Rovio Launches Bad Piggies

Rovio has launched the latest game in its Angry Birds franchise - Bad Piggies.

The iOS and Android app takes the pigs, who have played the role of adversary in its previous avian-chucking efforts, and makes them its heroes.

The spin-off looks like an attempt to reinvigorate the Angry Birds franchise by expanding the gameplay on offer. That's different, and perhaps more sustainable, to the way Rovio has opted to milk its cash cow up till now - with the release of plush merchandise, an animated series, and even a theme park in Finland.

Of course, its success would also give the developer a chance to push even more merchandise, based on the spin-off. Rovio says it hopes that the game will be 'just the beginning of a series of Bad Piggies related games and other entertainment'.