Diner Dash: Sizzle and Serve

Also known as: Diner Dash [UK]

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Oct 2, 2007

Move over Halo 3: Online games offer free play

DS News from N4G | Diner Dash: Sizzle and Serve

DS - Diner Dash: Sizzle and Serve - Move over Halo 3: Online games offer free play

CNN Money reports:

For all the hype about Microsoft's Halo 3 video game, ten times as many people have played the hit online game Diner Dash. Diner Dash, developed by PlayFirst, is a so-called casual game - an inexpensive, easy-to-learn online game that appeals to a wider, younger audience.

Casual games are played on a Web site or downloaded and, due to the cheaper format, they don't bring in the kind of money that traditional video games generate The casual game industry struggles to get players, particularly young ones, to pony up to play.

Now casual gaming startups in the U.S. like PlayFirst are experimenting with the "microtransaction" concept that's been a hit with kids. The microtransaction model is hugely successful in South Korean and China, which use it to combat piracy.

Diner Dash, played by more than 200 million people, has made $40 million in revenue from the $20 model since it launched in 2004. PlayFirst CEO CEO John Welch says their paying customers are now skewing much younger, and he believes they have hit the formula...

[The news story also mentions other casual gaming companies, titles, and models including Club Penguin, Nexon (Kart Rider and MapleStory), Tencent (Chinese), Boonty (Cafe.com), Pogo.com, and Kongregate.]
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Apr 25, 2007

Hands-on with handhelds - Touch the Dead, Diner...

DS News | Diner Dash: Sizzle and Serve

The very first thing you see when entering their lobby is a curvaceous statue of Lara Croft. The second thing? An intimidating life-size replica of Hitman's Agent 47. But gaming publisher Eidos is offering more than just testosterone and other hormone-driven action games this year. They've also got a surprising number of mainstream-friendly handheld titles in the lineup. The games are simple and straightforward... are they also addictive? We dropped by their offices earlier this week to find ... » Read More

Feb 1, 2007

Diner Dash to bring thrill of service industry to...

DS News | Diner Dash: Sizzle and Serve

Finally, a game that lets aspiring restauranteurs get the customer interaction experience they'll need to succeed without all those pesky actual people. Diner Dash, recently announced for the DS and PSP, puts you in the comfortable, supportive shoes of Flo, waitress extraordinaire. As Flo, you are charged with serving food, cleaning up messes, and keeping your customers happy. After all, they are always right. From the looks of things, you'll be running a one-woman show on the floor of your ... » Read More

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