'Angry Birds' Merchandise to Catapult on Scene in Near Future
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| A new Angry Birds board game by Mattel is based on the popular smartphone app. |
The "Angry Birds" app has dominated the iTunes app store for quite some time now, but the characters in the addictive game are set to come to life in various forms over the next few months, taking the form of board games, slippers, blankets, action figures and plush dolls.
Mattel is gearing up to launch an "Angry Birds" board game inspired by the addictive, No. 1 paid iPhone app on the market. Although the Angry Birds Knock on Wood board game was announced at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, it's being showcased at the 2011 Toy Fair this week in New York City and has received much attention once again. It is planned to debut on shelves this May.
"When we debuted the game at CES, there was so much interest," Mattel spokeswoman Stefani Green told TechNewsDaily. "It seemed as though the hot topics were new TVs and then the Angry Birds board game. We were thrilled."
Many traditional games have gotten the app-treatment over the years, but this is the first time an app has been made into a board game, Green said. The "Angry Birds" app has already been downloaded 50 million times and rakes in over 200 million minutes of play-time every single day.
The premise of the new board game is easy: Just like with the app, players catapult a series of cross-eyed birds at green pigs hiding under various building structures. The set up of the structure is determined by drawing a card from the deck and assembling the pieces to follow the image on the card. By knocking down the structures and hitting the pigs, players win points.
The game comes with three Angry Birds, four green pigs, one slingshot-style launcher, structure pieces and multiple mission cards. It will retail for $14.95.
Also on display at the Toy Fair was an assortment of "Angry Birds" merchandise that will be debut in the near future. Thanks to the Commonwealth Toy Company, the game's lovable characters will be on key chains, dodge balls and magnets.
Some online retailers, such as ToyWiz, are already taking preorders.
