The New York Times is reporting that Rovio — creators of our beloved Angry Birds — turned down a $2.2 billion (that’s $2,200,000,000) buyout offer from Zynga. Neither company has confirmed this, but it sounds like it’s more than just a rumor.
If true, this is the second high profile buyout attempt by Zynga this year. This summer they failed to acquire PopCap — creators of Bejeweled and Plants vs. Zombies — for just under a billion dollars. EA later aquired PopCap for around $1.3 billion.
I, for one, applaud Rovio for being able to stand their ground and turn down such an enormous pile of money. I don’t know a lot about Zynga, nor do I play their games, but based on the articles I’ve read it sounds like the company’s internal dynamics may in part hinder their ability to acquire top tier game developers like Rovio and PopCap.
With any franchise as massive as Angry Birds many people like to gripe about this or that, but I am very thankful that Angry Birds is under Rovio’s control. Nobody is perfect, but they don’t nickle and dime us and continue to provide regular, high quality updates without charge (I can’t wait for Wreck the Halls!). Yes, I know some platforms are slower to get updates than others, but would you rather they charge you a nickle for every pull of the slingshot. I didn’t think so. Thanks, Rovio.
All right’ go Rovio! A lot of other companies would sell out, but not them, all right!
I’ve not heard of Zynga before, myself, so I googled ’em. The top article headlined the fact that they are looking to launch an IPO next week. Given that, it would seem to me that all Zynga was after was a hot property to sweeten the IPO for any and all potential investors.
So I concur with BirdLeader, way to go Rovio! Thanks for looking out for us loyal bird flingers!
Sorry, I should have mentioned more about Zynga. Here’s a breakout of some of their games and below is a snippet from Wikipedia:
So it appears that Zynga is bigger than I initially thought. Going back to google however, further down the page list is a link to an article from CNET. In summary, it seems that some while ago, Zyngaemployees were given companty stock in lieu of higher salaries, but now, Zynga wants those shares back from their employees under threat of termination.
Another reason to applaud Rovio management’s decision.
If only other companies would do what rovio did.
I’m glad to see Rovio standing strong – I like the way Rovio has been running Angry Birds, and considering Zynga has always been quite greedy, (requiring you to play exorbitant amounts of money for pixels on a screen) I’m happy that Rovio keep on providing for us Angry Addicts. If another company like Zynga were to take over, I couldn’t imagine how Angry Birds may change…
I was about to say pretty much what you said, so I’ll just second that. I think Angry Birds will continue to do very well in Rovio’s hands. Clearly, they love their angry little babies.
My hope for the world has increased exponentially.
Me too! I’m glad someone has some sense!
Keep it up rovio! Angry birds is better in your hands!
I’m so thankful for this. Rovio has done a top-notch job with Angry Birds – I am consistently impressed with them. Zynga, on the other hand, is like a parasite.
(Could you miagine how annoying it would be to have to beg/spam your friends in order to play the next level? Yeesh.)
It’s great that Rovio is keeping the game and not hand it over to Zynga, only to have it screwed up. Zynga can try and make their Angry Birds clone, but I’m sure that game will fail. Now if only we can get a new Angry Birds with 3D gameplay and graphics similar to a FPS game, such as Portal 2 and Call of Duty: MW3.
Good!
I applaud Rovio for keeping their company business, their business! Just because a company is successful, doesn’t mean they should or would be willing to sell that to the first offer that comes their way. I believe Rovio should continue to develop the AB platform until the world is tired of playing it!
Ya like thats going to happen. The world will never be tired of playing it!!!!!! I also congratulate Rovio for turning down the deal. I wish other company’s and games could do what they did. Club Penguin has turned into a money maker and you have to pay for membership just to unlock most of the game!!!! I bet that if they accepted then we would have to pay to unlock each world. Rovio cares about us!!!!
Well, isn’t Rovio making a movie, and all that stuff? They want to be the next Pixar, Mickry Mouse, and everything! Of course they won’t sell to a game company when only a part of them Is games!
Great! If angry birds continue to get tons and tons of downloads, I’m sure other companies can’t catch up!
Thats a good and awesome step by Rovio.
If they would have handed it to them, forget about getting free updates but also poor gameplay and ridiculous episodes too.
Or no updates at all.
why do we need large corporations of greedy pigs. we need plenty of small companies who deliver good stuff. gravity app comes to my mind – @janole fantastic guy, great updates and regular, its joy to use that app and its maintained by a single guy – give it to a bunch of people and they’ll screw it up. look at winamp. why do we need large band of thugs to give us a sense of “oh its by a large corporation, so it must be good”. the way things have gone, smaller shops – well run, talented bunch is much better. thank you rovio for staying independent !
Who’s better: Rovio or Zynga? Rovio makes Angry Birds. Zynga makes FarmVille. Case Closed.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Three cheers for Rovio!
word.
that is a good choice,kepp it up!!
They will probably go public in the near future. I really hope that they don’t end up putting profit before quality.
ref: Article
Thanks, Bird Leader. You definitely expressed my sentiments in your post. I love everything about Angry Birds. I think it’s due to Rovio’s “love and devotion” to this quirky little game that draws us all in. Kudos to Rovio!
I am also glad Rovio didn’t sell out. I have never played anything by Zynga, but it seems like any time a company takes over another one, they ruin the product they take over. I love Rovio and Angry Birds!
Kudos to Rovio. It’s nice to see a company that isn’t willing to sell out. I don’t know how long AB will be popular, but 3 decades later, I still love Ms. Pacman! Sometimes, a company just gets it right. Nice news, in a time when most news isn’t. Thanks for letting us know.
i feel like im correcting everybody on this site (kidding) just think you got a little typo there birdleader “buyout attempt buy Zynga” don’t you mean “by Zynga” ? to the matter: i am also very glad they turned it down, who knows what other companies would to to such an amazing game… regards
Ha! I think you mean “who knows what other companies would DO to such…” not “would TO yo such…” You are corecting them for a typo, but he a typo too! ;)
And I just had a typo there! i meant “to to” not “to yo” :D
lol, i guess everybody makes mistakes. in my defense im swiss :P
I know this isnt the right place for this but the photo for seasons changed in game center and there is the “wreck the halls” leaderboard with no scores!! Looks like an update will be here soon!
Yes, read more here.
My respect for Rovio has skyrocketed…and it has already been well on up there. As much as I’d love to see an Angry Birds themed Facebook game, I have preferred from the get-go that either Rovio produces such a thing themselves, or if they honestly need a partner, they choose another outfit besides Zynga. This news certainly cements absolutely no Zynga interference at all with our beloved feathered friends…AND that Rovio is just an AWESOME company, period. Which makes me all that much more unabashed in my saying it loud and proud about how much I LOVE the Angry Birds franchise. I don’t ever recall a puzzle game seeing so much deserved praise and popularity since Tetris 22 years ago. And that said, unlike FarmVille, Cafe World, Mafia Wars, CityVille, you name it with Zynga’s fare, I think Angry Birds will certainly be in the highest echelon of video/computer gamedom alongside Tetris, Pac-Man, Mario, Sonic, Legend of Zelda, etcetera. If it is not already there…the birds and pigs are definitely as easily recognized as the main characters of those games, and therefore well on their way to being icons (if not already there) of the industry.
THANK GOD they did NOT sell out to Zynga. I PLAYED (not anymore, I smartened up) Farmville, and they would get people hooked and then they start “nickel & diming” you to death. You would have to pay alot of money for anything cool in the game. The thing I respect about Roxio is you get all the updates with the original cost. If Zynga took over, they would charge anywhere from $5-$20 for each update in angry birds. For instance for the new “wreck the halls” update, I guarantee you Zynga would charge you for the update, and charge for everyone after that. They did it in there other games. And then all the technical problems, my lord, Zynga is the worst. There have been very few “glitches” with angry birds, if Zynga took over, there would be multiple issues if they took over!!! Thank Roxio and thank good that there are things more important that the all might dollar to Roxio, and not selling out!!!
I’m glad they didn’t do it. I’ve seen their games and they suck, plus they worth way more than that. ROVIO RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ijust heard on the radio that Zynga had an IPO today. It looks like their bid for AB was just a stepping stone to a higher price on the IPO.
Nah their shares are now below original IPO price
Check this out, Rovio might launch 5-6 games in 2012, possible IPO in 2013
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/16/angrybirds-idUSL6E7NG2F520111216
I hope they never sell out. Especially to Zynga. They’d manage to screw it up somehow.
zynga is like a worser version of mini-clip they would probebley ruin this golden game
also thumbs up to rovio finally a company that’s not in it for the money but the happiness of their customers
Zynga may strike again, although this time it is not with money, but a game. http://blog.games.com/2012/02/10/zynga-angry-birds-physics-game/
I wouldn’t worry too much. From what I have read recently, Zynga may dig their own grave before launching a physics-based hit.
Yay, Rovio! I played Zynga’s Adventure World for a few days. It has so much potential, but Zynga can’t make a game without making you pay as you go, for the privilege of getting to finish the level you’ve started. Zynga is just ridiculously greedy. I’ll never play another Zynga game again.
That’s a lot of money. Rovio knows they can make a lot more money themselves, and a buyout like that would be like selling out the whole world. Not accepting that offer was a good choice for them and us.