Want to get my wife a DDR setup

[djheater]

We took our kids to a bowling alley but it was league night... we hung out in the arcade for a while and my wife and I had a blast playing DDR against each other and the kids were incredibly amused.

I haven't owned a console since the orignal Nintendo, so looking at all the options out there is more confusing than helpful.

I wouldn't mind getting a Wii but I don't think it's going to happen, they're too scarce, and it's just not worth the effort to me.

As I'm looking around it seems like getting an old PS2 with some nicer pads is a good compromise between expense and performance...

What do you guys think?

 

[blurredvision]

I think the PS2 option is the best. You don't need a newer console for a game like DDR. DDR is already established on the PS2 as well, so you're sure to find many versions of the game as well as many versions of mats and such to choose from.

 

[coldmeat]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
I think the PS2 option is the best. You don't need a newer console for a game like DDR. DDR is already established on the PS2 as well, so you're sure to find many versions of the game as well as many versions of mats and such to choose from.

+1 for PS2

 

[DaveSimmons]

Another +1 PS2.

There are also a ton of Japanese RPGs for the PS2 if you get tired of waiting for good PC RPGs, plus odd but fun games like Katamari Damacy.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Another +1 PS2.

There are also a ton of Japanese RPGs for the PS2 if you get tired of waiting for good PC RPGs, plus odd but fun games like Katamari Damacy.

haha... the more I thought about it, the more I've convinced myself I'll pick one up, then I started thinking... yeah... and I can get Katamari too!

Katamari rocks...

 

[Piuc2020]

Save some serious cash can get the free StepMania for your PC and a nice pad, the stepmania website has some recommendation.

StepMania is pretty much the same as DDR, except with a more powerful and customizable engine and you have to download your own songs but there are plenty of packs on the website and plenty of songs on other sites like flashflashrevolution.

http://www.stepmania.com/

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Piuc2020
Save some serious cash can get the free StepMania for your PC and a nice pad, the stepmania website has some recommendation.

StepMania is pretty much the same as DDR, except with a more powerful and customizable engine and you have to download your own songs but there are plenty of packs on the website and plenty of songs on other sites like flashflashrevolution.

http://www.stepmania.com/

DDR works better though.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Piuc2020
Save some serious cash can get the free StepMania for your PC and a nice pad, the stepmania website has some recommendation.

StepMania is pretty much the same as DDR, except with a more powerful and customizable engine and you have to download your own songs but there are plenty of packs on the website and plenty of songs on other sites like flashflashrevolution.

http://www.stepmania.com/

DDR works better though.

Plus, if you don't have an HTPC, DDR'ing in the computer room on a small screen with the family would suck. Put DDR in the living room where it belongs.

 

[MikeyLSU]

quick note just in case.

If you have an HDTV...mainly DLP, and plan on using it for DDR, don't get a PS2. The lag will make the game unplayable.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: MikeyLSU
quick note just in case.

If you have an HDTV...mainly DLP, and plan on using it for DDR, don't get a PS2. The lag will make the game unplayable.

Is there no calibration option like in guitar hero?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: MikeyLSU
quick note just in case.

If you have an HDTV...mainly DLP, and plan on using it for DDR, don't get a PS2. The lag will make the game unplayable.

Is that only for DLPs before 2006 that don't have Game Mode or also the newer models?

My Fall 2006 Samsung DLP can disable some of the image processing to remove lag, but I haven't tried any DDR-like games on it yet, I've been playing JRPGs.

 

[PingSpike]

I have a couple cheap pads, a $13 xbox controller adapter and a shitty old PC plugged into my TV that I use to play stepmania.

 

[Dessert Tears]

Originally posted by: blurredvision

Originally posted by: MikeyLSU
If you have an HDTV...mainly DLP, and plan on using it for DDR, don't get a PS2. The lag will make the game unplayable.

Is there no calibration option like in guitar hero?

DDR MAX has a sound/arrow offset setting. It seems like it could be used to sync inputs and audio, but not video. Guitar Hero (I) has no offset or calibration setting that I saw.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I have a couple cheap pads, a $13 xbox controller adapter and a shitty old PC plugged into my TV that I use to play stepmania.

Where'd you get your pads from?

I was thinking about getting a couple of PC\ps2 compatible pads and messing around with stepmania... if it becomes a regular thing I might invest in the ps2...

 

[Aikouka]

I play DDR on my 360... fun stuff.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I have a couple cheap pads, a $13 xbox controller adapter and a shitty old PC plugged into my TV that I use to play stepmania.

Where'd you get your pads from?

I was thinking about getting a couple of PC\ps2 compatible pads and messing around with stepmania... if it becomes a regular thing I might invest in the ps2...

I just checked my old emails...I got them from levelsix.com, which now just forwards to some place selling poker chips. (Pretty sure its the same people though, the CS emails have references to a pokerchip site as well).

To bad they're gone...the pads have held up pretty good and it looks like I paid $16 a piece for them. They're soft pads of course, not quite a good as the hard ones I don't think.

 

[MikeyLSU]

Originally posted by: Flatscan

Originally posted by: blurredvision

Originally posted by: MikeyLSU
If you have an HDTV...mainly DLP, and plan on using it for DDR, don't get a PS2. The lag will make the game unplayable.

Is there no calibration option like in guitar hero?

DDR MAX has a sound/arrow offset setting. It seems like it could be used to sync inputs and audio, but not video. Guitar Hero (I) has no offset or calibration setting that I saw.

mine is a 2005 model and it has the game setting on the TV, but it does not come close to eliminating lag.

Guitar hero 2 has the calibration setting, but it is far from perfect. I got it to the point that I can play it pretty well and beat the game on expert, but anyone who has the game that comes over complains about it since it is still a little off.

 

[Engraver]

I know a guy that built himself an arcade style platform for his DDR pad. He plays that crap almost 6 hours a day and enters tournaments (if there is such a thing). It must not burn many calories because he's still a fat ass.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Engraver
I know a guy that built himself an arcade style platform for his DDR pad. He plays that crap almost 6 hours a day and enters tournaments (if there is such a thing). It must not burn many calories because he's still a fat ass.

The DDR for the 360 has a work-out mode that lists calories burned and a single song supposedly has burned over 20 calories for me . Maybe it's like my old boss when I worked IT... he was a big guy, but he used to go to the gym and I guess do some running... he was like humpty dumpty on top and a chicken on the bottom. Kind of like Big Bird.

 

[Dessert Tears]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I have a couple cheap pads, a $13 xbox controller adapter and a shitty old PC plugged into my TV that I use to play stepmania.

Where'd you get your pads from?

I was thinking about getting a couple of PC\ps2 compatible pads and messing around with stepmania... if it becomes a regular thing I might invest in the ps2...

I bought a pad from BuyNShop.com in early 2005, and it worked great until I killed it and my USB adapter with static electricity. I then bought a replacement pad from DDR Nation, which was roughly equivalent value, cheaper and not quite as good. I have a detailed post in this old thread. I think soft pads with thick foam are the best value.

Previous DDR threads that I've posted in:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2057404
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...did=2001244&arctab=arc

 

[secretanchitman]

ps2...get any decent pad and any ddr game you want.

 

[djheater]

I picked up some pads from ddrgame.com here.

I could've gotten cheaper pads but I figured I'd go with stepmania first and see if we get into it.

If we do, I'll probably pick up a ps2. These pads are a step up and have adapters for ps2 and pc...

If anybody has a site for stepfiles, let me know

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: djheater
I picked up some pads from ddrgame.com here.

I could've gotten cheaper pads but I figured I'd go with stepmania first and see if we get into it.

If we do, I'll probably pick up a ps2. These pads are a step up and have adapters for ps2 and pc...

If anybody has a site for stepfiles, let me know

Are those soft pads? Based on the box they'd have to be, but the description makes it sound otherwise.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: djheater
I picked up some pads from ddrgame.com here.

I could've gotten cheaper pads but I figured I'd go with stepmania first and see if we get into it.

If we do, I'll probably pick up a ps2. These pads are a step up and have adapters for ps2 and pc...

If anybody has a site for stepfiles, let me know

Are those soft pads? Based on the box they'd have to be, but the description makes it sound otherwise.

Yes they're soft, even though they're expensive.. I think they took the basic soft components and upgraded them...

I couldn't find really cheap pc pads...
The price for pc compatible pads without the axes problem is higher than the ps2 direct compatible pads.

I was looking at about $200 for a ps2, pads, and game.
I got out for $80, and stepmania gives me the option of 100s of songs.... + I can always get a console later... I really do want katamari

 

[PingSpike]

Yeah, I remember the PC pads were more expensive. I think thats why I ended up buying xbox pads + the adapter. I think the reason I went with xbox was I heard that the PS2 adapters tended to have a lag, whereas the xbox was supposedly just USB in a different plug so no conversion was done. Not sure how much truth to that statement there is, but if that thing has multiple inputs then you should fine.

Stepmania seems pretty fun IMO, there is tons of customization and songs for it. If you're willing to have a PC by your TV, I personally don't see why you would even want one of the console versions.