Are you aware of this phenomenon called “Angry Birds”? I have many nieces and nephews – and a very trendy sister – so I’ve been aware of its existence possibly since its beginning. Never cared. SO not a gamer.
Cute idea though…haha…birds exacting revenge on pigs by flinging themselves from a sling-shot. I can see the attraction for a 10 year old!
I’ve had my smart-phone a month now, and have avoided games, unless you count Sudoku.
Yesterday I observed someone playing “papijump”, “papipole” and such, on their IPod-touch. These apps seemed easy to put down and pick up later – not based on levels or anything, so I thought that might be a nice diversion. I don’t have an IPod, but figure all smart-phones surely offer similar apps.
At bedtime I opened the App Store in all innocence to seek out a free, mindless diversion. One of the first things showing was Angry Birds. Little Angry Bird toys were the hit at family Christmas this year, and my 2yo nephew even imitates their birdy-noises, so I decided to download it and finally check it out – time to get this outdated Aunt back to today! (mwahahahahahaha...)
AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER… I finally put the phone down, turned off the light, curled into the fetal position and cried myself to sleep in the yearning to keep playing. Oh, my eyes: the burn of late-night phone-screen! Oh the lost sleep! Oh, the ache of not completing that level I finally bailed on! I want more, but can’t stay awake to take it! Boo-hoo, woe is me!
The game is just so cute! So harmless…cute little cartoon birdies, cute little round snorting piggies – who get black eyes if you wound but don’t “poof” them! …I’m sure they aren’t killed, they’re just poofed into another dimension. No game this cute could kill!
But I. Must. Finish. This. Level!
Have you played this? There’s like 30 levels on each level! And they’re quick, mostly, so it’s like winning at nickel-slots (I suppose). You win, win, win, (nickel, nickel, nickel) and suddenly you get stuck on one and REFUSE to abandon it knowing the payoff must come soon!
Oh the horror.
…credit where credit is due, I refused to allow myself to roll over this morning and call in late to work from the lost sleep. I do have some pride. That would be worse than calling in with a hangover! – which I’ve also never done, thankyouverymuch.
I read that Opium is immediately addictive. That taking it once means your body immediately requires it. Okay, well, that was presumably an exaggeration, but by all accounts it is highly addictive, compared to other drugs.
I fear that Angry Birds is the same. I can’t wait until I have time to attack that level again! Probably not until I fall into bed again at the end of the day. I’m not at the point of playing Angry Birds instead of eating though. When I get there, get me help!
on another note:
(Celebrations today, for those needing a reason to bust out the champagne: Nirvana Day in the Buddhist world, Tu B’Shevat in the Jewish world, and John Williams’ 80th birthday in the Star Wars world!)
I feel the same way about it. I do not have a phone that can do that, which is a good thing, but I have played it on other people's phones. Very addictive game.
ReplyDeleteOh that is such bad news. I have a very addictive brain. NPR told me so. :)
ReplyDeleteI guess it's a good thing I've only played this game a bit via other people's phones.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I keep hearing that from other people.
DeleteNOW they tell me! But actually I'm stuck now, and probably won't be unstuck until I catch up with some 11yo somewhere.