My huge dilemma.

[br34kd0wn]

I'm a very dedicated DDR player. My first DDR experience was at a friends house while they were playing, laughing at their own foolishness. I was sucked in and even before when I saw my cousin playing DDR at an arcade we'd go to sometimes, even if it was beginner, I was urged to play. But I didn't.

It was all about maybe one or two years ago before I entered 7th grade, when a friend had DDR extreme. He had a regular foam pad, so he let me borrow it for the time being. It was the best summer of my life. I learned so many things, from light to standard and the beginning of heavy. I had rough times passing Absolute on Standard, and .59 back then, but from my recent experience at Disneyland at the Starcade, my whole ddr experience has changed.

I've been playing Stepmania as a substitute to feed my drive for DDR and so far, it hasn't been satisfying. Sometimes i'd put on NoFail and then just play with my feet to visualize the arrows on the ground, i'm really not kidding. After playing on Tuesday on a real arcade DDR Supernova Machine, I wanted more. It was just too good, even after downloading all the songs I had played and failed, it just wasn't enough. I've been really sucked in and i'm thinking of going serious with DDR, but the thing is my issue of money. I'm 14. I don't get allowance, I don't have a job, and I usually don't ask for money from my parents. I'm thinking of trying to ask for chore money or something so I can save up.

I do have a slimline ps2, the really thin one, but after playing Guitar Hero and activating star power (the ps2 was on top of the TV,) the ps2 fell to the ground and then its spinner was dislocated. When I start up the PS2, it won't even spin the disc anymore. When turning it on I couldn't even hear, so now if I even wanted to play DDR, I would have to replace my PS2 (buy a used one,) and then buy a cobalt flux pad (with a bar, sadly,) and then buy Supernova.

Calculating a lot of that, seeing how the cobalt flux pad is 300$ from reading some rough reviews, I wanted a bar with the pad, so I don't know hwo that's gonna turn out. I might as well just buy a new ps2 (it might cost more to fix then buying a new one) and then the supernova game will be at least 50 bucks.
Estimating that's about 400$, even more could be from my dance pad (I really want a bar, no matter what you people say about bar raping.)

I'm not about to give up, i'm really thinking of going serious with DDRing. Just the concept of it is pure genius to me, great excercise, popularity (don't deny you love crowds at the arcades even if you're not the best player) and its just a fun experience. It's also uncommon among your friends, so its enjoyable for them to gape at you for passing a song with a B.

What should I do?

[GotACoolName]

Mooch off your parents.
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Brawl FC: 4725-7610-1200

[br34kd0wn]

Insanely hard to do when they're asian.
(no stereotypes or insults intended.)

[Slowpoke]

If you're thinking of "going serious", take the $400 and play at an arcade.
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[quote:06ffac8e40="Pamsey"]you Slowpoke, you're my hero![/quote]

[Nicx]

oh man, this is cute,


there is no such thing as playing ddr and "going serious"

you either get good through practice and whatnot, or you don't. play at the arcade thats all you need. nothing else.

[Ichigofan]

Yeah, play at the arcade. The home versions are alright, but the arcade version is the best by far. Forget about "going serious"...Just practice. You'll get better.

[Pyro90X]

I'd try to get some money from parents, friends, doing odd jobs for neighbors. Also you should NEVER have your Ps2 on a high platform and I am sorry to hear that. Go to the arcade, its much more thrilling. Best of luck to ya
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If you must know then, look inside yourself for the truth.

Groovestats Give me challenges that are not impossible at my current level

[tekkie]

[destructo-bot]

[Flameboat]

[jpoppyz]

just get a BNS DX sparkle or fusion. they're fine for everything you do in DDR...the only problem is stuff on ITG thats like a 12....which i can't do anyway even at the arcade.

but really, the BNS are better than the cobalt fluxes imo. they're more sensitive, work on PS2, Xbox, and PC without adapters, you can actually feel where the arrows are, and they're just great pads. flatfooting on a cobalt flux is way ackward. you can get em for about $80 after shipping, and really, they work great. and my pad came in like 5 days as well.

www.buynshop.com
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[mikes]

hmm... broke your PS2? owch, well its summer you could try mowing lawns or pet sitting. seriously i pet sit for this lady for a week and she gave me $50. if you live near an arcade then GO. if theres only 1 thats way out of town and you have to beg your parents to drive you maybe go a little less (also if your arcade is busy, play along side with somebody who is really good and you know ist going to fail. This way you can practice hard songs and even if you fail, you wont lose money). but still the part about not having a game system is difficult. here are my suggestions.

you can sell your broken ps2 if you didnt pich it, people on tons of auction sites will buy them to refurbish them. Or get the ps2 fixed (dont try fixing it yourself unless you know exactly what your doing. i know this from experience )
also with the release of the ps3 ps2 prices are gonna drop mega in a few months.
work your butt off and save up a ton of cash to buy a new system and pad. maybe you can get your parents to pitch in too, just say "its good exercise"
and when buying a pad other than the foam ones be carful of cheap plastic which cracks easy(if you find somthing thats a good deal chances are the quality is as low as the price).

and thats all i got .

[Modarius]

[BX^3]

If you need a bar at home just use a couch or chair, thats what most people do. Also for Guitar Hero, use the select button to use star power so you don't break the PS2. Even though it's too late now.
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Woof

[Flound3r]

Use a couch as a bar, buy a foam pad, and get a PS2>USB adapter.
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Wow my sig got messed up.

[Marq(uistadorous)]

[gay dentist]

Instead of spending 400 dollars on ddr, you could always save up for something useful.
I spent 250 on a metal pad last year. not worth it. you'll either get sick of it, or start going to the arcade anyhow.

[ChilliumBromide]

Answer part 1: Stepmania.

-no PS2
-no buying games
-only songs you want
-5-panel if you get into that.

Answer Part 2: Homebrew pads.

-built to your specifications. You will know the pad inside and out.
-easy to repair
-much less than $300
-use a chip from a num pad (you can get one for, like, $5) and you won't have lag
-no $20 converters
-no remapping arrows when you switch from the keyboard to the pad.

You'd be looking at a $100-$200 budget.
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I used to be active here lol

[That guy with the afro...]

[shurf]

Usually when DDR players "get serious", they start playing ITG.

^Ignore that for now.

My PS2 broke recently too. I was lucky enough to get a job through this employment program in my county. How old are you? If you're 15 or older, many places would consider hiring you. If not..... start mowing lawns.

If you want another PS2, go to your local EB Games or Gamestop. Trade in as many old games that you no longer play for store credit. If it's a decent amount of games, it should help you a lot with getting a new PS2. It might even cover the price completely (although the PS2 you'd get would probably be pre-owned).

Of course Stepmania is the greatest arcade substitute. If your pad is USB compatible, then go play some Stepmania intensely. It helps.