Rovio Entertainment Oy, creator of the popular “Angry Birds” game, is working on alliances with Starbucks and other retailers to reach new customers and sell a wider range of products.
Rovio, whose smartphone game has been downloaded more than 350 million times, is in talks with Starbucks about in-store promotions, said Wibe Wagemans, a senior vice president at the Finland-based company. Rovio may offer virtual goods and set up electronic leader boards in stores to tout top-scoring players.
The company is trying to convert its digital success into a real-world empire by selling “Angry Birds” books, stuffed animals, T-shirts and other gear. Rovio is planning a movie version of the game. It’s part of an effort to diversify sales and attract more customers ahead of an initial public offering, which the company says may take place within the next few years.
“Angry Birds” is now seeking to crack the market for social- networking games, where Zynga dominates. Rovio has a game for the Google+ service, and a version for Facebook is in the works. Bloomberg News
