Comment Re:Well, that certainly makes it unique (Score 1) 220
I think this is over-complicating things frankly. More tools unlocked required as you proceed through harder levels of the game is as standard as it gets.
There is NOTHING new here.
I never meant to imply that it was new, or to defend the article. I meant to differentiate the approach Angry Birds took from a game like Tetris, or solitaire where you DON'T gain access to any additional tools.
Also, I agree that there is an element of chance and network effects in the way it became so popular. It does have a couple other things that you missed though:
- the physics of the game are appealing - watching the little objects slowly tip over, for example - and
- the high-quality animations make the tiny screen seem more lush and engaging than it would if things were more static
Once again, neither of these things is new to gaming, but it was done quite well for a mobile game at the time it came out.