Diner Dash
Cover art for the Xbox 360 version.
Developer(s)	GameLab
Publisher(s)	PlayFirst, Alawar Entertaimment
Producer(s)	Shockwave
Designer(s)	Nicholas Fortugno
Artist(s)	Strategy Art, Bon Art Studio
Series	Diner Dash, Dash
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X 10.2 or later, mobile phone, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360 (XBLA), iOS, PlayStation 3 (PSN), Wii (WiiWare), Android
Release date(s)	December 3, 2003 PC NA December 3, 2003 Nintendo DS NA May 13, 2007 XBLA NA November 18, 2009 PSN NA November 25, 2009 WiiWare JP February 16, 2010 NA March 29, 2010 EU March 26, 2010
Mode(s)	Single-player
Media/distribution	Download, CD-ROM

Diner Dash is a strategy video game and time management game initially developed by New York City-based American game development studio GameLab and published by San Francisco-based PlayFirst. It is now owned and published by PlayFirst. It is one of the top-selling downloadable games of all-time,^[1] available in multiple platforms such as PC, Mac, consoles, and mobile.

A Xbox Live Arcade version of the game was released by Hudson Soft on November 18, 2009, the PlayStation Network version on November 25, 2009, the WiiWare version on February 16, 2010 in Japan, as well as Europe on March 26, 2010 and North America on March 29, 2010, but this version is no longer on the WiiWare service.^[2] Diner Dash later became a mobile game when ported to mobile phones by Glu Mobile, given a retail release, and made available via a 100% advertising-supported download. Versions have been created for the platforms PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, and iOS.^[3]

Diner Dash is also used to refer to the Diner Dash franchise, which has spawned numerous sequels - Diner Dash 2: Restaurant Rescue was released in early 2006, Diner Dash: Flo on the Go was released in late 2006, Diner Dash: Hometown Hero was released in late 2007, and Diner Dash 5: BOOM! was released in early 2010.

Plot [edit]

Flo is a hard worker at a big stock market company in Dinertown. She's tired of doing all the work and feeling unfulfilled. Flo quits her job, wishing she could work someplace else. She spots a run down old diner, which she buys. She has to make enough money to fix up the diner. Later after earning more finance, she opens a new restaurant called Flo's Tiki Palace, when earning enough she then opens a seaside diner called Go with the Flo's Fine Seafood Dining, when finished at the seaside she opens a dazzling newer restaurant in an opening of a dark trees called Chez Flo.

After having the intuition that something special will happen Flo finishes up in Chez Flo and is immediately transported above the clouds where a Shiva Goddess welcomes her and challenges her to 10 trials inside her own restaurant, the Indian Restaurant. The goddess transforms Flo into a golden banquet goddess with 4 arms (allowing her to carry double the amount she could before), Flo completes the 10 grueling trials and is congratulated by the goddess for completing the trials. The goddess then flies away to the Indian Restaurant and Flo spots a young man below working in the same business job Flo had at the start of the story and prepares to fly down intent on turning him into a waiter just like her.

Gameplay [edit]

Gameplay involves seating customers and guiding Flo around the restaurant to serve customers. If enough money is earned after each level, play progresses to the next. As the game progresses Flo updates the dilapidated restaurant she begins with and builds three further restaurants, which provide new settings.

Gameplay centers around catering to customers within a time limit to gather as much money as possible. Flo can be moved around the restaurant to complete tasks. As customers arrive in the restaurant, the player must drag and drop them onto a table,^[4] where they sit down and read menus. Then the player must guide Flo to the table to take their order, which must be taken to the service hatch. After the chef has prepared the meal, Flo must deliver the food. When the customers are finished eating they must be taken a check, at which point the customers leave a tip and their dishes on the table, departing the restaurant. The dishes must be cleared by Flo before the next set of customers can use the table. Each successful action earns the player points, performing the same action multiple times in a row earns the player a chain bonus, which is broken once a different action is performed.^[5]

Customers have a series of hearts over their heads that indicate their mood. The longer the customer is forced to wait, the more hearts he or she loses. Each type of customer has different degrees of patience and tipping habits. Flo can perform various actions, such as talking to customers or serving them drinks, to revive these hearts. When customers lose all their hearts, they leave the restaurant, costing the player points. The goal of a level is earn a certain number of points. There are also expert point totals for advanced players to achieve.

The game has two modes: Career mode, which follows the story of Flo, and Endless Shift, a survival mode in which the player must last as long as possible in a single level.

In the Cooking Dash variation, the player actually prepares the food as opposed to bringing the order to the chef for him to prepare it.

Customers [edit]

Young Lady: A young woman, probably in her 20s-30s, who has moderate patience. They order and eat at moderate speed and are the "restaurant regulars." They are moderate tippers. First appearance.

Food Critic: They are impatient. They are slow to order, but eat at a moderate speed. She tips, not by money, but by a star. However, if she leaves unhappy, that will cost you A LOT of money. First appearance.

Senior: The Senior is the most patient out of the customers, but they are very slow when eating and ordering, and they do not tip well. First appearance.

Business Woman: A middle-aged woman who is the most impatient customer in the entire game. They order and eat fast. First appearance.

College Kid: College kids, a little younger than the Young Lady, is impatient in line, but patient on the table. First appearance.

Mr. Hot Shot: Hot Shot's are in their 30-40s, and they are the "coolest" customers in the game. They are patient in line, but become impatient at the table. First appearance.

Reception [edit]

Diner Dash has been mentioned in The New York Times,^[6] USA Today,^[7] CNN,^[4] and in a variety of casual game studies, including Nicole Lazzaro's analysis of player emotions at the 2005 Game Developers Conference.^[8] Games Magazine gave it a favorable review, calling it "remarkably flexible".^[9]

Series [edit]

1. Diner Dash
2. Diner Dash 2: Restaurant Rescue
3. Diner Dash: Flo On The Go
4. Diner Dash: Hometown Hero
5. Diner Dash 5: BOOM!

See also [edit]

• Glu Mobile
• PlayFirst

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• Official website , includes an online version
• Official game series site
• Glu Mobile, mobile version