A word on flat softpads...

Cutriss · Staff Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002

They all suck. Get over it.

No $10 game pad is going to have any reasonable amount of lifespan above or below any other pad. If you're at all serious about playing DDR at home, then save your pennies and buy at least an Ignition-type pad that's likely to last longer than a week, or something better.

So, in short, don't bother asking or debating if any sub-$30 pad is any better than any other sub-$30 pad. You're just wasting everyone's time.
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Dark Fish · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 12:07 pm Post subject:

some cheapo pads are better than others though, and not everyone can afford (or is serious enough about DDR) to buy a really expensive soft pad or a $100-$300 metal pad.

Cutriss · Staff Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002

The difference between them is way too marginal to concern yourself over. If you can't afford an Ignition, then just get the cheapest damn thing you can - it'll last the same amount of time, most likely.
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Thomas Hobbes · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:43 pm Post subject:

Are you going to lock this Cutriss or leave it open for discussion? All I see that can come from this thread has a lame outcome. =/
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Cutriss · Staff Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002

Well, too late to lock it now, and even if I did lock it, people would insist on the pointless debate anyway, so may as well tell them to do it here. -_-
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grgisme · Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 8:42 pm Post subject:

Cutriss is right. Save your money for an ignition pad, they are nice, and they'll last you about a year with heavy use and will last longer if you tinker with them a little (that's what mine lasted). Buy a cheap pad if you don't have the money for ignition, but don't get frustrated with it. The difference between a soft pad and an ignition pad is amazing, the second being leaps and bounds better. Each kind of pad is made for a reason, but if you're serious about learning, spring for the $60 pads, or ask for one or two for christmas. You won't regret it. I know I didn't. I've since built two home pads, but that was more for the fun of it, I still love my ignition pads. Don't worry about finding the best cheap pads around, just pick a kind and see if you like the game, once you know, upgrade to the pads worth having.

~Grgisme

Wakka Lakka · Trick Member Joined: 12 Mar 2005

I second Cutriss becing right about this. There is no point to discussing the flat pads. Even the ignition knock-offs they sell on ebay for $30 shipped are superior in terms of responsiveness and durability. The flat pads curl up and tear and by the time you 'mod' them with plywood you could have spent your time/money getting an ignition pad (or at least a reasonable knock off). I'm sure there are plenty of different experiences with the various brands of flat pads but my guess is there is a stronger influence due to player weight, playing style, and floor type (concrete, wood, carpet) than the particular brand of flat pad.

runwithscizzors9 · Trick Member Joined: 06 Feb 2005

well, i got the konami soft pad with the DDRExtreme US. bundle, and its actually quite a nice soft pad, still lasts to this day and still works the same, but i just ordered my CF today, what a leap that will be

Thomas Hobbes · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:47 pm Post subject:

The only flat softpad that rocks are the Andamiro ones for Pump it Up. >=P

I have my Konami Official Soft Pad, and it works fine to this day but I keep it in tip notch condition, as I'm really careful about it.,
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runwithscizzors9 · Trick Member Joined: 06 Feb 2005

Reenee · Trick Member Joined: 21 Nov 2003

You fold it wrong and you kill the sensors.

Thomas Hobbes · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:50 pm Post subject:

Yup, that exactly. >=P That is why I refuse to fold it and leave it flat on top of the other bed on my room, covered by my Pump it Up pad. xD
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Mr_Blasty · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:12 pm Post subject:

Im quite satisfied with my $20 gamestop gamepad (modded of course) It is practically the konami softpad. The only difference is the bottom isn't as sticky
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runwithscizzors9 · Trick Member Joined: 06 Feb 2005

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Akira_247 · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 4:53 pm Post subject:

If this question is open i'd have to totally disagree with you Cutriss. You can get a $25 pad and mod it for $10 and get a way better pad then a RedOctane Ignition. I bought 1 Ignition and it didnt work so I got another it didnt work so I though I got a bad patch of ignitions. When they got an Ignition from a new batch and It messed up the same way so I read Ignition posts and tried new control boxes to even new sensors and they never worked! so with the $100 dollars it took to buy those crappy pads and bought 2 konami soft pads (pre-used) for $25 and modded it for $20 and still had money to buy other games.
IGNITION IS CRAP.
Just get a soft pad andmod it unless you go all out and by a CF pad which is even better.

Cutriss · Staff Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002

You're not disagreeing with me at all - you're challenging me on a totally different point.

My point is that there is almost zero difference between any sub-$30 pad and any other sub-$30 pad. You used two Konami pads, but your mod probably would have worked just as well with any other pad, which is why the flatpad question is moot.

And anyway, you've had problems with Ignitions, so have other people. You know what? They modded their Ignitions too, and find their new pads to be just as good as some of the metal pads (obviously not CF). But from a *STOCK* perspective, my argument stands.
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Reenee · Trick Member Joined: 21 Nov 2003

the_lone_psycho · Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 12:21 pm Post subject:

I'm gonna get a cheapo softpad just to get me started on DDR so i'll mainly play on Light and Standard. (I can clear heavy songs but i'm terribly inaccurate. Need to slip down a few gears

) Are unmodded softpads that bad even if I play on 4-6 footers?
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Libra · Trick Member Joined: 15 Mar 2005

I play on 4-5 foot songs mostly on my softpad and I do fine. I have a friend who plays songs that are 7-8 feet on his softpad and I haven't heard any complaints from him. So I would say that you are safe getting a soft pad while you play on light and standard.