Walmart steps up with Angry Birds Space promotion

Angry Birds Space, Rovio’s next big game in the phenomenal mobile game series, launches on Thursday with some major promotions from Walmart.

Angry Birds Space will debut in a variety of app stores, but this event marks Walmart’s first in-store promotion with a mobile app. Game clues will be hidden in select limited-edition Angry Birds Space merchandise — including apparel, mobile phones, plush toys, snacks, and more — in more than 3,000 Walmart stores starting March 25.

Walmart is also creating an Angry Birds Facebook page that will become active March 22, and fans who “like” the page will get access to one of four “Golden Eggsteroid” clues, which can unlock secret levels in the game. While that isn’t a big deal by itself, the collaboration shows that Rovio is now so big it can cut deals with the world’s largest retailer. Angry Birds has become a worldwide cultural phenomenon and has been downloaded more than 700 million times.

Walmart has 13 million fans for its Facebook page, so it can help Angry Birds Space get more fans.

Rovio has also cut a deal with T-Mobile. The company’s store reps will demonstrate the game and help fans get bonus content.

“We wanted to give our fans a unique retail extension to Angry Birds Space that rewards them for their eagle eyes,” said Peter Vesterbacka, chief marketing officer and Mighty Eagle of Rovio Entertainment. “Only Walmart can deliver the reach across America for this type of programm and we wish our fans luck as they seek out our hidden clues.”