Is it time for a metal home pad?

my58vw · 05-07-2007, 01:29 AM

Hello all,

I am an IIDX and pop'n player, but I play a fair share of DDR at the arcades. I have not played at home in about 6 months. Today I pulled out my red octane foam pad (v3), and found it nearly imposable to play - not as sensitive as I need it, which messes up my style - I am a light footed player, vs stomping. I can beat most 8's and some 9's (Rythem and Police, et al) at the arcades with the sensitive pads. I have about given up on my current pad - stomping (even mildly) is hurting my knees everytime I play

So should I just fork out for a good metal pad (such as the blue shark)? Is it really time to just take the leep to metal at home?

And yes money is not an issue, I can afford 2 bluesharks if I wanted...

Ben Speirs · 05-07-2007, 05:47 AM

If you can afford it, go for it! Anything above an 8 on a soft pad will give you terrible scores.

revenGmyass · 05-09-2007, 05:07 PM

you might wanna hold that thought about getting a BS, im hearing some awful reviews at ddrfreaks forum
latest case : nikkie324 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

SaxxonPike · 05-09-2007, 10:16 PM

Ewww, the pad in those photographs looks in horrible shape.

I AM THE PROPHECY. · 05-10-2007, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revenGmyass

you might wanna hold that thought about getting a BS, im hearing some awful reviews at ddrfreaks forum
latest case : nikkie324 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Christ. Given the shape of the shipping box some of that might come down to the way it was handled (in spite of all the fragile stickers). But still, goddamn.

*Kσn* · 05-10-2007, 07:30 PM

holy crap, that package got raped. One more reason why shipping UPS to some areas are not good (supposing that it was UPS). For instance my Para Para Paradise came packaged with 2 boxes. One was completly torn open, and the other was fine.

UPS=No good

noisy doll☆ · 05-29-2007, 10:06 AM

Are there any other brands out there for metal pads? Which ones are the most popular? I'm thinking about getting one myself.

Brazoliange · 05-29-2007, 10:24 AM

If it doesn't need to be strictly metal, cobalt fluxes (with optional arcade mod kits) are really solid. Great reputation and great quality backing the brand.

revenGmyass · 05-29-2007, 10:50 PM

if you guys are good with tools, you should think about making your own pad. infact, im planning to sell my nexen and make my own pad.

*Ang* · 05-30-2007, 02:01 AM

You're at about the stage where I was when I got my cobalt flux. It hasn't ended up working out very well for me (I play on a PSX with a gameshark-like thing for imports, and every time I try to load a game with the pad plugged in, it gives me an error saying I don't have a memory card in. When I switch controllers it works fine, so it's something weird in the mechanics of the pad, which they claim works fine with PSX's), but it's definitely a nice pad as far as home pads go.

Just keep in mind that it's still not as great as arcade DDR (in my opinion at least) -- it's always going to be different and it'll take getting used to. If you go with a CF, I've heard getting the arcade mod thing from their site makes it more accurate to the arcade pads, I'd probably get it if I weren't broke right now.

Akkaraju · 05-30-2007, 09:04 AM

If you're considering dropping loads of money, I'd have to reccomend the Blueshark, with or without the bar. A coworker of mine that I always play DDR with got one early this year, and I had to say, it's damn impressive. The panels and the interior are designed nearly identical to the arcade, and the senstivity was pretty much unparalleled.

THe only thing I really had to complain about was the bar. It seemed a little loose, which startled me the first time when I used it. I heard that some people on the mymybox forums found decent solutions to fix that.

Cobalt Fluxes are a pretty good option, too. They're really light for a metal pad, and the sensitivty is pretty much the same as the BS. I've had mine for 2 years, and it's definetly stood the test of time. Almost anything you could possibly break, I know you can re-order replacements, save for the base of the pad and the sheet metal contacts on the bottom. It's a solid pad.

Hortence:The Muleface Mod · 05-30-2007, 10:06 AM

Personally I think it all comes down to if you feel like playing CS DDR a lot. I never made the jump to metal home pad, I just stopped playing at home. DDR machines aren't all that tough to find, and it's a lot easier to try doubles out in the arcade,

ranaratlusai · 05-31-2007, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewgy

Personally I think it all comes down to if you feel like playing CS DDR a lot. I never made the jump to metal home pad, I just stopped playing at home. DDR machines aren't all that tough to find, and it's a lot easier to try doubles out in the arcade,

Completely agreed there. I have a CF and yes it is a very good pad, except it may be a little to sensitive. I got tired of playing at home, I only play at the arcade now, I just made the big mistake of spending my money on a metal pad and I don't even use it. Jut make sure that if you do get the pad use it, don't let it sit in the garage for months like mine is :P

squezey · 06-02-2007, 02:00 PM

Yeah I think it is time to get a metal pad but the only problem is that they are pretty pricey. I wish I could afford one right now but I have some dumb plastic one that rips all the time.

revenGmyass · 06-03-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squezey

Yeah I think it is time to get a metal pad but the only problem is that they are pretty pricey. I wish I could afford one right now but I have some dumb plastic one that rips all the time.

have you tried modding your softpad?
you know, tape it to a piece of wood so it wont slide all over the place