Joystiq

Diner Dash dev PlayFirst hit with layoffs after social games fail

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:25:00 EST

PlayFirst, developer of mobile and social games like Diner Dash and Chocolatier, is going through a period of "restructuring." According to Gamasutra, this includes an unspecified number of layoffs at the studio, which had over 100 employees.

The company's stated focus on the saturated social games market has not been successful. PlayFirst shut down all its Facebook efforts, including the social adaptation of its previously successful Diner Dash franchise. Gamasutra also reports that other social games veterans who joined PlayFirst have since left for Playdom or Zynga.

The bad times haven't deterred PlayFirst. A representative for the company stated, "Our future plans are to continue to focus on the mobile casual gaming space."

Diner Dash dev PlayFirst hit with layoffs after social games fail originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NintendoWare Weekly: WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase, Ogre Battle 64, Metronome

JC Fletcher — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:39:00 EST

WarioWare D.I.Y. isn't the only new WarioWare out this week. Well, it sort of is, because WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase is basically an extension of the DS game, but Showcase also has a load of new microgames on its own.

Joining Showcase on the Wii is, believe it or not, a Nintendo 64 game on Virtual Console! And on DSiWare ... a metronome and an instrument tuner? See the full list after the break.

Gallery: WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase (WiiWare)

Continue reading NintendoWare Weekly: WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase, Ogre Battle 64, Metronome

NintendoWare Weekly: WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase, Ogre Battle 64, Metronome originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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European Nintendo downloads: Ogre Battle 64, Diner Dash, Art of Balance

JC Fletcher — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:25:00 EST

The latest Hanabi Festival has deposited another high-quality import into the European Wii Shop: Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber. Should you be less enthused by strategy and more into reflexes, you can get your fight on in Fatal Fury Special, also available on Virtual Console this week.

On DSiWare, you're treated to a trio of Game & Watch games from Nintendo, along with yet another GTA-type game.

Ogre Battle 64 (Nintendo 64, 1 player, 1,200 Wii Points)
Fatal Fury Special (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points)
Art of Balance (WiiWare, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
Diner Dash (WiiWare, 1-8 players, 1,000 Wii Points)
Game & Watch: Chef (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 Wii Points)
Game & Watch: Judge (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 Wii Points)
Game & Watch: Mario's Cement Factory (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 Wii Points)
Super Yum Yum: Puzzle Adventures (DSiWare, 1 player, 800 DSi Points)
Gangstar 2: Kings of LA (DSiWare, 1 player, 500 DSi Points)

European Nintendo downloads: Ogre Battle 64, Diner Dash, Art of Balance originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars Cantina: your own wretched hive of scum and villainy, in your iPhone

JC Fletcher — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST

THQ's new Star Wars iPhone game somehow manages to involve neither Death Star runs nor lightsaber battles, opting instead for the challenge of serving drinks to the intergalactic jerks in the iconic Mos Eisley Cantina. In the Diner Dash-like Star Wars Cantina, you must serve the correct drink to the impatient aliens in the cantina in pursuit of a daily quota. If you ever wondered whether the employees at the bar got tired of listening to Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes all day, well, now you'll know. The whole thing is presented in a sort of painted look that we find impressive. It'll be in the App Store soon.

As for iPhone games that do involve lightsaber battles, THQ also has a Bluetooth-enabled lightsaber duel game on the way!

[Via Kotaku]

Star Wars Cantina: your own wretched hive of scum and villainy, in your iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diner Dash dashing to WiiWare March 29

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:30:00 EST

Attention would-be restaurateurs: Hudson has announced that Diner Dash will arrive on WiiWare March 29. This will mark the first time that the game has been available on WiiWare outside of Japan, where it was released last month. For those unfamiliar with the title, Diner Dash tasks players with running a restaurant. This entails seating customers, taking orders, placing orders, serving food and cleaning tables. You have to manage all of these tasks in real time, so it gets pretty hectic pretty fast. The WiiWare version features new controls and a new multiplayer mode as well.

The press release doesn't mention a pricing, though we'd imagine it will share the Japanese price of $10.

Diner Dash dashing to WiiWare March 29 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese Nintendo downloads: Super Famicom Wars, Diner Dash

JC Fletcher — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST

Nintendo of Japan totally skimped on the digital releases this week. It's actually a bit disconcerting to see a list of releases without a huge DSiWare education or sudoku contingent. If you happen to want to play things on DSiWare (and if you read Japanese) there's a new Jake Hunter adventure, as well as another fascinating cheapo GG Series game, this time featuring a big drill.

On Wii, an Advance Wars predecessor is up, as well as Diner Dash, which arrives on WiiWare in Japan first.

Super Famicom Wars (Famicom, 1-4 players, 800 Wii Points)
Diner Dash (WiiWare, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points)
GG Series: Drilling Attack! (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 DSi Points)
Detective Saburo Jinguuji: Portrait of the Deceased Child (DSiWare, 1 player, 500 DSi Points)

Japanese Nintendo downloads: Super Famicom Wars, Diner Dash originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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European PSN releases for January 14

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:03:00 EST

Unless you're like, a huge UNO fan, or a staunch supporter of speedy restaurant waiters, there's not a huge glut of exciting stuff in this week's European PSN releases. Still, there's a bunch of games on sale, Rock Band got a metric ton of new tracks, and Guitar Hero 5 saw the rhythm game debut of Vampire Weekend. Click past the jump for the full release list!

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:

(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Continue reading European PSN releases for January 14

European PSN releases for January 14 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Diner Dash, Gyromancer

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: X3F TV

This week brings two casual games to Xbox Live Arcade. For puzzle fans, we have Gyromancer (1200, $15), an RPG take on PopCap's Bejeweled Twist. For those who prefer something a little more manic, there's Diner Dash (800, $10), which tasks players with running a restaurant and keeping customers happy. If you've ever dealt with real customers before, you'll know that keeping them happy is harder than it sounds.

See both games in the latest episode of XBLA in Brief.

Download the trial version of Diner Dash
Download the trial version of Gyromancer

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Diner Dash, Gyromancer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Wednesday: XBLA takes you out for Diner and a Gyromantic date

Ludwig Kietzmann — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST

Xbox Live Arcade shows a belligerent disregard for productivity this week, hosting a pair of light puzzle games that are sure to weigh heavily on your mind during working hours. Why not have a go (and then just one more) at Gyromancer, the gem-shifting collaboration between Square Enix and PopCap? The cost of entry is 1200 ($15). If it's a cohesive concoction of puzzles, RPG elements and item collection, your departure is likely to be at no point.

PlayFirst is also serving up an XBLA version of Diner Dash for 800 ($10). The culinary-themed time management game should be an ideal snack in between gorging on Dragon Age: Origins, Modern Warfare 2, Assassin's Creed 2, Left 4 Dead 2 and ... hmm. How good are you at time management?

This Wednesday: XBLA takes you out for Diner and a Gyromantic date originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diner Dash serves XBLA on Nov. 18

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:45:00 EST

With the rough time a downloadable title can have finding success in the fourth quarter, it's probably a good thing that Diner Dash could likely give a plate-dropping damn how successful it ends up being on the console after it arrives on November 18th. The casual title by PlayFirst is already a hit in realm of personal com-pu-ters, having sold over five million copies.

The XBLA version of Diner Dash naturally includes HD-ified graphicals, along with a new multiplayer mode that includes support for up to eight players. The game will allow direct control over protagonist Flo, or the "traditional control scheme," which involves "point-and-click style with hotkeys." All the best to Flo in opening up her diner in the midst of the triple-A retail season ... she's going to need it.

Diner Dash serves XBLA on Nov. 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zoo Publishing announces four new DS titles

Xav de Matos — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:00:00 EST

Zoo Publishing has revealed it will release four new Nintendo DS titles developed by PlayFirst, based on properties acquired from Empire Interactive earlier this month. Casual titles Diner Dash: Flo on the Go, Wedding Dash, Chocolatier, and Dream Chronicles are all scheduled to hit stores this holiday season.

Of the four, the most recognizable to gamers would be Diner Dash. In the latest edition, Flo (No, not that Flo) has decided to take a vacation; however, her undying work ethic has driven her to wait tables in five new tropical restaurants. Excuse us, Flo! You work too hard.

Zoo Publishing announces four new DS titles originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 May 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spend Mother's Day playing games with mom

Scott Jon Siegel — Sun, 11 May 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Casual

Don't panic: It's Mother's Day today in North America. We know it crept up on you, overshadowed by more significant holidays like Gears of War 2 Gameplay Footage Day and GTAIV ~~Day~~ Month. Luckily, Susan Arendt over at Game|Life has your back, with a list of excellent gaming gifts for moms of all types (or at least, all gaming types).

Does your mom miss those classic card game nights around the kitchen table? Fire up UNO on Xbox Live Arcade. Is she a tad overprotective of her offspring? She might relate to BioShock's Big Daddies (yes, we get the irony). Does she dig cooking and adorably mispronounced English? Then it's Cooking Mama all the way.

Of course, for moms who are less than avid gamers, there are also a plethora of excellent casual games out there. Titles like Peggle, Diner Dash, and Puzzle Pirates could prove to be perfect distractions for the mom with a lot on her plate. Happy Mother's Day to all the Joystiq-reading maternal units.

Spend Mother's Day playing games with mom originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 May 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Betty Boop: Double Shift: new screens in color

JC Fletcher — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:40:00 EST

Filed under: News, Screens

In a shocking turn of events, DSI Games continues to work on a Betty Boop game despite the fact that linear time continues to move away from the 1930's. If time moved backwards, or perhaps in a cycle, such that we would some day approach the first half of the 20th century, we'd totally understand, but no. Betty Boop is continually losing relevance as we speak.

As expected, Betty Boop: Double Shift features Betty dashing through a diner. For what it's worth, it includes ... a bunch of other cartoon characters we vaguely recognize but can't identify. But it's not all Diner Dash. There's an extraordinarily simple rhythm minigame as well!

Keep in mind that DSI is also publishing Barnyard Blast, which more than balances out one or two projects like this.

Betty Boop: Double Shift: new screens in color originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: Born free

JC Fletcher — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

There are a lot of games on the DS whose origins are in free online games. Some, like Diner Dash, Nervous Brickdown, and the upcoming N+ and WordJong, are good, or even great. Some are Elf Bowling 1&2. In every case of a free game getting remade as a DS cartridge, money is charged.

Do you have any games based on freeware? Do you plan on getting any in the near future? Is compelling gameplay enough to warrant a purchase for a portable console, when the experience can be had for nothing on PC? Or do you require significant expansion and upgrading before you'd even consider it?

Our personal view: even if a game costs nothing, that doesn't mean it has no value. We don't want to pay strictly for portability, but we're entirely willing to shell out for new content in a game whose progenitors were once free. Not Elf Bowling 1&2, though.

DS Daily: Born free originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Betty Boop license snapped up

JC Fletcher — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:05:00 EST

Filed under: News

Destination Software has grabbed the video game rights to the popular cartoon character Betty Boop. They've announced a game called Betty Boop Double Shift, in which Betty runs a restaurant.

Maybe Destination is at the forefront of a Betty Boop revival? Maybe the character is going to come back in a new cartoon or something? Or maybe the license was really cheap and a gimmick for a take on Diner Dash.

Informal survey: who here has seen a Betty Boop cartoon? Who Framed Roger Rabbit doesn't count. There are a lot of them available for free at the Internet Archive, having fallen into the public domain.

[Via Game|Life]

Betty Boop license snapped up originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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