'Angry Birds Go!' races onto iOS and Android

Launching December 11 on iOS and Android devices, "Angry Birds Go!" channels the frantic cartoon racing of "Mario Kart" but chucks out circuit laps in favor of a downhill jam.

Launching December 11 on iOS and Android devices, 'Angry Birds Go!' channels the frantic cartoon racing of 'Mario Kart' but chucks out circuit laps in favor of a downhill jam.

Steer by tilt or touch, customize your kart, and race for the finish line in search of what the Angry Birds love best. Is it the unhatched eggs of their kidnapped young? No, it's cake.

As the game is a free download, players are presented with plentiful opportunities to hand over large or small amounts of cash in order to accelerate their progress by obtaining extra vehicles and parts, game modes, and energy refills for those tired out kart-driving birds.

Like 'Disney Infinity,' the latest run of 'Skylanders' games, and 'Angry Birds Star Wars II,' there are tie-ins to real-world toys in the form of Hasbro's compatible Telepods and Jenga lines, used to unlock extra content within 'Angry Birds Go!'

And the presence of two in-game virtual currencies -- gems and coins -- is by no means exclusive to 'AGB.' Rather, it's a widely used game design technique that helps obscure the real cost of in-app unlocks.

But if the game's entertained you well enough, then perhaps its developers deserve a little hat-tip. Just don't go spending next month's lunch money all at once.