Starting out w/stepmania Looking for pads and an adapter

[Ruke]

I'd like to get a couple pads and an adapter to play stepmania on my PC. I plan to mod them. There are loads of pads like this on ebay. Is this a good deal? it ends up being just under 35 for 2 pads and an adapter. Does anyone have any reccomendations? Should I post this in a different forum? It is kind of about stepmania, kind of about the pads, and kind of about the adapter.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21185&item=8134396386&rd

Another option would maybe be these or some other ignition type pads (these are about 50 w/shipping, but I would have to find an adapter separately. Keep in mind that I plan on modding them.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21185&item=8134544256&rd=1

[diddrstrait]

I reccomend the second set of pads that you have listed, and the adapter from the first set (you'll see it elsewhere on ebay for around 9 bucks).

and for future reference, read the "all adapter questions go here" sticky. there is a moderately detailed FAQ that I wrote about adapters and how to use the one you are looking into buying.

[Ruke]

I read that post before I made this one. Thanks for the info/input.

[Pantera]

If you're going to order Ignitions, I highly reccommend that you order them directly from RedOctane. Despite the cheaper price, can you really be sure as to how much they've been used at about how much they have left?

Unless you really need 2 and you are REALLY (and that's a big really) stingy, just save up for a single Ignition direct from RedOctane.

EDIT: If you do, the parallel port adapter from BuyNShop.com works really well with it.
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[Ruke]

according to the seller, they are new. Plus, they are a quarter of the price of Red Octane pads.

[DJX]

[Pantera]

I'll just tell you what I tell anyone who's unfortunate enough to be hanging out with me when I catch sight of some generic $20 pad: no DDR pad sold for $20 is worth $20



I should also point out that in both of those links, it doesn't state explicitly anywhere that they're RedOctane Ignition pads. The first link doesn't have the word "ignition" anywhere, and they resemble my BNS XTremes, which are just barely comparable to an RO Ignition. The second one doesn't look like my Ignition at all. And I wouldn't buy that Ignition V2.0 or whatever crap, if you ask me, it looks like some other company's cheap knockoff of RO's Ignition (such a thing is not uncommon) that someone is trying to pass off as the real thing.
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[CNLohr]

First link you included contains very soft mats. I strongly discourage them. They have a number of issues. Most noticably for the beginning player is that you cannot tell where the arrows are as they are not textured any differently from the rest of the pad.

You will also find that they fail much more quickly than any Ignition.

They can be modded, but this only provides some support. Overall the effort you spend modding it and the output product is nowhere near what you get from a normal Ignition pad.




Second Link: They do appear to be generic non-brandname Ignitions. They appear to be the BNS style -- which is where the surface plastic is somewhat rubbery compared to LevelSix/RO ignitions. Some people prefer this... But it's hard to tell what you prefer before you play much.

If you are not so sure if you are going to fall in love with DDR, and play it for more than a few months, I say why not give this link a shot and report back to us saying if it's good or bad.

I would be weary of the adaptor in the first site as it only looks similar to the one on the official adaptor guide for StepMania:
http://www.stepmania.com/stepmania/adapter.php




Ugh...

The REAL truth is that there's no way to tell if something's REALLY worth it unless you ACTUALLY try it for yourself. My friend bought an RO at the same time as a RO "knockoff" for $35. Rick ONLY plays doubles. Guess what: The Red Octane began to get 'sticky on' arrows and eventually died before the LevelSix "knockoff."

Ignition is not a brand from RedOctane. It was a type of pad produced by a number of companies.

RedOctane is probally most known because of the visibility they forced themselves to have in the marketplace. This is mostly why you pay more.

I am not saying RedOctane's pad is inferior. I am saying that many times you do get more than you pay for.

I personally swear by LevelSix now -- and they even sell USB pads now...

http://www.levelsix.com/detail.aspx?ID=104

[diddrstrait]

like generic ignitions, only ONE company makes that type of adapter. I assure you it works. it's just a matter of whether or not it will be compatible with your type of pad, or if it might be defective.

[Ruke]

I understand. That level six USB one looks tempting. I also found this link on ebay todat:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21188&item=8136150746&rd=1
pretty similar. I have played on an RO ignition and several different types of third party non-DX soft pads. I was playing on carpet, but will be playing on wood floors. As I do not know what I will like I am trying for a cheap option, although I do realize that cheapness doesn't usually end up being cheap (although I did get a $75 espresso maker at goodwill for $7 the other day:D). As far as how much I will end up liking DDR and how much I will play, well I can't say for sure, however I can pass almost all songs on heavy w/keyboard and can play standard pretty well with my feet (I have only played w/pads 5-6 times).

[Pantera]

Why not splurge and get one of these
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[CNLohr]

Because you have to play on one a lot before you know if you like it or not.

You don't wanna end up like my friend Charles who bought one then discoverd he hated it and had to get rid of it for half the cost.

Totally flat. VERY non-arcadeish feel... He couldn't play worth a diddle on it.

But -- CFs are definately longer lasting than anything else out there right now (we'll see in about 2 months). There is a large amount of people who prefer CFs to the real arcade.

[Jade's Fire]

Heh, I did not know that they sell Dance Pads for the PC. At least they use a USB port. I do hope to find some somewhere.
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"The force is with you young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet." - Darth Vader | "You don't leave an enemy at your back. Not if you like living" - Mara Jade |

[diddrstrait]

ok, since the question has been answered I guess I'll go PM someone to kapow this thread...

[onoessnaked]