I need some help please...

MikeHayes · Basic Member Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Hello!

My name is Michael Hayes and I'm a father of 43 years old. You're probably thinking that I don't belong here since I'm this old but I really hope that someone here will hear me out and help me to resolve a little problem that I have. Now before I go on I would like to point out 2 things: my english might be a little bit off since I basically speak french (I live near Montreal in Canada) and I really don't know a lot about Dance Dance Revolution (DDR as you call it). Also I'm not very sure if I'm in the right section or even if my message is going to show up... I'll give it a try anyway...

My problem is this: my 17 years old daughter Stephanie started to play this game about 1 year ago and she's becoming very good. You can tell by the way she's playing and talking about this game that she likes it a lot. I bought her some mixes and a softpad (is that how you call them?) from the net some time ago and she's been complaining about how hard it is to keep the pad into place when she's doing some hard and rapid songs. After observing her moving on a very fast song (the title was Maxi something I guess... Not very sure...) I noticed that what she said was true: the carpet is not staying under her feet. This thing moves around a lot! So since her birthday is around the corner (about 5 weeks) I want to give her, as a birthday gift, something close from that giant metal platform that you play in the arcades (with the metal U-Shape bar behind the player). I've checked on EBay a lot but they all look the same... I just don't know wich one to buy...

So that's why I came here... Is there someone skilled enough to give me a hand on this one? I really want to buy something great for my little Steph but it's just too damn hard for me to tell wich one is good and wich one isn't since I don't know a lot about this game... And I don't want to talk about it with her since I want this to be a total surprise at her birthday...

What I'm trying to find is simple: the giant metal platform needs to be as closest as the arcade one as possible (dimension, colors, etc...). An exact replica would be perfect but I doubt there's something like that on the market so... It needs to be very strong, reliable and with an high durability so nothing will break when she plays. And finally a place where they will be able to ship to Canada. I'm willing to pay up to 200$ (US) for that "stage" but something cheaper would be great since I guess the shipping price will be high for this kind of product... If someone can find me a good deal it would be great...

Well that's all! I really hope someone here will be able to help me. So that's why I came here (even if I don't belong here basically). And before you ask I don't play this game. My daughter made me tried one time and I nearly broke my leg in the process so I guest I may be a little too old for this thing...

I really hope someone can help me and I want to thank you for reading me...

Michael Hayes

Slowpoke · Trick Member Joined: 28 Oct 2003

Check your private messages...

Cutriss · Staff Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002

Your requirements cannot be met.

The cheapest *quality* metal pad is around ~$180 US for a single pad - It doesn't have both sides. Combining two of them would cost ~$360, plus shipping. None of them include a trick bar, and they're not as heavy/elevated as the arcade pad.

Even then, most of the non-Cobalt Flux pads require servicing/maintenance to prolong the useability of the pad.
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Sentient Mode is capable...

piC · Trick Member Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Location: epping, nh

hey i want a metal pad too, but i don't trust anyone online to sell me one. has anyone bought one that was good, if so please pm me the website and pad that you bought.
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started 2-20-04

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AcidBurnISU · Trick Member Joined: 31 May 2003

The pads you are looking for, for the amount you are looking to spend, just isnt feasible.

My honost advice, if you are good at building things, you take a look at the instructions on making home pads, and build her her own. I built my own, and it is absolutely the best pad I have ever played on at home(and I am terrible at building.) You would take away the shipping cost, and you would probably be able to spend about $200 building them yourself. The bar, on the other hand, is going to run you more. The bars, for some ridiculous reason, are about $60 just for the bar, then you have to come up with a way to mount it.

Anyhow, good luck with it, and let us know what you decide to do.

MikeHayes · Basic Member Joined: 21 Mar 2004

cockmaster 2000 · Trick Member Joined: 08 Dec 2003 Location: boston

There's a place in Toronto, Canada that sells really good metal pads. Their web address is www.gameenhancer.net, and you can get an arcade replica pad with the bar for $199USD / $270CAD. I tried it out, it's a really good deal, and an awesome pad. (when you get to their website, just scroll down on the page until you see the pads)

edit: here's a pic of the pad they sell.

And about the 6 or 4 arrow - If you ever wanted to play Solo mode, like the Solo mode in DDR Konamix, you would need those extra two arrows. However, if you're not playing Solo, then the two green arrows act as an X and O buttons.

And, personally, I wouldn't trust eBay pads.
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michelb · Trick Member Joined: 06 Oct 2003

MikeHayes · Basic Member Joined: 21 Mar 2004

So basically what you're saying is that this platform (the one shown in the picture) is good and reliable? Arcade feeling too? I should go for this one? Or anyone have another suggestion before I buy one?

Nikorasu · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 1:09 pm Post subject:

$200 for a metal dance pad w/ handle bar is not a bad price at all. Plus shipping, that's what the cheapest pad will cost on eBay. And the one pictured looks to be a nice one by comparison.

Lots of people are hesitant to buy anything online, but would eBay be such a huge success if it wasn't safe? Sure, there's cases of fraud, but there's lots more cases with everyday transactions offline too. And 95% of the time, it's the clueless or naive people who get taken advantage of because they didn't use common sense.
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AcidBurnISU · Trick Member Joined: 31 May 2003

That pad looks pretty nice actually. Probably the best deal you will find for a pad with a bar on it.

Raligard · Trick Member Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Location: Pennsylvania

I've got a pad that looks very similar to the one pictured from that store in Toronto which I bought from ebay. It includes the two front arrows which double as the X and O buttons during play in DDR MAx and Max2 and the rail in the back. I paid $180 USD for it plus about $50 USD shipping. Other than a few minor things I had to clean up on it, this pad has been a wonderful investment and provided me with hours and hours of fun. If you do buy from ebay though, BE SURE to read the seller's feedback first!! Find a seller that has sold many pads and has received a lot of positive feedback about them. Ebay is safe and wonderful if you do your homework first.
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Slowpoke · Trick Member Joined: 28 Oct 2003

If you lean on the bar on a pad like this, aren't you going to tip over backwards?? These pads can't weigh more than 30 or 40 pounds.

Cutriss · Staff Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002

AcidBurnISU · Trick Member Joined: 31 May 2003

Why would redoctane be taking legal action against them? And since one if from america, and one is from Canada, legal action really means nothing since the the rules do not apply.

MAX-UNLIMITED2004 · Basic Member Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Location: U.S.

I used to have this problem too. (especially on The Legend of the Max) I then purchased a dance pad from Madcatz that has two bungie hoops on it that help keep it in place. Since I place the bungie hoops under the posts of something of whatever room I'm in, it keeps the pad in place. I preferrably put them under my bed posts.
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Max Unlimited: AA
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Cutriss · Staff Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002