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Library/Game/Flappy Bird
Grade B22 sourcesHIS-01343

Flappy Bird

Game · 2013 · Notable

44Editable slideCertificate

A solo developer’s game reached No. 1 before he withdrew it from the app stores.

Dong Nguyen

@dongatory · Apr 29, 2013

New simple game. Flap Flap. http://t.co/Dmt9AXsYzY

4.7K483
Post · @dongatory on X
Clip · PewDiePie on YouTube

Dong Nguyen

@dongatory · May 24, 2013

Flappy Bird is out now! itunes.apple.com/app/id642099621

19616
Post · @dongatory on X

lex 🃏♥️

@alexisbaskervil · Nov 4, 2013

Fuck Flappy Bird 😡😡😡

93
Post · @alexisbaskervil on X

Dong Nguyen

@dongatory · Jan 22, 2014

Finally, here is the link play.google.com/store/apps/det… I hope you enjoy it :-)

72
Post · @dongatory on X

Dong Nguyen

@dongatory · Feb 8, 2014

I am sorry 'Flappy Bird' users, 22 hours from now, I will take 'Flappy Bird' down. I cannot take this anymore.

172.8K20.5K
Post · @dongatory on X

App Store

@AppStore · Feb 6, 2014

We got to 99. What's your high score? tw.appstore.com/60105EVE http://t.co/hSMYrFGwFA

524175
Post · @AppStore on X
The phone with the original Flappy Bird, collected by the V&A
Victoria and Albert Museum; game by Dong Nguyen / .Gears
Flap Flap: Dong Nguyen's first post of the game
@dongatory on X
Original Flappy Bird gameplay
Dong Nguyen / DOTGEARS
Flappy Bird's Flap again soon screen
Dong Nguyen / DOTGEARS
Dong Nguyen, Flappy Bird's creator
Rolling Stone
The App Store's game-over screenshot with a score of 99
@AppStore on X

Spread Score

How it works
ReachNo data yetContagion40Breadth80Velocity0LongevityNo data yet44

Numbers

Seed to peak proxy
9 months
May 24 ’13 to Feb 9 ’14
Platforms
7
Started on App stores
Origin
Seeded
Gaming

Mechanics

  • Shareable outputPrimary
  • Underdog
  • Platform jump
  • Press loop
  • Dupe economy

How it spread

Trace the origin

Flappy Bird topped the US App Store months after release amid score posts, complaints and YouTube reactions. Nguyen reported $50,000 a day in ads, then withdrew it on February 9, 2014, the reported search peak. Copycats followed.

Proxy date; not a directly measured attention peak.

Google searchesApr ’13JunSepDecFeb ’14MarJunSepDecPeak proxyXApp storesRedditPressYouTubeOpen webRetail
XApp storesRedditPressYouTubeOpen webRetail

13 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

Timeline (16)

  1. April 2013

    Dong Nguyen precursor · Apr 29 ’13

    Nguyen posted a splash screen for Flap Flap before renaming the game Flappy Bird.[1][2]

    Flap Flap: Dong Nguyen's first post of the game
    Open the first post ↗

  2. May 2013

    Dong Nguyen / .Gears seed · May 24 ’13

    Nguyen released Flappy Bird for iOS and posted its App Store download link.[3][4][2]

  3. November 2013

    @alexisbaskervil platform jump · Nov 4 ’13

    The account posted a complaint later identified as the first non-owner tweet about the game.[5][2]

  1. platform jump · Nov 17 ’13

  2. commercial · Jan 17 ’14

Join free to see the other 13 events and the full chart. Free, on every case.

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Why it worked

Do this

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

Pro opens the playbook, all 9 sourced numbers and 22 sources. Start with a free account.

Join freeGo Pro
Origin
Seeded
Sector
Gaming
Region
VN
Reported figure
—
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

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$110M revenue

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New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.