Did you know that Angry Birds comes from Finland? I definitely didn’t until I arrived and saw Angry Birds stuffed animals, t-shirts, chewing gum and even soda for sale almost everywhere. Finns are not only proud of their contribution to addictive iphone games, they are major customers.
Rovio, the company that developed Angry Birds, comes from Espoo, Finland’s second biggest city, but you can find Angry Birds related paraphernalia all over the country, from specialty shops at the airport to Angry Bird Activity Parks spread around the nation.
I was lucky enough to be in Saariselka for the grand opening of the newest Angry Bird activity park.
Designed for kids, not adults, it’s basically a giant play ground warehouse with some awesome Angry Birds related activities. There were also computer stations set up around the room where you could play actual angry birds. A series of Xbox Kinects lined one wall for non- Rovio related dance and sports games.
Although made for kids, all ages are welcome at the park where you are even encouraged to participate. It’s an excellent way to kill an hour or two somewhere warm and dry. I also learned an interesting Angry Birds trivia fact: the concept for the game was inspired by the world wide panic surrounding avian flu (birds) and swine flu (pigs). Not sure what that has to do with hurling things at other things, but it sure is fun!
I visited Inari as a guest of Visit Finland and Northern Lapland Tourism.
I’m so glad they had a version where you could be the bird flying towards the pig! What great fun!
This looks like so much fun! The rope swing looks awesome!
I had NO idea that Angry Birds originated in Finland! This place looks fantastic and I’m pretty sure that 90% of my Korean students would sell their own mother to go there. I’m loving the bench, and would quite like to try the life-size Angry Birds. I’m buzzed right now.
bwahahah. The life sized Angry Birds was so fun but I had to shove a few little kids out of the way to try it.
Hilarious! It looks like so much fun. By the way my students go mental for Angry Bird stickers, I totally thought they were from China. Who knew?
Cheers.
Holy moly I can’t believe my eyes. I shouldn’t be surprised given all the crazy AB action lately. But I’d be bouncing all over the places if I was here!
Although far more low-tech, I was greatly amused to see an “Angry Bird” carnival game at the night markets in Taiwan: it essentially just involved hurling large plush AB toys at things and seeing what you could knock over! 😀
That is crazy! Well, I shouldn’t said that since I have seen two year olds playing Angry Birds on an iPad. Most of the kids I know have tons of things related to the birds. I can see a park or activity area coming soon to the US.
I had no idea Angry Birds comes from Finland! They should make an Angry Birds Finland edition. I’d totally get hooked again.
Such an amazing place!! I didn’t know Angry Birds were created in Finland. Thanks for the intersting post!
Angry Birds for president haha They’re already taking over the world 😀