When Pig Flies: Bad Piggies

Bad Piggies (Credit: Rovio)

The archenemies of the Angry Birds are about to steal more than eggs.

They're stealing the spotlight.

Rovio, creator of the massive bird-flinging franchise, has announced that its next game will be Bad Piggies, featuring the porcine antagonists in a new style of gameplay -- one that will be entirely slingshot-free.

"There's a lot of empathy towards the lovable enemies from the Angry Birds games, and we've been constantly asked: what about the pigs' side of the story?" said Mikael Hed, CEO of Rovio. "Bad Piggies gives you the chance to play as the second-most-loved characters in the Angry Birds universe, and explore this rich world through their green eyes."

The game is set to launch on Sept. 27 on iOS and Android devices. Versions for Windows Phone and the PC will follow soon after.

So far, exactly what you'll be doing with those pigs is still a state secret at Rovio. There's a teaser site, which is basically useless. Even the amusing announcement trailer is bereft of meaningful details

Rovio has become a case study in how to extend a single successful game into a global phenomenon. The Angry Birds franchise has been downloaded over 1 billion times, with the most recent installment, Angry Birds Space, chalking up 50 million downloads in just 35 days.

At the same time, it has become a pop culture phenomenon. There are Angry Birds shirts, hats and backpacks. The franchise is now being incorporated into playground equipment, and last year the developer signed a deal with Marvel Studios for an Angry Birds feature film.

So it really only makes sense that the pigs, who have been stuck playing second fiddle for so long, would get their time in the sun.

"There's so much more to these pigs than what is seen in the Angry Birds games," said Petri Järvilehto, EVP Games at Rovio.

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

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• 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.