Improving your DDR skills

Assassin Ace · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:47 pm Post subject:

What I love doing (and has really helped me) is playing on the hardest judge modes. Although I'd often fail out early my first try (how about first 10 tries), it really helps because it makes you concentrate more to get better steps. Even if it makes getting perfects that much harder, keep it that way until you can FC and/or AAA songs on the hardest judge modes. Then bring it back down to the easy skill levels and see how much you've improved. I've done this enough so that I can play the hardest judge modes and still do a decent job.
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TopHat · Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 5:04 pm Post subject: how to get better?

Summing it up in one word... Practice.
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Clearsky · Trick Member Joined: 04 May 2005

Hi. I've been playing for about a month now. I'm new.

Some people say it's easier to keep your feet on the <- -> arrows, but I can't do that. I just return to the center every time, is that wrong, or should I get into the habit of keeping my feet on the <- -> arrows? Any advice will do. Thanks in advance.

Slowpoke · Trick Member Joined: 28 Oct 2003

Darkicarus · Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 6:32 am Post subject:

Clearsky · Trick Member Joined: 04 May 2005

Alright. Thanks. I'll work on it.

Shadow_Dragonz · Trick Member Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Location: California

hey,

I was wondering if anyone has any advice for the 10 footers? I can pass them consistently with the bar, but with out it, I can't seem to pass them regularly.

MaxX - I can usually get to the freeze arrows, then

LoM - I can get passed part @ 28 seconds then I die. The jumps utterlly kill me.
PSM - End run w/cross overs
PSMO - Where are the cross overs in the death run?

Any advice would be great. I still haven't recieved any advice for these songs in probably 6 months to a year.

To be a little more detailed, advice could be from how to stand (or try), where arms should be, flat footed, tips on footing/patterns, songs to play to prep, etc. And lastly, I can pass songs like EE, R&P, Cartoon Heros concistently and multiple times (4 games in a row).

Thanks

Shadow_Dragonz

P.S. Clearsky, take their advices. It'll help a ton. You'll probably struggle with it for a week or so as it takes some time to adjust to it (I know I had to do that...I thnk :/). Also, if you can check out some of the ddrfreak videos. Watch the player's feet/legs and body movement. It'll help give you a visual image of what you could/should be doing.

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DahrkDaiz · Trick Member Joined: 07 Mar 2004

Quite honestly, if you have the cash or the extra pad at home, get good at doubles. No joke. You have to stretch your legs out farther and it requires more stamina to do a song on doubles than it's singles counter part (most of the time), so when you go back to do a song on singles, you'll be used to spending more energy stretching farther to step out, yet you won't need to and feel like you're using less energy.

This has worked for me, atleast. I couldn't do Max 300 consistently or even pass Unlimited or Survivor, but after a month of doing Heavy on doubles, I can do Max 300 and PS both multiple times a day and pass Unlimited on my good days.

Shadow_Dragonz · Trick Member Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Location: California

TrekkiesUnite118 · Basic Member Joined: 06 Jan 2005

well one thing that has helped me a lot is to hook your PS2 (or Xbox) up to a stereo or surround sound system, I know it may sound weird but when I hook my PS2 up to my Dads 1970's stereo system I do much better becuase you can hear all the beats much better allowing you to 'hear' the arrows.

Snowcraftanyo · Basic Member Joined: 22 Apr 2005

How hard can it be to 'hear' the arrows? Most all of the songs are one constant BpM, or they have one BpM change, and that usually Doubles the speed (a la A). It is extremly easy to follow the music. If you actually have the songs at home (I know I did when i was a huge DDR fanboy) just tap to the beat of the song. Thats the rhythm for 4ths. Now, Tap with the other hand in 8th note format. That's the eighths.

All DDR is really just understanding the drastically simple concept of beats. any even better is how it is just simple 4th or 8th note for nearly the whole time. Just tap out to music, keep a constant beat going. Bounce to it if you have to while standing on the pad.
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Slowpoke · Trick Member Joined: 28 Oct 2003

TheObsessedOne · Trick Member Joined: 01 Jun 2005

Im not sure if this post is in the right section but anyways:

Three questions:

Just wondering what the size of the arcade pad is compared to the red octane ignition 2.0?

Also are the arrows on the ignition sunken like the arcade?

Lastly, are how far are the arrows sunken at the arcade?

The reason i need this is because im going to try to make my igntion pad have sunken arrows by adding a metal cover, that i can get from my friend who works with metal at his job. That way i dont have to go to an arcade to practice.
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Slowpoke · Trick Member Joined: 28 Oct 2003

TheObsessedOne · Trick Member Joined: 01 Jun 2005

Yes i realize that and i just need size requirements. the metal cover will not actually touch the pad, because it will be on supports and be raised half an inch above the pad. The supports will surround the pad and there will be holes for the arrows. Btw, the guy who works with metal is extremely talented with what he does so im confident this will work.
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Emorgasm · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jan 2005

You should consider that an ignition pad will rip up if you try to play on it with shoes, and your feet will rip up if you try to play barefoot on metal.
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TheObsessedOne · Trick Member Joined: 01 Jun 2005

I understand the consequences and have practiced with socks on at an arcade. I can bear the pain and it will be good practice. You should also note the my sunken arrows will be smoothed on the edges so it won't be as bad as it was at the arcade and will not cut my feet. I have a design, but i just need measurements.

Note: I do not mind having bruised feet and my design will make it impossible to cut your feet. Also, my socks will be double layered during play to prevent extra pain. Please answer these questions if you can.

Three questions:

what is the size of the arcade pad is compared to the red octane ignition 2.0?

Are the arrows on the ignition sunken like at the arcade?

Lastly, are how far are the arrows sunken at the arcade?

Help is gladly appreciated

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Shadow_Dragonz · Trick Member Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Location: California

Shadow_Dragonz · Trick Member Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Location: California

Okay, I'll answer your 3 questions here if you can't/do not find where to post the question and/or people don't answer them. Also, I'll answer then to the best of my knowledge, but I apologize if any parts are wrong, incorrect, and/or invalid

What is the size of the arcade pad is compared to the red octane ignition 2.0?
I believe that they are about the same. Though I think the arcade arrows differ slightly. I can't say for sure, but if you play at home and then the arcade you'll definitely be able to tell the difference. It can throw you off, and timing, and how they depress; but those are other issues

. From what I can tell the arrows are all the same size for any of the home pad versions. Also, they don't compensate for the middle and side metal pieces on the arcade pads, and they dont have the back piece and bar as you would also get at the arcade.

Are the arrows on the ignition sunken like at the arcade?
The arrows are NOT sunken like the arcade. They are instead raised up a little bit and have a harder feel than the rest of the pad.

Lastly, are how far are the arrows sunken at the arcade?
They are about 1/4" down, or less. Also, they depress a little more too when stepped on, but this varies by how worn the pads are.

I hope that helps you out

. Feel free to msg me or PM if you ever need any help or advice

.

Shadow_Dragonz
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goatman596 · Trick Member Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Location: Tucson, AZ

Tip for getting better, work on getting a good Perfect Attack. It may seem like a good idea to keep on getting stronger by pushing yourself onto harder songs, and it is good to test your limits for passing songs. But work on songs that are easy for you, full combo them if you can, once you can FC them, work on keeping your perfect count up. If you focus on getting perfects, you will, if you don't have to worry about the arrows.

Once you stat Full-comboing songs, you will have less worries about failing, then you can move on to harder songs, and you can work on bringing B's and C' to A's, AA's and AAA's as oposed to bring up D's.

Hope this makes sense.