# How did Angry Birds get so popular?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-angry-birds-get-so-popular/581399>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [May 10, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-angry-birds-get-so-popular/581399 "2011-05-10T15:08:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-angry-birds-get-so-popular/581399/21 "2011-05-10T19:46:21Z")

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> [@Wile\_E](#):
>
> I hit replay when I know I failed the level before those damn pigs can smirk at me.

This is a huge reason. Also the physics engine, which feels very smooth and intuitive.

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**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-angry-birds-get-so-popular/581399/22 "2011-05-11T08:15:22Z")

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Those trajectory style games are as old as the hills. Didn’t seem significantly different to hold my attention for more than a few goes.

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**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-angry-birds-get-so-popular/581399/23 "2011-05-11T08:45:50Z")

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I heard about it on some website for ipad apps, tried the free version and then bought it. I think the appealing thing is you can do it quickly. Have a few minutes of coffee break time left at work?  
Pull out the magical ipad a stage and start flinging birds and triangles and bombs (love the bombs). As others have said, it is fun to throw things and see what scatters to where, like ripples in a pond when you throw a stone or a daisy or a little girl (“Frankenstein” joke. Of course little girls are not for throwing into water).

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**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-angry-birds-get-so-popular/581399/24 "2011-05-11T11:09:37Z")

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> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#):
>
> Of course little girls are not for throwing into water

That’s just like, your opinion, man.

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**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-angry-birds-get-so-popular/581399/25 "2011-05-11T15:13:47Z")

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There are a few reasons:

It is very simple.

The graphics are colorful and have a lot of personality

It plays to the strengths of its platform (i.e. touch screens)

It has a great deal of that “Just one more try” addictiveness.

Sometimes once something reaches a critical mass of popularity, its popularity becomes self-sustaining. I think Angry Birds has reached this.

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