Angry Birds Invade UAM

Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Douglas Boultinghouse

Angry Birds Addict - Tiffany Reed, a junior speech communication and political science double major, plays Angry Birds for the challenge in between classes. "I think it's a fun game to pass time," she said. "I am not typically a game person, but I was hooked ager one day because it became a challenge to me to try and tear down the next ingenious tower those crazy pigs had built!"

   A flock of angry birds and its followers have been sweeping the world, including the University of Arkansas-Monticello campus.

   Not just any angry birds, but Angry Birds, the extremely popular video game from Rovio Mobile played across multiple platforms including computers, iPods, tablets, smartphones such as iPhones, Android phones and more.

   At any given moment, someone on the UAM campus can be found using his or her finger on a touch-screen device or the click of a mouse on a computer to pull back a slingshot loaded with a bird with a vengeance. That bird then flies into a structure built by evil pigs.

   When the topic of Angry Birds arises, the popular question is often, “Why are the birds so angry?” That question is easily answered. The evil pigs stole the birds’ eggs and roasted them over an open fire.  The perfect reason to be severely ticked off wouldn’t you say?

   Many kill time with the game, which features hundreds of levels where the player catapults birds to slaughter pig after pig. Though it sounds gruesome, many find it fun, especially when the game comes in three versions: an original version, an Angry Birds Seasons version and a Rio-themed version of the game based around the animated film “Rio.”

   In Angry Birds Seasons, the levels and pigs are decorated to fit holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter. Rovio Mobile adds updates frequently with new levels and themes. Both free versions of the game and ad-free version of the game can be found through mobile phone app stores or at the official Angry Birds website.

UAM Students Caught in the Birds Nest

   Josh Creed, a senior communication studies major, plays the all three versions of the game on his iPhone.

   “The fun part for me is figuring out the best way to knock down the structures the pigs have built,” he said. “It’s a fun game to play and it’s very addicting. Trying to kill the pigs can become an obsession.”

   Rebecca Craig-Ramos, a senior general studies major, said she plays the game along with her husband and son.

   “It’s a family game in my house,” she said. “My son bounces from my phone to my husband’s phone. It just depends on who is at the highest level.”

   Junior double major in speech communication and political science Tiffany Reed also plays the game.

   Though Reed said she is not typically a game person she became hooked on Angry Birds after one day of playing on her iPhone. For once, she said she could win at a video game.

   “When I first got the game, I was highly addicted, I played it all the time,” Reed said. “I have started to lay off playing it as much now because I got mad that I could not beat a level, so to punish the game, I refused to play for a week. I have since picked it back up and now play it about once a week.”

   Junior English major Reagan Dye said she plays the original version and got her best friend so hooked on the game she bought an iPhone just so she could play whenever she wanted.

Stress Reliever

   UAM’s students are not the only ones playing the addictive game. Faculty and staff members play as well.

   Neely Phillips, director of the social work department, plays the game daily, and sometimes for hours. Phillips said she plays all three versions of the game on her phone, but also on her Motorola Xoom tablet. She said she finds the strategy aspect fun and enjoys watching the structures crumble, but ultimately uses the game as a stress reliever or cure for boredom.

   Even Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs David Ray said he plays the game with his grandchildren.

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