The original "Angry Birds" is free on iOS. Both the standard edition and HD version for iPad are available to download at no charge.
As Appsfire points out, this is the first time publisher Rovio has discounted the game on iOS since it was released in 2009. So the question is: Why now?
It seems unlikely that Rovio would suddenly decide to switch the series, or even this one game, over to a microtransaction-supported model. Technically the game already has microtransactions:players can buy cans of sardines, which allow them to instantly beat a level using a "Mighty Eagle."
The promotion could be connected to Rovio's upcoming animated series, "Angry Birds Toons," which is set to premiere March 16. Since the game's release, the number of "Angry Birds" products has expanded to toys, candy, and even amusement parks: It's possible that the revenue from those products outpaces what Rovio makes from the game.
It's also possible that the original game has reached critical mass on iOS: There's very little rhyme or reason to the game's pricing across various platforms. "Angry Birds" has been free as a browser game or on Facebook for some time. On the other hand, the game is still $4.99 on the Mac App Store and $.99 on Windows Phone. The point is, the whatever the reason, it isn't a universal decision to use "Angry Birds" as a free introduction to series across all platforms.
Of course, all of this speculation kind of defeats the purpose. Maybe we should just download the game instead of looking a gift-horse in the mouth.
