope that means either this game, or MORE LEVELS! :D

Rank: Flinger with 0 points
By MushMe (@)

Well, it seems like Rovio did indeed bought Casey’s Contraption. Yippee!
http://www.148apps.com/news/confirmed-rovios-postangry-birds-game-caseys-contraptions/

Rank: Gold Flinger with 8570 points
By Kartflyer (@kartflyer)
Rank: Sling God with 26055 points
By sal9 (@sal9)

The main post was updated yesterday ;)

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

Wow, am I blind or what :P

Rank: Master Slinger with 6945 points
By alfredhartojo (@alfredhartojo)

The new game is called “Amazing Alex”,check the web,or just google it.

Rank: Flinger with 0 points
By Bioshroom (@)

Anyone expect some Angry Birds cameos?

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

Nice find @MightyEagle.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18470 points
By cosmo2503 (@cosmo2503)

What a cute character! I’m sure my girls will love new game. I haven’t heard for Casey’s contraptions before, but it sounds like nice gafmfun and teasing enough.

Rank: Champion with 3550 points
By hristaki032 (@hristaki032)

Seriosly.Angry Birds Seasons is over.I don’t want to think that way but eather it is taking some very long time to make an update or it is over.

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

It’s not over, as I have told you many times.

Rank: Master Slinger with 6945 points
By alfredhartojo (@alfredhartojo)

@hristaki032 Well,we could expect an update for summer,or for the olympics,or shall I say it “The Olympigs”,LOL :D

Rank: Champion with 3550 points
By hristaki032 (@hristaki032)

I know you have told me many times slim but a seasons update has never taken so long to come out.Are Rovio out of ideas?

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

How about between Easter Eggs and Summer Pignic and Moon Featival? Consistently around 2 months.

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By Kartflyer (@kartflyer)

“May 5th, 2012

We know know the official name of the new game will be Amazing Alex”

:)

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

Thanks, fixed that and a few others.

Rank: Sling God with 44210 points
By annach (@annach)

Why May 4 and May 5? Shouldn’t it be May 10 and May 11?

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

Blast. I’ll get that.

Rank: Slinger with 1215 points
By Angry_BrownBird (@supermad_bluebird)

Now we gotta make an Amazing Alex fan website. But I doubt this game will get any better than Angry Birds. I think Amazing Alex will just be a mess up. Maybe it doesn’t need a fan site

Rank: Champion with 3420 points
By Dorito (@dorito)

Maybe it can be here as well, and this website could be about all Rovio games. I doubt it, though: Angry Birds is the more popular series!

Rank: Sling God with 36990 points
By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

At the very least we will create walkthroughs and will post them somewhere. Maybe here, maybe not. :)

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By nacho18 (@nacho18)

Okay Guys !!! The big question : Is !!! When is going to be the release ….!!! I am very anxious . So the release will be on ROVIO ; or just on Amasing Alex!!! WhAt do all of you think…!!!

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

The release date is yet not known and further announcements will be made on the Rovio or Amazing Alex website.

Rank: Master Slinger with 5690 points
By Peatree2 (@peatree2)

I’ve played Casey’s Contraptions (not only for kids), and actually, it’s great. I don’t like what Rovio did to the character (old one was better) and the name isn’t great either… Amazing Alex? Seems more like a circus. In Casey’s Contraptions, Casey was only really the “host” of the game and not too “amazing.” Don’t like the graphic change of the parts either, but all my opinion.

@birdleader, if the game really is great, maybe a separate tab for walkthroughs? “Extras?”

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

We have some ideas.

Rank: Slinger with 1215 points
By Angry_BrownBird (@supermad_bluebird)

There is a description here why its now called AMAZING Alex
http://www.macrumors.com/2012/05/11/amazing-alex-is-rovios-angry-birds-followup/

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

So is ‘Amazing Alex’ going to be a bit same as ‘Caseys Contraptions’ or totally something different? Glad that Rovio is undertaking the project.

Rank: Champion with 3420 points
By Dorito (@dorito)

Same concept, different graphics. At least, that’s what I think…

Rank: Deputized with 130 points
By bigbrother1 (@bigbrother1)

i found the orange angry bird at toys r us today!!!!

Rank: Hardened with 635 points
By badpiggy (@badpiggy)

Amazing Alex!!! Excited…

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

Why is it Amazing Alex? Should not it be Amazing Casey?

Rank: Slinger with 1215 points
By Angry_BrownBird (@supermad_bluebird)

They changed his name to Alex. I know, I liked the name Casey better. I hope to see hidden angry birds stuff in this game.

Rank: Avian Overlord with 18470 points
By cosmo2503 (@cosmo2503)

Alex sounds more global. Casey is way too much American…at least that’s what I think.

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

@amslimfordy Don’t know if this survey has been posted anywhere. Rovio are collecting information regarding Angry Birds levels, but mainly facebook. :)

Rank: Master Slinger with 6760 points
By username12345 (@blahalb09)

@laurence Not sure if you read the end of the url but it said “This is your personal answering link. Do not share!”

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

Yeah – I saw that, but I’ve answered it. Also, slim OK’d it, so I guess it’s fine! Couldn’t find any other way of sharing it, which seems a bit strange really, if they want responses. If someone else can find a better link, the I’m sure that can be uploaded instead.

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

If you can find the original link, I’ll replace it.

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

I can’t seem to find any ‘share link’ option. The only way I can find of accessing the survey is via the ABF game (top banner) :)

Rank: Hardened with 530 points
By DrummerBird (@rockerbird123)

I REALLY wish that this game could be used to make levels for Angry Birds… I’ve been dreaming about it for so long!

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

Amazing Alex is unlikely to have anything to do with Angry Birds.

By taz

that game is available for pc or no?

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

We don’t know what the plan is.

Rank: Well Traveled with 1850 points
By Adrian McShade (@adrianchau)

I hope Amazing Alex will meet up to my expectations…

Rank: Slinger with 1035 points
By Antonio231102 (@joseantonio)

That’s a threshold that no other game will ever beat.

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