It was only a matter of time before Guinness World Records acknowledged some of the quickest, biggest, longest and fastest things happening in the world of tech and gaming. In a statement released this week, the famous record recorder proclaimed Apple’s app store as “one of the most revolutionary gaming platforms in history [that] has become a serious challenger in gaming records.”
On the subject of Apple’s popular smartphone, Gaz Deaves, Guinness World Records Gaming Editor, said, “The release of the iPhone has not just changed the mobile industry, but the video game world too.” He continued: “With the never-ending App Store selection and an intuitive device, Apple has created a gigantic new space for itself in the casual games genre that literally brings entertainment to users wherever they may be.”
So, to the records. Listed as the fastest selling portable gaming system, with first day sales on June 24, 2010 of 1.5 million units, is, not surprisingly, the iPhone 4. The statement lists the PSP as a comparison, which sold 200,000 on its launch in 2005, and the Nintendo DS which shifted 500,000 consoles in 2004.
The most popular application marketplace is Apple’s app store. In less than three years, app downloads have exceeded 6.5 billion. As of September 2010, the store hosted 259,470 apps for purchase or free download. Of all apps ever available, about 50,000 have been discontinued. Interestingly, the statement notes that “of the apps currently available, 61 are flatulence simulators, a genre that includes such masterpieces as Fart Machine, Fart Ocarina and iFart – Epic Rip Edition.” We wonder if there’ll be a slew of similar gaseous-based apps floating into the app store in the coming months, or if their popularity is simply a flash in the pan(ts).
Apple’s app store also got the nod for largest downloadable video game store, with 37,362 games being available as of September 2010.
Taking the record for top paid-for app store game in most countries involved, as you can probably guess, some flying creatures that aren’t at all happy. “Physics puzzler Angry Birds has been recognized as the top paid-for game in Apple’s App Store in a record 67 territories worldwide,” the Guinness statement said. Since its launch in December 2009, the mesmerizing game has sold more than 6.5 million copies.
The fastest selling iPhone/iPod strategy game is PopCap’s Plants vs. Zombies, with more than 300,000 paid downloads in its first nine days of sales in February 2010. Guinness said that the game is the highest-grossing strategy game launch in the history of Apple’s app store, bringing in $1 million for developer PopCap in little more than a week.
Tap Tap Revenge from Tapulous, a hit with tappers the world over, was named the most popular iPhone game series. It’s had an impressive 15 million downloads since the first game in the series came out back in July 2008.
All of these records are listed in the Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition.
