Comments on: First Steps http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/ Never give a save point an even break. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:49:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Rob Browning http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-27 Wed, 09 Aug 2006 00:19:50 +0000 http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-27 If you go completely insane and/or start to really like DDR (which I guess is the same thing), you could fork over $300 for a Cobalt Flux pad. Those things are made out of steel and an elephant probably couldn't damage them or move them along the floor using just his feet. I have one and it's pretty nice though it's harder to feel the arrows than it is for a foam Red Octane pad (which I also had once, but the down arrow was damaged from months of heavy play, no pun intended). Rob If you go completely insane and/or start to really like DDR (which I guess is the same thing), you could fork over $300 for a Cobalt Flux pad. Those things are made out of steel and an elephant probably couldn’t damage them or move them along the floor using just his feet. I have one and it’s pretty nice though it’s harder to feel the arrows than it is for a foam Red Octane pad (which I also had once, but the down arrow was damaged from months of heavy play, no pun intended).

Rob

]]> by: Grey http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-26 Wed, 09 Aug 2006 00:07:53 +0000 http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-26 Living in the UK I've done my own research as to what pads are available here, and there are some foam-filled ones available for around £15 online that seem decent. However, I want to get what I can out of this cheap piece of junk before I go for that option. Thanks for all the suggestions though. Living in the UK I’ve done my own research as to what pads are available here, and there are some foam-filled ones available for around £15 online that seem decent. However, I want to get what I can out of this cheap piece of junk before I go for that option. Thanks for all the suggestions though.

]]> by: Tommy http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-25 Tue, 08 Aug 2006 22:41:22 +0000 http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-25 RO's pads are incredibly expensive, as the previous poster said. The best pads generally have foam inserts in them. http://www.buynshop.com/productinfo/4985/VG-DDR-ULTDX/ This one is about $60 and appears to be good. Considering the game is free, the pad isn't too much of an investment, eh? Though I guess you're not being paid... http://www.ddrfreak.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=37 is a good place to shop around. Just ignore some of the dumber posters :p RO’s pads are incredibly expensive, as the previous poster said. The best pads generally have foam inserts in them.

http://www.buynshop.com/productinfo/4985/VG-DDR-ULTDX/

This one is about $60 and appears to be good. Considering the game is free, the pad isn’t too much of an investment, eh? Though I guess you’re not being paid…

http://www.ddrfreak.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=37
is a good place to shop around. Just ignore some of the dumber posters :p

]]> by: Meophist http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-21 Tue, 08 Aug 2006 07:37:27 +0000 http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-21 Generally speaking, programs like StepMania is probably horrible for beginners. There are many ill-designed stepcharts, and many are made for more advanced players, not to mention keyboard play. Any of the home versions of DDR each have a steady learning curve as well as a turtorial mode which can help you learn techniques. Also, the foot rating is more-or-less consistant with DDR. From what I remember, in the fan-soft versions, the "step-artist" inputs the foot rating themselves, and each can have a different scale for such things. As for pads, I believe RedOctane's pads are considered to be among the best, although they do come with a cost. Generally speaking, programs like StepMania is probably horrible for beginners. There are many ill-designed stepcharts, and many are made for more advanced players, not to mention keyboard play. Any of the home versions of DDR each have a steady learning curve as well as a turtorial mode which can help you learn techniques. Also, the foot rating is more-or-less consistant with DDR. From what I remember, in the fan-soft versions, the “step-artist” inputs the foot rating themselves, and each can have a different scale for such things.

As for pads, I believe RedOctane’s pads are considered to be among the best, although they do come with a cost.

]]> by: Ismail Saeed http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-20 Tue, 08 Aug 2006 03:09:31 +0000 http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-20 Yeah, uh, should tell you... you can keep your feet on buttons, but you have to lift your foot and press them again if an arrow for them comes up (this to prevent just standing on buttons before they come).... when it gets "pressed" is when it reacts, and unless it's a "hold" arrow there's nothing to do until you lift the foot and put it down again. I DO keep myself in the center except when the portion of the song coming up is simpler to do if my feet are prepared in certain positions... sometimes with the left foot poised to hit left or up and the right foot poised to hit down or right and the body technically facing slightly to the right... certainly not always, but sometimes. You're right... some Stepmania folks kind of downrate their songs relative to how DDR would rate them. I've encountered three-foot songs that are definitely harder than three-foot, for example. I find this to be localized to those few misclassified songs and just learn from experience about a particular song. If something is a three foot song but is MORE intense than three foot I consider it fair game while trying to stick to four-footers, for example. Yeah, uh, should tell you… you can keep your feet on buttons, but you have to lift your foot and press them again if an arrow for them comes up (this to prevent just standing on buttons before they come)…. when it gets “pressed” is when it reacts, and unless it’s a “hold” arrow there’s nothing to do until you lift the foot and put it down again. I DO keep myself in the center except when the portion of the song coming up is simpler to do if my feet are prepared in certain positions… sometimes with the left foot poised to hit left or up and the right foot poised to hit down or right and the body technically facing slightly to the right… certainly not always, but sometimes.

You’re right… some Stepmania folks kind of downrate their songs relative to how DDR would rate them. I’ve encountered three-foot songs that are definitely harder than three-foot, for example. I find this to be localized to those few misclassified songs and just learn from experience about a particular song. If something is a three foot song but is MORE intense than three foot I consider it fair game while trying to stick to four-footers, for example.

]]> by: Rob Browning http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-19 Mon, 07 Aug 2006 22:52:58 +0000 http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-19 You're not penalized for standing on the steps, at least not in vanilla DDR. The neutral position is supposed to be with your left foot on the left arrow and your right foot on the right arrow. You still have to raise and lower your foot to hit those arrows, of course. Rob You’re not penalized for standing on the steps, at least not in vanilla DDR. The neutral position is supposed to be with your left foot on the left arrow and your right foot on the right arrow. You still have to raise and lower your foot to hit those arrows, of course.

Rob

]]> by: azusa- http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-18 Mon, 07 Aug 2006 22:39:40 +0000 http://www.the-unbelievers.com/2006/08/07/first-steps/#comment-18 google 'ddr spain' and navigate your way through the downloads section to find the holy grail of Simfiles: All DDR simfiles from all arcade mixes until Extreme! Those are not only fairly ranked but are near-perfect copies of the official step charts from the games. Hope this helps~ google ‘ddr spain’ and navigate your way through the downloads section to find the holy grail of Simfiles: All DDR simfiles from all arcade mixes until Extreme! Those are not only fairly ranked but are near-perfect copies of the official step charts from the games. Hope this helps~

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