Metal DDR Pads?

[gprime]

I wanted to get a (and maybe another later) metal DDR pad for my cab. Does anyone here have one? Which ones are good, which ones are bad?

I could only find one guy in Canada who has them on Ebay (see here). Looks pretty good. They don't have "clicky" buttons (they use pressure sensitivity) and the arrows light up. They claim it's really durable and actually recommend wearing shoes. What do you guys think?

It's $139US + $40US shipping -- I have no clue what they are worth -- but from a look-a-round on other sites this is actually the cheapest.

Any comments are helpful

[Frostillicus]

that's actually $60 to ship to the US, $40USD to ship to canada.  They look cool.  Good price too if I wasn't such a cheapskate I'd consider that one.  But $60 for shipping is pretty $$$$$$$.

A lot of people just build their own.  Bigger mess that way! I'm in that process now

[gprime]

Well, I'm from Canada, so I guess it's in my favour (notice the U in favour )

edit:

I am probably the worst craftsman in the world, and I looked everywhere around here and *no one* sells them, so this looks like the best deal I'm going to find anywhere. And besides as long as it lasts a long time I'm sure it would be a good investment.

[b3atmania]

Some things to ask before you buy this metal pad are:

- How much travel do the switches have? If they press down when you step on them it won't feel the same as an arcade platform. And that is bad, trust me.

- The diagonal-down panels should not be there unless you can disable them for DDR. Many soft PlayStation mats have diagonal down buttons and register diagonal-down when you step on them. During gameplay you will step on them accidently causing the game to register a move not intended by you. Notice how Konami never released DDR with diagonal-down arrows exactly for this reason.

A registering diagonal-down pad will also limit your freestyle. In the arcade there's no switch on that location. Placing your foot there will result in no penalty.

Finally, no DDR game actually require diagonal-down pads. They may become useful if Pump-emulation ever comes to be, but for now it will only annoy you.

[gprime]

Thanks b3atmania. I'm fairly new to DDR but I figured they made this pad for the future DDR games. I guess this is wrong? They also have the identical pad on ebay for a bit cheaper and without the 2 diagonal down arrows. Maybe I will get that one instead.

EDIT:

Finally bought it. No turning back now  

[crashwg]

Let us know how they work out.  They look decent for the price.

[LOKIOLR]

First thing Gprime, mount that pad on wood. I had a metal pad just like that and it bent right away because it was thin and not designed well.

[gprime]

First thing Gprime, mount that pad on wood. I had a metal pad just like that and it bent right away because it was thin and not designed well.

Wow that doesn't sound very good. I noticed it is quite thin but they advertise that it's made with "one pieced solid metal frame." Is yours a Red Octane LOKIOLR? I heard this one is identical to the Red Octane, and I've only heard good things about them (other than the fact that the LEDs light up *beside* the arrows and not *underneith*)

Thanks for the tip

[gprime]

Not trying to double-post here, but I just read up alot of info on metal pads, and I think it's the pads without the outer frame support that tend to bend. Does yours have a metal frame? And roughly what does it weigh?

Thanks.

[bionicbadger]

Build your own pad(s).  I did, they work great.
I based mine of of this site:
http://www.geocities.com/ddrhomepad/
It was actually pretty cheap to build.  And the pad is very sturdy.
Plus I know exactly how it works so if it ever does break (hasn't yet after about half a year) I can fix it.

[Yander]

It was actually pretty cheap to build.

Aproximatley how much?

[LOKIOLR]

DDRHOMEPAD is an ok design. Persoanlly I prefer Riptide's design. I've built both and Riptide's is way easy to fix if something goes wrong. The metal pad I had was a 3rd party metal pad. The thicker Red Octain pads are very nice. I'd say buy it and look it over first before playing on it. If you think it will hold up, it probably will. I didn't trust mine from the start.

[gprime]

Thanks.

All the reviews I've found for this pad havn't came with any pictures, and if they did they were too low to see any detail. I intend to tear it apart and take tons of pics (and hopefully get it back together  )

[gprime]

K well it came today. I still can't test it because I havn't gotten a PSX to USB adapter (it's "in the mail"), so here are some pics for now:

http://gprime.net/images/index.php?path=%2F2004-01-23

Pros:

Heavy Duty
The arrows look spectacular, couldn't have imagined nicer
No sounds when stepped on (like clicks, etc), and they are of perfect sensitivity.
Light up LEDs when you step on the arrows.
Well built, and nice smooth metal
Strong padding underneith

Cons:

The shipping protective plastic is *way* too hard to get off. You have to unscrew all the stuff and spend 5 minutes per arrow trying to get it off. It's so strong yet thin .... takes *forever*

The middle "stay cool" square has this incredibly sticky protection on it (and yes it's supposed to be removed, it looks ugly), but when you go to remove it, half the stuff stays there. I spent 15 minutes trying to get it off, and most of it is still there (see http://www.gprime.net/images/2004-01-23/100_3796.JPG -- the light exagerates it, but you get the idea). It's so sticky that it actually tore some of the paint off


---


All in all, I'm happy with it. It's worth the money and it's very professionally built, except for the fact that the material they use to protect the arrows during shipping is *much* too sticky than it should be, and requires unscrewing each support to get it *all* off. But if you have the time to remove it, then I highly recommend this pad to you.

[Zathras]

I've built a pair of the DDRHomePad designs and they work great and very durable.  The only time I've had to do any sort of fixing was when I tripped over a cord and just about ripped the PS2 cable out of it.  

I am probably going to go in and switch them to use cat-5 cables so they will be easier to hack to new systems.

[Yander]

I've built a pair of the DDRHomePad designs and they work great and very durable.  The only time I've had to do any sort of fixing was when I tripped over a cord and just about ripped the PS2 cable out of it.  

I am probably going to go in and switch them to use cat-5 cables so they will be easier to hack to new systems.

Around how did it cost to make?

[shmokes]

For sticky stuff get some Ronsonol Lighter Fuel.  It's made to refill wic lighters (zippos), not for spraying on charcoal.  Anyway, it's about the best thing I"ve used to remove sticky.

Be carefull with it, though.  I can't guarantee that it won't discolor anything or eat through plastic.  I don't think it will, though.  I've never had any problems with it at all (and it comes in a plastic bottle, if that's any idication).

Your local wal-mart will carry it.

[gprime]

nice. thanks for the tip shmokes.

[Zathras]

I think they ended up costing about 100 each to make but they will be with me for the rest of my life that is for sure.  I ended up backing them with MDF instead of the pegboard material to sturdy them up a little but I have frantically jumped on them constantly, used them at parties, and they still look like day one.

[Yander]

Posted by: Zathras  Posted on: Yesterday at 11:40:10pm  

I think they ended up costing about 100 each to make but they will be with me for the rest of my life that is for sure.  I ended up backing them with MDF instead of the pegboard material to sturdy them up a little but I have frantically jumped on them constantly, used them at parties, and they still look like day one.
 

Thats not too bad. I know a guy who bought these foam type ones for 100 bucks. I don't like the feel of them. Maybe Ill try to make some. Better monitor comes first though.

[GroovyTuesdaY]

Build your own pad(s).  I did, they work great.
I based mine of of this site:
http://www.geocities.com/ddrhomepad/
It was actually pretty cheap to build.  And the pad is very sturdy.
Plus I know exactly how it works so if it ever does break (hasn't yet after about half a year) I can fix it.

I have a question.  What do you guys who have built your own use to cut the steel squares?   I would think tin snipes might get a little old lmao.
I liked how easy it looks like it would be to make one....just looks a little time consuming, but definatly would be fun

groovy~

[bionicbadger]

I think mine cost around $130 canadian if I recall correctly.
Yes I used tin snips for cutting the metal.  I have some big ones with 4 1/2 or 5" cutting blades, they worked great.

[Jakobud]

Anyone have any idea where to get connectors like this:

http://gprime.net/images/index.php?path=2004-01-23&view=000_0037.JPG&showdirs=1

[bishmasterb]

Fry's in Sacramento has a couple of arcade quality metal DDR pads. Other Fry's might carry them as well.

[Sephroth57]

Anyone have any idea where to get connectors like this:

http://gprime.net/images/index.php?path=2004-01-23&view=000_0037.JPG&showdirs=1

i dont know but we have the same pads, if you do find em post here or PM me I might want to replace those in the future =)

[Jakobud]

Anyone have any idea where to get connectors like this:

http://gprime.net/images/index.php?path=2004-01-23&view=000_0037.JPG&showdirs=1

i dont know but we have the same pads, if you do find em post here or PM me I might want to replace those in the future =)

Could you take a look at the connectors/switches closely on both sides of them and see if there is any sort of manufacturer's name and/or model #?  Any printed information that is on them would be helpful in tracking them down.

[Zinfari]

IMHO CoblatFlux pads are the best metal pads around.  Don't get me wrong... they are also some of the most expensive $300 (unless you go for the real thing).   Their web site is pretty lame when it comes to pictures, but the pads are routinely sited for authentic feel and excellent craftsmanship.

Definately not for everyone, but I think they'll outlast anything else out there (expect the originals) and give an authentic experience.

Their web site: http://www.cobaltflux.com/products_cobalt.htm

Links to videos of people using them (totally insane worth a look even if you don't like DDR) http://www.cobaltflux.com/media_cobalt.htm

-Zinfari

[shmokes]

Someone posted a link to a website that sells DDR Arcade machine replacement/repair parts and I think a brand new authentic arcade pad isn't much more than $300.  It was $350 if I recall correctly.

Those CobaltFlux pads look really good, but if the price diff is only $50 I'd go for the arcade ones personally.

[Sephroth57]

IMHO CoblatFlux pads are the best metal pads around.  Don't get me wrong... they are also some of the most expensive $300 (unless you go for the real thing).   Their web site is pretty lame when it comes to pictures, but the pads are routinely sited for authentic feel and excellent craftsmanship.

Definately not for everyone, but I think they'll outlast anything else out there (expect the originals) and give an authentic experience.

Their web site: http://www.cobaltflux.com/products_cobalt.htm

Links to videos of people using them (totally insane worth a look even if you don't like DDR) http://www.cobaltflux.com/media_cobalt.htm

-Zinfari

cobalt flux pads are the best non authentic pads you can buy, but homemade pads with some care and effort used in the making are equal if not better, not to mention cost 1/3 of the price. my friend made some awesome home pads on a nice THICK arcade like platform cost him mayve 250 for both pads with a bar and everything. and it plays just like the arcade. I own a MyMyBox pad i got off ebay about 2 years ago before there was a market for this stuff, DDR was just coming to the states. and back then it was probably one of the best pads and it still plays awesome after 2 years. So I can vouch for MyMyBox they make quality pads that can still AA songs after 2 years of heavy use

[Jakobud]

Seph, did you take a look at those contacts under the pad like I was asking about a couple posts up?

[Sephroth57]

ah no I havent checked the thread since then, ill take a look later today