Jimquisition: Angry Birds Is Not Sh*t

[Aidinthel]

My mother actually couldn't understand Angry Birds. That was the point at which I gave up trying to get her into games.

Hahahaha, that made me laugh. My own mother is like that too, absolutely hopeless and unwilling to try to even understand a game.

She tries, but she's just so bad at games. And not just the video kind, either. Board games, card games, anything with the slightest complexity just throws her off completely.

*shudders at memories of playing Settlers of Cataan with mother and grandparents*
Never again...

 

[Stabby Joe]

I've never played Angry Birds but I can see the appeal. However as even said in this video, the remarks by the developers on the industry are... well; naive, arrogant and clouded considering having made just one successful game - that apparently is enough to make you an expert on the entire history and trend on the gaming industry worldwide...

...basically the game seems to be a "sins of the father" type scenario.

 

[christmasbats]

It's boring, that's it. Don't like it.

 

[remnant_phoenix]

Angry Birds is an alright game. The guys that made it are pricks, way too caught up their own success to give credit where credit is due in the manner of, "Hey, we didn't actually CREATE this type of game, we just made it palatable on today's smartphones," but, I digress.

Angry Birds is kind of like the HALO: Combat Evolved of the smart phone gaming world. It didn't really do anything significantly new, it just took something that had already been successful and made it work for a specific type of platform.

Besides, when it comes to simple, pick-up-and-play, mindless fun on a smartphone, everyone with half a brain knows that Fruit Ninja is the best. : )

 

[BlueInkAlchemist]

Dammit, Jim. DAMN IT.

You win.

I'm watching this every week, now. Thank God for you.

You smug bastard.

 

[CBanana]

The real issue with Angry Birds is how many people (such as you yourself, Mr. Sterling) trumpet the iPhone as being able to destroy/cripple Sony and Nintendo's portable offerings based on Angry Bird's (as well as other iPhone titles') success. Most iPhone games are simply too casual compared to the average game on the more hardcore portable systems to really be targeted towards the same audience. Saying "Angry Birds is sh*t" is simply hyperbole meant to emphasize the point that Angry Birds doesn't much at all to entice gamers who are looking for a deeper and more engaging experience.

 

[Saulkar]

I have never hated a game because it was popular. I have hated games that are popular and every other company take an already established game and modify its already established mechanics to emulate the popular game in an attempt to garner the same financial success. A-La Call of Duty. I do not hate the game because I do not enjoy it nor will I make it so another cannot enjoy, I just really hate how other companies are modifying their games to be more like it to try and steal its sales. It is not because it is popular but rather other companies are fucking trying to remake the exact same thing without trying to innovate.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

I wouldn't say angry birds is threatening or that its killing gaming or whatever, but shit? Yeah I would go as far as to say shit. There are better games, and better casual games for that matter, on the iphone. Hell I could play better games on newgrounds for free. Maybe a game that's essentially built around knocking over blocks doesn't appeal to me as much as something like "Infinity Blade" does, but regardless, I still think it's pretty shit. Jim's basically saying that if you don't compare angry birds to anything, it's a good game because it works as what it is, but when judging quality comparison is pretty much unavoidable, and angry birds doesn't even hold up when compared to games in its own league, let alone games on actual gaming platforms.

 

[Chezza]

The developers of Angry Birds were simply smarter or lucky, or both. While I enjoy Crush the Castle more and am one of those people who feels far too pragmatic to invest in a smart phone which costs money for everything you do (I just want a phone that can call and send messengers, think of me as you will) I do however understand Angry Birds earned its success on their choice of mechanics, characters, platform and style.

Good on you Angry Birds, you did well. However I admit I am one of those people who naturally get annoyed every time I hear "Oh I just got Angry Birds on my phone! Its so good!" I am sorry Jim but shit, we have a right to get annoyed when we think something is actually over-rated, particularly when you hear it so many times. Some people will dislike my comment here but, its like hearing people get excited over another Halo installment when I was done with it by the second game.

In all honesty, the game isn't groundbreaking or successful on its own merits, putting smart phone standards into consideration as well. But they sold it well so kudos to them. Something like Minecraft more likely deserves the popularity it got, thanks to its innovation.

 

[Faerillis]

I've never played Angry Birds because I neither have nor want a touch screen phone so I can't speak to its mechanics. On the other hand I do wish it would stop being talked about EVERYWHERE. There have been plenty of other good games with great mechanics but this one is the only one to get any real recognition on TV, and while a game getting recognition on TV is good, the fact that it is only one pisses me off.

Other than that somewhat tangential point, I agree with almost every point Jim made except one; one that Jim has brought up before that will never stop being contentious. Call of Duty is not a good franchise; even within the FPS genre Call of Duty is shovelware and in a genre that repeats the most mechanics and colour palettes (not to say that there aren't unique and interesting in various different ways) that is saying something. They haven't added any intriguing mechanics or weapons in ages and since the success of their Zombie Nazi mini-game that's all they've released. Call of Duty's games may be well-designed basic shooters but they are all the same well designed basic shooter.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

I think I would still rather play worms.

But yeah I don't think people hate the game itself, just the people that say it's a good/ great game.

 

[ikoian]

I can't afford a smart phone so... yeah. Most people can't, and those of us who could get a console can't have both. I'm sure the game is wonderful, but is it worth all the extra money monthly?

Monthly? The games only $1
Also, the game is also free on the Google Chrome app store ^-^

OT: I don't get the hate ether. I played Crush the Castle before Angry Birds and I have to say; yes it borrows elements of Crush the Castle, but to say that they're close to the same game shows one has no knowlege in how Angry Birds plays out. The differences isn't even solely in visuals ether.
I mean in Crush The Castle, you get simply more powerful ammo when you progress the game, while Angry Birds (later in the game) gives you a set number of birds per level which all do different things and you have to use them in a set order, giving it a layer of puzzle on top of Crush The Castle's timing and positioning test.

 

[DustyDrB]

Soo, this is a news report? Hell, why should I bother, I WANT MINUTES OF MY LIFE BACK!
Damn me and wanting to give him a chance.

Now seriously? Every single Jimquisition there's a crowd of people that post the same exact kind of comment, only to return a couple of videos later and repeat themselves? Are you guys on rotation? Just so you know though, usually you give something a chance one time, not 10. And I don't know what you're expecting from a video with Jim Sterling in it, because the way you act with disdain wanting "your minutes of your life back" baffles me.

Seriously the only reason I bothered joining The Escapist forums was because sadly I can't access Destructoid anymore. I've found this community to be incredibly tedious, predictable and BORING.

My mother actually couldn't understand Angry Birds. That was the point at which I gave up trying to get her into games.

Hahahaha, that made me laugh. My own mother is like that too, absolutely hopeless and unwilling to try to even understand a game.

Why can't you access Dtoid? That would make me sad. Johnathan Holmes is the man.

 

[Fenix7]

Soo, this is a news report? Hell, why should I bother, I WANT MINUTES OF MY LIFE BACK!
Damn me and wanting to give him a chance.

Now seriously? Every single Jimquisition there's a crowd of people that post the same exact kind of comment, only to return a couple of videos later and repeat themselves? Are you guys on rotation? Just so you know though, usually you give something a chance one time, not 10. And I don't know what you're expecting from a video with Jim Sterling in it, because the way you act with disdain wanting "your minutes of your life back" baffles me.

Seriously the only reason I bothered joining The Escapist forums was because sadly I can't access Destructoid anymore. I've found this community to be incredibly tedious, predictable and BORING.

My mother actually couldn't understand Angry Birds. That was the point at which I gave up trying to get her into games.

Hahahaha, that made me laugh. My own mother is like that too, absolutely hopeless and unwilling to try to even understand a game.

Why can't you access Dtoid? That would make me sad. Johnathan Holmes is the man.

The country I currently live in (Iran) has blocked Destructoid.com .

And yeaaah Holmes was cool. But my favourites were Chad Concelmo and Dale North.

 

[Xan Krieger]

Soo, this is a news report? Hell, why should I bother, I WANT MINUTES OF MY LIFE BACK!
Damn me and wanting to give him a chance.

Now seriously? Every single Jimquisition there's a crowd of people that post the same exact kind of comment, only to return a couple of videos later and repeat themselves? Are you guys on rotation? Just so you know though, usually you give something a chance one time, not 10. And I don't know what you're expecting from a video with Jim Sterling in it, because the way you act with disdain wanting "your minutes of your life back" baffles me.

Seriously the only reason I bothered joining The Escapist forums was because sadly I can't access Destructoid anymore. I've found this community to be incredibly tedious, predictable and BORING.

My mother actually couldn't understand Angry Birds. That was the point at which I gave up trying to get her into games.

Hahahaha, that made me laugh. My own mother is like that too, absolutely hopeless and unwilling to try to even understand a game.

Why can't you access Dtoid? That would make me sad. Johnathan Holmes is the man.

The country I currently live in (Iran) has blocked Destructoid.com .

And yeaaah Holmes was cool. But my favourites were Chad Concelmo and Dale North.

Sounds like your country needs Anonymous.

OT: The problem with angry birds is that Crush the Castle is the exact same thing except it's free. Why do people pay for the clone of a freely available game?

 

[Keepeas]

The game itself doesn't annoy me.
It definitely isn't a bad game.
It is a good game with some great entertainment value.

However, I am annoyed with people who praise it as an unbelievable game that is amazingly amazing in all of it's existence. (usually casual gamers)
It's just good...and it's been done loads of time before...
it isn't the second coming of Jesus.
And to be honest I think Plants Vs. Zombies provides more entertainment for a longer period of time.

 

[42]

The only problem Angry Birds has ever had is the levels now included in the updates are fucking ridicoulusly hard.