Angry Birds 2, a new version of the record-breaking mobile game that pits birds against pigs, is now available. So expect even more device-distracted people than normal in your orbit. Angry Birds first took flight in 2009. Since then the original game — along with its multiple variations — has been downloaded more than 2.5 billion times. In 2011, it was reported that the world collectively played 5 million hours of Angry Birds per day.
Here’s the formula for a perfectly addicting game built on the idea of KISS, or keep it simple stupid. Pigs steal eggs. Birds get, you guessed it, angry about that. Not just angry but suicidal. In a righteous quest to destroy the structures where pigs horde their eggs, birds are catapulted into the structures, destroying them. It also means certain death for the birds, martyrs to the cause. Version 2 improves the look and mechanics of the original, but the theme remains steady. Hey, it works. New characters include Silver, “a dazzling young bird with a goofy sense of humor and incredible flying skills.” It’s free to play. Unless you put a high value on your time — then it can get very expensive. 3 billion downloads is imminent. Then 4…