12:16am PST Nov 19: Real Time DDR Pad Repair

[Xean45]

Okayy, so, after not getting a reply from asking what was happening with my pad (Konami pad, if you're that interested), I decided to throw on the latex gloves and operate.

Symptoms: LEDs light in proper correspondance with button/arrow pushes, but no on-screen results. For all intensive purposes, this Pad's on a respirator. I MUST try to save it!

Procedure: Using small sewing scisors and a needle, I am undoing the seam along the right side. So far, I've gotten from the top corner, to the base of the O button. I investigated the insides to see how they work. You always hear others talk about the foam with holes in it, but you never truly believe it until you see it for your self. The clear plastic with the black, contact grids looking like a maze built for the craze of dancing. But, what's this! There's a clear crease in the upper plastic grid! Could this be the cause of the problems? I doubt it, but I decided to make a mental note, to maybe try smooting it out later.

*note* It is possible to smothe out folds in plastic. When I inherited my uncle's Intellivision, all the games have plastic controller inserts that map out the buttons. To remove the creases from these, I placed them between two pieces of glass and applied light heat until the creases dissappeared. Too much heat though, will boil the plastic and ruin it completely. But with this pad already ruined, there's nothing to lose.

Looking at the bottom layer though, is when the true problem was discovered: The bottom plastic grid is completely dog-eared over! Folded so that the START button grid is at the base of the O button! I will completely dismantle the mat before trying this fix, to see if there are more "dog-ears" or wry folds.

Stay tuned for more as it unfolds...so to speak.
Wish me luck

~X8
<^o_o^>
_________________

"So, why do these arrows keep scrolling up the screen?"

[Xean45]

Truama! Undoing the seam further, I discover that this may or may not be the problem. Rather, it was assembled like this :O
The plastic was folded over in a manufacturing error, or so I assume. When I fold it out so that the plastic grids match up with the buttons associated with them, there's about two inches excess plastic with *gasp!* cut-here lines! >.< I'm not quite sure what to make of this new development.
This pad was purchased on eGay, so is it possible that it may have been a boot-legged product!?

I'm not sure, but the details will be all here!

~X8
<^o_o^>?
_________________

"So, why do these arrows keep scrolling up the screen?"

[Xean45]

Unfortunately...it's over. There was a glimmer of confidence when the potential problem of the grid fold was found, but unfortunately, the patient is still not responsive.
It's actually amazing that it worked, assembled all akimbo like that. For all purposes, it never had a START button...and isn't that all we need sometimes? Just a good START?
*sigh* I even went as far as straightening out the wrinkle in the foam mat, but sometimes the frivilous things just don't cut it, do they?

Well, I haven't given up hope yet. There must me some answer floating around this vast network. I must find it...I just must.

~X8
<^o_o^>
_________________

"So, why do these arrows keep scrolling up the screen?"

[Cutriss]