Metal DDR Pads?

[Frostillicus]

Anyone have any recommendations for a metal DDR pad?
I see a bunch of these on ebay all the time, but want actual reviews by folks:
[urlhttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3018645089&category=21188][/url]

I've also seen the sites for building my own, but if the price is right I might just buy one instead.

I know there are some DDR fans here from previous posts...what pad do you use?

[Hoe]

Just last night I built a "proof of theory" button for a pad, and it worked great- so it looks like I'm going to make my own (metal and wood).

Thouse metal red octain pads I herd are awsome, but are wired ---smurfy---. Review here: http://www.ddrseattle.com/MetalPads/MetalPadReview.html

My friend uses the red octain 80$ pads. I love them, the only down side is you can't pound the crap out of them with your shoes on.

[Snarbald]

How 'bout one of these?

http://www.channelbeat.com/products/parts/dance_dance_revolution_parts/130.html

[snailmailhater]

Hi Frosty.  Hate to tell you but the metal pads they sell on ebay are all notoriously crappy.  The metal warps the arrows break and the wiring sucks.  I've looked into these for awhile and the best recommendation I can make is to build your own pad.  The sites I have found useful for building your own are: http://www.geocities.com/ddrhomepad/ (plans)
http://home.attbi.com/~patster/home.html  (the best example i have seen)
http://www.popsynth.com/platform.htm (another plans page)
http://www.channelbeat.com/products/parts/dance_dance_revolution_parts/117.html (official parts for the machine if you don't want to make your own)

I hope this helps you out.  If you could get back to me about that ddr marquee i asked about before that would be great!

[Jakobud]

I remember seeing some site or two out there about building your own.  It involved hacking a cheap PSX pad.  It looked totally easy compared to all the crazy stuff we do on this forum!  You should go that route.

[Frostillicus]

Hey thanks guys for the great info - looks like I should stay away from pretty much all store bought stuff.  I was just thinking about weighing the cost of materials/ time/energy/frustration/beer vs buying outright/beer/laziness. You know how it is
Probably just build my own...

Hi Frosty.  Hate to tell you but the metal pads they sell on ebay are all notoriously crappy.  The metal warps the arrows break and the wiring sucks.  I've looked into these for awhile and the best recommendation I can make is to build your own pad.  The sites I have found useful for building your own are: http://www.geocities.com/ddrhomepad/ (plans)
http://home.attbi.com/~patster/home.html  (the best example i have seen)
http://www.popsynth.com/platform.htm (another plans page)
http://www.channelbeat.com/products/parts/dance_dance_revolution_parts/117.html (official parts for the machine if you don't want to make your own)

I hope this helps you out.  If you could get back to me about that ddr marquee i asked about before that would be great!

Snailmailhater: That first link is what got me interested in building one.  That guy's made some sweeet looking pads.  about marquee - you wanted 15x9 inch right?  Did you have a specific look? DDR graphics have a very stylized and cool look to them - what did you want it to say?

[paigeoliver]

For a while I was really interested in getting a metal Pump it Up pad, and adding the PC version of Pump it Up to my cabinet. But then I realized that 80 percent of the fun in that game comes from the fact that there is usually a crowd watching when I play (not that I am the best at it, but I am good enough to draw a crowd on friday night).

It wouldn't be the same in my room by myself.

[Zinfari]

Yea but think of the crowd you could draw if you had one of these at home you had been practicing on for a couple months!  

-Zinfari

[snailmailhater]

Hey thanks for the reply Frosty.   About the marquee could you just make it say something like Dance Dance Revolution PC?   That would be great.  If you come up with anything email it to me at snailmailhater@yahoo.com  Thanks

[Frostillicus]

For a while I was really interested in getting a metal Pump it Up pad, and adding the PC version of Pump it Up to my cabinet. But then I realized that 80 percent of the fun in that game comes from the fact that there is usually a crowd watching when I play (not that I am the best at it, but I am good enough to draw a crowd on friday night).

It wouldn't be the same in my room by myself.

It looks like pretty decent exercise, actually - my co-workers are trying to get me to come to pilates class...but that's not gonna happen anytime soon.   Besides, think of the mad dance skillz you'd have after playing for a few months?  

Now all I need are some MC Hammer pants....

[SirPoonga]

For a while I was really interested in getting a metal Pump it Up pad, and adding the PC version of Pump it Up to my cabinet. But then I realized that 80 percent of the fun in that game comes from the fact that there is usually a crowd watching when I play (not that I am the best at it, but I am good enough to draw a crowd on friday night).

It wouldn't be the same in my room by myself.

It looks like pretty decent exercise, actually - my co-workers are trying to get me to come to pilates class...but that's not gonna happen anytime soon.   Besides, think of the mad dance skillz you'd have after playing for a few months?  

Now all I need are some MC Hammer pants....

First off, Frost, you don't learn dance skills from ddr just rythm skills and simon says skills.

Paige, stepmania is a ddr simulator, but it also does several other machines like pump it up.
Pretty much everything you will ever need is either at www.stepmania.com, ww.ddrmaniax.net, or links off of those two sites.