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Play Angry Birds Go! today, ahead of December 11 release date
If you're hankering for some Angry Birds racing action and simply can't wait for the official December 11 release of Angry Birds Go!, you can do a bit of virtual relocation and play the game right now. We showed you a similar workaround with the release of Tiny Death Star, and since Go! has been released in New Zealand already, the same App Store trickery works here as well. Here's how to do it: Go to the App Store using your iPhone or iPad. Scroll to the bottom of the "Featured" page and click your Apple ID. On the menu that pops up, click "View Your Apple ID." A page will appear with all of your information on it. Click "Country/Region" and change it to "New Zealand." Agree to the terms and conditions. Now you'll see a page with all of your billing information on it. Delete your credit card info (the app is free so you won't need it, and since we'll be changing your address to somewhere down under, it won't work anyway). Next we need to give you a New Zealand location. Change your "Suburb" to Wellington and your "Post Code" to 6011, then click "Next." You should now be able to search for "Angry Birds Go" and download the app for free. After downloading, switch your information back to whatever it was previously, including your credit card information. After returning your information back to normal you'll be able to play the game just as you would if it were released in your region, including in-app purchases. A few things to remember when using this technique: When the game is released in your region, you'll want to download the localized version as well. Any progress you make on the New Zealand version of the game will likely be deleted when you change to the local version. If you choose not to download the local version, you'll likely need to change your account back to New Zealand to download updates for the game. This workaround also won't work if you have an iTunes Match account or any credit on your iTunes account, as those items need to be removed before changing regions. Essentially, this trick is simply a way for some of us to preview the game early, so don't go investing a hundred bucks on in-app purchases. Enjoy!
Gaming deals: $200 Batman, The Last of Us PS3 bundle, Xbox One games, Battlefield 4 for PS4 $50
Black Friday is making our wallets cower as it looms in the distance, but why wait until then to start your financial downfall? Kmart is currently offering a 250GB PS3 with The Last of Us and Batman: Arkham Origins for $200. If you've already jumped into the current console generation, Amazon is selling select Xbox One games for $50, including Dead Rising 3, Forza Motorsport 5, Ryse: Son of Rome, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes and ... Angry Birds: Star Wars. If you'd prefer to play on the PS4 and are generally optimistic, you can also buy Battlefield 4 for PS4 for $50 and hope that its issues are resolved before it reaches your doorstep. Since we're talking deals, Steam users can pick up Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit and Rage for $4.99 each this weekend, the latter of which can be played for free until 4pm Eastern Time. The ARMA series and most of its DLC can also be had for 80 percent off, meaning you can pick up Steam's ARMA selection for $18.98. Update: Amazon is also offering select games from the PS4 launch lineup for $50 apiece, including Knack, Need for Speed: Rivals, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Madden NFL 25 and FIFA 14. [Thanks, Jack!]
North Korea launches targeted attack... on Angry Birds
North Korea's government-approved Samjiyon tablet is about as desirable as you'd guess, but there's something the sad little slate has that even the iPad doesn't: a built-in copy of Angry Birds Rio. As The Washington Post reports, Angry Birds creators Rovio Entertainment confirmed the existence of Angry Birds on North Korea's obnoxious Android tablet, and also confirmed that the game was outright stolen and used without the company's consent. The 7-inch tablet features a 1GHz CPU, a gig of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. That might not sound very impressive when compared to the iPad Air -- or even the iPad 2 -- but at least it comes with an e-book copy of Gone With The Wind and the worst of all the Angry Birds titles.
Angry Birds Star Wars 2 gets more levels, characters
Fans of Angry Birds, Star Wars or both will be happy to know Rovio introduced its first major update to Angry Bird Star Wars 2 (US$0.99) today, adding more levels, characters and rewards. The massively popular iOS game based on the blockbuster sci-fi series now offers an additional eight secret levels and another four characters, bringing the total number of characters now available in the game to a whopping 34. The new characters include Hologram Darth Sidious, Silver C-3PO, Red Battle Droid and Shadowtrooper. Rovio has also added in a number of new reward levels. From the release notes: What's New in Version 1.1.0 Get the latest Angry Birds Star Wars II update with 8 secret levels, 4 extra characters and all-new reward levels! NEW SECRET LEVELS! Find the hidden maps to unlock 8 all-new secret levels! NEW CHARACTERS! Introducing Hologram Darth Sidious, Silver C3PO, Red Battle Droid and Shadowtrooper – yours to earn or purchase! NEW REWARD LEVELS! Each new character brings some awesome new reward levels! Try and master them all! We also used Jedi mind tricks to fix some minor issues and give you an even better game experience! Thanks for playing! Angry Birds Star Wars 2 is a universal app compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad running iOS 4.3 or later.
Angry Birds Go! cart racer hits iOS on December 11
With a franchise as massive as Angry Birds, no game genre is safe, and the next category of digital escapism to be graced by the adorable avians is racing. Angry Birds Go! is slated to hit your iOS device on December 11, and if the newly released trailer is any indication, it's shaping up quite fantastically. The game is very much what you'd expect if you've ever played a Mario Kart title: Iconic Angry Birds characters take the wheel of makeshift vehicles and attempt to best one another using their driving skills and destructive special powers. The game will feature customizable vehicles and, since the app is going to be free to download, we imagine microtransactions will play a large role in how well-equipped your ride becomes.
Angry Birds Go is a kart racer, complete with Hasbro toy line
Hasbro recently announced a new line of toys for an upcoming mobile game in the Angry Birds series, Angry Birds Go. The toy manufacturer's brief description of the game notes that the series' iconic birds and pigs "have jumped into karts to battle it out in a calamitous downhill race to the finish," indicating that Angry Birds Go is a kart racer of some sort. Hasbro's Telepods and Jenga toy line includes nine separate sets with the Angry Birds Go theme, ranging from $5 packs to full $30 game sets that feature pirate ships, trophy cups and towers to knock down. The Jenga toy sets include codes for in-app content to be used in Angry Birds Go, whereas the Telepods sets have toy bases that "teleport your kart" into the game. That certainly sounds like Angry Birds Go is hoping to fling its way into Skylanders and Disney Infinity territory.
Daily iPhone App: Space out with Angry Birds Star Wars II
The original Angry Birds Star Wars title was a blissful marriage of two iconic IPs, and as a dedicated Angry Birds fan, it remains one of my favorite games in the series. With Angry Birds Star Wars II, Rovio tries to recapture that same magic, and while the core mechanics remain largely unchanged, your enjoyment of the game will depend on how well you stomach in-app purchases. When the original Angry Birds Star Wars was released, its in-app purchase options were limited to a few bonus training missions. Over time, a plethora of microtransaction options were added, giving the experience a bit of a cheap feel. That same emphasis on purchasable upgrades permeates Angry Birds Star Wars II from the very start, and a pulsing shopping cart at the top of the game screen is a constant reminder that the game would love to sell you some overpowered goodies. The gameplay itself is the same time-tested Angry Birds excellence we've come to expect, with a ton of fantastic destruction puzzles, great music and ridiculously gorgeous background art. Rovio really gives the Star Wars characters and locations a ton of flair and attention to detail. If you're a Star Wars fan, there's a lot to love here. The airborne assassins at your disposal range from Jedi-themed birds that wield lightsabers to newcomers like a Yoda character that spins and bounces off of everything in sight. You can also play as the Dark Side (or "Pork Side") characters for the first time, which adds an evil angle to the mayhem. Every level is fun to play, and the boss levels can seriously test your skills, which is a pleasant change from many of the so-called "casual" hits on the App Store. You can absolutely best every level in the game without spending anything on the bonus characters -- and I'd argue that doing so is more challenging, as well as more fun. However, with the game constantly reminding you that there are purchasable bonus characters available, it can be easy to feel like you're missing out on something by not throwing down the extra cash. It's not a deal breaker, but it definitely adds an unwelcome layer of annoyance to the experience. If you love Angry Birds, this one is an easy recommendation, and with so many levels and new characters to play, Angry Birds Star Wars II offers a lot of content for just US$0.99. If you've not played an Angry Birds game before, or if you have, but you skipped the first Star Wars iteration, I'd suggest going back and checking out the original crossover title before agreeing to take on its bigger, darker brother.
Angry Birds Star Wars II hits the App Store
Lost in all the noise about the iOS 7 launch was the fact that some pretty big games were released today, including Infinity Blade III and the latest in Rovio's beloved Angry Birds series: Angry Birds Star Wars II. In the sequel to the original Angry Birds Star Wars, this time around gamers play through levels inspired by the Star Wars prequels Episodes 1-3. However, unlike the first Angry Birds Star Wars, this time players have the option of being a baddy: The Force is strong with this one. Get ready for Angry Birds Star Wars II – the epic follow-up to the #1 smash hit game! Based on the Star Wars movie prequels, use the Force for good against the greedy Pork Federation or choose a much darker path. That's right; for the first time ever you can "Join the Pork Side" and play as the fearsome Darth Maul, Emperor Palpatine and many other favorites! Besides being able to play the big bads listed above, players will actually be able to play more than 30 Star Wars characters including Yoda, pod-racing Anakin, Mace Windu and Jango Fett. Additionally, this time around you can swap which characters are in the slingshot out at any time, so you have a choice in the order you launch them in. Angry Birds Star Wars II is a universal app for US$0.99.
Angry Birds Space gets new Cosmic Crystals update
After all these years, the birds are still angry. You can hear the cries of their swine enemies as structures fall around them in all eras, be it in the future or a galaxy far, far away. That's right guys, the Angry Birds franchise is back with a new update for Angry Birds Space. So what exact shape will your pig-destroying adventures take this round? Why just the sparkling wonder of Cosmic Crystals. Here are the details. Continue the space adventure in the Cosmic Crystals update with 35 sparkling new levels! Those Space Birds find themselves in a strange part of the galaxy with exploding crystal planets and a crazy mutant Space Pig! NEW LEVELS! 35 brand new levels, including a Space Eagle level and a big boss fight with a fearsome mutant Space Pig! NEW BREAKABLE PLANETS! Welcome to Cosmic Crystals with fragile planets that shatter and explode on impact! NEW RICHES TO DISCOVER! Sparkling mineral-rich planets filled with precious jewels and greedy Space Pigs! Angry Birds Space is available for download in the App Store for just US$0.99. Updates, as always, are free. Head over to iTunes to pick it up and kiss your productivity goodbye.
Angry Birds Star Wars adds 30 Moon of Endor levels
Rovio today has released an update to the wildly popular Angry Birds Star Wars game. The update adds a new locale -- the Forest Moon of Endor, as seen in Return of the Jedi. The saga continues on the Moon of Endor with 30 furry new levels! Help the Rebel Birds disable the Death Star's deflector shield before it's too late. Take on Stormtroopers, Speeder Bikes and two-legged AT-ST walkers in the dense forests of Endor. And look out for those loveable fur balls -- the Ewoks! Users can fight the Empire's evil forces on Endor with the help of Ewoks, by bouncing birds off Ewok drums, and, ultimately, by disabling the Death Star's deflector shield. The update also includes ToonsTV, the home of the Angry Birds cartoon series. What's especially nice about this update is the Endor levels are free instead of being a new in-app purchase. Angry Birds Star Wars is US$0.99 for iPhone and $2.99 for iPad.
Rovio teases 'Angry Birds Go' racing game in new trailer
Rovio has released a short live-action teaser trailer for the next game in its never-ending Angry Birds series. However, unlike other Angry Birds games, Angry Birds Go appears to be a go kart racing game. Though the teaser doesn't reveal much about the upcoming game, it does take the piss out of other popular gaming formats such as "runner" games like Temple Run. The teaser also reveals that Rovio is working with energy drink maker Red Bull on Angry Birds Go. Red Bull has backed several racing-style games already in the App Store. There's no release date yet for the new Angry Birds Go game, but check out the teaser trailer below to get your fix in the latest of a series that just won't die.
Angry Birds: Star Wars 2 joins the 'pork side' with Ian McDiarmid
Ian McDiarmid, the voice of Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars films, lent his voice to Rovio's first "Join the Pork Side" video for Angry Birds: Star Wars 2. McDiarmid's recognizable growl matches well with the evil green pig, who spins around in his chair less gracefully than Palpatine did in the films. Angry Birds: Star Wars 2 will feature over 30 characters inspired by the Star Wars universe. The game will launch September 19 on iOS, Android and Windows Phone 8 for 99 cents, with a free, ad-supported version also planned for Android.
Daily iPad App: Cannon Crasha offers nostalgic medieval combat
Your goal in Cannon Crasha is simple: Destroy the castle on the right side of the screen while protecting the castle on the left side of the screen. There's a relatively disposable story that is designed to push you on, destroying castles and leaving rubble in your wake, but in the end it's Crasha's fantastic medieval combat and old-school aesthetic that will keep you playing. Equal parts Angry Birds and a lesser known classic, Crush The Castle, Cannon Crasha gives you one weapon to start with: a massive cannon. With each successfully aimed shot, your opponent's castle takes damage until it eventually crumbles. Of course, your computer-controlled adversary returns fire as well, and if you're not careful you could end up on the losing end. The battles start off simple, but after a while you are introduced to various cannon upgrades, additional bonus attacks like soldiers and airborne bombers, and defensive tools like customizable barriers. Your gold level controls this micro economy, with your monetary level rising each time you strike your enemy's stronghold. Cannon Crasha's old-school 16-bit design style works great on the iPad, and everything from your castle to the background environments feel both retro and extremely crisp. The same goes for the sound effects, which are basic but fit in well with the nostalgic vibe. The only real complaint I have is that at times there is almost too much stuff going on to be able to pay attention to. With bombs going off, planes and dragons filling the sky, and ground units attacking both sides it can be rather easy to forget to launch your cannon as soon as it's ready to fire. When precious seconds count, missing a well-timed cannonball can cost you a round, but managing every aspect of the battle can be very distracting. Still, this doesn't take away from the fact that Cannon Crasha is a great addition to any iPad game library and a must-have for fans of games like Angry Birds. Just be warned: You may need to grow and additional hand to keep up.
Rovio rolls out cross-platform cloud saves for Angry Birds
If your passion for disgruntled birds cannot be confined to one platform, Rovio has you covered. The Angry Birds developer has launched Rovio Account, a new cloud service that allows players to transfer and sync save data across multiple iOS and Android devices. Rovio Account adds cloud saving functionality to the original Angry Birds game and the DreamWorks film tie-in app The Croods. Support for additional games in Rovio's app catalog will be added in future updates.
'Rovio Account' lets Angry Birds fans sync games across devices
We've all been there. You get a new device, download Angry Birds, and are outraged to discover that there is no record of your completed levels. Dismayed, you have no other choice but to start over at level 1. Sure, it's a quintessential first-world problem, but Rovio today announced a long-awaited solution to said problem. The answer is Rovio Account, a new service which lets users sync level progress across devices. Rovio Account lets you store your game progress and continue playing on another device. Some of you may have noticed a new feature in your Rovio games called Rovio Account. Our fans have been asking for a way to play their game on different phones or tablets without losing their progress when changing the device. This is exactly what Rovio Account lets you do! As it stands now, Rovio Account is only available for the original Angry Birds and The Croods, but the company notes that it will be rolling out the feature to other Angry Birds titles in the future.
Rovio Account now globally available for iOS and Android devices
What does the global rollout of Rovio Account mean for completists like us? It means that whenever we download Angry Birds to a new Android or iOS device, we can just pull down our current progress -- sparing us the chore of having to re-complete Poached Eggs, Mighty Hoax and Danger Above from scratch. So far, the option is only available on the original Angry Birds and The Croods, but the game maker has promised that the rest of its titles will be included in the near future.
Angry Birds Star Wars 2 to launch September 19th
Rovio has announced that Angry Birds Star Wars 2 will hit the App Store on September 19th. The game is a follow-up to the massively popular Angry Birds Star Wars released earlier this year (and currently the Free App of the Week). Here's what Rovio had to say about the sequel: Rovio and Lucasfilm have teamed up again to bring you even more adventures from the Angry Birds Star Wars universe! Experience the legendary story of the Star Wars prequel movies with dozens of your favorite characters with all-new powers! For the first time ever, you can even choose to "Join the Pork Side" and play as one of the villainous pigs! Fling your favorite characters, including a young pod-racing Anakin, Mace Windu, General Grievous, Darth Maul and yes... even Jar Jar Binks! Unlock more than 30 characters in game, or scan your favorite Angry Birds Star Wars II toys directly into the game using Hasbro's amazing new TELEPODS technology! Can't wait? Check out the trailer below.
Rovio teases new Angry Birds Star Wars game
Rovio today put up a new blogpost teasing, what appears to be, a new Angry Birds Star Wars game. Attention, Angry Birds fans! Stay tuned on Monday, July 15th, for big news about a brand-new game! We're talking the biggest character line-up ever, awesome new powers and maybe even a few surprises! So why does the photo above seem to indicate a new Star Wars-themed game may be just around the corner? Well, take a look at one of the movie posters for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
Daily Update for July 3, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Rovio updates original Angry Birds with 15 new levels
There's a reason why Angry Birds is the top paid iPhone app of all time. Not only is the original incarnation of everyone's favorite bird-slingin' game exceedingly fun and incredibly addictive, but also Rovio gives users their money's worth by periodically offering great new updates for free. Bear in mind that the original version of Angry Birds was released in December 2009 and Rovio is still gracing the app with new levels nearly four years later. Talk about US$0.99 going a long way. With the most recent Angry Birds update, which was released today, Rovio has implemented some new gameplay into the mix. The boring ole' red bird now has some new powers and there are also moving pigs for players to target and test their skills against. All in all, the update introduces 15 new levels. What's New in Version 3.2.0 The #1 app of all time gets a fun new update! You may be an expert pig popper, but how will you cope with a moving target? One bird stands between the egg and the advancing pig army in the all-new Red's Mighty Feathers episode. The fearless Red Bird faces wave after wave of Bad Piggies in their crazy contraptions. But wait! He now has some magic feathers from the Mighty Eagle himself – giving Red incredible new powers as he darts toward those pesky pigs at incredible speed! Fun new gameplay – the Egg Defender mode gives Red special powers to attack the advancing pigs! 15 new levels – the latest Red's Mighty Feathers episode brings fresh new challenges! 73 crazy pig contraptions – wave after wave of Bad Piggies edging closer in their wacky machines! You can check out the update over here.
