MS mock-up infuriates Angry Birds
Plus: Android AB out this week.
Microsoft has angered Rovio Mobile by using an unauthorised mock-up of Angry Birds to promote Windows Phone 7.
On Twitter, Rovio retorted: "We have not committed to doing a Windows Phone 7 version. Microsoft put the Angry Birds icon on their site without our permission."
Microsoft soon after issued a statement (to the Guardian's technology blog) clarifying that the company was "big fans" of Rovio's game. "Our website team created a mock up image of aspirational titles for launch [of Windows Phone 7]. That image was not updated to reflect our launch titles," the company said.
Microsoft yesterday gave Windows Phone 7 a 21st October launch date. EA will support the platform - which mirrors Xbox Live - in a big way, and was present at the New York reveal event. Other games glossed over were Crackdown, Assassin's Creed, Castlevania and Puzzle Quest 2.
Angry Birds is a cheap iPhone game that has sold over 6.5 million times. In it, you take control of an angry flock of birds who attempt to retrieve eggs stolen by pigs. But the pigs are hiding in buildings, so you have to catapult various types of angry birds at the structures to demolish them and their porky contents.
Incidentally, the RovioMobile Twitter also sends word that an Android version of the game will be released this week. No price was confirmed.