I've been doing some research...

[Tastic]

Here's the scoop. DDR is awesome (duh). I've been playing for a few years now, and unlike most people, I love the SuperNOVA arcade pads. I've played on ITG pads, ITG2 pads, DDR Extreme pads and obviously, SuperNOVA pads and the SuperNOVA pads are by far my favorite.

I use DDR to train for parkour, but it's pretty expensive. I'm a college student, so I'm not exactly raking in the cash, yet still each week I find myself spending somewhere around 50 bucks on DDR at my local GameWorks. I can't express how much the SuperNOVA pads feel perfect to me, and I really want to bring the experience home. Up until two days ago, I never used the bar. Not once. Then all at once I realized it's potential and discovered that whichever pads I am to purchase for my home should probably come equipped with them.

I've owned a Cobalt Flux, but that was about two years back, and after a few months with it, I sold it on eBay. It was a great pad, but much different from the arcade style pads I know and love so much. Also, no bar. As a quick sidenote, I don't want any bar-raping lectures. The shortened version of my opinion on the bar: it's there for a reason, so if you feel like using it, go right ahead. If not, good for you.

Where was I? Right, the Cobalt Flux. I read on their website that they actually sell an arcade-style pad-raising kit or something of that sort, but the arrows still don't function the same way as the arcade's pads do. They're slightly bumped up and they depress when you step on them. As hardcore of a pad as it is, I really dislike the Cobalt Flux. It just doesn't suit my personal preferences.

I recently read about Red Octane's Afterburner, and upon looking at the pictures was almost sold, but then I recalled RO's track record with video game peripherals. Almost every RO pad I've ever heard of has gotten poor reviews, or malfunctioned in one way or another. The Afterburner doesn't seem to be an exception to this rule, either. I read about it on the forums and peoples' problems seem to range from the control box acting screwy to the arrows not registering steps. However, the style of the pad is exactly what I'm looking for; a slightly raised platform with inset arrows. Hell, the thing even looks pretty.

I've read these forums for about two years and been to every kind of DDR pad-selling website, and I can't imagine ever buying the pads they sell. You know, the cheap-looking knock-offs that typically go for $400 for a set of two and your choice of DDR console game. I just can't imagine those being good, but then there's the reason for me posting this thread in the first place.

I've got experience with one pad: the Cobalt Flux. Undoubtedly a great peripheral, it's not what I'm looking for this time around. I'm looking to come as close as possible to SuperNOVA's arcade pads, without spending fifteen grand on the entire machine (who the hell has that kind of dough?!), so I'm looking for insight on the Afterburner, as well as any of those seemingly crappy pads I don't take much interest in. I'm praying I'm wrong about those pads, but who knows? Hopefully somebody here does.

Summary time: I don't want to keep spending $40-50/week on DDR when there's a possibility of me bringing the experience home to enjoy it every day for free. What I'm looking for: an affordable pad (less than $1000 per pad) with a bar (preferably) and inset arrows (a must). And finally, the reason I post this here is because I've done as much research as I can, and a majority of the purchases I make when I can't test a product for myself are based on the opinions of others. So, that's my life story.

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks,

- Tastic

[Simo2541]

Well, if your looking to solely play DDR get the Blueshark. Bluesharks work great, I've had mine for a few days now, and last night decided to do some 10's on Supernova. Passed FAXXO, HDVO, and FELMO all for the first time, it was awesome. This pad is the closest thing you will get to a DDR arcade pad. The only problem is that the arrows aren't as recessed as a ddr pad, more recessed like an ITG2 pad. Hope I was of help! PM me if you have more questions!
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[slvrshdw]

if what i played on at an anime convention (ikkicon) a while ago was an afterburner, its nowhere near the arcade

also, your right on the cobalt fluxes: great pads, just not arcade like

i havent ever played on blueshark, but i think thats the ones that use arcade sensors right?
that being said, it would *seem* like itd be the most arcade like


OR, if you have time/skill, just build your own...like i did/doing
it seems to have the arcade feel to it.
i just have to work out a few minor things here and there, but i think that its the closest to the arcade you can get w/o buying a real one

there just isnt any arcade-like pads that are out on market (unless the blueshark is one) that you can buy w/o making it yourself


anyway, some one may prove i'm wrong, but thats just the way i feel/have experience on
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[trob xD]

I would suggest building your own. Make sure everything is perfect on it.

Remember:

Cut once, Measure twice!

[ChilliumBromide]

[Ghettobarney]

Short answer to a really long question, Blueshark or Homebrew.

-OJA
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OMG I BEETS MACKS 300!

[Tastic]

Meaning no disrespect, I am always thorough in explaining my situation so those who are willing to help can see exactly where I'm coming from. I'm as informative as possible, and I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read through what I've got to say and help me out.

In regards to a homebrew pad, I would absolutely consider it if I was certain I could come close to the style of the SuperNOVA cabinet. Meaning I'd like to have some sort of blueprint to go by or something, because to be competely honest, I know next to nothing about how DDR pads work. Another question I have is what kind of tools will I need? If I need to weld any metal or anything, then I'll definitely pass. I'm far from being even remotely good at welding.

All in all, if I could build my own pad and step onto it and feel like I'm stepping onto a SN pad, then I'll do it. I'll read up on some DIU stuff and post again if I hit any roadblocks.

Thanks,

- Tastic

[ChilliumBromide]

You can do everything without any welding at all. =)

Also, I fully understand where you're coming from. I take a lot of time to make my posts thorough as well.

If you're seriously on a $1000 budget, you can make a pad that feels exactly like a SN cab. You could probably do so for around $500-$600 actually, and that's primarily from the sensors. They'd be about $23 each (x16) from Betson, but it would mean you are getting EXACTLY what is used in the arcade.
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I used to be active here lol

[slvrshdw]

im with tofu on the post, but then i love having detailed posts like yours to explain what your dealing with...not the typical "OMFG HELP ME, IM A n00b" post...man i hate those


anyway, building your own is really fun, great experience, you learn alot from it, can make whatever you want (customize it), make it a TRUE arcade style pad

im actually in the works of my "how-to" site now, its getting there..
if your interested let me know
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[ChilliumBromide]

[Discoman]

[Charlie Likes Cake]

I heard bluesharks really feel like the arcade pads(hopefully itg's because they have the best pads in the world).
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http://groovestats.com/index.php?page=profile&id=3972

GIVE ME CHALLENGES!!!!

[quote:f53f3badc5="Simo!?(brb)"]IHCW!!![/quote]

[ChilliumBromide]

[Marq(uistadorous)]

[ChilliumBromide]

Dedicabs feel weird to a DDR AC player. It's like being on pure oxygen after going your whole life on the polluted crap we breathe. It feels weird, but only because you're not used to the quality. However, I believe SN pads are more like ITG2 cabs than EX pads, but I might be wrong. Also, sensitivity isn't going to differ based on whether it's an ITG pad or a DDR pad; it's going to differ on whether or not the operator replaces the sensors when they stop working.
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I used to be active here lol

[Tenchi50]

[Tastic]

I just got back from GameWorks a little bit ago and I noticed that the SuperNOVA arrows are almost level with the rest of the stage, while the arrows on the Extreme machine were much more depressed.

I talked to another DDR player there and he told me there was a website with instructions on how to build a SuperNOVA stage with exact precision. I was pretty skeptical, but I searched anyway, and came up empty-handed. Does anyone know of such a site? I'm still interested in building my own pad, and I can easily take measurements of the SuperNOVA machine, but I have no idea how the inside of the thing is set up, so unless I have some sort of resource like that guy was talking about, I'll be pretty S.O.L.

Also, thanks to everyone who's helped me out so far, and I would've responded sooner, but I've been working a lot lately to save up for this project. Oh and as a sidenote, my most recent accomplishment was managing a pass on Paranoia -respect-. I got a B. WOO!

- Tastic

[ChilliumBromide]

Well, then it sounds a lot like an ITG dedicab platform. Recessed arrows are good, but it seems that Konami finally realised that more than 1/8" was too much.
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I used to be active here lol