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'''Rovio Entertainment Limited''', previously known as '''Relude''' and '''Rovio Mobile''',<ref name="Wauters">{{cite web|url=http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/12/21/inside-the-nest-how-angry-birds-catapulted-rovio-to-the-stars-and-what-happens-next/2/|title=Inside the nest: After 3 years of Angry Birds, what’s next for Rovio?|last=Wauters|first=Robin|date=21 December 2012|work=[[The Next Web]]|accessdate=11 August 2013}}</ref> is a [[Finland|Finnish]] [[video game developer]] and entertainment company based in [[Espoo]]. The company was founded in 2003 as a mobile game development studio named Relude, and was officially renamed as Rovio<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rovio.com/index.php?page=contact/|title=Rovio - Contact|date=2010-10-01|accessdate=2010-10-01|publisher=Rovio}}</ref> ([[Finnish language|Finnish]] for ''[[bonfire]]'') in 2005. The company is best known for creating the ''[[Angry Birds]] ''video game'' ''franchise.
'''Rovio Entertainment Limited''', previously known as '''Relude''' and '''Rovio Mobile''',<ref name="Wauters">{{cite web|url=http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/12/21/inside-the-nest-how-angry-birds-catapulted-rovio-to-the-stars-and-what-happens-next/2/|title=Inside the nest: After 3 years of Angry Birds, what’s next for Rovio?|last=Wauters|first=Robin|date=21 December 2012|work=[[The Next Web]]|accessdate=11 August 2013}}</ref> is a [[Finland|Finnish]] [[video game developer]] and entertainment company based in [[Espoo]]. The company was founded in 2003 as a mobile game development studio named Relude, and was officially renamed as Rovio<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rovio.com/index.php?page=contact/|title=Rovio - Contact|date=2010-10-01|accessdate=2010-10-01|publisher=Rovio}}</ref> ([[Finnish language|Finnish]] for ''[[pyre]]'') in 2005. The company is best known for creating the ''[[Angry Birds]] ''video game'' ''franchise.


In January 2014, it was revealed that their flagship series, ''Angry Birds'', "leaked data" to third-party companies, perhaps even surveillance agencies like the [[National Security Agency|NSA]].<ref name="NSAleaky">{{cite news|title=Angry Birds and 'leaky' phone apps targeted by NSA and GCHQ for user data |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/27/nsa-gchq-smartphone-app-angry-birds-personal-data |first=James |last=Ball |date=28 January 2014 |agency=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=2014-01-30}}</ref> In retaliation, anti-NSA hackers defaced Rovio's website.<ref name="deface">{{cite news|title=Angry anti-NSA hackers pwn Angry Birds site after GCHQ data slurp |url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/29/angrybirds_website_defaced_nsa_gchq_spying/ |first=John |last=Leyden |date=29 January 2014|agency=[[The Register]] |accessdate=2014-01-30}}</ref>
In January 2014, it was revealed that their flagship series, ''Angry Birds'', "leaked data" to third-party companies, perhaps even surveillance agencies like the [[National Security Agency|NSA]].<ref name="NSAleaky">{{cite news|title=Angry Birds and 'leaky' phone apps targeted by NSA and GCHQ for user data |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/27/nsa-gchq-smartphone-app-angry-birds-personal-data |first=James |last=Ball |date=28 January 2014 |agency=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=2014-01-30}}</ref> In retaliation, anti-NSA hackers defaced Rovio's website.<ref name="deface">{{cite news|title=Angry anti-NSA hackers pwn Angry Birds site after GCHQ data slurp |url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/29/angrybirds_website_defaced_nsa_gchq_spying/ |first=John |last=Leyden |date=29 January 2014|agency=[[The Register]] |accessdate=2014-01-30}}</ref>

Revision as of 10:06, 28 June 2014

Rovio Entertainment Limited
Company typePrivate
IndustryVideo games
Founded2003 (as Relude)
2005 (as Rovio Mobile)
2011 (as Rovio Entertainment)
FounderMikael Hed
Niklas Hed[1]
HeadquartersEspoo, Finland[1]
Key people
Mikael Hed, CEO
Teemu Suila, COO
Peter Vesterbacka, CMO
ProductsAngry Birds
Bad Piggies
ToonsTV
Revenue€156 million (2013)[2]
€26.9 million (2013)[2]
OwnerKaj Hed (70% owner)[3]
Number of employees
800 (April 2014)[2]
DivisionsFuturemark Games Studio
Kombo Animation Studio
Rovio Stars
Rovio LVL11
Websiterovio.com

Rovio Entertainment Limited, previously known as Relude and Rovio Mobile,[4] is a Finnish video game developer and entertainment company based in Espoo. The company was founded in 2003 as a mobile game development studio named Relude, and was officially renamed as Rovio[5] (Finnish for pyre) in 2005. The company is best known for creating the Angry Birds video game franchise.

In January 2014, it was revealed that their flagship series, Angry Birds, "leaked data" to third-party companies, perhaps even surveillance agencies like the NSA.[6] In retaliation, anti-NSA hackers defaced Rovio's website.[7]

History

Rovio Headquarters is in this office complex in Keilaniemi, Espoo.

In 2003, three students from Helsinki University of Technology (currently Aalto University School of Science), Niklas Hed, Jarno Väkeväinen, and Kim Dikert participated in a mobile game development competition at the Assembly demo party sponsored by Nokia and HP. A victory with a real-time multiplayer game called King of the Cabbage World compelled the trio to set up their own company, Relude. King of the Cabbage World was sold to Sumea (now known as Sumea Studios as part of Digital Chocolate), and renamed to Mole War, which became the first commercial real-time multiplayer mobile game in the world.[citation needed]

In January 2005, Relude received its first round of investment from a business angel, and the company changed its name to Rovio Mobile.[citation needed]

In December 2009, Rovio released Angry Birds, its 52nd game, a slingshot-puzzle game for the iPhone, where it reached No. 1 spot in the Apple App Store chart after six months, and remained charted for months after.[8] Angry Birds has since been downloaded over 1 billion times,[9] with paid downloads accounting for more than 25% of total downloads, making it one of the most sold games in the Apple App Store. On 9 May 2012, Rovio announced that its mobile game Angry Birds had reached its 1 billionth download.

In March 2011, Rovio raised $42 million in venture capital funding from Accel Partners, Atomico and Felicis Ventures.[10]

In July 2011, the company changed its name to Rovio Entertainment Ltd.[11] In June 2011, the company hired David Maisel to lead their Angry Bird movie production.[12] By October 2011, Rovio purchased Kombo, a Helsinki-based animation company.[13] The animation studio was acquired to produce a series of short videos to be released in 2012.[14]

In March 2012, Rovio acquired Futuremark Game Studios, the game development division of benchmarking company Futuremark for an undisclosed sum.[15]

In July 2012, Rovio announced a distribution partnership with Activision to bring the first three Angry Birds titles to video game consoles and handhelds, in a collection named Angry Birds Trilogy. The title was released on September 25, 2012 (a port for the Wii and Wii U consoles was released in 2013).

On November 8, 2012, Rovio released Angry Birds Star Wars, an iteration of its popular game licensed from the Star Wars original trilogy, for mobile devices and PC.[16] Rovio partnered with Activision again to port the title to video game consoles and handhelds, with it being released on those platforms on October 29, 2013. A sequel, Angry Birds Star Wars II, based on the Star Wars prequel trilogy, was released on September 18, 2013.

In March 2013, Rovio launched its muliplatform ToonsTV channel starting with Angry Birds Toons.[17]

As of 2013, Rovio became a videogame publisher and is publishing third party games through their Rovio Stars program.[18]

As of May 2014, Rovio releases its non-Angry Birds titles as a new name, Rovio LVL11.[19] The first game published under this title is RETRY.[20]

As of June 2014, Rovio considers themselves an entertainment and education company, not a mobile game company. This is reinforced by Rovio's merchandise and licensing business accounting for about half of its annual revenue of $216 million in 2013.[21]

Divisions

ToonsTV

ToonsTV is a multiplatform channel owned by Rovio Entertainment. It is available via Rovio apps, video-on-demand providers, smart TVs and connected devices.[17]

On March 16, 2013, ToonsTV was launched by Rovio starting with Angry Birds Toons. In September 2013, Rovio announce another Angry Birds Toons season in 2014, two Angry Birds spin offs in development, Bad Piggies and Stella (the pink bird) and additional provider of content. Graphic India/POW!/Stan Lee's Chakra the Invincible! series, at least four shows from Xilam Animation, National Geographic Kids’ Amazing Animals, Jim Henson's classic show Fraggle Rock and works from Hasbro Studios.[17]

On April 11, 2014, Rovio premiered a new show, Piggy Tales.

Rovio Stars

As of 2013, Rovio became a video game publisher and is publishing third party games through their Rovio Stars program. The Rovio Stars games are Tiny Thief, Juice Cubes, Word Monsters and Plunder Pirates.

Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage was originally a game published by Rovio Stars, but it is no longer published by them and is now published by Nitrome. This is due to distribution problems.

Rovio LVL11

As of May 2014, Rovio releases non-Angry Birds titles under their Rovio LVL11 arm, starting with Retry.

Games

Developed by Rovio Entertainment

Year Title Platform(s)
Android iOS Mac WP PC
2009 Angry Birds Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2010 Angry Birds Seasons Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2011 Angry Birds Rio Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2012 Angry Birds Space Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2012 Amazing Alex Yes Yes No Yes No
2012 Bad Piggies Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2012 Angry Birds Star Wars Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2012 Angry Birds Friends Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2013 The Croods Yes Yes No No No
2013 Angry Birds Star Wars II Yes Yes No Yes Yes
2013 Angry Birds Go! Yes Yes No Yes No
2014 Angry Birds Epic Yes Yes No Yes No
2014 Angry Birds Stella Yes Yes No No No
2014 Angry Birds Transformers Yes Yes No No No

Developed by Rovio LVL11

Year Title Platform(s)
Android iOS Mac WP PC
2014 Retry Yes Yes No No No

Published by Rovio Stars

Year Title Platform(s)
Android iOS Mac WP PC
2013 Tiny Thief Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2013 Juice Cubes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2014 Word Monsters Yes Yes No No No
2014 Plunder Pirates Yes Yes No No No

No longer published by Rovio Stars

Year Title Platform(s)
Android iOS Mac WP PC
2013 Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage Yes Yes No No No

Developed by Rovio Mobile (Archived)

  • Bounce Evolution - N900 (2009)
  • Bounce Tales - N-Gage (2009)
  • Bounce Touch - N-Gage
  • Bounce Boing Voyage - N-Gage (2008)
  • Burger Rush - J2ME
  • Burnout - J2ME (2007)
  • Collapse Chaos - J2ME
  • Cyber Blood - J2ME
  • Darkest Fear - iOS (2009), J2ME (2005)
  • Darkest Fear 2 - J2ME
  • Darkest Fear 3 - J2ME
  • Desert Sniper - J2ME (2006)
  • Dragon & Jade - J2ME
  • Formula GP Racing - J2ME
  • Gem Drop - J2ME (2008)
  • Marine Sniper - J2ME
  • Mole War - J2ME
  • Need for Speed: Carbon - J2ME (2006)
  • Paid to Kill - J2ME
  • Paper Planes - J2ME (2008)
  • Patron Angel - J2ME
  • Playman Winter Games - J2ME
  • Shopping Madness - J2ME (2008)
  • Space Impact: Meteor Shield - N97, J2ME
  • Star Marine - J2ME (2007)
  • Sumea Ski Jump - J2ME
  • Swat Elite Troops - J2ME
  • US Marine Corps Scout Sniper - J2ME (2006)
  • Totomi - iOS, Flash, J2ME
  • War Diary Burma - J2ME
  • War Diary Torpedo - J2ME
  • Wolfmoon - J2ME
  • X-Factor 2008 - J2ME

References

  1. ^ a b "Studio Profile: Rovio". Edge. Future plc. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Rovio Entertainment Reports 2013 Financial Results". Rovio Entertainment. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  3. ^ Anderson, Greg (2013-06-10). "Rovio's Updated Ownership Structure Points To Luxembourg-Based Accel Subsidiary". Arcticstartup.com. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  4. ^ Wauters, Robin (21 December 2012). "Inside the nest: After 3 years of Angry Birds, what's next for Rovio?". The Next Web. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Rovio - Contact". Rovio. 2010-10-01. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  6. ^ Ball, James (28 January 2014). "Angry Birds and 'leaky' phone apps targeted by NSA and GCHQ for user data". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  7. ^ Leyden, John (29 January 2014). "Angry anti-NSA hackers pwn Angry Birds site after GCHQ data slurp". The Register. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  8. ^ November 24, 2013 9:00 AM. "In the land of Angry Birds: Rovio reveals its global entertainment ambitions". Venturebeat.com. Retrieved 2013-11-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Rovio Passes a Billion Angry Birds Downloads, Still Mulling IPO - Ina Fried - Mobile". AllThingsD. 2012-05-09. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
  10. ^ "Angry Birds Turn Rich, Get $42 Million in Funding". Mashable. March 10, 2011.
  11. ^ Wingfield, Nick (2011-08-10). "Rovio Has Plans for 'Angry Birds' Movies, Books and Toys - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  12. ^ "Angry Birds hires movie producer for 'future films'". BBC.co.uk. July 5, 2011.
  13. ^ "Rovio Acquires animation studio Kombo". Rovio News.
  14. ^ "Angry Birds confirm work on a film version is underway". BBC.co.uk. October 20, 2011.
  15. ^ Ratcliffe, Chris (27 March 2012). "'Angry Birds' creator adds Futuremark Game Studio's team to fleet of talent". Bloomberg. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  16. ^ "Oh God, They Really Are Making Angry Birds: Star Wars". UPROXX.
  17. ^ a b c Holdsworth, Nick (September 25, 2013). "Rovio Announces Second Season of 'Angry Birds Toons' Series". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
  18. ^ Albanesius, Chloe (14 May 2013). "Angry Birds Maker Releasing Third-Party Games Via 'Rovio Stars'". PC Magazine. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  19. ^ "Rovio's New "LVL11 Publishing Arm Announces It's First Game: RETRY". AngryBirdsNest.
  20. ^ "An addictive game of RETRY also known as Flappy Bird". Forbes. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  21. ^ 8:36 am ETJun 18, 2014 (2014-06-18). "Mighty Eagle: Angry Birds Maker Not a Games Company - Digits - WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links