How DDR almost never made it to the US

[J Dogg]

A Reuters article breifly describes how DDR almost never made it to the US. It highlights the big effect cultural differences has on the US and Japan markets.

Thanks to Sinistar for the link.
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[QuestionMark]

I think in the Max 1 manual when it shows a little bio on some of the ddr artists, one of them says that they where one of the people that helped convince an American release also.

[Aven-G]

[DKW]

Okay, I've heard the argument about "cultural differences" before, and frankly, I don't see what the big deal is.

America is not some monolithic institution where everybody goes for the same thing. It never was. And video games, even in the arcades (those bastions of mainstream gamedom!), have always gone across the spectrum. Lessee, there's one where you controlled a pedal-powered aircraft and went around popping baloons...one where you operate a fixed turret and fire at advancing enemies...one with late 18th century samurai and their adversaries...at least two that simulate sword fighting...the trackball golf game which awards prizes every month...the one where you deliver newspapers in a chaotic hellhole of a neighborhood...and so on. All with varying levels of success, none universally loved.

How could DDR flop? Our nation's weight troubles are trumpeted nonstop on what seems like a weekly basis, and there isn't a sane parent or teacher in the country that would find anything objectionable about the game. Sure, some may be too embarrassed to play it, but the same's true for any number of other games (and it hasn't seem to hurt fighting games in the least). And most of the music isn't completely bread-and-butter mainstream, but why would videogamers object to that?

It's tragic that it takes an incredible act of courge to make a no-brainer decision like bringing an innovative, harmless, simple, and, oh yeah, FUN game stateside. And I know that the truly offbeat or niche games are never going to come here. (Which is a shame, since I'd very much like to rent some of them, but I don't know anyplace that rents imports.)

[Crystal Eli]

I agree. Although many players might be embarrassed to play it at first in front of people, once you get good, you don't really care anymore. Plus, my own mom, who tends to ultimately LOATHE video games, has absolutely no objections to this one......which is fine by me becuase I have to admit, I'm addicted.....Although one problem I have is when I play the harder songs, I start to sweat.....which is kind of embarrassing.....

[ShadowDancer Optimus]

What a great article. I do agree what in what is actually going on with video games today. The part about fantasy of the experience and realism of the experience is actually true. As for cultural differences, I doesn't matter to me. I like to learn about people's customs from other nations. If DDR hardly appeared here in the states, it could just be a cult fav. Today it's everywhere. From malls and on TV.
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Assuming is the mother of all F*ck ups