[olivercameron]

Angry Birds, in a sane world, should be worth no where near one billion. They have sold less than 100 million copies, and I doubt they can keep on repeating their success year after year. It's a fad that will soon be replaced, just like Doodle Jump and Flight Control before it.

[kmfrk]

I don't know. I don't think Angry Birds is an interesting game, but it's obviously blowing up like mad, so I don't pretend that any rational dictum will predict that it dies down.

You don't see plushies and fan art for the other games - and you shouldn't ignore all the ways the creators profit from the franchise. They also make a bunch of themed releases like Halloween. They may also have hit a tweenage demographic susceptible to crap like Silly Bandz, Bratz, and other inane ztuff.

They even have an ad ready for Superbowl(!).

[imajes]

You've missed the point. Sure, it's 'blowing up like mad' but the important thing is that Roxio have been able to turn the Angry Birds game into a brand: selling movie rights (!) something even EA struggle with, so quickly, getting a deal with FOX for marketing and developing a range of real-world merch to go along.

All on the back of one simple little app that looks and feels like a flash game. (i love it, don't get me wrong, but it is not anything special)

Did Harbor Master or Flight Control do this? No.

It takes a lot to think big and that's where the big players are-- and worth a good chunk of money too.

[olivercameron]

I don't think real-world merchandise will save them when the next hit game storms the charts.

[kmfrk]

Wasn't that what I said? Aren't we in complete agreement? Am I too tired for my own good? :)

I'm definitely less appreciative of them than many, but they've obviously capitalized on their success - opportunity didn't just drop into their laps.