Breaking News: 7.9 quake off Philippines triggers tsunami alert

A 7.6-magnitude undersea quake struck off the eastern coast of Philippines on Friday night, triggering tsunami warnings across a wide swath of Asia. There were no immediate reports of damage or injury.

A tsunami alert was in effect for the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, Guam, the Northern Marianas and Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The quake hit at a depth of 34.9 kilometers and was centered 106 kilometers (66 miles) east of Sulangan town on Samar Island, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The USGS initially recorded the quake's magnitude at 7.9. The quake was recorded at 8:47 p.m.

The head of the Philippine seismology agency, Renato Solidum, said his bureau recorded a preliminary magnitude of 7.7. He said that residents living along the coastline of eastern Samar Island were advised to evacuate to high ground in case of the tsunami.

Street Fighter at 25

(Credit: Capcom)

The most famous fighter in video game history might be a little old, but it still packs a wallop.
And lots of Hadoukens.Believe it or not, Capcom's legendary Street Fighter turns 25 today. While it wasn't the first fighting game ever made (that honor arguably goes to the 1976 coin-op Heavyweight Champ), Street Fighter indelibly altered the genre with its intuitive controls, fantastic animations and deep gameplay. It's had an equally large impact on popular culture, spinning off into movies, cartoons, and even a fancy slot machine.

The secret to its success?  To Russ Frushtick, senior editor of video game site Polygon, it's all about balance.

"[The Street Fighter series] has stood the test of the time because it's both accessible and extremely strategic," he says. "If you know nothing about the game and just want to jump around, kicking guys in the face as a green monster, Street Fighter will let you live out that fantasy. For the more serious players, there's a staggering amount of depth."

He's right about that. The Street Fighter franchise been a pro gaming staple for decades. Since 2002, it's dominated the popular EVO tournament, which gives thousands of players from over 40 countries a chance to prove their mettle in a variety of fighting games. Year after year, Street Fighter is the star of the show.
"It's a game that could take years to master," Frushtick adds. "Basically, it's this generation's chess."
And indeed, it owes a great deal to its legions of fans.

"The greatest legacy that Capcom has generated with the Street Fighter franchise is the company's unbelievable loyalty and availability to its fans," says Victor Lucas, host and executive producer of The Electric Playground. "Fighting games are a community-driven activity, and upon their arrival -- and Street Fighter's global ascension as the best of the breed -- they instantly dispelled the myth that gaming was a solitary affair, singularly enjoyed by pubescent boys in basements."

"The universally appealing, international roster of fighters that Street Fighter II delivered, its unparalleled level of depth, its state-of-the-art art and, of course, its quarter-gobbling addictiveness, instantly propelled the game to classic status, where it has remained ever since."
But it wasn't always such a big deal.

Released in arcades in 1987, the original Street Fighter was only a marginal hit. No one was quite sure what to make of it, and while it introduced plenty of elements that would turn into franchise staples (Ryu and Ken, six-button controls and those now-ubiquitous Hadoukens and Dragon Punches), it was more of a curiosity than a must-play. That was especially true of the Deluxe version, which featured two pressure-sensitive pads in place of the six buttons. The harder you punched the pads, the harder your character would attack in the game (and the faster the coin-cop cabinet would be rendered inoperable).

That short-lived gimmick was quickly forgotten, however, the moment Street Fighter II tornado kicked its way to arcades. The 1991 coin-op was an instant classic, generating over $1 billion in sales during its first year thanks to its brilliantly balanced roster of now-iconic fighters. The first game to let players pick different fighters with completely unique move sets, it's the blueprint for every major fighting game franchise that's followed.

But it was also its own worst enemy. Sensing a turning tide, Capcom ported the coin-op game to the Super Nintendo system in late 1992. Its near-flawless transition made the console game a huge hit -- it remains Capcom's best-selling game ever -- but also struck a serious blow to coin-op culture by proving that these games could, in fact, work just as well at home.

Capcom continued releasing a variety of tweaked iterations of Street Fighter II through the '90s, catering to the hardcore fighting game crowd but losing touch with the broader gaming market. By the time they released Street Fighter III in 1997, graphical powerhouses like Virtua Fighter and Tekken were pushing polygons and leaving the 2D look of Street Fighter behind. For a good decade, the series would fall off the radar.
In 2009, however, it stormed back. Street Fighter IV not only gave the series back its mojo, but revived a fighting game genre that had become increasingly isolated. Slick, brash and tailored for both fans of the series and newcomers alike, it kicked off a fighting-game renaissance that's still going strong. Its next act, the PlayStation Vita version of the excellent Street Fighter X Tekken, arrives this October. Capcom's also celebrating its special year in grand style with a very cool 25th Anniversary Collector's Set.

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It launched the career of a Mega Man.
Not Capcom's blue robot boy, per se, but his creator, Keiji Inafune. The acclaimed developer's first gig was designing the character portraits for the first Street Fighter.


Those names aren't entirely random.
It's pretty obvious that each Street Fighter character has a certain fighting style, but how did they come up with those names? Capcom let us in on a few:
-          Series foil Akuma was originally named Gouki ("Great Demon" in Japanese), but his name was changed for U.S. audiences as the Capcom USA team wanted to present him as an actual demon rather than a metaphorical one. So they went with Akuma (Japanese for "Devil").  Hard to say how many Americans would have noticed the difference, but they get points for trying.
-          Chun-Li means "Spring Beauty."
-          Ken's last name is Masters, derived from his 'mastery' of the fighting arts.

It's got character. Lots of 'em.
Though the original Street Fighter had only a dozen characters (including Ryu and Ken), the designers have worked overtime cranking out new ones. Taken together, there are over 66 playable characters in the Street Fighter universe.

It marked Raul Julia's final film appearance.
Yes, the 1994 Street Fighter movie was a train wreck, but it had one very bright spot: Raul Julia. The acclaimed actor was praised for his portrayal of Street Fighter antagonist General M. Bison, even nabbing a posthumous Saturn Award nomination.

It produced the most epic comeback in pro gaming history.
Speaking of drama, it doesn't get much better than Daigo Umehara's astonishing series of exquisitely-timed parries to rally and defeat his Chun-Li playing opponent Justin Wong at the 2004 Evolution Championship Series. It's about as clutch as pro gaming gets:

National Artists Award 2012 Now Open for Nominations

A National Artist of the Philippines (Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas) is a title given to a Filipino who has been given the highest recognition for having made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts. Such Filipinos are announced, by virtue of a Presidential Proclamation, as National Artist or in Filipino, Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining. They are then conferred membership in the Order of National Artists, the regalia of which is an ornate, gilden collar of honor. In addition to the collar, each newly proclaimed member of the Order is given a citation that is presented during the awardees' conferment ceremonies. The Cultural Center of the Philippines then hosts a Memorabilia Exhibit andGabi ng Parangal (A Night of Tributes) for the National Artists at the Tanghalang Pambansa.

Other benefits received by National artists include a monthly pension, medical and life insurance, arrangements for a state funeral, a place of honor at national state functions, and recognition at cultural events.

The National Artist Honors is administered by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) by virtue of President Ferdinand Marcos's Proclamation No. 1001 of April 2, 1972 and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The Government of the Philippines confers the award to deserving individuals who have been recommended by both the CCP and the NCCA. The first award was posthumously conferred on Filipino painter Fernando Amorsolo.

**********************************************************

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) announce the start of acceptance of nominations for the 2012 National Artists Award.

Nomination forms and guidelines can be personally secured from: 

The Order of the National Artists Award Secretariat
Office of the Executive Director
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
633 General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila

Attention:  Frances S. Alincastre

Or

The Order of the National Artists Award Secretariat
Office of the Artistic Director
Cultural Center of the Philippines
CCP Complex, Pasay City

Attention: Mylene Henson 

Or download Nomination Form and Guidelines.

Queries may be addressed to:

NCCA -  Frances S. Alincastre, Tel. No. 527-21-92, loc. 503 or 527-2214 (DL), and e-mail address: haraya_naaw@ncca.gov.ph..

CCP -  Mylene Henson, Tel. No. 832-11-25, loc. 1121, 1122 or 832-36-69, e-mail to:hensonmy@yahoo.com

How Much Sleep do you Actually Need?

How much sleep is enough? How much is too much? How much is too less? The sleep debate is one that goes on endlessly.

We are sure these questions must have played on your mind at some point in time. So that you don’t lose sleep over how much sleep is essential, we are going to shatter myths and put forth facts. Read on and clear all misconceptions about sleep and its importance in our day-to-day functioning.

1. The Power of Sleep

We all feel that we have better things to do than sleep. But the truth is that to do things better, you need to rest (sleep). While you rest, your brain stays busy, overseeing a wide variety of biological maintenance functions that keep you running in top condition. Without enough hours of restorative sleep, you’re like a stereo that needs fixing. If you skip your required dosage of sleep every day, you will head for a physical and mental breakdown.

2. When to sleep

Some of us think that the lack of sleep at night can be made up by sleeping during the day. Butsleeping during the night and staying awake at night is not how your body is designed to function. As per biology, at night, your body responds to the loss of daylight by producing melatonin - a hormone that makes you sleepy. During the day, sunlight triggers the brain to stop melatonin production so you feel awake and alert. In case you prefer to stay awake at night, we advise you to pay heed to this information and change your sleep schedule.

3. How much sleep do you need daily?

7.5 hours – 9 hours. This is the number of hours that adults must spend sleeping every night. The reason why this number is important is because the brain re-energises your body while you sleep. If you sleep any less, the brain cannot complete its night time duties and as a result you are not able to give your best during the day. No matter how tight your schedule is, do try to get the minimum amount of sleep.

We have given you enough gyaan on sleep and it's merits. Hope you give sleep the importance it deserves and spend sufficient time in bed. Sleeping.

Source: (Health, MensXP.com)

Angel Locsin is ABS-CBN's New DARNA!

It's been a year since ABS-CBN acquired the rights to cassic Mars Ravelo's masterpieces like Darna, Captain Barbell and Dyesebel and rumors on who will be playing these characters on TV were abuzz nowadays.

These followed after Star Creatives' Roxy Liquigan posted the following tweet last week, confirming that the Kapamilya network's Darna remake ('Lipad Darna Lipad') will start soon.

Many netizens embark on online debates via various social networking sites on who has the 'K' to play ABS-CBN's Darna. Rumors are spreading that the network has already chosen the one that will be playing the role and the fans' top 2 choices are Angel Locsin and Cristine Reyes.

There are reports claiming that Angel Locsin was confirmed to play Narda and will reprise her role as Darna in the big screen. It is unsure, however, if ABS-CBN will do both a movie and TV version of the classic Pinay super heroine but clues now were pointing out to a TV remake.

If the report is true, Angel will certainly be a good choice for the movie remake having been trained in action scenes and having played the role once on television. Some say that Cristine will be the one to do Darna on TV while others linger on the thoughts that Cristine will play Dyesebel opposite Gerald Anderson, who was reported to be paired with the sexy actress in a new teleserye.

Since there's no official announcements yet, anybody could be Darna. Just look at the viral photo below and see for yourself on who's the rightful actress to play today a character who's been played by quite a number of actresses including Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Nanette Medved, Angel Locsin and Marian Rivera.

Source: BidaKapamilya

Who do you think will be the Kapamilya Darna? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

TOP 5 Residential CONDO's in the Philippines

Based on recent survey, this soon to be residential places are projected to change the landscape of the Philippine Real Estate in terms of its design, structure, amenities and more. Mostly buyers of this towering condominiums are Expats and Foreigners particularly investors from the US, UK, Japan, Korea, Australia and Singapore countries and yes, Foreigners can acquire condo units in the Philippines.

Note that some of these condominiums are "Pre-Selling" so it is best if you purchase your very own unit now...:)

Let's start the ball rolling and see what's your best choice.

Ironically, the first top three properties are from one property management company, Century Properties Group as they hold the finest and most international-themed designs for their projects that foreigners just love to put their money into and invest.

TOP 1 - THE TRUMP TOWER MANILA By Century Properties Group

Located in Century City, Makati, Philippines

Tagged as the Philippines' Most Illustrious Residential Skyscraper

For inquiries, assistance and/or reservation, - You may contact Mr. Prince Teodore Javar at 0922.209.4806 or email at ensenble69@yahoo.com and check out www.centurybalai.com

TOP 2 -  AZURE Urban Resort Residences By Century Properties Group

Located in Paranaque City, Bicutan, Philippines

The Azure is expected to have 9 buildings that seek to set a new benchmark for 21st century tropical living.

Designed by the award-winning masterplanning and architectural firm Broadway Malyan, each tower is set in a breathtaking tropical modern aesthetic that provides optimal natural ventilation, light, and shade.

A kidney bean-shaped clubhouse complements an organically formed lustrous landscape that capitalizes on the uniqueness of an artificial beach. This in turn asserts a sense of identity and legibility to the different character areas within the 6-hectare site.

A Tropical Paradise right in your Backyard

For inquiries, assistance and/or reservation, - You may contact Mr. Prince Teodore Javar at 0922.209.4806 or email at ensenble69@yahoo.com and check out www.centurybalai.com

TOP 3 -  The MILANO Residences by Century Properties Group

Located in Century City, Makati, Philippines 

Milano Residences is the first Versace-designed condominium in Southeast Asia.

The 53-storey designer condo will have 340 units in one, two, or three-bedroom configurations. It also has “The Penthouses”, “The Townhouses”, and Italian-inspired units called The Loggias with private plunge pools!.

The grand lobby, hallways, lounge, library, pool, garden and spa are all interior-designed by Versace Home. Milano Residences’ architecture and facade will also complement Versace Home’s elegant interior design.

For inquiries, assistance and/or reservation, - You may contact Mr. Prince Teodore Javar at 0922.209.4806 or email at ensenble69@yahoo.com and check out www.centurybalai.com

TOP 4 -  ADMIRAL Baysuites by Anchorland Holdings

Anchor Land has acquired the historic Admiral Hotel from the Lopez-Araneta family, a move that forms part of its planned investment in Manila’s famous bayfront.

The company plans to renovate the original hotel building, which was completed in 1939 and served as important social destination during the pre-World War II era, into a 5-star boutique hotel. An upscale twin towercondominium will rise on the adjacent property.

For inquiries, assistance and/or reservation, - You may contact Mr. Karim Zaragosa at 0922.209.3554 or email at karim.zaragosa@yahoo.com

TOP 5 -  SERENDRA by Ayala Land

Located at the The Fort Bonifacio Global City, Philippines

Situated within the 12-hectare garden condominium development of Serendra in the emerging business district of Bonifacio Global City, One Serendra offers a unique living proposition: a gracious suburban lifestyle within the conveniences of the city.

For inquiries, assistance and/or reservation, - You may contact Mr. Karim Zaragosa at 0922.209.3554 or email at karim.zaragosa@yahoo.com

BUY YOUR UNITS NOW and MAKE THE RIGHT INVESTMENT!!!

Bench Universe Promo

Get your FREE Bench Universe Invites!

Get a free invite to Bench Universe, The 2012 Denim and Underwear Show, with a minimum single-receipt purchase of regular items that includes either a Bench Body Underwear or Bench Overhauled Jeans.

REMINDER: This event is strictly R-18.

Promo Period : AUG 17 to SEP 02, 2012

PURCHASE REQUIREMENT

  

• A maximum number of 3 invitations per single receipt is allowed; and combination of invites are allowed.
• Invitations must be exchanged for actual ticket at the SM Mall of Asia Arena ticket booth on the day of the event (September 13 or September 14, 2012)

PARTICIPATING OUTLETS

EXCLUSIONS

1. Not valid for purchases using Gift Certificates.
2. Not applicable for purchases of Sale Items.
3. Privilege Cardholders are not entitled to discounts.

Per DTI Permit No. 6960 Series of 2012.

Staying Twisted in McDonalds

China: PH's Biggest BPO Rival

MANILA, Philippines — China, not India, is emerging as the Philippines biggest rival in the outsourcing sector, according to ICT research and advisory firm XMG Global’s 2012 Year-end Forecast released over the weekend.

Based on its growth trend, XMG said, China would overtake India within the next two to three years in the huge global outsourcing industry because it has actively sought out customers in the Asian market unlike the pre-eminent power player India and new favorite Philippines, which are historically focused on gaining share of the US outsourcing industry.“If current trends continue, China is on target to overtake India as the dominant BPO player, potentially within the next two to three years,” XMG said. This year, the Philippines’ outsourcing industry revenues will grow from $11 billion in 2011 to $12.7-billion, XMG predicted.However, the top rung still belongs to India, whose revenues are expected to grow from $59 billion to $63.2 billion in the same period. China ranks as a close second, with revenues increasing from $45.7 billion to $53.8 billion.

Nevertheless, at this point, China and the Philippines are each showing "real growth," in terms of total market share, as compared to India's current dominant position. To put that in perspective, the last three years (2010 to 2012 projections) have seen annual revenue growth of 25.4%, 23.6%, and 15.7% in the Philippines.

In the same time frame, India showed a declining trend, with 13.2%, 8.6%, and 7.1% revenue growth versus China's increasing numbers of 43.5%, 63.6%, and 33.0%. Collectively, these statistics showed a gradual chipping away of India's stronger historical dominance, though time will tell if it will be significant, XMG pointed out. In billions of dollars, India's last three-year growth cycle was, 54.33, 59.0, and 63.2. China's market share was 35.76, 45.7, and 53.8.In 2010, India's revenues were $18.6 billion more than China, but by 2012 the difference was down to $9.4; a significant reduction.

 On the other hand, the Philippines modest contribution rose from $8.9 to 12.7 billion; a not-so-insignificant 43% increase in revenue. That is only slightly lower than China's 50% revenue increase. “This trend suggests new opportunities for other players to gain market share as well since the growth of the outsourcing industry will remain relentless,” XMG undescrored.

The bottom-line is, the offshoring outsourcing market is positioned to continue to thrive and grow, but the relative positions, of the respective players, is changing. This shifting paradigm would also indicate room for new players like the Philippines to gain a share of an industry which continues to show growth potential.

XMG also projected that the BPO industry growth this year is expected to grow at marginally lower rate than the previous year or a revenue increase of 13.9 percent to $425 billion from a higher 2011 percent growth of 14.4 percent over the previous year to a total of $373 billion. The slower growth was projected despite the rejection of the US Senate of the anti-outsourcing bill.

A tangible example of this dynamic is reflected in the growth of China’s share of the global market. Current year growth for China showed the largest growth share, compared to the next two largest players (India and the Philippines).

“This reflects how political instability in the U.S. has a smaller impact on China, which has actively sought out customers in the Asian market. Industry volume for India and the Philippines has historically focused on gaining share of U.S. outsourcing,” said XMG research manager Anna Juanillo.

While the industry continues to grow, XMG said it would always be vulnerable to the ebb and flow of political like the US anti-outsourcing bill and the capability of host countries to continue operating this 24x7 orientation of this industry.  

Earlier, XMG raised concern over the capability of the Philippines to continue providing seamless 24x7 operations in light of the recent massive flooding that paralyzed most industry operations in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces in Luzon.

The long-term impact, of this new political dynamic, remains to be seen; but for now, it would suggest a change in U.S. political control and preferences could affect industry growth, every bit as much as recent floods in Manila affected the industry and its perception in its ability to deliver.

The second concern addresses where the respective players fit into the recipient list of that global outsourcing. For example, the top beneficiaries of outsourcing include: The BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) Countries, Indonesia, and the Philippines; however the lion’s share is clearly dominated by India remaining the pre-eminent power.

By EMMIE V. ABADILLA

Source:http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/371053/china-phs-biggest-bpo-rival

Miss Universe 2012 in Biloxi, Mississippi

Manila, Philippines - After months of speculation, organizers are finally setting their eyes on Biloxi, Mississippi, USA as venue for the staging of the 61st Miss Universe beauty pageant in

 December.

This was confirmed by Stella Marquez Araneta, chairperson of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI), which sends delegates to other international beauty contests such as Miss International, Miss Tourism Queen International, and Miss Supranational.

“They are looking at the Biloxi Casino Resort in Mississippi. The pageant will be held either second week or third week of December,” said Mrs. Araneta during the send-off party for Elaine Kay Moll who will represent the Philippines in the 2012 Miss Supranational beauty contest in Sopot, Poland on Sept. 14, 2012.

Araneta’s announcement ended rumors that the Miss Universe contest would be cancelled this year due to time constraint. With the staging of Miss Universe pageant in December, there is a possibility that the succeeding pageants in the future would also be held during the holidays, she added.

“First it was in May. Then, they moved it to July. Then September. Now it’s December. Perhaps they will stage it every December in the future.”

Araneta says there is also a possibility that the schedule of coronation dates for the Bb. Pilipinas in the future would be adjusted, due to the sudden change in the schedule of Miss Universe pageant.

“I don’t know how this will affect our local pageants in terms of schedule. We will still discuss it.”

The Miss Universe pageant was pushed to December to give way to other important events such as the recent London Olympics and the forthcoming US Presidential Elections in November.

With the pageant’s new schedule, Leila Lopes of Angola now holds the record for the longest reign of Miss Universe, spanning almost 15 months. The same record goes with Miss Universe third runner-up Shamcey Supsup, of the Philippines.

Janine Tugonon, who will represent the country in the Miss Universe beauty pageant this year, is now in thick of preparations for the contest. “I’m very excited for the pageant. Sana malaman na natin talaga kung saan ang venue kasi excited na rin ang mga relatives and friends ko to watch the Miss Universe contest.”

A Pharmacy cum laude graduate at the University of Sto. Tomas, Tugonon has also trained at Ballet Manila. She stands 5’9” and measures 35-25-36.

Tugonon, 22, of Balanga, Bataan, says she is now focused on hitting the gym to achieve a toned body.

On her gown and national costume for the pageant, she says they still have to be finalized. Tugonon says she has not seen all the pictures of this year’s candidates, but she finds Misses Venezuela and Ecuador beautiful, based on their photo shoots.

Supsup, also a top-notch architect, wished Tugonon good luck on her journey to the Miss Universe pageant. “She has transformed a lot! Kung maaalala mo lang ‘yung mga early days namin sa Bb. Pilipinas, and compare it these days, you can say Janine has really improved.”

Like a big sister, Supsup also gave tips to Tugonon for the pageant. “I told her what to wear, when to impress, or what to do in this kind of activity. Things like that.”

Recalling her days in the Miss Universe pageant in Brazil last year, in which she stormed the stage with her signature “tsunami” walk, Supsup says the only thing she regretted about the pageant was that she never explored a lot of time with the other girls.

“Language barrier was the big problem. One time, I joined the table with the Latina candidates. For a while it was OK pero later, hindi na kami nagkakaintidihan kasi we don’t speak the same language. That’s why I decided to join the Asian candidates. Our common language is English, kaya nagkakaintindihan kami.”

Supsup also says she behaved well during the pageant and she never got involved in any cat fights with the other girls. “Mabait naman ako during the pageant. Wala naman grabeng away na nangyari sa mga candidates that time. But I remember on several occasions, nagtatalo ‘yung ibang girls sa paggamit ng computer. Mahaba kasi ang pila nun. After rehearsals, or during our break, unahan na kami sa paggamit ng computer.”

After her reign in Bb. Pilipinas, Supsup says she attended to dinner or lunch invites. “Food trip talaga ang nangyari nun. For a while hindi ako nag-diet.”

These days, Supsup says that she is still in contact with other candidates in the Miss Universe pageant. “Yung iba may contact ako sa Facebook. Recently, I played host to Miss Singapore who visited our country. She went to Boracay, pero I toured her in Metro Manila.”

Supsup also keeps herself busy with architectural projects. “I am also studying how to speak Spanish and training on TV hosting.”

First Official Angry Birds Theme Park

Now they're really taking off: First official Angry Birds theme park opens as game's creators look to become as big as Disney

• 
  
• Angry Birds Land recently opened at the Sarkanniemi Amusement Park in Tampere, Finland

It started off as a simple game which could be downloaded onto mobile phones for just 59p.

But, as these pictures show, Angry Birds has now become something so much bigger.

Angry Birds Land recently opened inside Sarkanniemi Amusement Park in Tampere, Finland.

New: Angry Birds Land recently opened inside Sarkanniemi Amusement Park in Tampere, Finland

Colourful: The attractions represent the astonishing rise of the game - which has millions of fans around the world, including Prime Minister David Cameron

The colourful attractions represent the astonishing rise of the game - which has millions of fans around the world, including Prime Minister David Cameron.

The theme park, designed for families and young children, has 12 rides, games and food points and an adventure course. 

An unlicensed Angry Birds theme park was launched in China in September last year.

However, this is the first official one and was designed in collaboration with the games creators Rovio.

Speaking when the theme park was first launched, Miikka Seppälä, the CEO of Särkänniemi Adventure Park said: ‘We wanted to create a unique themed area and associate it with a strong and well-known brand.

‘The Angry Birds characters were born in Finland but known worldwide by people of all ages. This is a perfect fit for our Adventure Park.

Fun: The theme park, designed for families and young children, has 12 rides, games and food points and an adventure course

Exciting: An unlicensed Angry Birds theme park was launched in China in September last year. However, this is the first official one and was designed in collaboration with the games creators Rovio

‘Our goal is to motivate the fans, both adults and children, to exercise and enjoy the outdoors.’

The simple game is now the number one paid app of all time and has been downloaded over 700 million times since its launch.

Players use catapults to fire infuriated birds at green pigs hiding inside buildings made of planks. 

The 59p game - which was developed by Finnish gaming company Rovio Entertainment - has spawned a series of spin-offs including Angry Birds toys and clothing. A Hollywood movie is also said to be in the pipeline.

Expansion: Angry Birds also recently announced that it will open themed activity parts in the UK

Angry Birds also recently announced that it will open themed activity parts in the UK as it continues to expand beyond mobile games to establish a Disney-style brand.

The parks, which will be built in partnership with Finnish playground equipment maker Lappset, will feature Angry Birds-inspired swings, sandpits, climbing towers, slides and outdoor arcade games.

More like adventure playgrounds than Disney's massive theme parks, they will mostly be in cities and towns or attached to existing large theme parks.

Angry Birds Land in Finland first opened to the public on April 28.