How to play Dishaster online
- Run left and right: left and right arrow keys
- Steady a wobbling plate: hold the Space bar while standing at its pole
- Choose game 1ā4: F11 (the consoleās Select switch)
- Start a new game: F12 (the consoleās Reset switch)
- Save and load your progress: Ctrl + 0ā9 saves to a slot, Alt + 0ā9 loads it
Gameplay
A row of poles stands across the screen with a plate spinning on top of each one. One by one the plates start to wobble. Move the girl so that her arm touches the pole, then hold the button until the plate settles down. If a plate falls anyway, you can still save it: run underneath so it lands on the girl, and a new plate appears at the top of the pole. The longer you keep everything spinning, the higher your score. The game ends when four dishes have broken.
Game variations
- Game 1: six plates, meant for young beginners
- Game 2: eight plates
- Game 3: ten plates, for skilled players
- Game 4: ten plates with nonstop action, the hardest setting
Tips
- Serve the oldest wobble first. The plate that has been shaking the longest is the one closest to falling.
- Donāt give up on a falling plate. Catching it costs nothing and replaces it, so a dropped plate is only lost if it hits the floor.
- Work in a pattern. One reviewer found the game much easier when played systematically, so move along the row in a steady order instead of dashing about.
History
Zimag was the brand that Magnetic Tape International used for its consumer products, including blank cassettes and video games. In 1983 it released four Bit Corporation games for the 2600 in North America, each converted from PAL to NTSC and given a new name. The Bit Corporation original, Dancing Plate, has oriental-themed graphics and eight game variations instead of four. In Belgium, Home Vision sold the game as Plate Mania.
Critics were not kind. TV Gamer magazine thought it would suit very young players but was too simple for experienced ones, and later reviewers called it repetitive and monotonous. It even made one writerās list of the worst Atari 2600 games. It is still easy to pick up, which makes it a fair choice for younger children.
