DDR for my physical education class

[waldo05]

Hello all,
My name is Jason and I work in a small school district in MN. I am very interested in starting a DDR unit throughout our district and am looking for some advice:
1. What would be the most effective way to have 30-34 students active playing DDR in a gym setting?
2. Can more than 2 players play at the same time on the same tv?
3. I would need it to be portable (so I can take it to other schools in the District)
4. Cost; DDR pads (wireless option?), game console, TV's/projector and any other equipment I would need to have 30-34 kids participating.

5. Is it available for different ability levels? K-12?

(could a guy do it for about 8000.00?)
I really appreciate the help and information, I feel that this would be a great opportunity to get kids active and have some FUN!

thanks
Jason

[Reenee]

2: Yes. Up to four can play. This will require the Xbox iterations of the DDR series. There are currently two games available at the moment:

DDR Ultramix
DDR Ultramix 2

If you wait till November, the very next version, Ultramix 3, will be released.

3: Well, I guess I already answered it with the Xboxes already.

4:
-New Xbox consoles would set you back $150 per console. Used ones should be starting around $130.

-I know for a fact that Ultramix should be a Platinum Hits game, or a game that has sold so well, it was reduced in price. This is $20. Ultramix 2, I have yet to see. It may still be $40. Ultramix 3 should definitely be no less than $40 since it's new.

-DDR pads are your biggest concern. I will let someone else handle this better. This is your top priority here and they must be maintained nearly flawlessly. That's all I can say, really.

-I am not knowledgeable enough with hardware.

5: You know, that entirely depends on the player. This needs some major eye-foot coordination, as well as a sense of rhythm.

$8000? Lessee:
New Xboxes, one for every four students: $1200
Used Xboxes: $1040
DDR Ultramix: $160
DDR Ultramix 2/3: $320

Assuming you don't want the hassle of searching for used Xboxes and not waiting for Ultramix 3, that's $1680 there already.

[Setekhx]

Using the xbox versions would probably be best as you can have up to 4 players playing on it. You can use the PS2 version as well which limits you to 2 players but you have 4 different games to choose from instead of 2.

3. Portability shouldnt a problem depending on what pads you use.

4. Ok now on to the DDR pads. See the deal is that most ddr pads are extremely compatable with the PS2, but the Xbox doesnt quite have so many. It also depends on what pads you get that will determain your final cost. You can pick up wireless soft pads for about 25 dollars a piece from best buy while a metal pad for higher performance and playability(on hard surfaces, soft pads dont hold up well on tile.) could run you up to 300 dollars per pad(300 for a cobalt flux, 200 for an afterburner, and it would cost 100 dollars in equip to have your high school kids build them for you as a project instructions for those are all over). PS2 and Xbox's will both cost you about 150 per, and the console games, take a safe average of 30 dollars per and that should be around your final cost.

5. Being good at DDR takes more time than relative age. Id expect almost all your kids to start at the very beginner levels no matter how old they are unless theyve had prior experience. I know 12th graders that cant play at all while I know this 10 year old girl who can beat the hardest songs, so yes it would cater to all of them.

Could you do it with 8000 dollars? Very very easily.
_________________

Sigs are the the best thing to ever happen to the forums, they hold lots of useless information ^^

[Reenee]

I think Ignition pads are enough, taking into consideration to do some simple modifications with them. I mean, if you can get the setup in a room with a carpeted floor, all you need to do is put some velcro strips at the 4 corners of the Ignition pad and now you're capable of any song or even Double play for that matter.

Since our teacher friend here said a maximum of 34 students, he could put in an extra Xbox for double Double play!

[Axe]

erm, I wouldn't go with ignition pads. They wear out way too fast for the price. If there arent too many serious ddr players, you could go with the official licensed soft pad. They're cheap and durable, 1 would cost you around 20$ at the most. Probably less.
_________________

JasonTheGreater wrote:

You, sir, are my new hero.

My DDRecall. Challenge me.

[Caleb Brightmore]

[Wermo]

Let us not forget the portability aspect!

How portable are 8 XBoxes and all those pads? Not very unless you go soft, which is a potential problem on tile as previously mentioned though you could buy a large sheet or multiple sheets of the stuff that is commonly put under large area rugs for a reasonable price (at a place that sells fabrics or rugs).

Don't forget pads will die (especially soft ones) and will need to be replaced frequently if they are abused during play, during improper folding and even transport (heavy things on it).

On the earlier difficulties a soft pad should last a few months at least but on standard or heavy the life of the pads reduce drastically, especially if abused.

I'd wager you'd have to have a big van, mainly for the pads. If you do happen to modify your pads with small slabs of wood and floor covering on top stapled or duct taped together, I can promise it'll weigh a fair bit after it's all said and done.

Because XBoxes have hard drives you don't need to worry about buying memory cards but you will probably want to unlock the games via your friendly full unlock codes available.

I'd say you should be able to fit it all in a van if you remove the back seats. You'd definitely also want to insure everything too against theft. It should cost less than 8000$.
_________________

Loving DDR and old school turn based party RPG's like Wizardry and Dragon Quest.

[Galactic Wave]

[waldo05]

Would I also need to get 1 tv for every xbox, or is it possible for everyone to play off of a projected screen. I apoligize for sounding like a novice, but personally I have only seen DDR in an arcade....Thanks for the info in advance....

Jason

[Reenee]

I don't know how much projectors go for, but I'm sure they're a lot more pricier than a TV.

And the TV needs to be reasonably big enough because the more players you have, the smaller the notes on-screen become. So yes, 1 TV per Xbox.

[Max the Legendary Dancer]

[ThePandemonium]

IMO, I would check ebay. I got a brand new RO Igniton 2.0 for 11 dollars still in the box a year ago (Still working). maybe you can find great deals and you can have money left over
_________________

Nintendo Wii Friend Code- 0484-4722-2393-6025
Nickname- Moz

[Reenee]

Let's not involve the PS2. We want the maximum amount of players possible on a single console.

[Caleb Brightmore]

[Reenee]

The guy is on a budget. The kids don't care and you're not one of them. Sorry.

[Griesus]

I have heard rumors of health clubs wanting to buy rubber mats. So if you wanted cheap, durable and reliable pads I am pretty sure you can buy a bunch of rubber pads for a low price. I may be wrong but I remember hearing something about it a few months ago, so correct me if i am wrong about these rubber pads.
_________________

Phrekwenci wrote:

frick the thread.

[QWERTYkid911]

If your gonna use one TV oer Xbox, you don't really need a big TV. Somewhere between 17"-24" souns about right.
_________________

[quote:ce519f785b="Flamebait"][quote:ce519f785b="_jpoppyz_"]that kid prolly gets 10 times the amount of pussy in a week than any of you guys will get in your lives.[/quote]
10 x 0 = 0[/quote]

[Caleb Brightmore]

[Reenee]

[Caleb Brightmore]

X-box sucks.
_________________

Word to big bird.