Total Newbie: what to buy to start playing DDR? PC not good?

eieio · Basic Member Joined: 26 Nov 2006

Hello All! I'm totally new to the gaming world and really found DDR to be grabbing my attention. Just seeing all these people playing it and having a great time is fantastic. it simply looks fun - plus there happens to be an "exercise or aerobic" mode - which is likely something that i'd use.

My understanding is that there are 4 ways to "play" DDR at home:

1. PS2
2. XBOX
3. PC based plug and play
4. TV based plug and play

From my limited understanding (even though i did many hours of research and asked many people in stores, but they are really not that knowledgeable), option 4 above (TV plug and play) have severe limitations in how much "fun" the game would really be, i.e. limited options as in no aerobic/exercise mode, fewer on screen options to select, etc. They seem to tell me that this is an "el cheapo" option that will result in dissatisfaction. Is that really true?

People tend to tell me that Options 1 and 2 above are interchangeable. Should i opt for the PS2? it's around $109 at GameStop used, and maybe i can even do CraigsList.

What are the pros and cons of the PC-based option? are there USB pads to get? i have a 24" wide screen on my PC, so it's not that tiny, but it's certainly much smaller than my tv.

if i were to have to get a "console", i have to choose between PS2 or XBOX. which one should i choose? i would likely only use this console for DDR only. is it stupid to spend all this just to play one game? on top of everything else, PS2 and XBOX are on their way out, so i'm really buying a much dated piece of hardware that no one really wants anymore, but i still have to pay like $110 for that PS2 console! what a bummer!

Lastly, since i don't know any of the songs at all, and have never even actually listened to the songs or stepped to play ddr, other than to watch others, which one of the many DDR games should i choose? should i choose the "Bundles" so i will have a pad? i like things that work well and are well made, i'm worried that the quality of the included pads are poor but i don't have enough of an understanding to pick and choose yet. while i'd like to get started right away, i'm not ready to just run to BestBuy's or GameStop and get whatever and play because i thought that asking you all here would be THE best option. At least i'll get ripped off a bit less

thx in advance for all your help. sorry for being such a newbie at this - i know you all are very much advanced players. Much appreciated!

Synaesthesia · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:56 am Post subject:

If setting up your computer area for a pad is a viable option then do that, go download StepMania, read up on how to use it (Simulators section of the forum), what pads to use, etc. SM is free so you don't actually have to waste money except for a pad.
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dj_sammylvr03 · Trick Member Joined: 20 Jun 2004 Location: Connecticut, US

Okay, first of all, the TV plug and play are spin-offs of DDR for younger kids. I would take that out right away.

If you don't have much money to spend, I'd go with getting StepMania for several reasons:

1. It's free
2. You can choose what songs to have in the game
3. its customizable

And for a starter pad for StepMania, I'd go with a BNS Fusion because it is cheaper than an Ignition pad, and it has a USB plug for use with a computer.

PS2 and Xbox are okay, but they have a set amount of songs that you may have to unlock and what not. I;d opt for PS2 and Xbox only if StepMania dosn't run on your computer.
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Flameboat · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:46 pm Post subject:

eieio · Basic Member Joined: 26 Nov 2006

Hello All!

Hate to sound ungrateful...but i went to stepmania's site and was immediately overwhelmed by all the computer tech talk! they talk about whether this "kernel" was installed or not...etc.

i'm just not sufficiently tech savvy, or else, not sufficiently willing, to devote all this to getting the game up and running. it's very possibly that for someone who's very tech savvy already, this is really easy! but honestly, for me, who can follow directions, but not a tech expert whatsoever, this stepmania is quite overwhelming!

the part that is SO attractive is that the overall cost is low. just a great pad!

i've done more investigation...in the meantime

should i get that Ignition pad that's like around 1" of padding?

here I go:

of all the options that i've investigated, it seems to me, at least at this early point in time, that the way to go is to get a PS2, with a "stand alone game purchase" (i.e. not a bundle), and then a very nice "pad". This way, one gets the game one wants, and the pad of the quality that one would want.

ok, even if you experts here agree with that (not that you should, because i'm just such a newbie that i really don't know what i'm talking about, honestly), there remains: which pad to get, and where to buy it??

i want to place my order very soon, like now, for the PS2 "console" unit, the game itself (which game should i get? the original? or one of the follow up ones? i'm primarily interested in the "aerobic" or "fitness" modes) and i'm entirely NOT familiar with any of the games so i'm not gonig to care whether a game has old songs or new, it's just that i'd like to pick a game that has great songs, and not a "follow up" game that is like: me too (!) but nothing great, just to "rip" the customers off!

Ladies and Gentlemen: I basically need recommendations on a "shopping list" as well as where to buy the items (reliability, decent customer service,...are the key elements for me), and then how and where to buy them!

thx!

videoCWK · Trick Member Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Location: woh

I would reccomend the BNS DX Extreme pad. You can get a link to a place that you can buy it at in the Bemani Controllers board. It's a very nice pad, and is reccomended by all.
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eieio · Basic Member Joined: 26 Nov 2006

so i've gathered that i should get the stuff from "buynshop.com", right?

the issue now is:

which pad? the extreme? or go for a metal one?

which game? i have never tried them so i have no idea if an earlier "first game" is a good option or a later, currently newly released one is good.

i also have to buy a PS2! anyone knows of a reliable place to get one at a good price?

thx in advance!

AA Bob · Trick Member Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Location: Alllll right!

Ogulak · Trick Member Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Location: Durango, CO

Depending on how much you wanna spend I agree with AA Bob PS2 + DDRMAX2 for the game. Best combo I started out with it.

As for pads I've never really played on soft pads except for the first month or 2 of play Then I got a metal TX1000 pad 50-100$ (Its not the best quality though.. Mine has lasted 1.5 years for me now

But all the arrows cracked within the first 5 months but I still play on it Registers fine better than arcade pads for me.. But I have to hit it in the center

due to cracks not letting it register on the side...
Replacing it with a blueshark in a couple weeks

But if your willing to shell out alot of money Cobalt Flux will last you a life time (or so I hear

or Blueshark exactly like arcade pad. - These are the premium high quality Metal pads if you want to go the long hall.
Or if you wanna start off cheap with soft pad foam pad et.c I have no experience in that area sorry

eieio · Basic Member Joined: 26 Nov 2006

Thank you for your suggestions. I need to compile a "shopping list" then for this. So I have to get:

1. PS2 (around $129 at bestbuy; is there anywhere else for a better price, may i ask?)

2. DDR Max2 (this is the recommended game for a newbie to start up, i gathered)

3. Need a Pad: soft thick pad (might not be the best option, but the metal ones might be an "overkill" for me unless it is not that much more expensive than the padded soft ones. the soft ones from Ignition are around $50 to $80, is that right? which is the best store or website to buy these things from, may i ask? sorry for so many questions, total newbie here.) Alternatively, i can go for one of those metal pads, but the ones from Utah (Cobalt Flux) are very expensive at around $270! Ogulak above mentioned the Blueshark: is it less expensive? i think the Cobalt Flux at $270 or so is too expensive for me. you know, i've never really played this game other than watching everyone else having fun, so i should be a bit smart in not overspending. i worry though about buying "junk" low quality items - it's sort of like a newbie starting out tennis lessons, you really don't wanna start with an el cheapo racquet because in several weeks, you'd be disatisfied and want to buy a better racquet, then you've spent money for TWO racquet right away because you have to buy the better one even only after a few weeks, plus the cost of the el cheapo first one which is basically junk! i'm trying to avoid that.

any advice about which items to buy, and which store or website to buy from would be most appreciated. btw, i'm on the east coast of the US.

Thanks so much, guys! Eager to get started, but not eager to waste money by buying the wrong items.

PS: do i have to also buy that silly expensive Sony PS2 8mb memory card? how would i get that Eye Cam? or do i not want or need it? what other items should i get?

RBCF retunes · Trick Member Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Location: 2P side

You do need a memory card, but don't need an EyeToy. Also, I have a 16mb memory card, so try to find that.
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crunchwrap · Trick Member Joined: 19 Oct 2006

VERY IMPORTANT!!!: If you're getting your PS2 just to play DDR, the Japanese PS2 games will not work on American systems. I've found that the Japanese DDR games are slightly better than the American versions - and almost everything from from one of the Japanese DDR games I have is in English (except for when it asks you to save you're memory card). For example, DDR Extreme (Japanese version) has 111 songs compared to American versions which have around 74 songs. I find that the Japanese version of DDR Max 2 is much better than the American version. But if you just want to "play" DDR, and don't care how many songs or what songs are in the game, then it's just easier to buy an American PS2 in person at a store instead of having to import it from Japan. (By the way - I was also overwhelmed at the StepMania website from all that "downloading" stuff - you're not the only one!)

Travelsonic · Trick Member Joined: 08 Oct 2005

Get a modchip OR a swap magic fliptop lid/disks and Japanese game will work perfectly. No need to throw/give away the Japanese game you bought, and certainly no need to import a Japanese PS2.
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davidyko · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

Max2 or SuperNOVA are good for beginners.
Pads: Ignitions are good, try to look for a 2.0 if you can, they're much better than the new ons.
And definitely PS2 over Xbox.
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crunchwrap · Trick Member Joined: 19 Oct 2006

Well, since eieio said he wasn't too smart about computers, I wouldn't recommend him getting a mod chip or swap magic. #1 - it just doesn't sound right (especially if you've just bought you're PS2) to basically do surgery on your PS2 - I went on a website that showed pictures of a guy installing a fliptop for Swap Magic discs, and it looked scary. You have to disassemble your PS2, so it's worth just getting a Japanese PS2 so you don't have to worry about anything. The only bad part about ordering Japanese PS2's online is that the shipping was about $50 for me, and the actual PS2 was $159.99, for a total of $210. But it was well worth paying for that than the possibility of your PS2 breaking installing 3rd-party products.

AA Bob · Trick Member Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Location: Alllll right!

Yeah, installing a fliptop is difficult. Not impossible, but difficult. It's easier if you're not trying to do it by yourself.

Flameboat · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:32 pm Post subject:

eieio · Basic Member Joined: 26 Nov 2006

My goodness! You guys are so incredibly helpful! i was out for most of the day and didn't realize all these great helpful pointers. thx!

Flamebait, thx for you kind offer. i might just take you up on it!

to recap my day's activities, i found myself close to a bestbuy today and popped in to see what they have. the other bestbuy closer to where i live was out of many things. i looked and thought carefully and purchased these items (and i'll give my reasons and their return policies below):

PS2 Silver version $130
ddrMax2 PS2 game $30
Ignition 3.0 Multi Platform Pad $80
8mb Sony Memory Card $25 (what an incredible rip off)

EVERYTHING is returnable (30 days) except the game. So my total true "commitment" today was the $30 game.

i figured that at least i can try it out. if you guys suggested a better pad for roughly the same amount or a bit more (but not something crazy like $250), i will return the pad and get whatever you guys recommend online. likewise for the memory, etc. So i'm really not that "stuck" and plus i have the benefit of really trying it out.

i have several questions...just can't figure this out:

- i have done all 3 lessons (finished every part of each lesson) and tried to play the Game Mode. i cannot get the pad to respond at all! something's wrong!!! i have no idea and can't figure it out! if i can do the lessons, why can't i do the game mode? i picked that song "get down tonight" and got no steps right, which is just not possible as i've done ALL those lessons, which took quite some time! HELP please!

- the pad feels good to me, though it slips on my hardwood floor. i have no basis for comparison but it does feel like it has a good deal of that 1" padding which i stuffed in that zippered pad. if you guys have a better recommendation that is not 3 or 4 times more expensive, i'm game to return this pad and get something else. i really value reliability and comfort (really don't want to get my joints screwed up because of this game! so comfort, reliability etc are key points)

- that 8mb card is quite a rip off. i wonder if i'd like to play with other people, should i get that blue and red "twin pack" of two 8mb cards? i have no idea how to save anything...i opted for the "auto save" mode.

Anyhoo, i'm very frustrated that after a long time in doing those silly lessons (though i really really badly needed them - i'm quite a klutz, but improved a lot during the lessons - certain ones i repeated to get certain steps down right), i have no way to play even one lousy song in the "Game Mode"!! what the heck is wrong? i also find the navigation to be so not intuitive. those "X" buttons are supposed to mean "Enter"? who thought of "X" as the symbol for "enter"??? what planet do these designers come from? it was also hard for me to figure out how to navigate as in "returning" to the menu, etc. It said something like press "select and "Play" or something like that (2 buttons) simultaneously! how goofey and not user-friendly! i guess navigation is twisting your fingers now that we've learned how to twist our legs and bodies from being dexterious from the game!

i'm kidding, obviously, becuase it is great fun and good exercise as a really important bonus, but it is weird that every other product out there is so intuitively designed but this is not - though it might be my own ignorance as i know nothing about games and have never played a single PS2 or any other games like that.

Hopefully, someone here can help tweak my "shopping list" and suggest better quality alternatives than my Ignition 3.0 pad and 8mb memory card...etc. i just can't believe that bestbuy's selection is really the "best" options out there...usually their selection is the most "mass marketed" items, not the best items for enthusiasts!

PLUS, real help is needed to how to get my "Game Mode" to work!

MANY thanks for all your patience! i love this game and i'm a total newbie!

it's high time that i "discovered" this game!

please help me get this thing up and running!

Flameboat · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:07 pm Post subject:

About your troubles in game mode; are you playing on beginner difficulty? And when you step on an arrow; are the grey stationary arrows at the top responding at all (they should do a small animation when you step on the arrow), or is the pad not registering whatsoever?

One memory card should be good enough. And yes, they are a major rip off. That's Sony for ya.

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