DDR @ Cons

[absolutezero]

I work for a convention in Connecticut called ConnectiCon. My job is Co-Director of Video Gaming. Well to the point as a big DDR fan I like DDR at cons and every con I've been to has had a less than spectactular DDR experience. I'd like to know if thats the case at most Cons. Also let me know if and why it sucked of was good so I can make ConnectiCon all sorts of Nifty!

www.connecticon.org[/url]
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At absolute zero all motion stops. So when your against AbsoluteZero will you keep dancing?

"Get Cold in a Jet Touch a Frog"

[Spike]

Well, I haven't been to a con that has DDR (actually...haven't really been to a con in years). But I have heard comments from people about why their DDR experience wasn't the best.

First, it seems like a couple cons have just had a TV, crappy pad and a PS2. Obviously it isn't always easy to get a machine, but having tons of people stomping on a soft pad will quickly wear it out, especially because not everyone will take the same care stepping on it that they do with their own pads. Obviously the best option to go with is renting a machine. But that could end up being somewhat expensive, and you'd probably have to charge a little bit to offset the cost. And in all honesty, I don't think people would pay to play DDR at an aniime con (or any other con) when there are products they can't get anywhere else that they can buy with their money. I know that if I was at a con and they had ANY arcade machine that you had to pay for, I would probably only play it once or twice, and only if I hadn't played it before. If I want to pay to play DDR, I'd just wait until a couple days later and go to the arcade.

I think that another possible problem is just the sheer number of people that will probably be there wanting to play. So your options are either trying to get more machines/pads set up (more $$$) or have long lines at peak use times. Again, personally I wouldn't want to wait in line for long to play when I can just go to the arcade during high school times (thank God for being in college).

I think that maybe the best thing to do would be to have a tournament. I mean, to me it doesn't seem like a good idea to spend time at an anime con playing DDR. I can play DDR at any other time, but I can't do all of the things that a con would have, such as panels, dealer rooms, etc etc. A tournament would make me more interested in playing though. It would have to be very tightly organized though so that you don't have people bitching about rules, taking too long, etc etc.

I think it's great that con organizers want to provide something that attendees will want to do, but the most important thing is that it's not just thrown together to just "have" it. If you're going to do it, do it right.
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[Phrekwenci]

[-Mystik-]

well i've been to 2 cons...

1: Furcon (don't ask went with a friend who wanted me to go so he didnt go alone) they had a red octane pad, ps2 with max2

2: Fanimecon, had Extreme machine, was by far better than the ps2 lol, nothing keeps you awake more when you dont have a room than playing ddr late at night
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[-Chef-]

[prozac]

Cons with actual DDR machines =

Cons with no DDR or just soft pads =



But the bad part.. fanboy smell. x20. You need to have industrial barrels of deodorizers to get rid of the smell after 750+ non-bathing people play the game over a 3 day con.
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[absolutezero]

Thanks for the feedback, just to update you I was pricing some machine rentals and one company said 1500 for 4 hours! I'd really like to have a tournament but a machine looks like it may be beyond my means I only have so much budget. The way I'm looking at handling it is 2 rooms one with cobalt flux metal pads one with Red Octane, seeing how I have some people willing to voulenteer them. ConnectiCon functions on mainly word of mouth advertisement and flyer distribution and most people I talk to really want DDR at our con, as a big DDR fan I am forced to comply.
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At absolute zero all motion stops. So when your against AbsoluteZero will you keep dancing?

"Get Cold in a Jet Touch a Frog"

[Luminouskitsune]

I never been to a con personally myself. but my fiance has and there mainy ddr with soft pads at cons

Last year at Shoujocon they had ddr with soft pads and they used my Max 1 for ps2....and they had a tounry there...
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The Faires tells me to do Naughty and forbidden things. But the Dancing Catus tells me to kill

[KyuuA4]

It's hard to DDR in a room packed full of people...

Sucks to wait in line...

[OneStepFromPerfect]

Haha i live in Milford Connecticut....i feel happy now =D
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Master of the Phunk

[absolutezero]

[PxDnAkumA]

I went to the mtac con in nashville last weekend actually and they had an ex machine. Had alot of fun
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[Oolong]

sakuracon usually rents a few bemani machines, last year they had one extreme and guitar freaks and parapara paradise and i think the year before that they had a 5th mix or something. the lines weren't too bad, it ranged from 3-4 people to like 12 waiting to play. and the machines were in great condition.
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"If there were a country in the world called Funia, Disco House would be its national anthem, as well as the name of its capital city. I was once walking down the street late one night when a hooker called to me from the curb, asking me if I was looking for some fun. "No thanks, Miss" I replied, pulling out a set of headphones. "I've got Disco House, the most fun there is." - Ishkur