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id Software co-founder Tom Hall joins Diner Dash dev PlayFirst
Tom Hall has signed on with PlayFirst, the publisher of GameLab's downloadable hit Diner Dash. Hall was a co-founder of id Software, and later worked on Duke Nukem, Deus Ex, Anachronox and other highly regarded video game franchises. Hall will serve as principal designer at PlayFirst, and is drawn there by "the fast-paced and creative atmosphere of mobile gaming," he says in a GI.biz post. Though he is better remembered for his past contributions, Hall's recent experience involves stints at mobile and social gaming studios KingsIsle Entertainment and Loot Drop.Before joining PlayFirst, Hall attempted two Kickstarter campaigns with no success: the "old-school RPG" Shaker with Brenda Brathwaite and the Worlds of Wonder create-your-own-platformer project. [Image credit]
Diner Dash dev PlayFirst hit with layoffs after social games fail
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."
TUAW's Daily App: Egg vs. Chicken
Egg vs. Chicken is another interesting title that I heard about at GDC the other week. It's a game created by PlayFirst, which is another one of those companies with a huge PC back library of casual games. This one's different, though, as it's an original title for the iPhone and is designed to attract a little more experienced audience than the "Dash" time management games that PlayFirst has become known for. The game's kind of a combination of Plants vs. Zombies and Bejeweled -- you have to match up eggs on the bottom half of the screen in a match-3 style game, and then you toss those matched eggs up to the top of the screen where chickens are invading. It gets chaotic quickly -- there are quite a few levels to play, and eventually you move along to fighting powered-up chickens with powered-up eggs to match. It's not bad at all, and it's definitely a diversion from what PlayFirst has been working on in the past. They told me at GDC that they are not only interested in bringing their PC games over to the iPhone, but in building a solid library of original titles as well. Egg vs. Chicken is a nice addition to that library, and it's on sale for US$0.99 right now.
Diner Dash dashing to WiiWare March 29
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.
X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Diner Dash, Gyromancer
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 [iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly. [RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
This Wednesday: XBLA takes you out for Diner and a Gyromantic date
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?
Diner Dash serves XBLA on Nov. 18
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.
Zoo Publishing announces four new DS titles
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.
The Daily Grind: What do you play while you play?
Let's face it ... sometimes MMOs have their 'slow moments'. Whether it's crafting, lengthy travel times, crafting materials gathering, crafting, endless grind sessions for rep or XP, waiting for guildies at an instance, or crafting, your average MMO player will experience a boring moment or two over the course of their gaming career. If you're anything like the bloggers around here, you'll have eventually realized that you can play two games at once if you put your mind to it. Casual games like the offerings of PopCap or PlayFirst can make the time go past oh-so-much faster. Some titles, like EverQuest, EverQuest 2, and soon Star Wars Galaxies, have their own TCG games embedded within the MMO itself.So what do you play while you play? Are you a Bejeweled fan, maybe a Diner Dash aficionado? Give us your mini-game best shots in the comments!
Diner Dash, Oasis and other casual titles coming to console networks
PlayFirst, makers of many well-known casual titles, and Hudson entertainment are teaming up to bring those games to consoles for "digital download" in 2008. Although everyone received the awkwardly worded press release this morning, GamingTalkHQ bothered to put two and two together -- so kudos to them. Basically it means that games like Diner Dash, Oasis, Chocolatier, Mystery of Shark Island will all eventually be made available on either Xbox Marketplace or PSN, the press release kinda skips over that part.If we had to guess, we'd probably say XBLA, only because Hudson already has a relationship with Microsoft and just made available the enjoyable Bomberman Live. Then again, these are casual games and are designed for a solitary experience, putting it on any of the console services shouldn't be too hard. Although, don't ever think to mock these casual games, Diner Dash has made so much money we shudder at the mere utterance of that title. There's nothing stopping these games from being just as popular on XBLA or PSN at the right price.[Via X3F]
Oasis, Diner Dash coming to XBLA?
According to GamingTalkHQ, PlayFirst has announced a partnership with Hudson in which it will make some of its popular games available on "digital download services for console systems" starting next year. The first game planned in the deal is the very popular Diner Dash. Other games featured in the deal include Sandscript, Zenerchi, Mystery of Shark Island, Oasis, and Chocolatier. We can attest to the addictive nature of PlayFirst's games, as we've just wasted the last hour playing Oasis while "researching" this post. While Xbox Live Arcade is not specifically mentioned, it's a safe bet that we'll see these titles there next year. After all, we imagine that Bomberman Live is already giving Hudson a nice return.
Eidos and PlayFirst team up to bring Diner Dash
In announcing handheld versions of the PC downloadable game Diner Dash, Eidos and PlayFirst are attempting to establish a unified front and achieve success in the handheld arena when they bring Flo, ex-convict waitress, to store shevles for eager gamers in 2007. Diner Dash, which can be found in various different versions throughout the internet, has players seating customers, clearing dishes, and taking orders in this restaurant simulation game.
