By It’s begun, folks. Amazon’s app store is starting to gain traction and now they’re attracting one of the biggest game developers in the mobile market – Rovio. They’ve announced that their Angry Birds Rio title – a companion game to the animated movie – will launch exclusively in their app store.
This isn’t a move that’s new to Rovio as they launched the original Angry Birds for Android title exclusively in GetJar’s store. The difference between that launch and this one is they did not specify whether or not this exclusivity is timed. We don’t know if we’ll ever see Angry Birds Rio in the Android market.
It’s not so bad if you don’t mind playing with ads, though, as this game will be just as free as the rest of them. If you’d rather pay to get rid of those ads, though, you’ll need to bypass the Android market to do so – something we know many of you are not particular fans of.
And if you want to get rid of the ads on those other titles, then you’ll need to go through Amazon for that too. Bummer, right? We thought Rovio would be extending that option to those of us who prefer to stick to Google’s official marketplace, but assumptions can only get us so far – they still kept their promise of offering ad-free versions. Read on for full press details. [EuroDroid]
Angry Birds Android on Amazon App Store.
AUSTIN, Texas/ESPOO, Finland– March 14, 2011– Rovio today announced that the highly anticipated game Angry Birds Rio will be introduced for the Android platform exclusively in the Amazon Appstore. Developed in conjunction with Twentieth Century Fox, Angry Birds Rio features the animated stars of the studio’s upcoming motion picture, RIO. Additionally, for the first time ever on the Android platform, fans of Angry Birds games will have the opportunity to purchase and download ad-free versions of Angry Birds and Angry Birds Seasons. Both will debut only in the Amazon Appstore.
“The Android platform has seen phenomenal growth, and it’s great that new avenues for app distribution are opening up,” said Mikael Hed, CEO of Rovio.“The openness of the Android platform works for the benefit of consumers and developers alike. It has been delightful to team up with Amazon to bring the Angry Birds franchise to this great new application marketplace.”
“Amazon is thrilled to work with a leading developer like Rovio in offering our customers Angry Birds Rio for Android exclusively in the Amazon Appstore,” said Aaron Rubenson, category leader for Amazon Appstore.“We think Angry Birds Rio is sure to be an instant customer favorite.”
“Angry Birds Rio is a fun and interactive way to introduce millions of fans to the exciting world of ‘RIO,’ and we are proud to work with both Rovio and Amazon to make this experience available to users on the Android platform,” said Peter Levinsohn, president of new media and digital distribution for Twentieth Century Fox.“The Amazon Appstore will be a great new way for consumers to download all their favorite Android apps, and we’re excited to offer Angry Birds Rio as one of the first pieces of content to be made available to consumers through this new store.”
In Angry Birds Rio, the original Angry Birds are kidnapped and taken to the magical city of Rio, where they eventually escape their captors and set out to save their friends, Blu and Jewel– two rare macaws and the stars of the upcoming Fox motion picture, RIO. From the creators of Fox’s blockbuster ICE AGE motion picture franchise, RIO debuts in theaters worldwide on April 15, 2011. Angry Birds Rio will launch with 60 dedicated levels, with more content to follow via app updates.
Angry Birds Rio will be available for download on Android phones and tablets at amazon.com/angrybirds.
So now you got to download another app to get another app? How is this helping?
Thanks but no thanks. I was keen to drop a few bucks on an ad-free version of Angry Birds months ago to support the developer’s Android efforts. But I like the Android Market; it works well for me, and I’m not keen to have to go elsewhere. Plus, frankly, the novelty of the game has long worn off.
TIRED of Angry Birds. Time to get over it now! It’s worn out.
Again I refuse to buy stuff off the Android market..I thought Gameloft was the only one to do this..
O well bored of the game now anyway.
That’s lame
WHY is Phandroid now “the Angry Birds channel”. Seriously Rovio get over yourselves, you don’t have to try to take over every single market that exists. We don’t give a *amn anymore, nothing to see here.
-Brad
Why don’t they just bring the correct stuff to Android Market? Why are all the big developers trying to screw the market over?
Biggest problem I see is getting updates. These other app stores should be banned. If you want an app on Android, it should be in the Android market. Period. Otherwise it just causes more headaches.
@Dave The Amazon Appstore app handles updates.
While a nuisance, I like the diversity. After all, this isn’t Apple…
They’ll bring it to the regular market when they realize downloads are half of what they should be.
Huh didn’t Rovio just get a cash infusion of like $42m? curious that…
Well I’m not buying anything unless its on the android market. Freedom of choice is good.
As was posted on another website; Rovio are clearly pushing the AB franchise on every platform possible in as quick a time as possible because, as is the nature of these things, the AB bubble will burst and everyone will move to the next big thing.
And of course that next big thing might not have Rovio’s name on it.
Curious about the Amazon market, I’ll give it a look, but I can’t really see the point. The only market that comes installed on every Android phone is Googles, so why would an Android app developer go to Amazon, bypassing the biggest audience?
@meeple As quick as possible? It’s been out since Dec of ’09, and has been in the top 3 apps on the appstore for idevices since then. Like it or not the AB bubble isn’t going to burst anytime soon.
@meeple I think they are trying to get as much money as possible then move to making games for Wii, PS3, 360, 3DS, and NGP. I think its smart. Milk it, generate the money, do something even bigger next.
This is a great way for amazon appstore to get started. Android Market will have to compete otherwise it will be stuck with a bunch of buggy copyright violations.
meeple the point of amazon appstore is that all apps are tested for problems *before* you download them unlike Google, which waits for malware to make national news, before taking any action.
@ son
Yes, but this but the problem is you cannot get the Amazon Appstore from the Android Market.
@Dave buy an iphone you idiot. Multiple markets is a good thing.
ctown but you could easily get it on an Amazon Tablet…which is probably what this appstore will pave the way for. After all, they need to think beyond the b/w Kindle market.
I don’t see any problems with having multiple stores in which I can obtain apps. If I want to get a screwdriver, I can go to Canadian Tire, Rona, Sears or a number of other stores. I don’t want to always have to go to only one store. Let’s see what Amazon can do to make me go there, too.
they should put some time in fixing the psp version.
it’s the worst version of all, with it’s major framerate drops at times.
I just hope this doesn’t lead to a bunch of markets. I especially don’t want the carriers to get their own markets. I like Amazon though and have bought a ton of stuff from them and never been disappointed. They have just an awesome return policy.
There are already way too many markets…of course that’s my point of view as an independent developer.
Amazon has done nothing but dick me around and make me jump through hoops, hoops, and more hoops.
Choice is a wonderful thing. For now I choose to ignore the Amazon market.
If Amazon can get the most popular mobile game to their appstore, they will surely be able to bring other ios games and apps, apps that never considered porting to Android until now. Hopefully Gamloft’s Android games will finally be on a market just like they are for other OS’s.
This is a terrible step. Android does not need 200 different app stores.
Amazon’s DRM is supposedly pretty nasty – it requires you to be online to even start their apps. They will check in with mother each time you start and if they can’t get in touch you are screwed.
So no, I won’t be dealing with Amazon.
Yes I want 200 apps stores I have to bother with just to get an app..
Oh you mean an app store that checks online before my apps starts? Awesome what choice..
I choose to ignore all lame markets except Android Market.
OK have fun with DroidDream2 and Sexy Cambodian Coeds, I guess.
Most likely won’t work with at&t phones. Unless you use a sideloader.
May not work on at&t phones unless you use a sideloader. If you can download it to your computer first.
Okay, here’s my question: I’ve taken the time to get 3 stars on every level. I also hate the ads. If I download the ad-free AB from Amazon, does it transfer over my current scores, or would I be starting fresh? (Something I REALLY don’t want to do!) Does anyone know?
Screw Amazon and Angry Birds if they are going to FORCE Android users to do something they don’t want. The Android Market is the first and foremost place for the apps to be posted. Yeah, of course it leaves some things to be desired, but there are way too many users who are NOT going to to participate. What’s next? I just don’t like being forced to make another account to get access to something I already have. Not so smart Rovio… I’m sure I’m in the insignificant smallest of minorities in thought on the subject, just posting my $.02
How do you get Amazon App store?
Well count me out until they put it in the official Market.
Also, is it fashionable now to bash Angry Birds? Cause all you who are doing it are just so hip! How are you so cool?
Unfortunately I too will wait until AB Rio is on the official Android market. I have no problem with the Amazon Market or any other legal market but I am totally against exclusivity agreements.
Android is about CHOICE! Boo on Rovio for trying to take mine away.
@Sirrx7 – Exactly! I see a lot of people saying how great it is to have a choice to get it from another market. It’s not a choice when Amazon is the ONLY place you can get it!
I have no problem with it being available on Amazon AND the Market. A little competition is healthy, but don’t make it exclusive.
Now if you don’t mind I’ll be going back to play Halo: Reach on my Xbox….
Won’t be on my phone. Nope. Android Market or nothing. Sorry Amazon and Rovio, I won’t be partaking in your latest effort. I also see it negatively that they are using size to draw people to the Amazon Market. I don’t like that, let it try to thrive on it’s own. Throwing a big name backer behind it doesn’t bring me in. To me that’s a cop-out.
I don’t care about the multiple markets argument. At the moment I only really use the Android Market, however I may be tempted to use Amazon’s if it’s any good.
However, as other people have said, the novelty has worn off. When the game first came out I would have happily paid for it, however I hardly play it these days so it’s not worth it.
Too bad Apple, Rovio, etc. will use this as fuel to the “Android users won’t pay” argument
Multiple markets is a good thing. It means when one of them decides to go too-aggressive with DRM and lockdown, like Amazon, I can simply ignore them and stick with the Android Market.
I guess I won’t be playing another corporate tie-in game. Oh well. Sorry, Rovio. DRM means I ignore you.
if the Amazon App Store will offer Angry Birds without ads I am for it. The ads suck and ruin the game. But how do I get to the Amazon App store? Has it been launched yet? I can’t find it. When I go to Amazon.com/angrybirds on my phone it doesn’t even recognize that i’m accessing the page from a phone and give me a mobile version? So lame!!
The average user is not going to know that the Amazon Market exists. If they launch exclusively with Amazon only us tech savvy people are going to know where to download it. Rovio is hurting themselves by doing this.
Why… I don’t understand why google doesn’t just block the amazon market from being able to be installed on their OS. I don’t want to go to two stores to get apps. This is silly. If this app doesn’t come to the normal android market.. that’s ok I will just skip it.
Two app stores will kill the android experience.