Angry Birds Space

{{Infobox video game

| image = File:Angry Birds Space icon.png

| alt = A square-shaped game icon of an angry limbless red cartoon bird with an eye mask, on a dark blue outwards-striped starry background. The word "SPACE" is written below. The Rovio Entertainment logo is inside a white banner located in the top right corner.

| caption = App icon

| developer = Rovio Entertainment

| publisher = Rovio Entertainment

| producer =

| designer =

| composer =

| series = Angry Birds

| engine = Box2D

| released = March 22, 2012

| genre = Puzzle

| modes = Single-player

| platforms = iOS, Android, BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone, Microsoft Windows, BlackBerry Tablet OS, Mac OS X

}}

Angry Birds Space was a 2012 science fiction physics-based puzzle video game developed and published by Rovio Entertainment. The fifth installment in the Angry Birds video game series, it is the first in the series to take place in outer space, and had multiple partnerships with NASA.

The game was released worldwide across multiple mobile devices on March 22, 2012, and was discontinued in 2019.

Gameplay

{{see also|Angry Birds (video game)#Gameplay|l1=Gameplay of Angry Birds}}

File:Angry Birds Space.jpg used in Angry Birds Space]]

Unlike the previous Angry Birds games, levels are no longer flat, instead comprising several different planets, each of which having its own gravitational field that affects the trajectory of the birds upon launch.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/angry-birds-space-game-interview-with-peter-vesterbacka-2012-3?r=US&IR=T|title = Angry Birds Maker Says 2012 Will be a Monster Year with FIVE New Games| website=Business Insider |date = 13 March 2012}} Some pigs are in space bubbles, and when the birds break them, they will freeze and smash unless they get into a gravity field. Like in Angry Birds Rio, Angry Birds Space features boss fights.{{citation needed|date=March 2012}}

Development and release

In February 2012, Rovio announced a new game in the Angry Birds series titled Angry Birds Space.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/angry-birds-space-unveiled-6350653|title=Angry Birds Space unveiled|author=Eddie Makuch|work=GameSpot.com|publisher=CNet|date=February 17, 2012|accessdate=February 18, 2012}} Angry Birds Space launched on March 22, 2012,{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/250243/angry_birds_in_space_the_final_merchandising_frontier.html|title=Angry Birds in Space: The Final Merchandising Frontier?|author=Jeff Bertolucci|work=PCWorld.com|date=February 17, 2012|accessdate=February 18, 2012|archive-date=July 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704165842/http://www.pcworld.com/article/250243/angry_birds_in_space_the_final_merchandising_frontier.html|url-status=dead}} and features elements from the preceding Angry Birds games as well as new gameplay mechanics. The game initially contained 60 levels with additional levels available as free updates or with in-app purchases.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/appsblog/2012/mar/22/angry-birds-space-released|title=Angry Birds Space released for iOS, Android, PC and Mac|author=Stuart Dredge|date=March 22, 2012|accessdate=March 22, 2012|location=London|work=The Guardian}}

For the launch of the game, Rovio partnered with wireless carrier T-Mobile to erect a {{convert|300|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-tall}} contraption, with a {{convert|35|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-tall}} red bird resting in it at the Seattle Space Needle to make it look like a slingshot.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyclay/2012/03/22/rovio-turns-space-needle-in-seattle-into-giant-slingshot-for-launch-of-angry-birds-space/|title=Rovio turns space needle into slingshot|work=forbes|accessdate=23 March 2012|first=Kelly|last=Clay}}

File:Donald Pettit Angry Birds ISS.jpg demonstrates microgravity using characters from 'Angry Birds.']]

On March 8, 2012, new footage of Angry Birds Space, presented by NASA astronaut Donald Pettit on board the International Space Station, was released. The video shows that the game's stage is no longer flat, instead comprising several different planetoids, each of which has its own gravitational field that affects the trajectory of the birds after launch.{{cite web | url=http://kotaku.com/5891571/first-angry-birds-space-gameplay-footage-debuts-from-orbit/gallery/1 | title=First Angry Birds Space Gameplay Footage Debuts from Orbit | publisher=Kotaku | date=March 8, 2012 | accessdate=March 8, 2012}} NASA states that such collaboration with Rovio Mobile may share the excitement of space with the Angry Birds community, educate users on NASA's programs, and create interactive educational experiences for the public.{{cite web | title=What Is Microgravity? | url=http://www.nasa.gov/microgravity/ | date=2012-03-08 | accessdate=2012-03-22}}

Rovio also partnered with Samsung with the Samsung Galaxy Note for the game's release. The release included free Danger Zone levels and exclusive level for the Galaxy Note until June 21, 2012 for Samsung Galaxy users only when downloaded from the Google Play Store or Samsung Apps (now Samsung Galaxy Store).[http://www.angrybirdsnest.com/angry-birds-space-now-available Angry Birds Space now available] March 2012.{{better source needed|date=March 2025}}

The game features variations of the existing bird character and one new character that each carry their own unique abilities.{{cite news|url=http://gadgetnode.com/angry-birds-space-has-landed/|title=Angry Birds has Landed!|publisher=Gadgetnode|accessdate=22 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330231222/http://gadgetnode.com/angry-birds-space-has-landed/|archive-date=30 March 2012|url-status=dead}}

As of June 1, 2012, Angry Birds Space has been downloaded a total of 100 million times since launching on iOS, Android, PC, and Mac.{{cite news|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|title=Angry Birds Space introduces the age of the mobile game blockbuster|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/angry-birds-space-introduces-the-age-of-the-mobile-game-blockbuster/2012/03/26/gIQAWkpUeS_story.html|accessdate=15 April 2012|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 27, 2012}}

=Discontinuation=

The game was removed from both the App Store and Google Play in 2019 along with many other Angry Birds titles released before Angry Birds Transformers, besides Angry Birds Friends. The levels were remade as part of Angry Birds Reloaded in 2023.{{cite tweet |url=https://x.com/AngryBirds/status/1653712725447507975 |title=thanks everyone for participating in the AMA, make sure to keep ur eyes open EXTRA wide for the newest Angry Birds Reloaded update. it's coming |user=AngryBirds |number=1653712725447507975 |dateMay 3, 2023 |access-date=August 28, 2024}}{{primary source inline|date=October 2024}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = iOS: 83/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/angry-birds-space/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=Angry Birds Space for iPhone/iPad Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=13 May 2012}}

| rev1 = TouchArcade

| rev1Score = iOS: {{rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2012/03/22/angry-birds-space-review-the-final-frontier/ |title='Angry Birds Space' Review – The Final Frontier |last=Hodapp |first=Eli |date=2012-03-22 |website=TouchArcade |accessdate=2018-08-07}}

}}

The game has received generally favorable reviews with a Metacritic score of 83/100 based on 30 reviews. Justin Davis, writing for IGN, gave the game a score of 8.5/10, calling the pricing and physics disappointing but concluding that "neither issue detracts from the game's overall quality or fun factor."{{cite web|url=http://wireless.ign.com/articles/122/1221523p1.html|title=Angry Birds Space Review - iPhone Review system|work=IGN|access-date=2012-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515080612/http://wireless.ign.com/articles/122/1221523p1.html|archive-date=2012-05-15|url-status=dead}} Harry Slater of Pocket Gamer thought the game was "as much fun as its predecessor" adding that it had "enough new concepts to keep even the hardiest fans entertained".{{cite web|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Android/Angry+Birds+Space/review.asp?c=39107|title=Angry Birds Space Review|author=Harry Slater|work=PocketGamer.co.uk|date=2012-03-22|accessdate=2012-12-17}}

The game was downloaded 50 million times in 35 days. According to Rovio, this made the game the fastest-growing mobile game ever.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/angry-birds-space-50-million-downloads-in-35-days/|title=Angry Birds Space: 50 million downloads in 35 days|last=Reisinger|first=Don|date=30 April 2012|work=CNET|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=27 May 2014}}