Intel app store offers an Angry birds PC version

ANGRY BIRDS, the mobile game that has dominated both the Ipad and Android application marketplaces, is coming to the PC thanks to Intel, Currys and PC world.

The game will appear on the Intel App Up Center on 1 February, which is available though the high street retailers, and will be free to the first 15,000 users. Anyone coming in after that will find it costs them £3.49. Or, alternatively nothing, as they are likely to choose to wait until it becomes free again.

Those lucky people that do get the gratis download will be the first to enjoy the game as it moves away from mobile phone to the laptop, desktop and netbook PC, which is an achievement for any game, never mind a mobile phone one that is deceptively simple and requires the user to catapult birds at egg-stealing pigs.

Gary Hearns, senior category manager for Dixons Retail said, "We are really excited to be giving away free copies of Angry Birds for use on netbooks, laptops and desktops - we expect them to fly, so recommend gamers get in there quick to get their copy."

Perhaps it was this excitement that caused the firm to limit the free release as, if it is really that hyped up about the application, then an ongoing zero price tag could have sent them into a boardroom frenzy.

As well as improving the quality of life for some lucky PC users, the game is also likely to breathe a little life into the application stores run by the high street retailers, which let's face it have a profile somewhat lower than much of the competition.

We installed Intel's App Up, despite its maddening name, and found it to be okay. Angry Birds is currently on offer, though for its £3.49 price. Anyone that does not have it on the phone, or does not have a compatible phone in the first place, might want to keep a close eye on the store if they want to grab a birdy bargain.

Unhelpfully the store does not appear to let you search for items by price, which means that other free applications are tough to find, if indeed any actually exist. µ