The point

Dj Lowballer · Trick Member Joined: 26 Dec 2002

I am a casual player. I mean I am ok at ddr and can pass 9 and 10 ft heavy songs(not pc just get B or A) and I play for the sheer fact that it keeps me in shape and is a video game. But why do all of you guys play. Hyperspace where I play is now crawling with "DDR Freaks" and its ridiculous. Im so tired of hearing about every little nuance of every note in every song. If I head up to pocket change it isnt fun to play either because there is so much pressure from people who see to have devoted their lives to this game. My question is why? Its a great game but there are people who this owns their lives. One can bring up an MMORPG as taking someones time int he same fashion, but in games like that there is at least a profit to be had. I want to know the inner workings of you guys, from a casual players perspective I have started to gain a distaste for the people who seem to represent this whole subculture and rather than be closed minded, i just wanted to see what motivates you into this game so much

Kaleigh · Trick Member Joined: 18 Dec 2002 Location: Whole New World

I used to be much motivated about six months ago, but now the only things that motivate me to play DDR are exercise and tournaments. I'm growing out of it...

Sarabellum · Trick Member Joined: 19 Jul 2003 Location: Saginaw

I'm just competitive, I think. And although I'm not a good player compared to many, the potential to get better is always there.

Plus, I've lost 55 pounds playing DDR. So even if I never get any better, I'll probably keep with it just to stay in shape. It's fun. It's sort of a social event in my life. Most of the local players I consider to be friends, and a few of them have become very good friends. I look forward to our weekly DDR gatherings, kind of like poker night, or Monday Night Football, or anything else.
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Shayla · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2004 11:19 pm Post subject:

I mainly play for exercise now. I don't have as much fun competing anymore. A few factors ruined it more than others but i won't get into that. I do, however still like to watch others compete, but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to that i failed max 300 on the last 5 steps today... my heart just isn't in it like it used to be.

oh well.
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J. S. Mill · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 12:10 am Post subject:

I play roughly four times a week, sometimes a little more. What motivates me?

1) The Score. First and foremost I want to AAA every single song in the game. Then I want to AAAA every nonstop. Then AAAA every oni. Then maybe I'll feel that I've mastered the game. I don't really know why I feel this way, I just really want to master it.

2) The People. I've met a lot of cool people through DDR, several friends and of course everyone on my team. It's definitely been a positive social event, that has allowed me to meet smart, good people who share my interests.

3) The Excersice. I've heard this point mentioned, helps keep me in shape and is good aerobics for Kenjutsu and Pitching.

4) The Fun. DDR is very fun for me, the most satisfying feeling, for me, being when I AAA a song and know I'm done, I've mastered it totally, I never have to play it again. It's fun achieving, it's fun feeling like your getting better and it's fun seeing that AAA.

5) The competition. By this I mean NNR, my friends challenging me, friendly rivalries, etc.

6) The tournaments (other people's). It's fun showing off my skill, meeting good people and working toward a goal. Not to mention traveling to new places.

7) The tournaments (my own). It's really fun running tournaments, seeing people getting better and seeing the community strengthen.

That's probably the rough reasons I play. If I come up with anything more I'll post it.
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MadroxKran · Trick Member Joined: 08 Sep 2003

I only get to play one weekend a month.

I keep playing because I want to get good enough to go to tournaments. If I ever get good enough and win a few tournaments it'll probably start getting a little old. Then I'll work on freestyling.

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AdviceGopher · Trick Member Joined: 26 Nov 2003

I have nothing better to do with my time ^_~ cept hang with my loving boyfriend =) *hint hint*

DDRmom · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 8:17 am Post subject:

Pocket Change players have devoted their lives to the games-gasp say it isn't so. LOL that just made me laugh-you mean they have to work at it to get all those AAA's and win all the tournaments-how odd.
Seriously though it takes all kinds from the casual player to the annoying noob to the thouroughly obsessed. There is no right answer-people play for lots of different reasons-exercise, socializing, competition w/e works for you-its all good.
Mom
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Oolong · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 8:19 am Post subject:

for fun and for excersize. i'm not good enough to compete yet, but i hope ddr is still popular when i am (i think if i practice a lot i could start to beat catas and pies in like 2 months)
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Xiayu · Trick Member Joined: 10 Apr 2002 Location: Clinton, MD

You pose a good question Dj Lowballer, but just as DDR Mom said there is no right answer. Everyone is motivated for their own reasons, as meaningful or pointless as they could seem.

I used to play for the competition, but then I after I got my first AAA I realized that this game has it's limits for me. After one AAA, I would most likely be motivated to go for another, and then another, and etcetera until I've mastered the game...right? Nope, because then I have to start modding things to make it harder, and then after that doesn't make a difference? Yay then I go collect my big DDR trophy and get entered into the dDR Olympics!

No.

Getting my first AAA marked the beginning of the end for me when it came to enjoying DDR competitively, because it was then that I saw how much dedication it takes to be able to get them. Aside from realizing the dedication needed, I also saw that I, or anyone else could just as easily do it if they just focused ::points to AIJ.com::. You have to devote so much time to the game, as well as being able to keep a steady beat with whatever song you are playing, and in the end, that dedication amounts to nothing that would benefit me in my future, so I moved on.

People say DDR is exercise, and sure maybe some way it's helped people lose weight, but I still don't completely agree with that. My main reason being that DDR is FAR from any exercise I've gotten in any gym I've been to, and if moving in place is what I have to do to stay in shape, I would rather move forward instead of stay stationary. I'm not saying that DDR isn't healthy for you, it is cardio. It's just that DDR doesn't target all the specific areas of the body that you may want to sculpt, and that's where I find myself leaving the arcade when it comes to fitness. One thing's for sure, when you are playing DDR, I doubt you are thinking about much else than the music and the arrows, but when you are doing any type of training or working out, you have the opportunity to focus on ANYTHING you want without worrying about getting a grade for it in the end.

Basically, I still hop on a DDR or PIU machine every now and then, but not for the grades or the scores. I do it for the fun, just like I do with any other game. As for the hoards of players that will live around a machine for hours on end, you'll not see me in those groups. I just don't have the time to be sitting around a machine all day like I used to. I'm getting old...time for me to look beyond having fun all the time.

Expanding your mind is not limiting it's capabilities.
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Maxx PARANOiA · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 9:18 am Post subject:

Well, speaking from my perspective....I started playing DDR because it was different. It was cool and was something new for me to try. I then really enjoyed it because of the music aspect (you'll find me listening to the music away from the game) as opposed to the physical aspect. But my musical interest also aided in my advancement in the game (skillwise) and then I began to get good. Once I got good, I entered a couple of tournaments and began to meet people, so I played for the social aspect of meeting new people and going new places. I did devote my life to it at one point, but that was because I had been depressed and DDR was my outlet for frustration. I have since then moved on, but I still play, but not as hardcore as I once did. Now I play just to have fun, maybe to freestyle (or fake-freestyle) and once again more for the social aspect. My skill hasn't faded, so I still compete in tech tournaments, but that's just for fun...or maybe for money (if I find a cash tourney worth entering)...but otherwise now, I just play for the fun of it. It's a game, entertainment, and that's what I take it for now. I just happen to be good at it.
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Knuckles the Echidna · Trick Member Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Location: Angel Island

Xiayu · Trick Member Joined: 10 Apr 2002 Location: Clinton, MD

Oh no. They are referring to a Pocket Change out in Waldorf, Maryland.
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AdviceGopher · Trick Member Joined: 26 Nov 2003

Only a few days ago DJ Lowballer and I went there and jumped on the machine. We are pretty good players, (DJ's REALLY good) and after we finished, we could feel the insane stares of the local arcade junkies burning in the back of our necks. They didn't smile at all or anything, they just seemed too serious =/

Makes ME nervous... I can't really enjoy playing there! I'll just stick to my local Hyperspace I guess 0.o

Xiayu · Trick Member Joined: 10 Apr 2002 Location: Clinton, MD

Think of it this way. Pocket Change in Waldorf is where the top players in the area play. You just have to consider that when you go there. If you really are 'good', then you probably won't get any bear hugs or applauses anyway. I could go on saying that what you probably did we have already done x10, but that's lame.

Instead, I'm just going to tell you that the players at Pocket Change have high standards when they play. Sure, there is enjoyment in playing the games, but there is also enjoyment in being able to royally rip a game to shreds in public too. If you really have a problem with the 'dancing' community at PC, you should play the games that it's most well known for: it's FIGHTERS. The community is much more friendly and they don't suck so you'll get a good fight (You'll probably get more turns in too).
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LET ME SHOW YOU THEM · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 7:09 pm Post subject:

stardf29 · Trick Member Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Location: Jet World!

Ahem, but DDR does NOT own our lives. At least not mine. I mean, sure some of us love it a lot, but it's not like a god or something...
In fact, I'll prove it to you. I've given up DDR for Lent

If DDR was my life, I wouldn't have been able to do that.

Anyways, the reason I play DDR is the same reason I play musical instruments. Probably because the two are very similar if you think about it.

First of all, it's fun. Duh.

Second, it's music. Music plays a large part of my life. DDR is just one of those parts in that large part.

If there's one thing that's different about DDR from just playing a musical instrument, it's that DDR is excercise. And normally, I don't get much excercise

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ChronoBasher · Trick Member Joined: 02 Feb 2004

I set goals for myself and then work like hell towards them, and I get a lot of pratice because we have a Extreme at my school

.

On weekends I usually play long sesions at arcades, mixed in with some other games.

Ive made a bunch of friends/aqqueiteces (heh, spelling) through DDR at the arcades I go to and playing at my school. Right now I'm probably in the "hardcore" phase of my playing days. One of my current goals has gotten me praticing a ton (passing a oni course), but I'm sure that one day I will be tired with goals and just play for fun.

hmmm...I think i'm rabaling. I'll stop now.

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dj Tifaheart · Trick Member Joined: 02 May 2003 Location: Middletown, RI

I've met a few people by doing DDR.

Exercise. Great way to lose weight...and to gain it.

DDR has also helped me out with dealing with huge crowds of people.
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Mart · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 12:55 am Post subject:

Well, the main reason for me remains: fun. Plain and simple.

As far as the competitive edge of the game goes, well it's always fun to compete (in a friendly manner) with other players. And to all those who are concerned with the "pressure" put by the OMFG-I-R-L33T-N-I-PWN-j00 players, just don't mind them. Or if they go: "Hhahahahaha omfg juu sek juu wish juu were leik me!!!1111oneoneone", then you could always reply: "Riiiight, and become as big of a jerk as you are? Nah!". In other words, who cares about them? Don't let 'em ruin your fun!

As for the exercise thing... well, DDR is basically computer-assisted aerobics. So yeah, it is some sorts of exercise.

However, I'll be damned if I ever let this game be my reason of existence. No frickin way!

So... the main reason will always remain: having fun and socializing/meeting with nice people while doing something you like.
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