Newb questions..

[Amayain]

Hey, i am just getting into the world of DDR and have a few questions.
Since i don't have a console, i was going to use my PC and Stepmania. My first question is if there is any real advantage to going out an buying a console, or will the sim'd version be just as good. I know this is kinda subjective and i am sure there are minor differences, but is there anything that would really make me enjoy it significantly less?

Secondly, i was looking to get a RedOctane Metal Pad and a converter. The stepmania site says that some converters aren't fully functional (because of the inability to regiser left-right and up-down). Are there any converters that i should specifically be using?

Thanks for your help

[onoessnaked]

You should check out the adaptor sticky for info on convertors and stuff.

Good job your other question is there otherwise I'd kapow this.
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Well, it explains the disappearance

[Daniel]

converters

Stepmania is way better than home versions. There are millions of songs avaliable to download, you can make your own steps for any song you want, and you can impliment your own music videos. The only issue is that Stepmania caters to people who are more computer savvy. You have to be decent with computers to know how to use Stepmania. Try getting both a home version(s) and Stepmania and see how it goes.

Home versions are really just for convience. The problem with American home versions is that the timing is easier and their are very few of them. Japanese home versions are more arcade accurate and much more plentiful. Unfortunately they are more expensive, especially if you include 1 of the many options of playing Japanese PS1 and/or PS2 games here in the states.

[Fatbaby]

Stepmania might be the way to go for you. Change the timing window to match that of the arcades (see forum topic) and download all of the song packs from DDRUK.
Don't buy a redoctane metal pad, they suck. Mine died after a week of play.
Use the money you saved on NOT buying a console and get a Cobalt Flux instead. It's a much better pad, even though It doesn't jive the best with SM... But those problems can be worked out
Hope that helped.
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Signatures Suck.

[-joe-]

Stepmania with pads requires the timing and metrics to be adjusted so that it is close to the arcade values. If you dont change the values, your perfect attack will be TERRIBLE on an actual arcade machine.

Console is closer to the arcade timing than stepmania. Your perfect attack on arcade will not be as bad.

Ive learned from experience. I started playing on stepmania 3.0 with default settings. I had that setup for about 4 months. When I played on the arcade, I usually got more greats than perfects. It took a WHILE to finally get the timing back down for the arcade.

All in all:
Console if you want to get good on the arcade.
Stepmania if you just want to play for the fun.
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good times, good times.

[greyGizmo]

To buy a console just to play DDR would be a waste of money. StepMania would suit you quite well. Be sure to adjust the timing windows like mentioned before.

Personally, I use SM with a metal BNS pad and a Red Octane adapter. I have yet to encounter a problem. The only annoying thing is that I have to do the hold up, press start trick every time I start but other than that its fine.

Another thing you will find yourself doing (at least I do anyway) is playing the computer games with a PS2 controller. It is fun, but defined the buttons in tedious sometimes.
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---FreeCobaltFlux --- Free iPod Shuffle ---

[[DMB]dman.exe]