Angry Birds - Lessons for Life

Life reminds us of it's invaluable lessons in mysterious ways. I refreshed my lessons at this addictive game of Angry Birds. If you don't know what it is, it may help to read one of my earlier posts 'Angry Birds - The addiction'.

This article draws parallel between the game and life. If there were lessons to be learnt from the game, these would be my pick...

1. Acknowledge and understand your obstacles

Pretending that the problems don't exist and procrastinating has never helped. The first step is to acknowledge the problem and understand it. As Robert Frost has said, "The best way out of a difficulty is through it". The obstacles come in different forms; just as wood, steel and glass in the game. Also, they could confront us as one big challenge made up of all the individual obstacles.


2. Know your birds well and what they can do for you 

The key to success is playing by one's strength. To do that one has to know his cards well. Invest time in understanding your key strengths. Just like a piano; once tuned cannot be played forever. It requires tuning often to be in the best of shape. Hone your strengths frequently.


 

3. There is a bird for every obstacle

There is a bird for every obstacle just as there is a work around for every problem in life. However complex the obstacles look, there is always a way to overcome them. The trick is to breakdown the challenges into its constituent obstacles and address each one with the appropriate means. It is not hard to understand that the different obstacle takes different approach to beat. Play to your strengths. Break the wood, splatter the glass or blow up the concrete - use the appropriate means for each problem.


4. Make the most of opportunities (Explosive power)

Somewhere hidden among all the rubble and chaos are opportunities in our lives. Just the kind that can make your life far more exciting and easier. Keep an eye out for them. Make that extra effort to get them. Nailing these opportunities will help in achieving more than what is seems possible.

5. Teamwork is still the best strategy

One hammer has never fit all the needs; however big it may be. In a team game one has to play with their strength and towards the common goal. Use your birds judiciously. Every bird has a purpose and the key to winning the game lies in approaching the obstacles in strategic moves.


6. Perseverance is all it takes

Have you had a feeling that you've been trying hard but the results aren't coming. Are you struck in that elusive rounds wherein, you've felt that there ought to have been one more bird at hand. What will you do in life if you were in one such situation. Will you push it or simply quit? What we persevere at becomes easy. Not that the task becomes easier; our ability to do so gets increased.


7. Innovation -There has to be another way out

If one thing that Angry Birds teach us is that there is more than one way to do things. It is perhaps the best take away from the game. The feeling of learning an easier way to accomplishing things is invaluable; more so after persevering hard at something. In a way, perseverance leads to innovation.


8. After all, it's just a game and life is just a ride

All said and done; its just a game. Lie too, in the end, is not worth taking too seriously. Try not to control everything in life. Let go; explore things and enjoy the ride. Play safe and enjoy your game .. er.. your life.


Let me know how much you enjoy your game ... 

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Angry Birds - The Addiction

Of all the flightless birds that there are in this world, two have found extraordinary recognition. Dodo for getting extinct; Angry Birds for seeming to live on forever. 

The game was launched in December 2009 on Apple's iOS platform at an initial cost of 100,000 Euros. The game went on to become Apple's top selling paid application by mid 2010. It gets downloaded more than 1 million times within 24 hours of its release on Android Market. The makers of the game generate over USD 1 Million in revenues every month from the advertisements in the free version for Android.


The success of the game is unquestionable. What makes it so popular?

1. Easily available across platforms

The first and foremost reasons for the widespread adoption is the availability of the game itself on all possible platforms. Rovio ensured that there is a version available for every possible platform that there could be - Windows, MAC, iOS, Andriod, PSP etc. The enthusiasts could easily identify a version appropriate for their device easily. A valuable lesson for marketing folks - The goods ought to hit the stores before you spread the word across. The good ought to be on the shelf, before you tell me so on the television.


2. Least system requirements

Remember the time when you had bought a new game but realized that processor had to be upgraded, the RAM capacity had to be increased or an advanced graphics card to be inserted ? Well, Angry Birds isn't gonna throw up one such scenario. The game does not require heavy processing or display infrastructure.


3. Ease of understanding and playing

The game is very easy to understand and play. 5 minutes of fiddling and you'll know all there there is to know about it. 15 mins into the game and you get addicted. As simple as that. There are not too many input parameters  to  control or master. There is just one sling and a handful of birds. The best part is that the entire game lays before you in one viewing frame unlike many other strategy games that require you to understand a large landscape to play efficiently.


4. USP of the game

The game does not impress you through its visual extravagance or adrenaline boosting. It gets you hooked through witty challenges bundled in  a simple layout. The more the one plays the game, he will understand that Angry Birds is more than just hurling birds at pigs. The little challenges to slingshot  the appropriate bird against the right obstacle (Wood, Glass, Metal) keeps one interested.




Now, you read about what I like the most about this game. Do let me know what aspect of it has got you hooked to it.

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