If you have not heard of Dance Dance Revolution yet, Google it and get with it, please! DDR, as it is abbreviated, is essentially a video game where players dance. There is the obligatory video screen, but more importantly there is a platform with lighted squares that both direct dancers where to step and record how accurate and fast they make their moves. I have read for a few years now about kids losing weight from playing this game.
Now finally it seems some schools have realized DDR is great for motivating teens to exercise. Why not? Shaking their hormone-bursting bodies is less psychologically-risky than missing basketball free throws or volleyball serves. The exercise involves video interactions, and there is pumping music that is usually never allowed in school.
I hope to see our local schools try not only incorporating DDR in Physical Education classes, but also making these stations available to students at lunch time and breaks. One benefit of universities is the great gym facilities available for students to use at any time. Perhaps it is time for our local middle and high schools to start making exercise facilities available to students.
Finally, if you want to see DDR for yourself, I know that Leo’s on Holmes has one and I heard that the Gamespot next to Edward’s Cinemas also has one. I once researched purchasing the units for a business, and the cost seemed to only be a hundred dollars or so.
There we go, another business idea: an exercise ‘gym’ furnished only with Dance Dance Revolution stations. It could have dimmed lights like a nightclub and target teens and young adults. Who’s going to start it in Idaho Falls?
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I wonder how much a complete setup costs? I’d like to put one downstairs for the family. Anyone local sell these?
Agreed that it’s a great exercise tool. I used to play in high school for fun, but never really got into it. I have heard of weight loss plans taht use the machines that are wildly successful.
And yes, there is one at the arcade by Edward’s. There are also cheaper versions for X-Box and Playstation 2. You can buy the game and pad for around $100.
$100! That can’t be for the whole setup with metal plates, can it?
I’ve seen the ones around town, and I think it would be a great investment for the family.
Nope, it’s a plastic mat. Not as fun as the big setup, but for home use, it’s more practical.
That makes sense, and you probably hook up to your tv via vga cables?
I wonder how much the metal-plated setup would be, the kind that are in arcades locally?
That mat hooks up to the PS2 via USB, and I’m not sure how it hooks up to the X-Box. I assume a parallel port like the controllers do.
I did some research and you can buy two metal pads with the grip-bars for $749.99.
This site has all of the items Konomi (the developer) has for sale: http://www.ddrgame.com/
It looks like an upright gaming console will run you about $5000.
Oh.
Yes, plastic should do just fine.
Thanks 8^).
Wow, that is a great link, btw, seems like that is the ultimate source of Dance Dance Revolution gear.
Thanks for the initiative to find that!
I’m a little confused. Do you have to have a Play Station or X-Box to operate one of these dance mats?
Yup.
i think its true it can help u lose weight
I’ve been a DDR fan for about 4 years. My family owns a PlayStation 2 and two metal dance pads. We also have our PC configured to use these same metal dance pads with “DDR” software. I would consider my mad dance skillz to be on the bottom end of an intermediate dancer. My kids might think that evaluation is a bit generous, but they’re not here right now. =)
There is a nice piece of FREE software called StepMania. This software amongst other things, will allow you (with some work) to create your own step patterns to your favorite music. As I mentioned earlier, this product can be downloaded for FREE and installed on your home PC. Although you can create your own step patterns, I prefer to select my favorites from the thousands of songs that others have already created and are continually updating. This library includes all of the songs that already exist in the arcades, as well as the console games, plus many other popular songs. The StepMania Website will get you started down this path to DDR fun. I consider getting the software installed, locating and downloading the DDR songs, and getting the adapters for installing your PS2 dance pads on your PC, as moderately difficult. For me the thousands of additional songs that it brought to the table were well worth the learning curve.
If you prefer the purely convenient route and don’t mind the song limitations (still hundreds of songs available), you can stick with the DDR game console products. PS2 seems to have the best offering thus far, though XBox is continuing to extend their offering in this genre.
There is some substance to the foam pads versus metal dance pads issue mentioned. I haven’t owned a foam dance pad but have played on them before. From what I understand and have observed, the metal dance pads are more responsive and more durable. With some maintenance, my metal dance pads have been functional for nearly three and a half years.
You have a couple of great options with metal dance pads. You can take the no-hassle approach and go with the “undisputed champion” of home dance pads, by getting a couple of Cobalt Flux metal dance pads. This will set you back $569.99 (before shipping costs), but this is the “no-hassle approach” because they have a very good reputation and warranty. If something breaks you send it back, and they’ll make it right.
Another option is to plan on performing a little maintenance and making a few modifications, and paying slightly less than half as much for “fair quality” instead of “very high quality”. You can get some “fair quality” metal pads from the BuyNShop Web Site. I got mine from this website after researching and gathering information from DDR discussion groups. Two of these metal dance pads will set you back $268.95 (before shipping costs).
My wife wants me to put a “dance pole” in the bedroom….but it’s not for any weight lose regime if you know what I mean.
Too. Much. Information. Thank goodness for anonymity!
I looked at the DDR products because we finally bought a PS2 for Christmas (our old PS1 died and obviously I’m not an early adopter).
There seems to be quite a few DDR pads and games and I’m not sure if the cheap ones are worthwhile, or what kinds of music are on the various games. Are they all mixtures or do you get rock ‘n roll on some and country on others? Are the pads worth buying or do they wear out fast? Anyone bought a metal set? Is it much better than the cheaper pads?
I finally bought a Super Nintendo. Do they have that Dance game on this game system?