Metal Pad Discussion Part II

[Shadow_65]

ok ill do that
----------------------------------------------------------
Cypher Games Metal pad: $137 with shipping
DDRMax2: $39 plus tax
Failing light mode: Priceless

[licyeus]

alright, i'm sorry if this has already been answered, but i looked around a bit, and i couldn't find it.

what home/metal pad best simulates the actual arcade pads? i've played on cobalt flux, and they were nice, but they were hella responsive (much more than the real deal), and i think my tournament play would decrease if i were to become too accustomed to CFs.

it'd be very cool if the pad also had the bolts, etc. and the actual buttons were not on the same level as the non-button metal areas (like... a sort of depression of the buttons into the whole pad).

the http://www.digitaltorque.com/mydancepad/ pad looks like it may suit my purposes (cannot tell if the pads have any of my "depression" or not, though), but i am terrible at building, and even worse when tools are involved. can something like this be ordered, pre-assembled, at a cost of parts + labor + shipping + hassle?? money really is not an issue.
_________________

utahddr.com

[islanders54321]

If i get a cg style pad off of ebay, can I replace the arrows with a stronger material, put insulation or foam on the bottom of the arrow(like ps2freak's mod) and than put sheet metal underneath the foam( like in Ter's mod)? I would love to get the best of both worlds !

Also based on what i've read on this thread I should take the rubber feet off the bottom with a screw driver and then build a plywood box around the pad to avoid bending of the metal frame.

Can anyone tell me if this is what i should do, if you have any suggestions, or if i am doing something wrong?

Thank you guys, this thread is providing me with everything I need to know!!

[Shadow_65]

i found a cypher games pad on ebay thats got polycarb & led arrows $97
_________________

[Golden_Salmon]

Besides the CF pad, I wanted to know what would be the best one for the money. Has anyone seen a really cheap metal pad from an online retailer? or is ebay the only way to go? Thanks for ur help
_________________

http://home.comcast.net/~pyle154/golden-salmon-logo.jpg

[Cutriss]

[zero2dash]

BNS metal pad review
(a quickie...)

I got my BNS-clone pad last Thursday which turned out to be a BNS pad, period. (Not a clone.) I sheet metal modded the pad this past weekend, although I did it slightly different than the MyMyBox mod suggests; it calls for the sheet metal to be cut to 10"x10" squares, which I thought made the arrows bulge up too much as well as become harder to register a press...so I cut them to fit the square cutout in the foam, which was approximately 6.5"x6.5". It works awesome now...just as responsive as before, without the worries of the cheap-ee tin foil stuff burning up or whatever.

My whole thought about this pad is that it's very good if not great. I can't lie and say "it's better than the arcade" because, IMO, no home pad (no matter who makes it or how much it costs) will never replicate the arcade quite like...the arcade. However, for the money...BNS metal pads (or RedOctane metal pads, if, like it was so-well put in a previous post...man what a good way to summarize your options - way to go seanh - if you don't buy generic products) are a solid investment that will give you great DDR play at home without breaking the bank.

I'm planning on buying a 2nd BNS metal pad soon so I can play doubles, once I get the 2nd I'm also building a small frame housing out of...I dunno, probably wood and sheet metal...to put both of the BNS metal pads into, and then mount bars on the back and springs (maybe) underneath to replicate the DDR arcade "stage" feeling.

I highly recommend BNS metal pads...especially because they (like I said) will not break your bank account. The saddest thing/viewpoint I think about DDR home play is that people often think they have to buy the best of the best to have a good time at home, and that's not the case. I know that there's lots of people who say CF pads are the best, there's some that prefer other metal pads, etc. but anyway ~ my point is that if you are in the market for a metal pad - buy the metal pad that makes the most sense TO YOU in the big picture. Ask yourself the following questions...

1) How often will you use the pad/play at home?
2) How much money are you REALISTICALLY WILLING to spend?
3) Does a name brand sway your decision (see also: seanh's thoughts about generic)
4) Are you interested in purchasing *2* pads? (Doubles or for Versus play with a friend who never leaves your house/family member, etc)

Seanh's post has a lot of good thoughts in it that people should really think about...remember people - you are considering spending hundreds of dollars on something. People...at least SANE people...don't go out spending $15g's on a car without thinking it over, doing research, etc.

No matter what...DO NOT buy a metal pad that does not have a frame. Period. This includes pretty much EVERY old-style metal pad including Cyphergames, MyMyBox, the generic stuff, etc. The frame will not only make the pad more sturdy, but also the framed pads seem like they are made with better materials (and from what I've seen, every framed metal pad has polycarbonite arrow panels which should not break/shatter/crack). I'm 6'4" 225 lbs. and if I can play 10 footers on my BNS pad without it breaking, then I don't see how polycarb arrows can break.

~~~UNFORTUNATELY~~~
I broke my metatarsal bone in my right foot a few days ago which means I'm on the shelf from DDR for at least 3 weeks. *sigh* I'm soooooooooo frickin' sad about it it's not even funny. I FINALLY get a metal pad and this happens. Aarrgh!
_________________

Life handed us a paycheck, we said, "We worked harder than this!"

[islanders54321]

zero2dash's summary is very good but if u do have a pad with no frame or no poly-carb panels or if u already placed an order for one,DONT WORRY! You can put the pad on a piece of wood so it wont bend, you can do the sheet metal mod or ps2freak's mod(or mix both of those together) and replace the arrows for a very low cost to create a pad that delivers awesome performance! And while many of u must be thinkin " screw that, i'll just get a CF" than thats an excellent choice yet some of us just dont have that kind of money and dont mind doing a few simple modifications to a cheaper pad.

[diabloslayer469]

[Shadow_65]

so with the one i bought (1st one u see when you search for "metal ddr pad") will it work on carpet since it has a frame?
_________________

[islanders54321]

[zero2dash]

[Rump Himself]

I recently purchased a metal pad w/ an xbox/psx adapter. The auction said the arrows had LEDs that light up when stepped on. I went to the web site of the company that sold it to me (http://www.gameenhancer.net/Game-Enhancer.html), and it basically says that they just found out that with the control box they give you, the LEDs won't work. Is there a simple way that I could make them work, or would i have to make my own control box. Thanks.
_________________

[xequar]

Ok, so here's my question for the day.

Does anyone know where I can purchase a replacement cable for the MyMyBox metal pads? I am referring to, of course, the cable that runs from the pad (with that computer connection end) to the PS2. I have tried MyMyBox's website, which you cannot order from because their buttons don't work, and some other place called Game Mart or something. The Game Mart site's order system was using paypal and charging some $14 for ground shipping. Having said all this, does anyone know of anywhere else I can go?

P.S. Please, no comments on CF pads being the answer to this solution, because I've had these pads for well over a year with barely any trouble.
_________________

Well, the final total was 207, 342. The fuel pump went out, and since it would cost too much to fix, I donated the Buick to charity.

Fare thee well, Riviera, and God speed.

[VonTure]

Got a couple questions of my own...

I've been playing DDR for several months now (owned the PS2 versions for about a month now) and I've really gotten into it. Currently I have two soft pads, but I'm looking into getting a metal pad. I could spend the money on a CF pad... But I would rather not if I don't have to. The problem is that I have no experience at all working with modding something, and I don't trust myself to do it without help from someone that knows what they are doing.

So... Do the BNS pads, or the RO pads really need a ton of modding to become any good? Do they really break as often as they are made out to be? Should I attempt to mod one (if so, anyone know an excellent site for someone who has no electrical/mechanical experience)?

[zero2dash]

[VonTure]

Thank you for the great info, I suppose I'll be buying a BNS pad

[east coast fool]

When a metal pad say it has led arrows, does that mean arcade-style(light up on the arrow when u step on it, lights under arrow graphic)
or like a softpad lightup everywhere (red led color along the base and circuit board.)

For example at http://www.keepgaming.com/ddr/super_arcade.htm

BTW, is this a good pad to buy?
_________________

east coast.airsoft.ddr

[Rump Himself]

[zero2dash]