DDR X2 AC US with a new pad design: first look and impressions
Posted by June.H - Wed 07/21 2010 - 11:39 PM - 5615 Views
Konami was gracious enough to allow Bemanistyle to test out the new DDR X2 US test version with a brand new pad construction. Konami has worked hard to take all the feedback from X1 and work it into the new X2 pads. The verdict looks great so far!
Unfortunately we're not allowed to show picture inside the pads, but I can assure you it's nothing like the DDR X1 pads. Konami has gone ahead and taken all the feedback from the first X1 pads and redid them from ground up.
Take a look at the pictures of the stage and you can judge for yourself. Note that these are only preliminary shots and videos; the final product may change.
Pad first impressions:
-For starters, these are no longer wooden pads, they're completely metal. With that, they definitely feel heavier as well and more solid to play on.
-These feel a lot more solid; they do not flex like the DDR X1 pads do; It actually took a little adjusting for me since I got used to the DDR X1 pads.
-They're notably thicker than the original pads as well, much more closer to the older pad design.
-Each arrow panel is now removable via a small metal bracket in the corner; the rest of the pad is still covered in one big piece of sheet metal (which was noted there is really no reason for anyone to be removing that very often, but still is removable).
-Double play felt a little strange (being used to the old pads) but we were still able to play fine.
-So far these pads may only be upgradable for DDR X1 cabinets as they may not work for SuperNOVA 2 and older machines.
-The sensors are very different from the X1 pads and the way they are depressed are also different from X1; panel decal fading should also be minimized. They're boasted to last several thousand hours of straight gameplay (we calculated over 3 years of straight game play). We did not have any sensitivity issues at all; very good sign.
-There were no brackets or tabs to activate the sensors on this design.
-Accuracy wasn't too much of an issue; WinDEU AAA'd Super Driver Expert on a sight-read.
-No pads will be added to the bars.
-The back metal covers will be taller on the final release.
First impressions of DDR X2 AC US:
-New mode for beginners is available right off the bat: you can choose ENJOY mode or PRO mode. From there you can choose Single/Double/Versus. A second player can only do "trial" mode for the first song.
-ENJOY mode is only consisted of BEGINNER and LIGHT difficulties with a limited song selection.
-PRO mode is the mode everyone already knows.
-BATTLE and NONSTOP were unavailable on this version.
-Extra/Encore Stage were not available on this TEST version.
-RISKY mod is only available for Single/Double play. It's disabled for VERSUS play.
-Timers are definitely shorter than X1: 60 sec. song timers, 30 sec. option screen, 10 sec. results screen.
-All mods from X1 that were locked are now completely unlocked right off the bat (brake, wave, arrow skin) including Hidden+, Sudden+, Hidden & Sudden+.
-Hidden+, Sudden+ and Hid+/Sud+ can be enabled and disabled (and changed) throughout the song. You can't change the window design either at this time (but honestly, who cares?).
-As noted in the previous headline, speed mods are changable at the beginning of the song only for a short time. The speed at the bottom of the screen will let you know what the current speed changed to was.
-We didn't notice lag issues, however we noticed the timing would "drift" as the song progressed; Konami is looking into this issue.
Notes about DDR X2:
-Availability to upgrade X1 to X2 is likely.
-Upgrades and conversions will NOT be available for SuperNOVA 2 and prior Mixes. This is primarily due to very high costs from Japan and not being cost-effective it brought to America. Additionally, the kits would only be available for SuperNOVA and SN2 machines due to their construction (ed.: most likely due to the fact that machines in America range in construction from Asian, Korean, to Japanese cabinets).
-Upgrade kits may be offered with the new pads as well; no official word yet.
-US and Europe may be seeing a simultaneous release; no word yet though of an official date but it's on the horizon.
-Local high scores for each song are currently being worked into ala SuperNOVA 2.
-Konami is also looking into new possibilities for e-amusement, use of USB drives, and unlocks.
Final thoughts: Even though the pads feel different from the original pads, they feel better than the X1 pads. WinDEU and I felt that it's something arcades should definitely look forward to for upgrading if they have an older DDR X1 pad.
Since Konami still wants to keep this cost effective for arcades, X2 with the new pads is definitely the machine to look forward to if your arcade hasn't picked up X1 and looking to replace a run-down Extreme or SuperNOVA machine.
Videos and pictures after the break.
Rating: 12 Positive | 0 Negative
Comments
Posted by mark - Wed 07/21 2010 - 11:59 PM [ quote ]
Looks nice. I just wish I could give a crap anymore. DDR X was such an incredible failure that I can't see this going very far in the American market.
Posted by Lightning - Thu 07/22 2010 - 12:12 AM [ quote ]
They really need to get some artwork on the GIANT METAL PLATE that's just sitting on the front where the buttons are.
Really, not that hard.
Posted by jbean3535 - Thu 07/22 2010 - 12:15 AM [ quote ]
Honestly, this looks worlds better than the original. I'm glad feedback was taken this time. Props to the parties in charge on this one for correcting what was wrong (And never should have been). As an arcade manager, if they priced these at the same $10k as the original X1 cabinets, I can see these selling quite well. I wish they would change the side art to match the X2 theming a bit more though.
Also - That front plate, Pleeeeeeease do something with it. It looks awkward and the semi-step down from the pad level has accident written all over it.
Posted by syrup42 - Thu 07/22 2010 - 12:17 AM [ quote ]
In this economy, one would think that providing upgrade kits at the very least for SN-class cabs would be cost effective given the fact that the install base is already there (and it's pretty significant, since their numbers are almost on par with the legacy cabs), and the risk of eating the logistical costs of producing these goods would be negated by the fact that struggling arcades would snatch this kit up in a heartbeat, thus even pre-orders would sell out rapidly if Konami bothered to offer them.
Oh well, what do I know, they want to stifle those folks who are trying to scrape by with whatever machines they have and force them to shell out $10K for a mix and decent pads one year too late.
Guys, can you clarify that statement about there not being any upgrade kits for pre-DDRX cabs, since on one hand, it sounds pretty clear, but on the other, it adds some doubt since they would only be available for SN cabs only.
Posted by kent - Thu 07/22 2010 - 12:32 AM [ quote ]
I plan on speaking more with Konami about kits. I agree with a lot of the concerns and I still want to push kits as hard as possible.
There will be an update to a lot of the missing details, but for now I hope people can also comment on other things than just the not so positives.
Posted by Kalek - Thu 07/22 2010 - 12:33 AM [ quote ]
i am still concerned about monitor lag (and the videos didn't help -- windeu seemed to have problems with ma/pa when i am used to watching him have amazing fa), but i am otherwise now satisfied with these machines.
however, i still don't totally understand why we aren't getting kits. asia gets kits, and they have all types of machines too (maybe not american, but american cabs are just korean cabs last i knew, plus there are very few american cabs anyway). also it feels like there are a billion arcades that would be totally willing to upgrade but are weary of buying new cabinets (esp the ones that skipped sn2/x and are itching for something new).
i'd still prefer to play x and x2 on older machines given the opportunity just because monitor lag is nonexistent, and if the pads aren't playable in general they are very fixable with a few mods that end up costing less than $10 [plus afaik the japanese kit pcs are built better than our american pcs -- there is fairly obvious common frameskipping on our american x machine that appears to be nonexistent on japanese machines from the videos i have seen]
don't get me wrong, i am glad something is being done, but konami has alienated any shred of competitive ddr in the US at this point (not like it matters -- we were a fraction of a percent of players anyway). they really could have left the cabinets as-is (as in, x cabinets with the fixes) and i probably wouldn't be much less satisfied than i am with the current solution (and this is coming from someone who complained and complained when it was announced there would be a new cabinet at all [when we didn't know how bad it would be here!]).
Posted by kent - Thu 07/22 2010 - 12:43 AM [ quote ]
@kalek it was said that there were no noticeable problems with visual, audio or hardware lag although some songs seem to have sync issues that would drift offsync at the end of the song.
i agree with a lot of what you said though
Posted by June.H - Thu 07/22 2010 - 12:51 AM [ quote ]
Quote:
Originally Posted by The legend of ZAKU 0079
In this economy, one would think that providing upgrade kits at the very least for SN-class cabs would be cost effective given the fact that the install base is already there (and it's pretty significant, since their numbers are almost on par with the legacy cabs), and the risk of eating the logistical costs of producing these goods would be negated by the fact that struggling arcades would snatch this kit up in a heartbeat, thus even pre-orders would sell out rapidly if Konami bothered to offer them.
Oh well, what do I know, they want to stifle those folks who are trying to scrape by with whatever machines they have and force them to shell out $10K for a mix and decent pads one year too late.
Guys, can you clarify that statement about there not being any upgrade kits for pre-DDRX cabs, since on one hand, it sounds pretty clear, but on the other, it adds some doubt since they would only be available for SN cabs only.
My two cents from what I know of historical costs and trying to play devil's advocate:
For starters, remember that most old cabinets are bootlegged and not even Japanese-native. Logistically and financially to Konami, it'll be a nightmare to design conversion kits for every type of machine out there.
For SN/SN2, Konami of Japan sets the price. Conversion kits factor in a LOT of costs, hence their price (plus things cost much different in Japan; we're at their mercy). Japanese kits and machines are still pretty damn expensive; import just the conversion kits to the US for use in American machines, tack on hundreds to maybe a thousand automatically (i.e. conversion rate, licensing costs, etc). Then they have to find a distributor who has to make money too; tack on probably another thousand or two. In the end, you have a conversion kit that probably costs upwards $7000-8000.
Hence, not cost effective. If they did offer it, Konami/Betson would be accused of ripping people off anyway, so it's a lose-lose situation.
Posted by June.H - Thu 07/22 2010 - 12:54 AM [ quote ]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalek
i am still concerned about monitor lag (and the videos didn't help -- windeu seemed to have problems with ma/pa when i am used to watching him have amazing fa), but i am otherwise now satisfied with these machines.
however, i still don't totally understand why we aren't getting kits. asia gets kits, and they have all types of machines too (maybe not american, but american cabs are just korean cabs last i knew, plus there are very few american cabs anyway). also it feels like there are a billion arcades that would be totally willing to upgrade but are weary of buying new cabinets (esp the ones that skipped sn2/x and are itching for something new).
i'd still prefer to play x and x2 on older machines given the opportunity just because monitor lag is nonexistent, and if the pads aren't playable in general they are very fixable with a few mods that end up costing less than $10 [plus afaik the japanese kit pcs are built better than our american pcs -- there is fairly obvious common frameskipping on our american x machine that appears to be nonexistent on japanese machines from the videos i have seen]
don't get me wrong, i am glad something is being done, but konami has alienated any shred of competitive ddr in the US at this point (not like it matters -- we were a fraction of a percent of players anyway). they really could have left the cabinets as-is (as in, x cabinets with the fixes) and i probably wouldn't be much less satisfied than i am with the current solution (and this is coming from someone who complained and complained when it was announced there would be a new cabinet at all [when we didn't know how bad it would be here!]).
I addressed that in my post. Lag wasn't an issue (there was something else though that was may not have been hardware related), we were actually trying different things while playing (some songs felt weird but was on-sync), WinDEU did get AAA's or near-AAA's on a couple songs, but a few others he got an A or B on. Keep in mind he hasn't played a whole bunch of DDR X1 as well. MA on DDR X is different from, say, ITG or PIU Pro.
Posted by Lightning - Thu 07/22 2010 - 02:27 AM [ quote ]
Well I will say it is a MASSIVE improvement over X1 and it's looking amazing with features, songs, and whatnot. The new construction seems to be EXTREMELY nice and, to me, looks like a true successor to the current-gen hardware.
Theme/game wise, I would just say PLEASE tone down the announcer and Please, for the love of God, just use a different font for the judgements. That's the ONE thing that's setting off the entire theme, and completely destroys continuity and flow with the overall user interface.
The noteskin that's the floor arrow design looks somewhat awkward but...interesting.
Only other suggestion I would say is please try to do something fun with the marquee lights during gameplay. (IE: See ITG's light charts)
Posted by snapps - Thu 07/22 2010 - 02:53 AM [ quote ]
do the pads feel like x usa location test pads because those were amazing
Posted by Drayne O - Thu 07/22 2010 - 03:28 AM [ quote ]
wow. you mean we lose our AMAZING 1 PIECE SOLID SHEET METAL pad covers? it made it only more fun to get under the arrows! i dont know why they would do that.
Did the location test have the "Early/late" display as a mod that the japanese have? if not i think its very VERY crucial we get that if they have to keep lag on the monitors. Purely because that will mean its possible to play by sight again as well as audio and would to be fair make the game a whole lot more playable straight away.
And if they havent put it in there already why not? Its so obvious that it would make life a lot easier for a LOT of people who really want to get on with X2!
Posted by Jewllama - Thu 07/22 2010 - 05:56 AM [ quote ]
Let's hope the panels don't stick this time round, I lost count of the times the X cab in Trocadero has had stuck panels from my playing. I doubt it's just my heavy hitting style of play, but it's annoying. As fuck.
Do the pads get stuck at all? Or have they actually made the pads not stick when playing heavy?
Posted by dahrkdaiz - Thu 07/22 2010 - 06:02 AM [ quote ]
The new pads look absolutely better than the previous ones. But the pad note aside:
-The possibility of USB unlocks? Holy shit it's about time!
-Local score saving..... like SN2? This mean courses only or did you mean to say SN 1 where each song gets its score saved?
-I'm glad they're actually bringing X2 to the states. Not sure if you guys have been keeping up with it but it's definitely this best DDR mix yet (according to the majority consensus)
I don't understand what is so cost-effective about this pad design at all. If they went full-metal and whatnot, why do they still insist on reinventing the wheel? They got it right with the JP pad design, just use it here. There is no way the cost of the pads are that different.
Other than, please make massive location tests before releasing this.
Posted by yyr - Thu 07/22 2010 - 07:54 AM [ quote ]
Here's my big question: will the new platform be a mandatory purchase with an upgrade from X1? I am hoping that the answer is "yes." If not, I feel like a lot of arcades are just going to opt for the software upgrade ("but our pads work fine! the arrow triggers when i step on it!"), making X2 impossible to enjoy.
Please... Konami, Betson, whoever... if you're reading this, PLEASE make the new platform a mandatory part of the upgrade kit, and offer a rebate to take back the old one (which can then be recycled into new ones if possible). This would be a great way to make up for the mistake that was the X1 platform.
Posted by DM Ashura - Thu 07/22 2010 - 08:21 AM [ quote ]
Posted by Dan. - Thu 07/22 2010 - 10:54 AM [ quote ]
Yes please let arcade owners replace the old X1 pads, which were horrible. And it would be great if players could save scores & unlocks via USB, as an alternative for arcades not having E-Amuse.
Posted by Draigun - Thu 07/22 2010 - 11:36 AM [ quote ]
Judging by the songs and stepfiles I've seen, I am excited for X2. I guess I can only say for sure once I've played on the pads, though.. after experiencing the atrocity that was X.
Posted by Kalek - Thu 07/22 2010 - 11:44 AM [ quote ]
Quote:
Originally Posted by June.H
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalek
i am still concerned about monitor lag (and the videos didn't help -- windeu seemed to have problems with ma/pa when i am used to watching him have amazing fa), but i am otherwise now satisfied with these machines.
however, i still don't totally understand why we aren't getting kits. asia gets kits, and they have all types of machines too (maybe not american, but american cabs are just korean cabs last i knew, plus there are very few american cabs anyway). also it feels like there are a billion arcades that would be totally willing to upgrade but are weary of buying new cabinets (esp the ones that skipped sn2/x and are itching for something new).
i'd still prefer to play x and x2 on older machines given the opportunity just because monitor lag is nonexistent, and if the pads aren't playable in general they are very fixable with a few mods that end up costing less than $10 [plus afaik the japanese kit pcs are built better than our american pcs -- there is fairly obvious common frameskipping on our american x machine that appears to be nonexistent on japanese machines from the videos i have seen]
don't get me wrong, i am glad something is being done, but konami has alienated any shred of competitive ddr in the US at this point (not like it matters -- we were a fraction of a percent of players anyway). they really could have left the cabinets as-is (as in, x cabinets with the fixes) and i probably wouldn't be much less satisfied than i am with the current solution (and this is coming from someone who complained and complained when it was announced there would be a new cabinet at all [when we didn't know how bad it would be here!]).
I addressed that in my post. Lag wasn't an issue (there was something else though that was may not have been hardware related), we were actually trying different things while playing (some songs felt weird but was on-sync), WinDEU did get AAA's or near-AAA's on a couple songs, but a few others he got an A or B on. Keep in mind he hasn't played a whole bunch of DDR X1 as well. MA on DDR X is different from, say, ITG or PIU Pro.
this just looks like one of those things where i will believe it when i play it haha
i'd love to see this work out and have competitive players come back (or get new ones), but it's so hard not to be pessimistic at this point :P
As much as I respect June's evaluation, they did such a shitty ass job with DDRX I'm going to have to see it for myself. And even then, I won't really believe it.....
Did the location test have the "Early/late" display as a mod that the japanese have? if not i think its very VERY crucial we get that if they have to keep lag on the monitors. Purely because that will mean its possible to play by sight again as well as audio and would to be fair make the game a whole lot more playable straight away.
And if they havent put it in there already why not? Its so obvious that it would make life a lot easier for a LOT of people who really want to get on with X2!
That's probably an e-amusement only feature (same with X1's score battle). I don't know how that keeps or helps lag on the monitors though, especially when we didn't find the same lag issues with X1 in X2. X1 lag issues were visual anyway and it got patched within a month or two of the U.S. release. The rest of the "lag" issues were more like stepchart syncing issues (think DDR Extreme).
Quote:
I don't understand what is so cost-effective about this pad design at all. If they went full-metal and whatnot, why do they still insist on reinventing the wheel? They got it right with the JP pad design, just use it here. There is no way the cost of the pads are that different.
The first pad wasn't cost efficient at all. Neons VS LEDs, one huge piece of sheet metal VS a bunch of small thick-cut steel squares, the original metal frame could kill people if you dropped it on them VS ...well the new one probably could too. Back in 1997-1998, the economy, resources, and technology were far different from what they are now. If you're trying to sell arcades in the U.S. (I'd imagine EU too) market, you HAVE to be cost-effective because arcade owners in America are penny-pinchers. What works in Japan doesn't always work here, now more than ever. You can charge $25k for a new DDR cabinet and people will buy them in Japan and STILL pay for the e-amusement costs (something like $40 a month fee plus e-amuse router lease cost plus dedicated DSL line cost). Here? No way in hell. You can barely find places than want to drop $10k for a brand new machine much less own more than a dial-up connection in their arcade.
Kalek/Tac-Tics: I know anything I say or write is easier to be seen first before buying into it, we've seen failed pads from Betson's first attempt at SuperNOVA 1 and X1. Additionally, it's really a YMMV situation; some people will like the new pads, others will be "meh," and of course there'll be those that will hate it because it's not DDR Extreme or ITG 2. Can't please everyone.
���CANDY (fuchinkan CANDY). US machines. <333
hehe, I will always remember it as "Unsinkable Battleship CANDY". lol
Posted by mark - Thu 07/22 2010 - 05:43 PM [ quote ]
I'm actually with Sigma here. If they're finally making the pads completely out of metal, why aren't they using the tried-and-trusted design from the old DDR cabinets? If the panels were very slightly raised, they'd be perfect. That's what people are familiar with and that's what works...
I'm actually with Sigma here. If they're finally making the pads completely out of metal, why aren't they using the tried-and-trusted design from the old DDR cabinets? If the panels were very slightly raised, they'd be perfect. That's what people are familiar with and that's what works...
Quote:
Originally Posted by June.H
Quote:
I don't understand what is so cost-effective about this pad design at all. If they went full-metal and whatnot, why do they still insist on reinventing the wheel? They got it right with the JP pad design, just use it here. There is no way the cost of the pads are that different.
The first pad wasn't cost efficient at all. Neons VS LEDs, one huge piece of sheet metal VS a bunch of small thick-cut steel squares, the original metal frame could kill people if you dropped it on them VS ...well the new one probably could too. Back in 1997-1998, the economy, resources, and technology were far different from what they are now. If you're trying to sell arcades in the U.S. (I'd imagine EU too) market, you HAVE to be cost-effective because arcade owners in America are penny-pinchers. What works in Japan doesn't always work here, now more than ever. You can charge $25k for a new DDR cabinet and people will buy them in Japan and STILL pay for the e-amusement costs (something like $40 a month fee plus e-amuse router lease cost plus dedicated DSL line cost). Here? No way in hell. You can barely find places than want to drop $10k for a brand new machine much less own more than a dial-up connection in their arcade.
Additionally, DDR/ITG/PIU pads have NEVER been raised. They've always been recessed. These are only slightly less recessed as the original DDR, but if you play singles, it's pretty much a non-issue. Doubles players may have a little difficulty at first, but when I did Max 300 double heavy, aside from my horrible stamina and being out of practice I still did fine. I still was able to navigate back and forth without looking down.
Posted by mark - Thu 07/22 2010 - 07:01 PM [ quote ]
So replace the CCFLs with LEDs? No one would contest that change.
As for the rest of it, I really don't buy it. They're cutting costs by switching to standard PC hardware, using pre-designed Raw Thrills I/O systems, and re-using the cabinet designs and lights from Guitar Hero. Why are they too cheap to re-invest that stuff in the most important part of the entire thing?
If the pads work, that's an improvement over DDR X, but I really don't like changes that mess with how the pads feel. Andamiro is producing considerably better pad hardware for similar prices. They've never been simplified in the name of cost cutting, and while newer pads are improved, they've never messed with the tactile response or core design.
So, why is Konami's old pad design suddenly too expensive to produce?
EDIT: Apparently I wasn't clear enough about this? I was saying the arrows should be raised so they're only slightly below the level of the pad. ITG2 dedicated cabinets are less recessed and it makes playing feel considerably better (and less hazardous on quick Doubles runs, if you normally keep your feet low).
Nothing stops you from applying 3M tape under the brackets so they are raised regardless. That's what all machines (at least the one's that matter) do. I'll be doing this regardless when my local place gets it because "cost-effective" probably means lack of durability. in the equipment.
id like them to make a new groove radar, or keep it while making another one that you can switch it out with.
maybe like add some sort of graphical representation of how hard it is with using an 8 octave eq graphic looking thing.
Posted by June.H - Fri 07/23 2010 - 03:10 AM [ quote ]
Quote:
Originally Posted by mark
So replace the CCFLs with LEDs? No one would contest that change.
As for the rest of it, I really don't buy it. They're cutting costs by switching to standard PC hardware, using pre-designed Raw Thrills I/O systems, and re-using the cabinet designs and lights from Guitar Hero. Why are they too cheap to re-invest that stuff in the most important part of the entire thing?
If the pads work, that's an improvement over DDR X, but I really don't like changes that mess with how the pads feel. Andamiro is producing considerably better pad hardware for similar prices. They've never been simplified in the name of cost cutting, and while newer pads are improved, they've never messed with the tactile response or core design.
So, why is Konami's old pad design suddenly too expensive to produce?
EDIT: Apparently I wasn't clear enough about this? I was saying the arrows should be raised so they're only slightly below the level of the pad. ITG2 dedicated cabinets are less recessed and it makes playing feel considerably better (and less hazardous on quick Doubles runs, if you normally keep your feet low).
And I answered that, they are less recessed than the original DDR's, more so than ITG2's. Did you not look at the pictures?
You're either not reading or not comprehending the context behind my replies very thoroughly. If you can figure out how exchange rates work, dissecting costs such as licensing, production, and R&D, then you might understand what I've been trying to say. Nothing is as cut-and-dry as fans want to think it is. Let's use an example: take the cost of a DVD. It costs like .05 for the disc, maybe .03 cents for the case, and maybe like .25 cents for the inserts. Let's even toss in...$10 for shipping a box of 30 of them. So why are you paying like $30 per disc at, say, Best Buy? Best Buy doesn't even see most of that profit. Did you know if that same disc is sold in Japan (with for the sake of argument region 2 coding), it's like $40-50?
Another big cost-cutting feature (from a friend who mentioned this when he talked engineering costs with me): using a giant piece of sheet metal with holes punched out VS a whole bunch of panels of metal. It doesn't look pretty, but it is indeed a lot cheaper, and does the same thing anyway; cover spots of the pad you don't need to look under and can stand on.
Additionally, Andamiro works (MUCH) differently than Konami does. Their business model is very different. They have different resources. Hell, some of the sensors used to come from the same factory at one point. Just because one might think tossing everything on seemingly cheaper hardware must mean they're cutting too many corners in the wrong place doesn't mean it's being cost effective. Besides, you're trying to compare apples to oranges when you bring up "how does x company do it but y costs, why can't Konami do the same?"
Posted by mark - Fri 07/23 2010 - 12:44 PM [ quote ]
You're not reading what I wrote. I stated that if the panels on an old DDR pad were raised, it would be the perfect design.
What I'm saying is, why were the old pads completely affordable to make in the past and suddenly aren't now? Nothing in the shipping or metal world has changed so significantly as to make the manufacturing and shipping costs for a segmented pad unsustainable, and Andamiro's manufacturing is proof of that.
They're cost cutting on every single other thing on the cabinet, and the last place they should be cutting costs is the input mechanism that defines the entire game, especially when it changes how it feels and responds and can potentially make it unsellable. The logical progression is "don't cut costs on the pads in a way that compromises the input scheme", but they've completely missed that step.
Posted by kent - Fri 07/23 2010 - 05:39 PM [ quote ]
@mark we've seen the inside of these new pads and the design has greatly reduced the amount of materials. imo the new design could actually be better than the original, but i can't say that for sure since i've yet to play on them.
it was also mentioned at the test that Japan possibly may use this design for their future machines.
I can see this going very wrong for those players and I feel bad for them.
They shouldn't cut cost on the one thing that matters in this game, and that's the controller. Don't fix what isn't broken, but this has been said to many times to late.
Posted by kent - Sat 07/24 2010 - 01:44 AM [ quote ]
how is it bad? you've not even tired these pads yet..
like i said, the design actually looks better than the original. i don't know how they play yet though we only have june and nicks opinion that it felt different, but the sensitivity was good.
you guys see something which is different, hear that it isn't bad from those who've actually played on it, but completely dismiss it before even trying it for yourselves.
i know already that you'll hate them Sigma just because of the kind of over critical person you are with your opinions.
