Angry Birds: This Year's Tickle-Me-Elmo for Geeks

23.12.2010
Angry Birds is a worldwide phenomenon, and resellers are hoping to capitalize on the fad this holiday season with jacked-up prices on hard to find plush toys.

Game maker a limited run of 8-inch versions of its green pigs, bombing black birds, and wood chopping yellow birds. The toys, which cost $15, quickly sold out. Most models are now on back order until January, and two toys--the blue and black birds--won't be available before March.

With the angry plush toys in limited availability, resellers have rushed in to fill the void with inflated prices on the plush critters. Third-party retailers on Amazon are selling the stuffed animals for as much as $60. Auction sales on Ebay, meanwhile, are offering starting bids as low as .

You can also spend . Rovio's site only lists 8-inch versions of the toys, but Commonwealth Toy and Novelty, the company tapped to produce the Angry Birds plush toys, said it was producing both 5- and 8-inch versions.

Angry Birds Won't Be Home For Christmas

Even though some Angry Birds toys are offered at inflated prices, don't get your credit card out just yet. Closer inspection of Amazon shows most of the Angry Birds plush toys won't ship until after December 25. So unless you are on the lookout for Kwanzaa gifts, Amazon won't help parents or other gift givers desperate to get a stuffed bird with a bad attitude in time for Christmas.