How much would you pay for an IDENTICAL arcade pad?

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

As far as the height is concerned, I understand and I agree to an extent. But with the added height you could certainly reinforce it a lot more, and as for the extra weight, I would gladly pay more for something knowing it's incredibly durable. I know you could stack things under it to give it height and keep it from slipping, etc, it was just something to consider. In the end you're the designer and you have the engineers, I'm just trying to throw out ideas.

Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

I'm not shooting down your ideas: you're right, this thing needs to be DURABLE. I'm just saying that we wouldn't add height to it if we didn't need to, but it might wind up being that height anyways.

I need to head to my local arcade and measure the crap out of the pad there. The designs from Konami don't provide dimensions, but they give a basic idea of how their pads operate (which is more or less irrelevant since our pads will use a different trigger method, lest we risk patent infringement...).

Still, it's much easier to place a better design to an existing product than it is to design an entirely new one.

-SB
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N.N.T. Barton '1080 ~IIDX · Trick Member Joined: 02 May 2002 Location: :noitacoL

my bigest gripe is the sensors that home metal pads use. i realy dont want my arrows to sink in foam. personally BEATGEAR pads looked the best. but if you do model the pads from a arcade machene use the DDR 1st mix - Extreme style of pads rather then the SOLO solo4thPLUS and SOLO2k crapy pads.
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Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

N.N.T. Barton '1080 ~IIDX · Trick Member Joined: 02 May 2002 Location: :noitacoL

i have 2 mymybox 6 arrow pads. and use only one set of the solo arrows for konamix and or Extra mix. those are the only 2 mixes that suport solo but for some reasion or another i have 2 solo pads... kind of odd. in any case i probly will not buy arcade pads.. because i cant go blowing all my money on DDR. i need to save up for colladge and stuff.
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PRIMARY VIVID NNTB beatmaniaIIDX Ver.012
The sound pressure makes you feel refreshment of mind and body. Feel the shouwer of lights & colors.

Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

Yeah, stick with college. It should take precedence over DDR.

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

Well, you could check to see if they have a patent on the pad design that they're using, but I honestly doubt it. I mean it'd be very difficult to patent something like that, especially since it uses other patented technologies like microswitches and such. I dunno if they're proprietary or what, but at any rate you would be better off staying away from microswitches as they are expensive and would be a pain to replace if they broke down.
Also no need to worry, I don't think you're shooting down my ideas and I know you're taking into consideration my input, and everyone's for that matter. It's all part of the process of making a superb pad hehe.

AkA-Virus · Basic Member Joined: 06 Aug 2003 Location: CA

when you get this pad done notify me...i forgot if my e-mail is on the link below but just take it [email protected] can create the thickness, and realism of the REAL arcade DDR pad i WILL be ur first customer, or at least one of the 1st lol...yead id have to have the bar also just incase i do lose my ballence cause if i do i go right into the other 3 comps i have in this room and ya i dont want to do that lol...
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Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

Heh, the bar sounds more and more necessary all the time, but the bar will be the easy part.

Actually, it was Konami's patent where I got the picture I posted earlier. We'll be missing their design by a mile, but it will look and feel the same, so I'm going to have someone go through the legalese and figure out if we can make this pad without being sued (I don't see why not).

Like I said before, it'll be great if we can get this off the ground, but don't count on anything until we've figured out if we can do this for the price point.

-SB
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Knee_Ill · Basic Member Joined: 07 Aug 2003

hey Smash Brother, heres a tip. Make about 5 modifacations of this pad that people like, like one with a trick bar, different colored arrows, or have lights. This way every1 should be happy. And you should auction some off too while you at it.

O and if any of you want a real good soft pad mod, pm me.
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Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

I did some "field" research yesterday and came to some interesting realizations about the design of the arcade pad, all of which I've passed on to my engineer and which I'll tell you now...

First, I measured every aspect of the thing, but that's not terribly important. Anyone can do that.

Second, I checked the actual motion of one of the buttons: the button motion is almost non-existent, moving only about 1/8" when stepped upon.

Third, the two pads are actually two separate pieces held together only by brackets in the front and back. I watched two big guys jumping around on these pads and I noticed that they were not only moving around a good deal but that they were doing so separate of each other (the pads, not the guys).

Fourth, beneath the pad is an extensive suspension system composed of very strong springs. This means that Konami didn't design their pad to stand up to the abuse being put on it: they designed it to yield to the force being applied to it and thus avoid it entirely.

Fifth, the last thing which I still need to figure out is how much force it takes to trigger one of the buttons. I'm probably going to go out today and figure this out. If anyone knows the exact weight it takes to trigger the buttons, please let me know.

ALSO, if anyone has encountered different "models" of dual DDR pad setups in arcades (ie: different designs, sizes, button strengths, etc.) please don't hesitate to let me know. I live in New Hampshire, which means that I haven't seen more than a few machines.

Like I said, let me know...

-SB
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bb · Trick Member Joined: 27 Jul 2003

yo smash_bro, i have a few questions:

1)is the frame and everything going to be made out of metal? *hoping it is*

2)do you think in the future you can make a air-safe trvaveling case for the pads since the fold up 'n all. because i visit friends in california and they like to play ddr and so do i. so just wonderin

if the thing isn't made out of metal or have that plastic inside frame thingy that beat-gear had, then i might not buy it. don't take me wrong but i like to pads that have almost the same materials uesd as the arcade(ie:metal,rubber,plastic,etc....just not wood

)

Smash_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jul 2003

The frame will most certainly be made of metal, but I don't think we're going to be able to continue with the snap-apart design. I've gotten a better idea of just how strong this thing needs to be, and with that in mind, the modular design just won't be possible.

We're trying to keep costs and weight to a minimum and we're actually looking at a design which will only weigh 50 lbs. The lights would be a possibility, but they'd add a great deal of extra cost and wouldn't truly be of much benefit: we're trying to duplicate the feel of the arcade, not so much the look. This means that the trick bar would be a necessity, and we're figuring out a way to make a bar which won't incur too much extra cost, as a bent pipe like Konami uses would be far more expensive to build than one which assembles from three pieces of pipe.

Also, the lights would require an external power supply, which only further complicates matters and raises the argument of heat and such.

Since it seems that everyone wants the $500 price point (for 2 pads), we're going to try hard to keep it at that mark.

-SB
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bb · Trick Member Joined: 27 Jul 2003

ok, that's cool. but is it going to come apart like an arcade pad. like, is it gonna have the individual brackets,step-plates,1-inch lip,etc?

and is it going to have that white base,not important(the white base)but it would be more authentic

and last and maybe least, is it gonna stand on the big o'l feet, like in the arcade.

i really want it to be very sturdy and look and fell really close to the arcade. not just the button feel but the over-all feel.

that is all

djdtalongrl79 · Trick Member Joined: 27 Apr 2003 Location: ct

Hmm, I'm not sure how much force it takes but I have heard of 5 and 7 year olds passing max300 heavy on it so the force must not be alot at all. I'd love to be able to get one opf these but that price is still way too high for a 15 year olds budget lol.
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ToDDRer · Basic Member Joined: 28 Mar 2002

A pad like what you are envisioning probably couldn't be built within those price ranges.

1. You would want to get in touch with someone in the arcade business who deals with DDR and find out what a pad alone would cost to replace on a DDR machine. I'll bet its at least $1500 or more.

2. To get arcade strength you would have to biuld it like the arcade pad using similar materials. The wight of the pad is listed at 220.5 lbs per section or for a 2 player pad fully assembled 441 lbs. To make it cost effective you would have to make the frame wood and cover it with metal.

3. To get arcade response you need to rig it just like the arcade. I tried designing my own pad using the actual parts used in arcade pads. However the cost was going to go so high that i would be better off just buying a used machine somewhere.

4. Finally there was some clown out there offering a pad like what you are describing, I forget his name, it was called Beat-Gear. I feel sorry for the people who bought into that and never got what they paid for. And it look sooooooo good too.

I'm not trying to discourage you from designing a pad. I tried and found out that it's not too hard coming up with a design or the specs. Its just going to cost you more than it's worth, both financially and time wise. If you want to build one for yourself do it, good luck, hope it turns out great for you. But if you expect to mass produce them you better go out and find some financial backing first. Thats where the Beat-Gear failed. He relied on people to pay up front and then had all kinds of problems delivering on what he promised.

Good luck and have fun.
Todd :)

bb · Trick Member Joined: 27 Jul 2003

hey samsh_brother, mybe you could just faithfully recreate beat-gear pads instead of building the pad you were describing. and i mean faithfully.

accept for the name

and you could even have backbar kits, so someone could choose if they want a bar or not

i'll tell ya right now if you faithfully recreated a beatgear i would definatley buy one!

bb · Trick Member Joined: 27 Jul 2003

actually nevermind, just carry on with your design. don't think about recreating a beat-gear. ijust got carried away in thoughts.

i don't want you to even think about changing your mind

be strong man. i beleive you can do this!

take cobalt flux for example they can survive a ford SUV and STILL work normaly. so man, i believe you can di dis

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bb · Trick Member Joined: 27 Jul 2003

those B and crookid I aren't suppose to be there (xcuse my horrible grammer)