Could a family business be responsible for the next Angry Birds?

A simple gaming idea – where angry birds were catapulted at pigs – became a surprise sensation in 2009. But could a family business be behind the next video game phenomenon?

Austrian transport firm Gebruder Weiss has just launched a free gaming app for the iPhone and Android. The idea behind the game, called Logistics Expert, is to move a Gebruder Weiss forklift truck to the loading ramp as quickly as possible.

It’s not as simple as it sounds – there are boxes, pallets and other cargo items in the way, so gamers need to make full use of their logistics skills.

For the uber-competitive, it’s also possible to compare results with others and see overall rankings – plus scores can be shared on Facebook and Twitter.

“With Logistics Expert, we want to increase our appeal to mobile users and inspire them on the subject of logistics in a playful manner,” said Thomas Konrad, head of corporate marketing services & communications at Gebruder Weiss.

It might seem like a surprisingly newfangled move for a 500-year-old company, but Gebruder Weiss prides itself on its tech credentials – it was one of the first logistic firms to optimise its website for mobile devices and is a big user of social media.

The business, which is owned by the Senger-Weiss and Jerie families, was nominated for the CampdenFB top European family business award, while its chief executive, Wolfgang Niessner, netted the non-family director accolade at the European Families in Business Awards in July.