How much would you pay for an IDENTICAL arcade pad?

Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

How much would you pay for a metal DDR pad which collapses into 9 squares which can then be stored anywhere? When assembled (which is a simple interlocking design) it is IDENTICAL to the arcade strength, feel, and sturdiness, including the 1/4" or so which the metal pads sit above the buttons themselves. The design would have a minimum of a one year warranty (something which scant few metal pads seem to offer).

Basically, how much would you shell out for the real arcade experience in front of your PSX/PS2, which will last for as long (if not longer) than an arcade pad would?

For a single pad:
A. $500-$750
B. $400-$500
C. $300-$400
D. $200-$300
E. I'd only pay $100 or less

For a double pad:
A. $750-$1000
B. $400-$500
C. $300-$400
D. $200-$300
E. I'd only pay $100 or less

Note that these things aren't about to go on sale (the initial design hasn't even been written out). We're trying to determine if it'll be feasible and even possible to build such a pad, but a price-point is necessary for getting started.

I've noted that the difference between the home versions of the metal pads and the arcade versions are (although somewhat minimal) still more than enough to make home training an exercise in futility as practice for arcade play. It might vary from person to person, but everyone I've seen learn on the home pad had a difficult time with transition when we finally found an arcade which has the game (myself included).

Please give me your honest opinion...

Thanks in advance,
-SB
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granolanator · Trick Member Joined: 22 Mar 2003

For a single pad i would pay $200-$300
For a double pad i would pay $400-$500, unless the 2 pads aren't attached so they don't seperate, in which case i wouldn't buy it.

diabloslayer469 · Trick Member Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Location: Neo-Geo Land

Single Pad: $200-$300
Double Pad: $400-$500
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Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

To clarify, the individual pieces would be interlocking, including the edge pieces which are found in the arcade into which the rear bar is mounted.

Technically, you could snap four of them together.

-SB
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cRazY FeeT · Trick Member Joined: 25 Dec 2002 Location: SoCal

Same here.
Single: $200-$300
Double: $400-$500

I would be VERY impressed if you made such a pad within that price range.

Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

Jon-O · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2003 1:07 pm Post subject: price range

If you put this into effect keep it under $800-$900 anything higher than that and people will just buy an arcade machine, I would pay around $700 for doubles and $350 for single, putting a bar on it is not a good idea, we don't need anymore people who use the bar in arcades

Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

I think the bar should be optional for authenticity (some people might demand just so), but I agree that the bar shouldn't be used to play the game under any circumstances. I'm relearning to play with shoes on as opposed to going barefoot, as there's apparently a world of difference.

Learning to play this game with a "crutch" is surprisingly detrimental to your learning ability later on. Just wish I had known that when I started playing it...

-SB
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roothorick · Trick Member Joined: 24 Jun 2003

Complete prebuilt? $400-$500 for single, twice that for a double. If major assembly is required, about $300-$400 for a single, and again twice that for a double. And it has to have built-in adjustable feet. I won't buy otherwise.

StarDeath88 · Basic Member Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Location: Long Island

well seeing as how i'm 15 I would pay about $175 for a single no bar (2x that for a double. I agree that bars aren't necessary and would be a waste of cost and materials. I can see how it would be relatively easy to mass produce these things, they are essentially 4 symetrical parts. Good luck with this and maybe when I am finaancially separate from my parents i will buy it.
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Blue Beefman · Trick Member Joined: 31 Oct 2002 Location: WI

hmmm well I would pay NOTHING, cause I already have my own arcade perfect pad, it has USB and Playstation connections and more could be added quite easily. In fact I sell these bad boys. all for the uhhh.... price of 250, and then of course there is shipping, but I can add lights if wanted or even a bar if someone wants it, custom arrow graphics, man AND I put no warranty or gurantee on them, I just say Ill fix it when it needs it, well if the person I sold it to cant fix it with my tech support, I pay for shipping and fix it, so yeah, no warranty, just a "Ill fix it" thing.

so yeah click down here:

http://www.ddrfreak.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=6825026#6825026

oh yeah yeah
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Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

People are missing something here...

ChibiShin · Trick Member Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Ypsi or Toledo

If you're able to pull this off, whether it's snap together or whether it requires assembly (as long as it's collapsable) I would easily pay $300-400 for a single and $550-650 for a double. Sounds like a stupendous idea though, what with having the ability to machine these instead of having to hand build them. Keep us posted!

Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

I just checked with my engineer and the snap together design is more than possible.

Also, I should point out that I'm not razzing Beefman, I've just come to the same god-forsaken crossroads which he has. Why SHOULD you have to spend your time honing skills on the wrong type of pad? Even the most minor differences between the homebuilt and the arcade pads will throw off your game, and like I said, that will cost you tournaments (and money to failure). Even if the homebuilt pad is "better" than the arcade pad, it isn't necessarily a good thing if you intend to use your skills in the arcade. I don't want to feel a difference between the home and arcade experience, except that you're surrounded by people in the arcade, and I don't think I'm alone in this respect.

Right now, I'm learning to play with shoes on my homebuilt pad (I always went barefoot before), and I begrudgingly accept the fact that, when I head over to Hilltop Funcenter, it won't feel the same on their pad and thus I'm going to need a few "warmup" games to readjust myself to the real thing.

THAT is what I'm trying to do away with: no more "warmup" games or readjustment period. So keep the opinions coming in. God willing, we'll make this a reality.

-SB
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Tomo-kun AKA s1 · Trick Member Joined: 18 Aug 2002 Location: In a ditch

are you the same person on DDRMANIAX that is making hte pad with 24k gold sensorces and putting 40 of them per arrow?
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Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

Taiguy · Trick Member Joined: 31 Aug 2002 Location: Yorktown, VA

im all for it if you can pull it off, no small feat but hey, if you've got the backing of trained engineers and an idle factory, there's a lot more you could come out with besides a ddr pad

$200-$300 for a single, and twice that for a double... oh, and mass production is good thing... even cheaper then! less money, is good... im a poor man
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Tomo-kun AKA s1 · Trick Member Joined: 18 Aug 2002 Location: In a ditch

eurm, can anyone say BEAT-GEAR??? yeah, everyone remember that hell? oh and here is your competition http://www.ddrmaniax.net/boards/index.php?showtopic=8152&st=0
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roothorick · Trick Member Joined: 24 Jun 2003

Beat-Gear failed for numerous reasons, not the least of which is a shaky financial backing and too little company to meet demand. Sounds to me like neither are an issue here.

Here's what I think: Cobalt Flux is producing overpriced plats that feel nothing like the real thing. And they're how deep in the hole? They're not in the hole. They're doing quite well actually. Now you come along with a reasonably priced arcade-authentic platform? You're going the whole distance, my friend.

Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

What is beat-gear exactly? Someone offered a pad and couldn't follow through?

I'm not exactly sure what that kid is up to, but I wouldn't buy one of those from him.

Let me make one thing clear: I'm not taking orders for pads or even enticing people with the concept that this can and will work. I'm just trying to establish a price point to determine if I can justify having the parts mass produced in a factory or not. It seems as though people would pay around $500 for a double, and thus that's what I'll be aiming for.

And if it IS possible, I'll post a video of the pad being snapped together and taken apart, with someone playing on it in between. Like I said, though, that's getting WAY ahead of myself. We haven't even tested the sensor design yet, but I'll post more information once we get the parts in.

-SB
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