One of the first things I did when I bought my iPad was to get a trial version of Angry Birds. Then I bought the full version, then Rio and Seasons. I am not an Angry Bird ninja by any means, but I can beat every level in short order and usually have a bird or two left over. I don’t know what it is about the game that is so addicting, well yes I do. Using a slingshot to fire pissed off birds at a structure built by evil, but stupid pigs is simply a formula for success. If these pigs had any education in structural engineering the birds wouldn’t have a chance. One of the things that make the game intriguing for me is the physics involved. It seems so logical and intuitive how the little birds fly in a graceful arch towards their destructive goal. The only drawback to Angry Birds is the fact that I usually beat the game weeks before the next update.
Then I discovered Stupid Zombies. Another great game based on reliable physics. Ash with a shot gun shooting stupid zombies, that’s right, I said stupid zombies. Why stupid? Because they don’t attack or even move much, they just stand there waiting to be shot. The physics apply because almost every shot is a bank shot. Shooting zombies with a slug gun bank shot is another video game formula for success. That is until you get to stage 3 where magnets and curved surfaces make aiming more a matter of luck and repeating the same level over and over until you stumble upon success. Lately I have been using the ready, fire rapidly until you out of ammo, then aim strategy. It isn’t working out so well, if anyone has beaten the third stage level 58 please let me know how you did it.
Another reason these games are great is due to their short term commitment. I just don’t have time for World of Warcraft or other strategy games. I want to open up a game, play for a moment or an hour, and then put it down secure with the knowledge that it will start up where I left off. Perfect. It’s like the Netflix of games.
My lovely wife enjoys games that are quite different than I enjoy. They actually require memorization and intelligence. She likes Scrabble, Solitaire, and some game involving waiting on tables, or some such thing. I just don’t get it; she just can’t see the allure of killing pigs with birds or shooting the heads off of zombies.
I am waiting for Angry Birds vs Stupid Zombies to come out.
-pf
Prairie Flounder 