Pad for people with big feet

RelievedSimpleton · Basic Member Joined: 03 Mar 2007

Hello,
I know that there is no "best pad" out there. I've been looking around these forums for awhile and just bought my first pad today, a RedOctane Ignition 3.0. I am going to have to return it however due to the fact that I have huge feet. My feet are roughly 13-14 inches long so they overlap onto the up/down arrows when I try and stand in the center. Obviously this creates problems with the game as it keeps registering up/down. My question is, anyone else out there that has big feet like me, what pads have you found that work well? I was hoping to buy a pad in a retail store due to the support problems people seem to have which is why I opted for the ignition. Would a metal pad be better due to this issue or would I run into the same problems with them as well? I have never played DDR before today and I love it besides the problem with the pad. I am up for getting any kind of pad, soft, hard, metal, doesn't matter to me as long as it won't cause problems for my big feet but my price limit would be around $250-300 including shipping. Also, a STURDY bar would be useful as well since I'm not the most balanced person, however, if the bar is going to be wobbly and not able to hold a 250lb. person, I don't even want to bother with a bar. Any recommendations from people who are in the same situation would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
RS

trob xD · Trick Member Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Ohio

I would recommend the Red Octane Afterburner (a metal pad) because it has good recessed buttons so that even if your feet are over top of the up and down buttons, they won't register because your feet will be above the arrow. If you get what I'm saying.

But then again I wouldn't recommend it because it has been known to be made out of cheap materials and wire's commonly breaking.

I hope my post inspires you in someway. other wise I just contradicted myself and got nothing accomplished.

RelievedSimpleton · Basic Member Joined: 03 Mar 2007

That was one of the three I had been looking at mainly, the other two being the CF and BS w/ 3" bar (both way over my price limit shipped). I'm beginning to wonder if I would just be better off building my own. The only thing is, I would prefer to have a pad that feels just like an arcade machine pad since I plan on going to arcades with friends once I get better (meaning don't look like a complete idiot). The problem I have with building my own is that first of all, I'm not good at anything to do with building things, for anyone who's built one, how hard is the Stoli design? Would it be possible to make it feel just like a real pad by using 4 arcade sensors as well as replacement arrows meant for the machine? I want that sweet sound the real pads make!

One other thing I was considering, there is a website that sells DDR Solo pads for $200 plus the upgrade kit to add the bar for another $200 (which I'd buy at a later time). Would this be something I could rewire and build to be compatible with 360/PC using the cheap 360 pad's controller? In case it wasn't obvious before, I plan on making whatever pad I end up with usable with Xbox 360, one way or another. Once again, any input is appreciated.

trob xD · Trick Member Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Ohio

I think that building one would be a good idea. It does have the arcade feel and it's not hard to build one. I would suggest just using Stoli's design, instead of making your own modifications to it- just follow all his directions.

Or the Afterburner.

Not a BlueShark. You're taking on a giant risk when your dealing with MyMyBox because:
1.) You might end up with a very poor built pad. Disappointing.
2.) MyMyBox is (and I say this with all seriousness) the worst for customer service.
3.) They can't speak good English and their products have bad warranties and they all have catches.
4.) I have one and it's not as cool as you think. Buttons stick, the bar is REALLY wobbly, it gives pad misses, it was built poorly, and the screws pop out and don't go back in.

Ghettobarney · Trick Member Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Location: Failing Pandy

Make sure you don't buy from eBay. A CF might not be your best choice since it's a flat surface, so you may run into the same problems. BS does have horrible service, but from what I can see you can get a good pad.

-OJA
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trob xD · Trick Member Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Ohio

On my BS, on the middle panel's, one screw is stripped on the top so I can't screw it in anymore. And the worst part is that it won't stay in because the part it screws into is stripped. So the thing just basically slides in and out of the hole.

RelievedSimpleton · Basic Member Joined: 03 Mar 2007

It looks like I'm going to have to build my own then. On further inspection, the Stoli pads will be fine built the standard way for me except I'll have to change the graphics a little (green arrows instead of X O). The only other thing I'm wondering is, what is everyone's opinion of the idea to just buy a real DDR Solo pad? Are these not as nice as the deluxe DDR pads due to only having the two sensors? I guess my question is, would it be worth it to spend the $200 on the Solo pad (and would it be possible to rewire to be used with consoles) or build my own for about the same price using the Stoli plans?

devout · Trick Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Location: the atl

If someone says they will sell a real ddr solo pad for $200 it sounds like a scam. If you got one though i dont see why you couldnt rewire it for an xbox, as long as youre comfortable taking it apart and reassembling it.

Building your own is always an option, but I wouldnt recommend it if you're not at least moderately experienced with building things and already own all the tools you'll need (which can add another $100-$200). Keep in mind when you look at stoli's page that he's pretty skilled and has lots of nice tools. Homepads are only going to work as well as you make them...

As you play more you'll spend less and less time on the center panel... most people stand on the left and right arrows as the "default" position, and you'll probably spend more time on your toes than on your whole foot. So in the long run having big feet probably wont be a big deal.

trob xD · Trick Member Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Ohio

RelievedSimpleton · Basic Member Joined: 03 Mar 2007

Thanks for all the replies so far. I was set on building my own pads but now I'm not so sure. I really don't have any skill at building things, about the only thing I ever built was a front projection screen and even that ended up being about 1/4" off diagonally over 90". So now I'm kind of torn, people say the new CF's are getting bad, BS's have crappy customer support and I hear a lot of bad things about the AB. Guess I'll just put off playing DDR at home for a few more months and hope something better comes. Thanks for all the input though, I'll definitely keep reading these forums to watch for new pads being released, etc. If anyone has another recommendation though, it would be greatly appreciated.

AZtenfooter · Trick Member Joined: 21 Jan 2007

well in my experiance with my size 14'sm i play pointy toed at the arcade and flat footed at home on my blueshark
that may confuse people because i know the blueshark is recessed.
sometimes the arrows wouldnt register and i would trip and all these horror stories but yeah.
try playing pointy toed if that means anything at all.
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devout · Trick Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Location: the atl

daikenkai =[ · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 9:11 pm Post subject:

If you want to make a ddr pad custom for yourself, beware that if you decide to play at arcades after practicing on a custom-panel pad, you may be in hot water...

Here are some choices ive compiled. I personally think the second one with hexagonal buttons would be the awesomelyness for itg3 machines, for regular and big people

ChilliumBromide · Trick Member Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Beaverton, OR

Before I discovered metal pads, I used to think my feet (size 12's) would be a problem too, but a regular-sized pad is fine.

I suggest homebrew. It'll be the most reliable pad you'll ever find, and the customer service tends to try harder for you.

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abc12345 · Trick Member Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Location: New York

I got my pad off of ebay, and it SUCKS. I had to reinstall new sensors, my bar doesn't work,the sheet metal on the bottom of the arrow is about to fall off, so don't buy it from ebay.

P.S. I agree, those hexagonal panels would be awesome on itg3

Flound3r · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 3:19 pm Post subject:

I'm pretty sure that CF's have ridiculously large (tall) arcade mods, so I guess if you got one of those then when you stood on the center your toes/heel would just be hovering over the up/down arrows and not actually triggering them..
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