Hello!

What do you get when you cross the biggest mobile game franchise in the world with one of the biggest movie franchises ever? Game of the Week #16, of course!

It was released last week on almost every platform you can imagine: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, PC, and Mac. It was also released on Intel App-Up, a platform I’ve never heard of.

How does it work?

The gameplay is classic Angry Birds – catapult your Rebel Alliance birds towards the pigs of the Evil Empire. You earn points and up to three stars depending on how successfully and efficiently you smash up the pigs.

The Star Wars elements are mostly in the artwork – the birds and pigs have been turned into characters from the films, and the levels follow the story of films IV-VI. But the most impressive part of this game is that it’s more than just a reskin – Star Wars elements have also been woven into the gameplay. There’s a lightsabers that can strike at the pigs from afar, and a forcefield for the Jedi birds that expands their damage radius. And there are pleasing touches throughout, like the battered spacecraft doors that close over the scene at the end of every level.

How does it make money?

Rovio charges for the game – it’s $0.99 in the US on iPhone, and $2.99 on iPad. And in-app purchases are available too to help you crack those tricky levels – e.g. $1.99 for a pack of extra levels under the tutelage of Yoda, and $4.99 for a stash of Mighty Falcons that will wreck havoc among the forces of the Galactic Empire.

Why is it particularly interesting?

This is the Game of the Week because it’s the biggest of the biggest in terms of game franchise launches in 2012. There’ll be a big range of branded products in Toys-R-Us stores just in time for Christmas, and within 2.5 hours the game had rocketed to the top of the US App Store – much faster than any previous Rovio release.

Check out the game, especially if you’re a Star Wars fan, and let me know what you think.

All best,

Todd

P.S. To get previous GOTWs, to suggest future ones, or to add or remove names from the mailing list, just send me a mail.