"A lot of people in the games industry, they think the 'real' games are on consoles. You're only a 'real' games company if you do a big budget game. But we don't have that inferiority complex," Rovio head Peter Vesterbacka told MCV in a recent interview. Vesterbacka was defending against Nintendo's latest criticisms of the mobile market -- both Nintendo of Japan head Satoru Iwata and Nintendo of America head Reggie Fils-Aime have argued that low-priced smartphone apps are degrading the value of games.

"If I was trying to sell a $49 pieces of plastic to people then yes, I'd be worried too," Vesterbacka added, with a tinge of vitriol, alluding to the standard retail price of a Wii game disc. "But I think it's a good sign that people are concerned -- because from my point of view we're doing something right." Rovio's Angry Birds and its spin-offs are just a $1 each for iPhone and are offered as free, ad-supported apps on the Android Market.

Still, the company has plans for more console development, having already released Angry Birds as a PlayStation Mini, with additional console ports in the pipeline -- even Nintendo's 3DS is getting an Angry Birds port. "Games consoles for us are just like launching on a new smartphone platform," Vesterbacka said nonchalantly. After all, he's probably more concerned with the movie tie-in, the planned US IPO, and, uh, having an Angry Bird etched into the Moon.

Okay, that last one probably isn't happening. Yet.
Source:Rovio's Vesterbacka defends mobile games, calls out Nintendo's '$49 pieces of plastic' - Joystiq

This almost makes me want to quit playing Angry Birds. Iwata and Reggie are right though, IMO. Smartphone games are great and accessible, but they cater towards casual gamers and people who like to think they're gamers.

Angry Birds < Zelda
BUT
Zelda's Adventure (*shudder*) < Angry Birds

I don't mind paying for games that I KNOW took hundreds of people and a few years to make...

Laughably it took 12 people to make angry birds and the team is about 40 now.

They don't seem to understand that the reason they can make a profit off of their games is because they are very stripped down games that aren't worth console games. I think Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo shouldn't allow some cocky iPhone developer like Rovio saying console gaming is dying to put his games on their consoles.

I don't know who the hell Rovio thinks they are.

They took an idea from a Flash game and were the first to port it to iOS. They're no genius innovators. They were at the right place at the right time.

__________________
&}

I've been thinking the same thing as well. Have they had any other hits besides Angry Birds? It looks they're just a one-trick pony.

And honestly, how much profit can truly be made off of a 99 cent game? Ninty's got the right idea.

Pieces of plastic!? This is the most inhumane abomination to actual video games!
SmartPhone games are just one dollar data.

He has a point. I won't deny that, but the quality offered from full retail video games can't compare to mobile apps; They're low budget.

One Dollar Data people!

Smart Phone gaming are just small things to use when you're bored.

Just angry birds and 2 other games just like angry birds. Angry birds seasons and Angry Birds Rio