Angry Birds launched on iOS in December 2009 and became the first mobile gaming megahit. Rovio's simple physics puzzle concept (fling birds at pig structures using a slingshot) was perfectly designed for touchscreen input. Each bird type had a unique ability, and the satisfaction of watching a perfectly aimed shot topple an entire structure was endlessly compelling. It was downloaded over 2 billion times, spawned a massive merchandise empire, two animated movies, a theme park, and proved to the entire industry that mobile was a legitimate gaming platform. Rovio went from near-bankruptcy to a global entertainment brand on the strength of one idea.