RedOctane is here to listen....

FaerieLink · Trick Member Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Location: Nor Cal

Good Day!

My code name here is Alice and I am a cusotmer service rep at RedOctane. We just wanted to let you know that we are listening. All your e-mails and calls on how we can improve our pad have been passed on to our development team and have all been taken very seriously!! The only way we learn is from you!! We are hoping to be able to offer the "perfect" pad with our next version. You guys have all been a huge help!

We are now so aware of what you guys want for a contact system and what you guys want the pad to look like, feel like, that we are sure our next development will be all that you have asked for and more.

Please keep those suggestions coming!! If you ever need someone to "live chat" with, please feel free to contact us via Yahoo messanger (FaerieLink3) or via e-mail ([email protected])

Thank you all again!!

scandalous bob · Trick Member Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Location: Naperville

I sent an e-mail recently to RO, it hasn't been answered yet. Maybe you could answer my questions.

To Whom This May Concern.

I have been considering getting a metal pad for a while because the fact that soft are not nearly as durable as a hard pad, but I would like to be informed about a few things before I go ahead with my purchase, as $200 is quite an investment to make for a video game. One of your competitors pads, the Cobalt Flux, has sheet metal contacts that cover the entire arrow and will never wear out. Their pad seems to be virtually indestructable, but to me it seems less visually appealing, less like the arcade and also costs $100 more than your pad. Questions I have are:

1. Do you pads still use foil contacts? This is a major deterrant to many people who are considering to buy either your pad or a CF. Some people have said that you will be changing the contact system, and it that is so, what does it look like (what is it made of?) and if I order one now will it have the new contact system?

2. There has been talk of extending your warrenty. Is this true? If there was a longer on the warrenty than the exhisting 60 day one on this pad, I would be much more comfortable buying your pad instead of the CF. (which happens to have a 6 month, no questions asked warrenty)

I would very much appreciate it if you could answer these questions, you have a reputation in our community for being helpful and reliable. Many people await answers to these questions and these answers could sway opinions on whether to purchase your pad or a CF pad.

Thanks for your Time,
bmxbob3@********

I am looking forward to a new pad from you guys, improvements in the contact system (sheet metal), longer warrenty, and lowering the arrows in relation to the center, X and O buttons would also be great (more like the arcade). If all those improvements were made you guys would have the ultimate pad for a cost far less than the CF, thus attracting many more customers. One last question (or set of questions, lol) : realisticly, when would the new version of the pad be ready for order by? (just asking for a ballpark, like by Christmas this year, early next year, or later next year) and would I be able to preorder one to ship to me as soon as they are available? (not expecting answers to these last two, just some ideas to keep us informed)

Thank You Alice

Anticipating a response and a cool new pad for me,
bmxbob3

Housemaster · Trick Member Joined: 27 Dec 2002 Location: ARFENHOUSE!!!1

I'm just wondering, will there be some sort of upgrade kit available for us with the foil contacts that are going bad? I'd pay for one as long as it was at a discount to us owners.

ãã©ã¤ã¢ã³ · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:30 pm Post subject:

Will Red Octane be making a hard pad for XBOX? Or maybe you could just make a PS2 metal pad and include a PAD converter (so it doesnt read as controller) that reads Up/Down and Left/Right. Thanks.
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feet like ice · Trick Member Joined: 18 Dec 2002

yeah so ill take a free metal pad

Yoza · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:44 pm Post subject:

Well, I can't actually buy a redoctane due to shipping (so far only liksang and play-asia ship pads to Australia, and it costs more than the pad itself) but here's my opinion.

Things that DDRers will look for in a pad:
Arcade Feel - The arcade feel/look is good because it means that the move between home and arcade is less noticable. Also, i'm sure that this is necessary if you were creating a freestyle routine, not that i'd know.

Durability - Durability seems to be something which some people see as 'critical' and others do not. People who are comfortable with their tools and fixing stuff generally do not mind this, though I'm sure creating a pad which is durable will attract more attention.

Pricing - Okay, here's a fairly big problem. Although most of us here are thinking "Okay, CF are cool. Everyone has a CF" I highly doubt that the general public would see this. True, most people may not want a metal pad, though perhaps its due to the pricing. To the people that aren't hardcore ddr freaks, metal pads are seen as quite expensive.. So depending on the customers you're targetting, this could be an issue.

Well, that's all from me.
~Yoza

spoonsman · Trick Member Joined: 01 Dec 2002

Bahamut727 · Trick Member Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Location: CA

I can't believe nobody mentioned this already, but thank you for listening to us. You don't have to take EVERY idea we throw at you, but just the fact that you listen to what we have to say about your products makes you a whole lot better than the competition in my opinion. Lets hope we can find a happy medium where you can produce a good pad at an acceptable price

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Member of the "Holy Order of the BOX"

scandalous bob · Trick Member Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Location: Naperville

In total agreement with Bahamut727, and please excuse my poor manners for not thanking you for taking the time to listen to the opinions of your customers in my first post. I think we are are grateful that you are willing to do this for us.

For the rest of you out there, voice your opinions on improvemnets that could be made. It's nice to know that they are now appreciated here.

Thank you and please excuse my poor manners,
bmxbob3

Frinky · Trick Member Joined: 12 Mar 2003

The second you announce that the contacts have been changed and maybe that the arrows are set in deeper, I'm buying two.

diabloslayer469 · Trick Member Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Location: Neo-Geo Land

Hey Alice, I read that you guys now changed the cheap foil to some kind of thin metal. Is RO going to stick with this or are they going to still consider sheet metal? Sheet metal (22 gauge, right?) is definetly the way to go. The CF uses it and when people make their own metal pads they use it. Please consider sheet metal on sheet metal for the contact system for your metal pads.
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free grants

scandalous bob · Trick Member Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Location: Naperville

ChaoTiC-oNe · Trick Member Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Location: Long Island

if this time is in time for christmas, i shall too, otherwise its CF for me
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WoW
^ Karthos, 60 Orc Shaman on Warsong

DrAe · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2003 6:15 pm Post subject:

Cool!!

But Alice only told us that RO would like feedback from us. She never said she would read all this. If you want them to know, e-mail them!! If they haven't replied take a second to think about all the DDR'rs that send in the same e-mails as you.

Peace
-DrAe

NYDance · Trick Member Joined: 14 Oct 2003

I sort of doubt they will start using full metal contacts for atleast a while. They probably have a whole warehouse full of foil contacts, and as long as they still sell, which they do, they will use up those foil contacts first.

FaerieLink · Trick Member Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Location: Nor Cal

WOW...ok... a lot of posts!! let me do them one by one.. I am sorry i did not get back sooner!! but please feel free to IM me at any time!!

AIM: FaerieLink3
MSN: same
Yahoo: same
ICQ: same

Here we go!!

about the foil contacts. We know how they tear...we opened one up and saw exactly what you guys have been talking about.. now..we just gota shipment in and TODAY i will be opening up one to check the contacts. I have been told tho that the next version FOR SURE will NOT use foil contacts!! (I am way stoked!!)

The warranty....we are planning on extending that, when that will happen i am not 100 percent sure, but they say with in the next 6 months.

Upgrade kit... yes that is in the talks. We have figured out some ideas on how to just suply people with the older pads with these kits, but have not had a chance to play with the supplies.

Xbox!!...yes there will be a separate control box for the Xbox and a new Ignition pad too!!

Sheet metal...the buring topic... yes...that is the next step we are looking into ...and i think it is the best step!! you guys are 100 percent correct!!

but yes....sadly they will not be out in time for Christmas =( makes me want to cry!!

and I will totally read all this =) I should be hitting this about every 2-3 days...I want to get it to hitting this board daily!! I luv you guys..and all the changes in the world come from individuals!! Everyone can make a difference...from DDR to the War On Drugs to...well.. you name it you can do it!!

*hugs*

-Alice

ChaoTiC-oNe · Trick Member Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Location: Long Island

damn... oh well... CF for me... who konws maybe in a year or 2 ill get a RO pad if the new ones reviews are good.
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WoW
^ Karthos, 60 Orc Shaman on Warsong

diabloslayer469 · Trick Member Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Location: Neo-Geo Land

diabloslayer469 · Trick Member Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Location: Neo-Geo Land

You should also consider something other than a copper sensor. Metal on Metal is what you should do. The copper contact will get burns on it even if there is sheet metal.
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Mercedes M Class

Gogo · Trick Member Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Location: Essex, VT

The one thing I want: Arcade Size scale suitable for double play. I want pads that slide together to make the same dimensions as a DDR stage. I want the exact measurements to be the same, not just close.
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