Web Puzzles

Diner Dash is a popular PC Arcade game that follows young Flo in her quest to build a successful chain of restaurants. The game is a combination of strategy, arcade, and time management. Players progress through 50 increasingly challenging levels, upgrading their restaurants and moving on to new restaurants as the tasks progress.

Family Game

Diner Dash has not violence, no mature themes and no strong language. Game play is suitable for all ages, although younger players may have trouble when the levels become more difficult. The graphics are colorful and play progresses quickly enough through the various levels to remain interesting. The music is repetitive but not too irritating.

Game Interface

Tasks are completed with the mouse in a simple point and click play mode. Click and drag customers to a table, click on the table when they’re ready to order, click on food and then a table to serve. Although the interface is simple, play becomes very challenging in the higher levels as players must struggle to complete numerous tasks in a limited time frame. Players can succeed by meeting minimum daily earning requirements or earn bonus points and a gold star for the level if they surpass expectations.

Game Options

Diner Dash is limited to two play modes, Career and Endless shift. In Career mode Flo must fix up each restaurant as she earns rewards through each shift. Flo can earn upgrades to the restaurants in each shift and players get to choose their decorating and upgrade options. In Endless shift, Flo can serve tables forever in one restaurant which gives players a chance to practice their point and click play and time management skills.

Purchase Options

Diner Dash can be purchased on CD-Rom or Downloaded from numerous game sites. Average price is $19.99, but the demo version is offered for download with a 60 minute time limit. The game can sometimes be found on sale in computer stores like Fry’s and Best Buy for $9.99 or less.

Diner Dash is an addicting and challenging game yet extremely simple to learn. The reviews for it by players on the web are stellar. Yahoo Games users rate it an average 4 ½ out of 5 stars, with over 32,000 users rating it. The 60 minute demo versions provide just enough time for the player to get addicted and want to buy. Overall it’s definitely worth the $20 price tag.

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Once the basics of resource production in Lord of Ultima is understood, the next logical step is identifying an effective layout for resources which allows for both adequate production and storage. There are many places to find information on potential resource layouts, including forums, the wiki, and through alliance memberships in LOU.

Overview of Resource Layout

This layout requires a minimum of 15 spaces in a 3 by 5 grid, either horizontal or vertical. Additional surrounding spaces can be used to increase production through the use of cottages. This layout is designed to support two resources, as well as increased storage for the two resources.

Setting up multiple grids of this layout, separated by cottages provides adequate production to support the city. This layout may need to built in pieces depending on the level of the town hall in the city.

Building a Warehouse to Increase Resource Storage

This layout is centered around a warehouse structure to increase the storage space for the bordering resources. Build the warehouse in the third row of the third column. A level ten warehouse will provide storage of 200K of each resource.

Build Specialty Buildings Next to the Warehouse

Determine which resources will be supported for this grid. For each resource, identify the specialty building. In this example, the specialty buildings are a sawmill for wood and a stonemason for stone. Build one of each of the two chosen buildings immediately next to the warehouse, on opposite sides.

In this example, build the sawmill in row two, column three and the stonemason in row four, column three. When all buildings are at level ten, the warehouse bordering these buildings will be capable of holding an extra 75% - up to 350K of each resource for which there is a special building.

Build the Resource Buildings

Once the warehouse and special buildings are in place, build six of each of the two chosen resource buildings. Make sure that the buildings surround the existing special building on all sides, and build on one side of the warehouse. Level ten resource buildings produce 300 per hour, before bonuses.

With the 75% bonus from the special building, this resource layout will produce at minimum, 3150 per hour. Additional resource bonuses can be obtained by building cottages around the buildings.

Resource Layout Strategies in Lord of Ultima

The layout presented here is only one of many possibilities and does not take into consideration any potential bonuses from surrounding resource fields. Other layouts for resources can be found on the LOU forums or by asking alliance members in the game.