Saturday, May 18, 2013

Xapri Koponen, Rovio: "Angry Birds - it is an educational game" - BBC News

After speaking at an international conference MBLT13 Mobile Vice President Harri Koponen Rovio has agreed to talk with Vestyami.Haytek to tell about how Angry Birds became a cultural phenomenon, why not originally in the game was and why pigs Angry Birds – an educational game.

Harri Koponen does not impress IT specialist – is a little overweight middle-aged man with a cheerful, the youthful, open face. Previously, he worked Koponen top manager in leading telecom companies. For example, he took an active part in the “Megaphone” by one of the shareholders of Swedish TeliaSonera. However, for the past two years he has been no more than an “angry birds” and other projects of the Finnish Rovio.

If at all the old pictures Koponen invariably dressed in a suit, now wear it more than casual – Teenager red sweatshirt with a picture of angry birds, pants with the characters of the game series, even sneakers with top manager with Angry Birds. During the conference, Koponen joked that the only thing his wardrobe that does not pertain to the “birds” – is pants.

– How did you come up with the idea to create a game in which birds are fighting with pigs?

– Originally in the world Angry Birds were only birds, but we had the feeling that the project is missing some of their own history, which is why we came up with the pigs. It’s epic confrontation – the pigs want to eat eggs, and birds have to protect their eggs. Thus there is meaningful, delightful story, plain and simple.

– Do not you think that Rovio dangerous to be a “company of one game.” Gamers will perceive you as creators almost exclusively Angry Birds , and in fact the popularity of this series can not last forever.

– Many people ask me this question. The fact that we are a company of one game – it’s not true. Rovio has launched more than 50 projects. As for, talk about the decline in the popularity Angry Birds, every time I cite the example of a character that was created many years ago – Mickey Mouse. All these years, he remains wildly popular.

I think that Angry Birds can also be a kind of icon of the industry. We have a huge number of fans all over the world, so the Angry Birds characters can not quickly disappear from people’s memory.

– Angry Birds – this is one of the best mobile games of today. And what will be the best game in the future? Will it be casual or projects will be included in the trend of serious games?

We are working to create the games of the future. These projects are not related to Angry Birds. We are trying to find unusual solutions, collaborate with other companies. Our main goal – to surprise fans. Despite the new projects, we are not going to leave work on Angry Birds, because this game has a lot of fans. But we have to make sure that besides Angry Birds we could offer people and something else.

As for the major projects on the PC or consoles, people just do not want to play them on mobile phones. Of course, we can not know what will happen in the future. Serious projects can come to the fore, because innovations occur constantly. For example, in the near future smartphones, perhaps, learn to automatically connect to a TV to them to be able to play on the big screen.

currently hampered by the development of major projects, especially the small size of the phone screen. As long as people want to play on their smartphones in the fast casual games, so developers are following this trend. However, gaming companies need to be open to innovation, because everything is changing very quickly.

– creators of games PC and consoles are trying to squeeze the most beautiful graphics of the devices, but the creators of mobile games rarely chase the super-advanced graphics, although modern smartphones are very powerful. Does this mean that the current level of mobile gaming graphics performance is adequate?

– In fact, this question does not need to ask us, and you, the players. It all depends on the look of the beholder. Of course, some people ask, why not make Angry Birds in 3D, but we should not forget that the main thing – it’s all the same to the game was easy to play. However, I do not think that the graphics in games will constantly remain at the same level. As long as there are game developers, they will try to improve the graphics. Because, why not?

– Do you think there are games such as Angry Birds , adversely affecting the physical and psychological health.

– How much do you watch TV? When I look at the studies that talk about how many hours a day people watch TV, I think that this time would be better spent on something educational. Angry Birds – it is an educational game, it teaches hand-eye coordination, there is no violence. We have not heard of Angry Birds caused any psychological problems in humans. I stress that we do everything that Angry Birds has been a family entertainment. We do not produce content for adults only.

– People spend on Angry Birds a lot of time, because of the time-killer. Many might at this time to read useful books or doing chores. Instead, they play Angry Birds . Could this be a problem?

– I do not think so. People just learn something new when playing Angry Birds, for example, they can study the physics of movement of objects. Of course, spending all the time not only on the game. Every parent should be responsible for what their children are doing. Need to find balance in life. Even if you’re doing something simple, such as play, you should be responsible for their actions, did not suffer any physical or psychological health and has time to form.

– What kind of mobile game do you consider the most dangerous opponent Angry Birds ?

– Oh, I will not discuss the competition. We at Rovio focused on their own work. Of course, from time to time we think about competitors, but try not to talk about them. We are even more pleased by powerful competition, that it makes our company more healthy. The more strong competition, so ultimately better. The lack of competition makes you lazy.

– What do you think about the Russian market of mobile gaming? You can check which Russian designs you like?

– I see that the Russian market is evolving rapidly. I can definitely say that Russia has always been quite a powerful force in IT, because you have a lot of space technology and talented mathematicians, people with the right skills. In many respects this should be thanking your wonderful education system. The whole world knows that Russia can make a good IT-products. If earlier Russian developments were seen with some prejudice, but now these projects are perceived positively. Russian created a lot of cool pieces. You have a lot of great games. I will not choose any specific projects. Thousands of people are doing cool things and it was-would be wrong to celebrate any of them. I think it’s all very well for your country.

– Do the in Rovio Russian specialists?

– Oh, yes, we do have your people. They are few, only a few people, but I am sure that Russian in our company could be a lot more. People come to us, in Espoo, from all over the world. But I think that the style of life in Moscow is so good that people just do not want to go to Helsinki. However, Rovio doors are always open for your staff.

– What are the long-term plans Rovio ?

– We want to become a full-fledged company to create entertainment content, not just games. We will continue to focus on the fans, trying to impress them. This is the key to our future. In addition to game-studio, we have an animation studio, we produce books and much more. We are not particularly fixated on money. Every time someone starts to think only about money, it loses its right course. Money comes for yourself if you’re doing the right thing

– A quarter of a billion people around the world are playing the game of Rovio . What message Angry Birds are these people all over the world culture?

– Our main message – focus on the family. This is a very obedinyayusche when family members are involved with some things together. We believe that children, mothers and fathers should have the opportunity to spend time together while learning and having fun.

– I understand what you mean. But I would like to know more about what, in your view, the place Angry Birds in the history of world culture.

– I think it’s, again, we do not have to decide. Whether to put Angry Birds in line with Super Mario or Legend of Zelda – must address the players themselves. We can only state the facts. Angry Birds – this is the most successful mobile game of all time. She already has a definite place in the history of video games.

– Angry Birds – is an international project. People of different cultures, different religions equally throw evil birds in the green pigs. Can a mobile game become a factor in bringing people from all over the world?

– In fact, most people experience a variety of Angry Birds is almost the same. I think you’re exaggerating a bit, saying that Angry Birds can unite the world, although certainly some truth in this assumption is. Our game – it’s definitely a form of entertainment. The game is very simple to understand, everyone knows how it works. The main award for me – it’s the smiles of children. When I see a little boy and girl laughing and playing Angry Birds on my mother’s “iPads” or “iPhone”, it seems to me that those smiles – this is the most important thing that can make a video game.

In general, our focus is not on the countries, and on families. Although, of course, from time to time, we make national products – for example, the version of Angry Birds with the petals of cherry blossoms for the Japanese market version of the Seasons or the Chinese New Year. Some levels Angry Birds stylized and under Russia.

– Not so long ago, Rovio launched the “cloud” service, combining together the gameplay on different devices. When this new product will be available in Russia?

– I hope it will happen as quickly as possible. We try very hard to make innovation accessible to all gamers on the planet, because the global leadership – that is our goal. I can not tell you the exact date, but I will note that we are actively working on it.

– I know Angry Birds runs on a wide variety of operating systems: iOS , Android , Blackberry OS , Linux , Windows Phone , console, MAC . Are you going to port the game to a variety of unusual Soup, for example, on Firefox OS on Google Glass ?

– I can not say anything definite. Our technicians have to check whether it is possible to play Angry Birds on Google Glass. If the opportunity is there, we will have to see if there is enough people who want to play Angry Birds on this device. And if people would be enough, of course we are porting the game.

– I know that not so long ago Rovio released a social game Angry Birds Friends , teaming with game Facebook . What did you want to achieve this?

release of such a game – it is a logical step for Rovio. Players like to compete with your friends, invite them into the game, organize online tournaments. Competition with friends always increase the involvement of the gameplay.

– In Russia Facebook not very popular. Since Angry Birds so multiplatform, will there be a version Angry Birds Friends for “OpenID”?

Well … “OpenID” can give us a call and arrange it. We understand that the market in Russia is very unique and can not do here without cooperation. If the “OpenID” pozvonyat us, we will likely be able to agree on something.

– What games did you play as a child?

– When I was a kid, I loved most of all the famous Russian game Tetris. I spent more time playing Pacman. We also had board games – “Monopoly”, “African Star”. Well, and then there was Nintendo and it’s time for Super Mario.

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