Nickelodeon has teamed with casual games publisher PlayFirst to combine their two biggest franchises in one online video game. SpongeBob SquarePants Diner Dash will be available for download on Nick Arcade (www.nickarcade.com) and other game portals all over the U.S. this month. The title will then roll out in international markets later this year.
PlayFirst’s Diner Dash has been played more than 100 million times worldwide, making it one of the most popular games on the Internet. The original hit game follows Flo as she tirelessly works to turn her fledgling diner into a five-star restaurant, satisfying customers of all types along the way. The same basic game mechanic will apply to the SpongeBob version, which will be tailored to include popular characters from Bikini Bottom and the wacky brand of humor the TV series is known for.
“Joining one of the top properties for kids’SpongeBob SquarePants‘with one of the top casual games in the market’Diner Dash‘is a significant step in the expansion of Nickelodeon’s casual gaming business,” says Paul Jelinek, VP of digital media products for Nickelodeon Networks. “PlayFirst has demonstrated that they understand how to tap the exploding mass market interest in interactive entertainment. This launch will continue to grow the kids’ demographic for casual downloadable games.”
Nick Arcade, which has logged more than 20 million downloads in the past year, features more than 80 family-friendly games including those based on such hit Nickelodoen cartoon series as Danny Phantom and Dora the Explorer. Original games that have become popular with visitors include Feeding Frenzy and Magic Ball 2. All games can be tried out for free and then purchased at an average price of $20. Also available is the Nick Arcade Pass, a $7.95 per month subscription plan that entitles users to keep one game of their choosing each month, plus discounts on other games and various items in the Nick Shop.
PlayFirst was established in 2004 and is funded by Mayfield Fund, Trinity Ventures and Rustic Canyon Partners. More information on the company and its portfolio of casual games can be found at www.playfirst.com.
