Rovio challenges Nintendo on 'disposable 99c games' comment, promises updates for Angry Birds 3DS

"One of the biggest risks today in our gaming industry are these inexpensive games that are disposable", Said Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime last month.

Speaking at Game Developer Conference yesterday, Rovio's Peter Vesterbacka defended the 99c Angry Birds against these claims.

"We don’t regard Angry Birds as disposable content," Said the Finnish developer's self-styled 'Mighty Eagle'.

"That’s why every few weeks we update the game. More levels, more content. Though games publishers and studios say that social media is a really important element to its business, at Rovio we really mean it," he said.

He then went on to describe Ethan, a five-year-old boy who sent a picture of an Angry Birds level to the developer. Ethan's level ended up being packaged in an update, along with his name, written in massive stone letters.

It's this kind of constant interactivity for fans, says Vesterbacka, that makes 99c games far from disposable.

It's odd timing to enter a war of words with the Big N, seeing as the deal for Angry Birds 3DS was only closed a few days ago. Despite the apparent conflict, Vesterbacka's plans for 3DS show an uncharacteristic flexibility on Nintendo's part.

"We are working with the console makers to make sure that our games will be constantly updated", he said.

If that's true, it will be a first for update-shy Nintendo. Should Angry Birds sets a precident, many more updatable, low cost titles could follow.

Could Angry Birds bring an App Store-style sales model to roost on 3DS? Only time will tell.