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A team of geeks could design their own system, pick their own architecture, load it with Free-as-in-ESR software, and sell it competitively with Windows PC's.

How do I know this?

Cobalt Flux sells an extremely popular dance pad for DDR-type games that a small team puts together and sells for ~$350, which includes shipping. Assembling a usable home computer from generic off-the-shelf parts, after designing (which whatever architecture you want) and mini-assembly-lining the process, has got to be a lot less labor-intensive than building a CF pad.

So why doesn't someone try this? Or does someone?

Or did I just reveal complete ignorance of the computer industry?

You must have an ancient version. All current models are made of those. Check out the website. http://www.cobaltflux.com/

Solid? Not really. The metal dance pads they sell at lik sang use acrylic buttons, which have been shown to crack after any extensive use. For metal pads, I'd go to Red Octane or Cobalt Flux

I am going to have to disagree. You can build a reputable steel one for less than $100. Howtos are all over the web. The Cobalt flux is far more affordable at $299 as well. Fantastic quality, takes a beating and the polycarbonate plastic and galvanized steel can stand up to a barage of vehicles running over it with no problems. http://www.cobaltflux.com/media/MikesDDRandFoogyDo ogy_Runover+Holic.avi

Steel Battalion
Guitar Hero
X Gaming
Bass Fishing
DDR
Samba De Amigo
Taiko Drum Master
Beatmania
Light gun

You can't combine all or even two of these controllers without killing game play.

In that case, they should pick up Cobalt Flux pads instead. I'm not a shill; I've played on my two Flux pads for almost a year on the hardest songs in the game, and my pads still work great. Without modifications, the Red Octanes can not say the same. Also, Cobalt Flux makes pads especially for fitness clubs which are even more robust, though they also cost over $1000 each.

Roxor did a really good job with this. I can't wait until the PS2 version. Combine with Cobalt Flux for extremely expensive but awesome experience.

And they'd be wrong. I have one of these pads, and they're far better than the arcade.

Were? Still are. I picked up one of these a few months back, and let me tell you, I have one regret: I didn't pick up two.

DDRMAX 3 was recently released for the PS2, and it even uses the eyetoy if you have one.

First, you need a good pad. There's a Red Octane foam mat you can get for $100 that's pretty decent, or you can shell out $300 and get a Cobalt Flux/a pad which is pretty much indestructible (someone tested it by running it over with an SUV and it still worked perfectly).

Second, if you want to lose weight, you need to eat properly. A good gague is your body weight x 10 in calories per day. 40% of which must come from protein and carbs while 20% come from fats (you can change up numbers to suit your own body). Eat good fats found in Salmon/Flaxseed Oil and eat carbs low on the Glycemic Index (brown rice, natural oatmeal, vegetables, etc..)

Third, you need to workout. DDR is considered HIIT (high intensitiy interval training) which means you go through small bursts of aerobic activity. For example, you do a song on standard mode, your heart rate could get up to 90% of its max. When you're done, rest for a minute or two till your heart rate goes back down to 60-65% then start again. This cycle will cause your body to burn more fat than a steady cardio session.

I've actually compared 30 minutes of DDR vs. 45 minutes of aerobic exercise and DDR is by far the best. For me, I burned around 600 calories in 30 minutes as opposed to burning 600 over 45-60 minutes with regular cardio. On top of that, it's fun. Running on a treadmill is boring as hell and the time goes by so slow, but when you play the game and workout, time flies and before you know it, it's done.

As long as you eat properly and workout so that you have a 1000 calorie deficit a day, you should be able to lose 2 lbs of fat per week.

Anyone above 300 pounds who is looking to exercise with DDR can do one of three things:

1) Purchase a Cobalt Flux hard pad - their claim to faim is that they ran over their pad with an SUV and it still worked just fine

2) Purchase a knock-off hard pad (MyMyBox, Red Octane's hard pads) or build your own (Google for DDRHomepad).

3) Dance with DDR, but not on the pad itself. Throw the game into Workout or Training mode, where you can't fail out of a song. Then, while the song is playing, do the moves on your floor but not on the pad until such time as your weight comes down enough to use the pad itself. This isn't as fun, and makes DDR more like an aerobics video, but it works.

I've been using DDR for a workout for only two months now and while I haven't lost a ton of weight, my health overall has improved (I used to get frequent back pain, but that has gone away).

Good luck to anyone who decides to go for it.

I bought a cobalt flux in November. It works much better than the soft pads. My husband and I really debated getting it because it cost so much, but I am very happy we did 'cause we still use it almost every day. I love it!

DDR Freak has a nice forum about the pros and cons of the various metal pads.

My advice is: Get a cheapo pad. Play some. Decide if it's something you're going to keep playing for a long time. If it is, it's well worth the money to buy a metal pad. Both Red Octane's and Cobalt Flux's are excellent, if expensive.

The soft pads will break after heavy use. They also are less accurate and will piss you off when you start to get good, which you will do if you keep at it.

I wasted a lot of time and money on soft and semi-soft pads. Now I have some Cobalt Fluxes (the red octane metal pads weren't available when I bought mine) and they are consistently a delight to play on, after 6 months of heavy use by a 100 kilo guy.

The most expensive home equipment is the CobaltFlux hard pad, cheap at only $299 per, or $580 for 2!

(And I'm actually considering one. *sigh*)

1) Chip/Fliplid your PS2
2) Buy a copy of Dance Dance Revolution Extreme JP for PS2
3) Buy a Cobalt Flux (rather expensive but worth it)
4) Profit.

DDR is great fun, exercise factor or not. Anyone who thinks this game is easy or for girls has prolly never seen someone playing some of the level 9 or 10 rated tracks. And believe me, ten minutes of treadmill at 10mph doesn't make me sweat half as much as 90 seconds of Max300 (On the highest difficulty setting, you've got to hit 555 steps in those 90 seconds. Work it out). The fact that this game is seriously bloody addictive despite all this is quite an achievement on Konami's part.

Unfortunately I'm in halls so a home setup isn't really practical, instead I blow a lot of money on the arcade version. But yes I think it makes a bit more sense than wrestling with some strange joysticks...

If you're looking for a nice DDR platform and have a bit of money to kill, I wholeheartedly recommend the Cobalt Flux. Expensive, yes, but it will practically never break and it has a kickass warranty. As soon as I get my paycheck this week I'm buying one for myself and selling my old metal pad.

By the way, I friended you, it's nice to see some other DDR players around here. =D

Though no matter how you mod a soft pad you will never compare to a well built metal pad. If you have $300 to spare you can pick up the uber-ddr pad

The difference here is that DDR isn't your "typical" peripheral game. It's an obsession. None of the peripherals you mention above had the soft of following that DDR does. You don't see the Power Glove in Sketchers commercials on MTV.

You can buy cheap DDR pads from the mall, but there's a whole industry of much better pads, really great pads, and custom, homemade pads. Cottage industries like this don't crop up without the following to support them.

It's not unusual for people without room in their house to drag a TV out to their garage to play. There's DDR clubs at colleges. DDR's been used in high schools as an alternate gym class activity.

DDR is a Whole Thing.