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.
Wow, 1bn downloads. Now that’s impressive.
Hooray!!! More Angry Birds fun, then. It definitely looks like Casey’s Contraptions. Just look at the scissors and the balloon on each picture below the video.
They do look exactly alike… Though Casey himself doesn’t really. I still think it is him though.
I really hope this comes to fruition as I enjoy Casey’s Contraptions every once in a while as well!
If it’s true, it looks like a really fun game!
Interesting. Haven’t even heard of Casey’s Contraptions, but sounds like fun!
It’s an awesome game, for both kids and kids at heart. My son especially likes the level builder, where you can create and share levels.
Level builder. Hmm– off topic, but they should make an angry birds level builder game. You could create your own levels, save them, share them and everything!
Aren’t there level builders for AB available in some of the forum posts?
Yes, but it’s not an official level builder, and it’s a bit difficult to use.
Which forum posts?
I wish angry birds got update,can build your own level and can play angry birds with your own level
Second an official level builder… anyways, hopefully SOME Angry Birds elements will be added to the new app. :) (rolling pigs/birds?)
Is this made by Rovio?
No.
I heard Rovio was looking to acquire other companies, but it doesn’t look like they bought Mystery Coconut…yet
Heh.. I’m psychic! :D
It looks very funny :-)
it definitely does ccjolly :)
” Gleiche Meinung”. Oh Sorry “Same opinion” :-)
Wow,That looks really fun!
That’s just insane! Rovio sure is going high real fast. Way to go Rovio! :)
Wow, that’s a lot of downloads! I also notice that Space already has 2/3 of the number of downloads of Rio (iOS SD version) and it’s been out less than 2 months! :)
When they say “More awesome things coming soon” I hope that they meant Angry Birds wise not their other app.
I believe it is both – more AB and more of their other app! :) (No timescales though, BTW!)
1 billion download!!!If those downloads wore hamburgers…ohhh yeah.
1 bilion download!!! Wow!!! That is amazing!!! And a new game!!! Looks funny!!! :)
Hmm, not sure what to think about this reference. I would like more chain reaction style levels in AB, but I definitely don’t want a major tie-in like ABR with this game.
I remember when Rovio said about releasing five new games, they did mention that they will be releasing at least one non-AB related game. This could be it!
you mean 3 or 4 non-AB games?
No one said 3 or 4.
i was not sure which, though :/
I’m not following you, sorry.
Rovio said they plan to release 5 apps this year but not all would be AB.
in the article about the racecar driver, you said 4.
That is nt said anywhere in that article. It says 5 apps and “its first non-AB title in three years”
did you get my PM?
You can’t send messages to people not on your friends list.
Space is included, though, right? So there are 4 more coming.
Yes, Space was #1
That is really impressive, 1 billion downloads. Quality usually brings success. Good things spread and folks want to enjoy. Rovio and AB is something a lot of folks find enjoyment in playing.
Why is King Pig so tiny in this video? Red Bird is bigger than he is!
And also the Helmet Pigs are bigger than the King!
Congrats to Rovio on their spectacular feat! I hope that there’s a lot more amazing things from Rovio in the future!
Congrats to Rovio
CONGRATS, ROVIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted in AppAdvice – interesting that Casey’s creator didn’t deny anything. ‘Updated: After posting our article, we heard from 148app.com’s Jeff Scott, who it seems, correctly suggested the next game from Rovio will include something to do with Casey’s Contraptions, which is owned by Snappy Touch. For this, Casey’s creator went to Twitter and said this:
Before rumors start flying, Rovio is a perfect gentleman. Not a Zynga at all. Don’t worry, all is well
— Noel Llopis (@noel_llopis) May 9, 2012’
Hehe…. ‘Before rumors start flying’ Could that be any sort of an AB reference?
@laurafj I’m glad to see that comment about Rovio; it’s nice to see that some companies still have integrity. Congrats to them on the awesome achievement!
The new game looks like fun; my son will like it, I’m sure :).
I went to the iOS app store to see what Casey’s Contraptions is all about and I did a search. ‘Casey’s Contraptions HD’ came up in the search window but when I clicked on it I received a message that ‘your search had no results.’ Hmmmmmm . . .. . . a glitch or a prelude?
Was it only out for iPad? Because I’ve never seen it before…
It was for iPhone too I believe.
1 BILLION downloads in just 3 YEARS
i wonder who got to download number billion!
Amazing, Rovio!
Am also interested about that Casey’s Contraptions.
Congrats Rovio!
Casey`s Contraptions sounds like it that could be fun. Have they bought out the rights to that game and re-designed it a bit?
I think they will start that world tour AB`s next. JMO
Well, Casey certainly looks different. His hair doesn’t so much swoop up in front, but looks more like bird feathers. Interesting to see Rovio’s first human drawn in the AB art style (if there is such a thing, they seem to change styles a lot)..
Since Rovio said there would be 5 apps this year,one should be released roughly every 2 1/2 months… It’s been 1 1/2 months since space was released, and it was announced a month before the launch, so a new one should be announced in the coming days…
I think there will be a bit of buildup by Rovio, not so much surprise.
I think the buildup has begun. First the teaser, then pulling the app.
I’m thinking something lesser-than-but-similiar-to Space’s buildup.
Wow! Amazing Rovio :) Never heard of Caseys Contraptions but sure sounds like fun!
The contraption in the back looks exactly the one in Casey’s Contraptions!
Hey Slim, will you make a new site for the new game or just keep the old one?
The “old” site is actually new. Bird Leader has recently upgraded the servers and revamped many aspects of the website.
I believe he is ready to accommodate new titles from Rovio.
Awesome!!!
I don’t make the sites either. I just help out.
Maybe you guys should make an ABN app!
WTG Rovio,what a great achievement!
Some more News today: Rovio confirmed that it has purchased Casey’s Contraptions and is currently revamping it. The VP of Rovio says that it will be released this summer for iOs and Android, then “extending to further platforms rapidly after that.”
They deleted Casey’s contraptions.
From the Appstore, yes.
Awesome I am going to get it!
But will they still make Angry Birds?
Yes they will continue.
thats good @Sal9
I’m definitely going to buy it, it looks like fun!
So, Casey’s Contraptions gets the Rovio treatment! I hope there will be birds and pigs in it.