Blue Shark SOFT pads(deluxe 2007, etc.) feedback,reviews,etc

pf · Basic Member Joined: 04 Oct 2007

My girlfriend's been an enthusiastic ddr player for some years, and has consistently used piles of tape to try to keep it from sliding/bunching. I'm looking to get her something nicer for xmas.

We think a hard pad is a little bit of overkill (besides, not much space, and having to get it out and put it away every day is DEFINITELY overkill), so I've been digging for the nicest "mid-grade" soft pad I could find - 1" foam padding, reliable, etc.

Was going to go with an ignition, but was overwhelmed with the number of reviews in regards to "failure rate" that I found online.

So, upon seeing good reviews of mymybox (thought 50/50 on their customer service), I was leaning towards the new BlueShark deluxe:

http://mymybox.com/ddrmbsdx.html

Obviously this one's not out yet, but I'm wondering if anyone could relay their experiences regarding the BlueShark 2006/2007 "deluxe" soft models so I have something to go on. Main concerns:

Good feel?
Reliable?
Response (accuracy?)
Easy dissassembly (can't even tell if these are the "puzzle piece" style foam)?
Anything else that should be mentioned?

If you're still reading, thanks SO MUCH in advance - just want to make sure I get her something GOOD for christmas.

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

I don't know about these, but you might give the BNS (buynshop.com) Fusion/Sparkle pads a look. I've heard nothing but good things about those.

From the description, the BlueShark Foam pad does look fairly good, but I can't guarantee it.
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I used to be active here lol

arisch · Basic Member Joined: 02 Oct 2007

that trin pad looks promising

specially if money isnt a issue I hear great things ^^

trin knows his poopy too!

http://www.ddrfreak.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=128167

pf · Basic Member Joined: 04 Oct 2007

money is/isn't an issue - there's a point between the time when she'll say "thanks so much" and "how much did you spend on this thing? I appreciate it, but it's a bit overboard"

that point is the difference b/t a nice foam soft pad and a metal pad (or trin pad, though from what people are saying, that does sound pretty hot!)

Maybe it's unfounded, but I get an off vibe when I'm digging through buynshop, like I'm looking at knockoff pads - like 90% of the stuff you find on ebay, or many of the targeted ads on google...I think it's because they sell "ninja" metal pads, and those are the only other places I'd seen those before.

anyone here that can vouch for having owned and been satisfied with a fusion soft? or still waiting for anyone that's owned any edition of a blueshark deluxe????

Oh, and my girlfriend's not a "sparkle" kind of woman, though I'm guessing they're EXACTLY the same as the fusions anyway

BAGGER VANCE · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 12:24 pm Post subject:

i can say, the BNS DX fusion/sparkles are great in my experience. i got 1 about a year ago(which works about just as good as the day i got it still), and another just a couple weeks ago. They're the best pads i've ever owned(and i used to own a cobalt flux metal hard pad). low maintanence, durable(i dont think the surface can rip!), multiplatform(though i wish it had wii/gamecube support....i bet the next ones will), stylish(i love the BNS DX Sparkle, and since im a guy, the female attention my dance pad brings is nice XD), and great company(my 2nd pad came in 5 days!). GO WITH BUYNSHOP FOR FOAM PADS!!!!!

and no, buynshop does not pay me to preach how wonderful their pads are XD.

videoCWK · Trick Member Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Location: woh

My friend got a BNS pad for Christmas last year by my reccomendation and we've only had good experiences with it since. If you're getting a foam pad, get a BNS pad. REally.
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PureBlue · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:12 am Post subject:

Yeah, BNS pads are really good. I have 2 of their Sparkle pads, and they both work great. They are more sensitive than both of the RedOctane Ignition 3.0's I have, and feel better on the feet. Plus, the material on the top of the BNS is nearly impossible to tear, whereas the material on the RedOctane pads tears like there's no tomorrow. I am passing songs/getting better grades on my Sparkles that I couldn't pass/get better grades on my other pads. For example, I passed Xepher Oni with an A on my Sparkles, whereas I can only manage a B on my Ignition 3.0's.

So if you're in the market for a good foam pad, go with BNS.

That guy with the afro... · Trick Member Joined: 08 Oct 2006

I agree with the BNS. My friend, who just started playing DDR at the time, bought it and played for days on end, even inviting me over to tear in some 10s like Max 300. Later on, he got a metal pad and decided to give the BNS to me, which was sitting in a corner folded up. I took it home, played it, it was still nicely responsive, a half-year later brought it to one of my friends places far away, let them have it for a year, took it back (because said friend was a female dog) and started playing it again, despite having played multiple 10s like PSMO and Unlimited, and the only damage it holds is the one that was accidentally made at a point without sensors where a knife punctured a hole into the down arrow. Again, I still managed to AA songs with 6 greats.
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frick YEAH BOAT!

PureBlue · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject:

Just to give you at least one reason why you should not get an Ignition 3.0, I took some pictures of one of mine.

Here it is 6 months ago:

And here's one of the surface rips:

Even the interior sensor plastic has ripped:

Here's my pad now:

Pretty ghetto, right?

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

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE GHETTO!!!
Ghettoplus:

That was before I even started playing 10's or hard 9's.

Random Score:

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I used to be active here lol

PureBlue · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:20 pm Post subject:

Umm, that first image doesn't load on my computer.

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

Hm. . . I'm not sure what's going on with it. The file used to be named "shitpad.jpg", but I changed it so it wouldn't get filtered on DDRFreak. It's a pretty ballin' image though.
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I used to be active here lol

PureBlue · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:25 pm Post subject:

Okay.

Remember kiddies, REDOCTANE SUCKS DONKEY NUTS.

Costa · Basic Member Joined: 23 Oct 2007

Any word on updates for these models that would be multiplatform across the PS2 and Wii? I'm looking at both the Blueshark Deluxe and BNS models. I see that the Blueshark has a GC/Wii model, but I'd need to buy a separate one to use with my Sony consoles. BNS doesn't seem to have any support for the GC/Wii yet.

I would sure love it if I could get a pad that works on both of them, not only to save the cash, but also to avoid having dozens of pads lying around and have to swap them all around whenever I switch games (which annoys me greatly). Does anyone know if there's any news on new models coming down the pipe now that Hottest Party is out and selling?