my latest multi forum question 1. Is the DDR Fad over? Has Guitar Hero and Rock Band killed off DDR? 2. Anybody else besides me prefer Pump it up over DDR?
Graciano and I went to gameworks in Seattle and there was never a line for DDR. it's not "dead" but it's not what it was. It's still there, in the same way the hardcore fighting game fans were still playing fighters when it was "dead" a few years ago. and has been for close to 3 years or so now.
I kinda thought DDR was over when most arcades went away. Maybe its still popular at places like Chuck E Cheeze and stuff like that.
What's really amusing is that since SuperNova the DDR arcade machines have been running off PS2s. The game itself is loaded on a hard drive on a PS2 Network Adapter. Makes the home porting easy to do. -hl718
As if it's a difficult game to program in the first place? 1. Nevarrr!!!! (says the middle-schooler in me) I don't think Rock Band (etc) killed DDR, I think DDR was never really ever EVER in style, at least in the states. Obviously, niche groups like us cool kids (haha) and also the gothy/hipster/techno/baggy pants whatever kids would battle it out in the 'cade. Is the guitar/band thing going on strong in Japan? I seriously think that that particular fad is on it's way to a close around here... Everyone got their Guitar Hero, played it a bunch, then got Rock Band, made some new friends and kicked their ass at fake instruments, then everyone went home. On the other hand, if I saw DDR in an arcade or if a friend challenges me, I will step the funk up and Drop the Bomb. 2. When one arcade that had DDR went out, I went to this crap one and they had pump it up. It sufficed my urge. Kinda like if someone took away my Gran Turismo and dropped Forza in my lap.\ Pump it up had a lot more style to it. I always felt like a bit of a badass playing it, as opposed to DDR where I was always WAY out of breath (bad heart) while my skinny frail body flops around at 200BPM. Well, at least I felt LESS ashamed in public.
It's not as popular as it used to be. It's also one of the few games where the arcade version today is worse from than the home version. At home: large flatpanel screens, arcade: 21inch screen (too small and makes you look sideways) At home: screen at eye level (I'm not an Asian midget), arcade: neck cramps because the screen placement forces you to look down. At home: decent surround system with subwoofer, arcade: sound drowns in the sound of the surroundings. At home: privacy, arcade: not so much :110: Konami still believes in DDR though and have announced a new version for the 360, PS3 and Wii. Sadly, no PS2 version this time. The 360 and PS3 versions will have downloadable songs, see http://www.konami.com/news/article50.php For me to consider the PS3 version it must work with my current PS1/PS2 metal pad and be able to import songs from my PS1/PS2 DDR library. But they'll probably expect us to rebuy all songs and purchase a new wireless dance platform.
My stepmania has a bunch of Birtney Spears and Madonna songs and SIGH Lady Gaga and Katy Perry...... Then agian I am guilty of adding them not the makers of the game.
ddr is so old and stale... however like goth clothing it's a subculture now... it will be around forever....
I think other Bemani games replaced DDR over the years and even those are slowly becoming old (like Guitar Freaks, Drummania, Beatmania, Pop'n Music). I love Guitar Hero, but while Guitar Freaks is real hardcore shit, I think the first one is just easier to get into and more fun simply due to the quantity of Western rock & metal. Rock & metal is more fun in a guitar game than unpopular electronic / j-rock or even j-pop. Konami never showed any motivation to make their Bemani franchises really accessible to the whole world, I think that was their mistake. Apart from that, I could never get warm with DDR (physically, I could )
