Honest opinions

Ferrari_Jones · Basic Member Joined: 27 Jun 2006

I'm a fairly new player, I play on light, but I'm starting to pull of AAs. My only hindrance is that I only have the Konami issued soft pad. I am very interested in purchasing a metal pad, and I was looking into the Afterburner. I like the way it looks and the recessed buttons are very appealing, as my small town lacks an arcade machine, and I don't like driving two hours to get the arcade experience. I did look into a Cobalt Flux as well, but the $300 price tag, well after shipping and the arcade mod kit, $375, it is a turn off. I don't mind paying $249.99 with shipping. What I'd like to know, from owners or people who have played on an Afterburner, is how it feels. It should also be noted that I primarily play the Ultramixes, until I buy yet another PS2. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

mthegreatone · Trick Member Joined: 25 Sep 2005

you may have to bite the bullet on this. there are a ton of mixed reviews for the Afterburner, but seeing how you're still a beginner a metal pad breaking wouldn't be the case for a long time. when you do consider getting another ps2, it's highly suggested that you DO get a CF. while the $300+ price point is indeed a turn-off, you are essentially paying for HIGH quality stuff. this is analogous to, say, buying an expensive iPod out of all the other mid-range-priced MP3 players out there. you need to think of it as an investment, because it WILL last you a long time.

as for your konami softpad situation........well........let me put it in perspective: i've been doing standard/heavy for 3-4 months straight on my konami softpad. these things are notoriously durable.

Ferrari_Jones · Basic Member Joined: 27 Jun 2006

The problem is, I play for up to 6 hours a day, depending on what I have to do, and when I attempt and standard songs or heavy song, I can feel the sensors shifting. After playing Sakura on standard, my pad lost a noticable amount of sensitivity. I'm pretty much working at being a "pro" DDR player, and I've competed publically and won begginer divisions, and I'm ready to step it up. What I want to know is why the Cobalt Fusion lacks the nessacary componets for play on an xbox and why I hear they aren't very good for xbox.

NESCartFanatic · Trick Member Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Location: Palm Bay, FL

I play all three Ultramixes with my CF just fine with a PS2->X-box converter. No lag, no fuss. Same with a converter for USB for Stepmania.
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Ferrari_Jones · Basic Member Joined: 27 Jun 2006

What I want to know is if the Afterburner is really that bad. I want something that, when I order it, I don't have to go out and try to find another converter box, in hopes that it will work properly.

vesper · Trick Member Joined: 06 Dec 2005

I own both a Cobalt Flux and an Afterburner, and I would definitely recommend you pick up the Flux!

I know the Afterburner does look a little cooler and the recessed buttons might "mimic the arcade experience", but you'll definitely love purchashing the flux in the long run. I can AA any song 8 feet on below on my Afterburner, yet I struggle to past the harder 10's because it's WAY too hard to transition from arrow to arrow. The Afterburner's arrows are simply recessed too deep and it becomes a real pain if you try flatfooting and moving fast.

The Cobalt Flux on the other hand is fantastic. It is much more sensitive than the Afterburner and a hell of a lot easier to move between arrows. I can SDG light and standard songs and people can't even tell that I'm moving

Don't get me wrong, it's not like the Afterburner is a horrible pad. I've pulled off my only AAA on heavy with it, but the Flux is without a doubt worth the extra money. I used to be alright on my Afterburner, but now that I own a Flux as well I don't think I can ever go back to it. I hope this helps

Ferrari_Jones · Basic Member Joined: 27 Jun 2006

Do you have the arcade mod on your Cobalt Flux? Do you reccomend it?

NESCartFanatic · Trick Member Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Location: Palm Bay, FL

I have the arcade mod and love it, but since I play in socks and I'm a flatfoot player, I'm forever banging and scraping the bottom of my feet up on anything higher than a 10. (I'm trying to keep the lexan panels looking nice and unscuffed as possible, which is why I'm shoe-less

)

Don't get me wrong, I love having the recessed arrows and I'm sure if I was wearing shoes, I'd enjoy it that much more. (I might have to invest in scuffless hard soled bottoms or something in the near future, I read about using the Kung Fu kind)

When I first got my CF, I was dying to get an arcade mod with it, but I don't think it makes "that" much of a difference. It's just a 1/4" up.

That's my $02, hope I was helpful!
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vesper · Trick Member Joined: 06 Dec 2005

I don't have an arcade mod on my flux and I seem to do fine, but again if you can find the money you should definitely buy it.

Right now I'm having a bit of trouble with my Flux because you need to loosen the screws to increase sensitivity, and since I'm slightly retarded I'm getting some random misses and some of my freezes aren't holding now

NESCartFanatic · Trick Member Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Location: Palm Bay, FL

Ferrari_Jones · Basic Member Joined: 27 Jun 2006

Well, after perusing the CF forum, I've decided to go with one. That video of it getting run over sold me.

vesper · Trick Member Joined: 06 Dec 2005

Good call on going with the CF

I think the problem is that the sheet metal is stuck to the velcro. I loosened my screws pretty much all the way, and then I tightened them to fit snug but then the lexan is just bent again. Should I hold the lexan up when I'm screwing back in or something like that

God my technique sucks

DARREN HAYEZ · Trick Member Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Location: Michigan

jpoppyz · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:19 am Post subject:

but a question to ask is "will you even run over a cobalt flux? Do i really need this durability?"

The answer is no. A stock CF is NOT the best pad(In my opinion). I have never played on an arcade modded CF. These are my initial thoughts on the cobalt flux.

1. Where am I?
2. Damn this thing is slippery!
3. This thing is staying on the ground using only 4 pieces of grip tape!
4. Wow, i can't believe they spent $300 on one of these.

I played on a CF RIGHT when my local LAN gaming center got them, and was thoroughly disapointed. The thing was responsive, but i couldn't feel where i was and playing DDR Festival was a pain in the buttocks because i couldn't turn off buttons, which feel the EXACT SAME AS THE ARROWS!

The afterburner should suit you better. No, it's not the most durable thing ever, but it feels better and you can play on it with socks(CFs are FAR to slippery). You see, playing with shoes is a real pain for me because i have size 13 feet. I play barefeet at the arcade. I like barefeet. With cobalt fluxes, its VERY easy to slice your foot on the edge or on a screw(ive done it about 3 times). On the afterburner, this is also a problem but you dont slide like a doggy with socks on the afterburner.

Overall, a CF just isnt worth it. CFs are the ipods of the dance pad market, everyone thinks they're the only good ones.
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Flux. · Trick Member Joined: 12 Jul 2002 Location: PA

I have a CF and I've played on an Afterburner. I would say the CF is far better.

It takes like a day to get used to feeling your way around it (wtihout the arcade mod). After the first day, I never missed an arrow because I was stepping somewhere else. I'm also not sure what J-POP_FOR_LIFE is saying about it being slippery. Mine's actually a little too sticky, and I've just cleaned it the other day.
It does slip around a little, but I solved the problem with a non-skid mat for a rug.

The Afterburner felt really cheap to me. The arrows felt hollow and like they were warping really badly. The resessed arrows are also WAY too recessed. Like twice as deep as the arcade, which sucked.
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vesper · Trick Member Joined: 06 Dec 2005

Alright, I fixed up my panels after being retarded with the screwdriver, and I must say the CF is A LOT better than the Afterburner.

On my Afterburner I've managed to pass Maxx Unlimited once with a 'D' and pass Paranoia Survivor twice with a 'C' (both on first stage). After owning my Flux for less than 24 hours, I've already managed to pass Maxx with a 'B' on my first try, and then I passed Paranoia Survivor with a 'B' on second stage twice!

My score are all a lot better even though I'm getting the occasional miss (my fault, not pad error

). The lexan panels do get a little sticky if you sweat a lot, but if you just wipe the bottom of your shoes and the pad down with a paper towel real quick it goes right away

The four pieces of grip tape work perfect on my porch's wooden floor. Overall, if you're buying an Afterburner I seriously think you're just wasting your money. The CF is the only way to go

Da Bar · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:37 am Post subject:

i've had my Afterburner since december 05, and it hasn't failed me since. it's held up quite well to some very rough play, and all i've had to do repair wise thus far was clean one of the contacts.

by rough play, i mean keyboard files. =P
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jpoppyz · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:55 pm Post subject:

maybe i should make a video of me at my local LAN gaming center playing on a cobalt flux and then me playing on my friends afterburner. That'll sure show you a difference.

And no, i dont hate cobalt fluxes. They just aren't worth $300. Although they are the only pad i've managed to get a AA on bag with, everything else besides bag and across the nightmare i seem to do worse with. They have too many poor design flaws that could easily be fixed(like making them arcade mod by default, having a better gripping system).

No game is worth spending $300 on, even if it is my favorite game.
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mfillescasabc · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:58 am Post subject: my opinion

You've probably already ordered your cobalt flux, but just in case you haven't, let me give you my opinion.

I really don't think you need a metal pad since you're still on light. You only really need a metal pad when you start doing heavy.

I know a lot of people who stop playing DDR because it gets boring for them. Perhaps the same thing will happen to you. You don't want to spend 300 dollars and then let the pad collect dust. I would give it 1-2 months. If you're still playing DDR and enjoying it then go for the metal pad. You might also want to go for a red octane ignition. This is kind of going down the middle road. Red Octane has a sale going on and their ignitions are only $80.00 I've also heard that you can get a good deal on an ignition type pad on EBay.