Red Octane Afterburner

shocker · Trick Member Joined: 04 Oct 2004

i have had my afterburner for about 2 weeks now. i haven't played on it that much, but enough to give it a short review.

right out of the box i noticed that one of the screws for the control box port on the pad came off, and the other one was loose. not a big deal, but it did worry my a bit.
next thing i noticed was all the plastic. at first it seemed like a huge pain in the @$$ to remove so i just left it on, but it felt weird and started ripping so i eventually did take it all off, which was a big pain in the @$$.
actually playing on the pad, i noticed that it is not quite like the arcade. like natrually untalented said, the panels are spongy and do bend down quite a bit when stepping on them. not only that, hitting the panels does not feel like the arcade. on the afterburner it feels stiff and wooden, unlike the arcade where you get that nice "bang" feeling. also, on fast steps, my feet have an uncomfortable skid feeling when they slide across the pad which makes songs like drop out hard to play.
although the pad is heavy, it does slide around quite a bit on songs like exotic ethnic. and this is playing on a wooden floor.
like justie and stickfigureman said, i would constantly miss arrows because my feet hover over the raised metal platform instead of on touching the lower arrow. however, this happens to me in the arcade too and i don't think this is a problem with big feet (i'm a size 13). it's more of me being too used to playing on ignitions.
finally, a big problem with the pad was the broken control box which came with the pad. it worked on ps2 fine but had disconnect errors on pc and xbox. i got a new control box in about a week which got rid of the disconnect errors. however, i noticed on xbox that it has a signifcant amount of lag. not good if you care about your PA. usb worked well...may have had a tiny bit of lag but definitely not as bad as xbox.
overall i can't say i'm too happy with my purchase. although it probably is the closest to the arcade you can get, it's still not enough like it to my liking. for casual players (7 foot or less), this would be a good pad, but for hardcore players (9 or 10 foot), stick to the arcade.

phonzmanh20 · Basic Member Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Location: Olathe, Kansas

Hey, I got my pad on Wednesday this week, which was really quick because it was expected to arrive on Friday. So I've played it for a while and heres my short cents on this pad:

Plastic covering the panels were a pain to remove. Pad is absolutely beautiful and a charm to play on!

I use the pad for computer and ps2, but when I plugged it into the computer, I've been having those disconnection problems in the beginning. So I was like, aw poopy, I requested a control box that works too!

But since I've worked with wires and electricity before, I happened to notice how very long the wires were for the control box. Extra long wires will develop circuit problems as you play. So, I tried a couple of configurations on how to place the wire. First, I rolled it up, which made the disconnection problems even worse.

Then, I lengthened the wires so that everything is fairly straight, ie no rolling up and the disconnection problems seem to have gone away! Amazing ain't it? Now I'm not sure if this is the solution for everyone, but I want Afterburner owners to try to keep their control box wires lengthened and unrolled. This might help clear the disconnection problems. I'm not sure if it'll work, thats why I need someone to back me up by trying it.

Anyways, pad has good performance, its pretty, and it works. But, control box is tricky. Peace out!

heavymaniac · Trick Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Location: MI

word, it is spongy. But for people who have stuck with RO and just got off the ignition, its a good filter onto hard pads. Plus the flexibilty helps absorb hard stomps and such. I don't know, I like it. I also havent played at the arcade sense I got it, being I havent felt the need when I've got everything at home.

The Game II · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2005 9:04 pm Post subject:

Oh man, just now, two of the arrows (up, left) and the B button stopped working. I hope it's just a control box problem (and I only play PS2/JPS2 games) because then I can just go to RO and tell them what's up.

Me cries.

--GCII
_________________

www.getyourtournament.com
I'm back with Get Your Tournament!

heavymaniac · Trick Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Location: MI

everybody's life sucks but mine

alexmon27 · Basic Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: PA

alrighty... here's my scoop on the thing being a disgruntled RO customer

...

I think I'ma buy an AB, BUT! Only because it's like my last try with RO. I've been reading much more of this forum about CF vs. AB because of huge money issues and converter issues. I like the Xbox versions of DDR way more than PS2 just because the songs on the general whole are harder, and the ones you buy are from the older PS2 versions anyway. Also, SMMAX for the PC flippin' owns as far as making your own dances. Reading this post, I've found that the earlier posts have really put down the AB because of crappy customer service and junky products, I too have experienced this through by Ignition Pad...raggin' fraggin'... I hadda get it replaced 3 flippin' times and now the left and down arrows are goin' randomly again. NEVER BUY A FOAM PAD, just fyi

But the more you read on this forum, you'll see the posts get more and more positive about the AB prolly because they've put in a lotta updates as far as control boxes go 'n shiz. They've gotta be losin' a tonna money due to CF

So, as long as I keep using the CF word in complaints to them, I think I'll get the customer service I want

This being a metal pad that seems to last, or else I get a new one, I think is worth a try... or else you will definately hear about it... grr... RO, THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE MY FRIEND... 'cause your ignition blows

I think I'll order it inna week or so... I'm so broke, lol

~alexmon27

Daabomb101 · Trick Member Joined: 09 Jul 2005

hey i just ordered the afterburner...yesh exciting stuff...anyway i just wanted to know if anybody has tried using it with the mac. i have stepmania with over 800 songs and shiznit...but somehow i don't think it will work considering ppl have so many problems with pc as it is...but my mac does have a couple usb ports...

Thomas Hobbes · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 10:24 am Post subject:

If I recall correctly, nekura used his Ignition v3 AND Afterburner on his mac, so it should be fine.
_________________

"I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark."

| Pics | Play-Asia |

drummerdude781 · Basic Member Joined: 20 Mar 2005

I also use a mac G5 to play SM, and I have minimal problems. It'll have the disconnect problem once in a while, but for the most part, it's fine.

Daabomb101 · Trick Member Joined: 09 Jul 2005

awesome! that makes me about 50 times more excited about this pad than i was...and i was already pretty damn excited. w00t!!

Natural Killer · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 9:34 pm Post subject:

Well after waiting for my Afterburner to arrive after 14 days shipping time (Damn you DHL) I must admit I am completely satisfied at this point with my pad. Matter of fact after using it to play on Stepmania I got my first Heavy AAA ever!

I see nothing wrong with this pad so far (knock on wood) and I definitely recommend it. CF's are nice and all but I am glad I bought the Afterburner instead.

Setekhx · Trick Member Joined: 27 May 2005

TheObsessedOne · Trick Member Joined: 01 Jun 2005

A few questions from people who's pads work and who have already removed the plastic.

If you wear shoes will it destroy the spongey aroows?

How spongey are the arrows?(Like an actual sponge or just plastic?)

How durable is the pad?

How excactlt does the pad feel?
_________________

Natural Killer · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:30 am Post subject:

Well after only 4 days of use, I have discovered that only the back button works on my afterburner. WHAT THE HELL. I sent redoctane an email but overall I am extremely dissapointed. I thought that the whole control box issue was resolved but obviously they are still sending out defective products.

Thanks a lot redoctane for wasting my 240 dollars and time.

Synpax · Trick Member Joined: 04 Jul 2004

[quote="TheObsessedOne"]A few questions from people who's pads work and who have already removed the plastic.

If you wear shoes will it destroy the spongey aroows?

How spongey are the arrows?(Like an actual sponge or just plastic?)

How durable is the pad?

How excactlt does the pad feel?[/quote]

You must wear shoes on it. The plastic sticky is just there as part of the production process and you are suppose to remove it. It is a pain in the rear to remove because the first thing you want to do when you get the pad is play, not take screws off. But it's a one time thing.

The arrows are pretty similar to an arcade. They do not go down too much but feel alright. They don't bend - not too much - but when you take off the pads to get the plastic off you will see how they work and how they have to bend just ever so slightly.

It's very durable so far for me.

The pad feels pretty firm.

tepp · Trick Member Joined: 07 Apr 2005

Still having disconnect issues on xbox. 9 disconnets during a single song.... Moonlight Shadow on Standard, not even a very hard song.

RedOctane now wants me to return pad #2 and Control box #3.

I'm not so sure they can fix this issue.

mikieson · Trick Member Joined: 14 Nov 2003

Reading all these problems with Cobalt Flux and Red Octane really make me glad I build my own pads. I would put my built pad up against any pad out there. Its awesome. Everyone should try and build their own first. Its better to know what you have then to order something for $$$$ and not know.
Good luck to all buyers out there.....

Norkusa · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:45 pm Post subject: Re: Glad I build mine

Johancrowind · Trick Member Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Location: Wayne NE

I <3 nekura for having a mac..

AB seems to suck, get a Cobalt flux.

Or you know spend your money on whatever
_________________

DDRrecall:Johancrowind

shocker · Trick Member Joined: 04 Oct 2004

tepp, have they offered you a full refund for the afterburner?
when i got my new control box, at first it was ok, but now i am getting disconnect errors again. they said it might be due to static buildup in the pad. whatever the reason, i am not happy