Post #1 · Posted at 2010-07-20 01:13:01pm 14.9 years ago
 hooky | |
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What's the best metal pad available right now? Red Octane was closed by Activision, so I can't get an Afterburner, and the only other good metal pad I know of is Cobalt Flux. I really want a pad with a bar, and possibly two pads.
Post #2 · Posted at 2010-07-20 01:40:47pm 14.9 years ago
| neothe0ne | |
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The Afterburner is crap. I got one of the pre-Wii models for $140 shipped from GuitarHeroStore.com and I don't think it's even worth that. My arrows were recessed waaaaaay too much, makes songs unplayable at home which are easily playable on an arcade machine (also a trip hazard). Additionally, the plastic(?) coating on my down arrow cracked after less than 6 months...
On the plus side, the USB plug adapter worked flawlessly. I can't say the same of the EMS dual-slot adapter which is recommended on StepMania.com.
I'm sure you're aware that MyMyBox no longer sells BlueSharks.
I played on two Cobalt Flux pads at Anime Los Angeles and I thought they were complete shit. Maybe they were beat up, or maybe it was because the laptop running StepMania there was too weak. I would definitely seek further opinions on the CF if I were in the market for a pad, since I have no idea what those 2 pads had been through in the past.
I don't mean to come in sounding like a complete pessimist, but I'm just stating my true experiences. I think we're out of luck for good DDR home metal pads right now, and for the foreseeable future.
On the plus side, the USB plug adapter worked flawlessly. I can't say the same of the EMS dual-slot adapter which is recommended on StepMania.com.
I'm sure you're aware that MyMyBox no longer sells BlueSharks.
I played on two Cobalt Flux pads at Anime Los Angeles and I thought they were complete shit. Maybe they were beat up, or maybe it was because the laptop running StepMania there was too weak. I would definitely seek further opinions on the CF if I were in the market for a pad, since I have no idea what those 2 pads had been through in the past.
I don't mean to come in sounding like a complete pessimist, but I'm just stating my true experiences. I think we're out of luck for good DDR home metal pads right now, and for the foreseeable future.
Post #3 · Posted at 2010-07-20 01:44:26pm 14.9 years ago
| PsYKoTx | |
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I have a cobalt flux and its my first pad to last me longer than a year! Going on a year and a half and works like new when I clean it. I also had an Energy Metal Dance pad which looks cool but sucks in comparison to the CF. Only other amazing pad I heard of was the Blueshark which they stopped making long ago. The CF does not have a bar, but you could just be cheap like me and go shopping and get a cheap stool or chair that is the perfect height for a bar.
Post #5 · Posted at 2010-07-20 01:52:05pm 14.9 years ago
| neodude237 | |
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either flux of blueshark, both are expensive, but well worth it. blue sharks are out of production, so you'd probably have to buy one used. blueshark's are more arcade style iirc
Post #6 · Posted at 2010-07-20 02:05:21pm 14.9 years ago
| Bolt-Edge | |
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CFs are okay. They do get some pretty bad issues as time goes by. Be sure to put the pads on a hard surface if you play on carpet (buy some plywood or something) or else the pads will easily bend and crack. Also, the screws will begin to strip and soon theyll just pop out during play. You may be able to fix this issue with some carpentry experience (they're primarily made of wood after all), but I'm lazy so I don't know. Sensitivity can be off sometimes. You may need to occasionally unscrew the panels and scrape off gunk that gets between the sensors. I've bought 2 CFs and have had the same problems with both of them.
Basically if you can maintain them by cleaning them and keeping them in a good working environment, they should be fine.
All pads that come with bars usually have really shitty bars. You'd be better of making your own out of some pvc piping or something. Or be one of those guys and use a stool. or AAA max300 1x no chair
If you can find a blueshark, then I would probably grab that to get that more arcade feel. Though I have no experience with them so, dont trust my word on that.
i play strictly AC now anyway
Basically if you can maintain them by cleaning them and keeping them in a good working environment, they should be fine.
All pads that come with bars usually have really shitty bars. You'd be better of making your own out of some pvc piping or something. Or be one of those guys and use a stool. or AAA max300 1x no chair
If you can find a blueshark, then I would probably grab that to get that more arcade feel. Though I have no experience with them so, dont trust my word on that.
i play strictly AC now anyway
Post #7 · Posted at 2010-07-20 02:47:44pm 14.9 years ago
| Wing | |
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What about ION? They look expensive...!
Post #8 · Posted at 2010-07-20 03:11:05pm 14.9 years ago
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http://www.futuremax.eu/fr/metal-dance-pad.html
They sell the BlueShark and other metal dancepad ^^. I would buy the FitPro cuz my friend say it's a very good pad
They sell the BlueShark and other metal dancepad ^^. I would buy the FitPro cuz my friend say it's a very good pad
Post #9 · Posted at 2010-07-20 04:02:59pm 14.9 years ago
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If you are going for an arcade like feeling a Flux is the way to go. If you need a bar try finding a used blueshark, or maybe even try the one Greaf linked you to (although I have never heard of it before). But PLEASE heed my warning: Do not get a TX1000 or TX2000. Many people have watched my videos on youtube and have made the mistake in buying one when I have told them many times not to, and they have all regretted it. The only reason why my pad works so differently is because I took days to mod the entire dance pad, so unless you want to do a complete overhaul of a dance pad, stay far away from the TX's.
Post #10 · Posted at 2010-07-20 04:08:16pm 14.9 years ago
| neothe0ne | |
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I thought it was universally agreed upon that the CF does NOT feel like arcade.
Post #11 · Posted at 2010-07-20 04:24:44pm 14.9 years ago
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Quote: neothe0ne
I thought it was universally agreed upon that the CF does NOT feel like arcade.
I don't know about "universally," but personally I've yet to use any commercial metal pad (Konami ASC aside, though I've never seen one of those) that feels like an arcade stage - either doubles or Solo. This includes a CF with the "arcade" mod.
Post #12 · Posted at 2010-07-26 07:31:14pm 14.9 years ago
| agentmargo | |
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I have the Afterburner right now, and it seems to work fine for me. It can be a little fussy when I play it on Stepmania because it will stop working, and then I have to reboot the whole game, but other than that, it works well enough.
Post #13 · Posted at 2010-07-26 07:34:13pm 14.9 years ago
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I'll buy soon a FitPro. I have many friends who bought it and they said it's a very good pad !
Post #14 · Posted at 2010-07-26 08:59:41pm 14.9 years ago
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Just go play at an arcade or something. :/
Post #15 · Posted at 2010-07-26 09:33:34pm 14.9 years ago
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Buy a Cobalt Flux, and don't worry about the bar. If you have the thing to practice on every day, you'll soon be playing 17-footers without needing to use a bar at all.
Nothing is going to "feel like the arcade", but if you have a good pad at home, and a copy of Stepmania to play for a few hours every week, then you'll soon get to the point where you're playing DDR with proper posture. If you're playing DDR reguarly, and making an effort to avoid vices, like leaning backwards or bracketing, then the correct posture means that you probably aren't going to notice anything except the depth of the surface that you're hitting. If you look past (or don't care) about that, then there's little difference. Cobalt Flux also make an "arcade modification kit" for the Flux, which raises the corner panels, prevents bracketing, and forces you to play in a way that feels like the arcade.
Nothing is going to "feel like the arcade", but if you have a good pad at home, and a copy of Stepmania to play for a few hours every week, then you'll soon get to the point where you're playing DDR with proper posture. If you're playing DDR reguarly, and making an effort to avoid vices, like leaning backwards or bracketing, then the correct posture means that you probably aren't going to notice anything except the depth of the surface that you're hitting. If you look past (or don't care) about that, then there's little difference. Cobalt Flux also make an "arcade modification kit" for the Flux, which raises the corner panels, prevents bracketing, and forces you to play in a way that feels like the arcade.
Post #16 · Posted at 2010-07-27 01:50:51am 14.9 years ago
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Quote: Tyma
Cobalt Flux also make an "arcade modification kit" for the Flux, which raises the corner panels, prevents bracketing, and forces you to play in a way that feels like the arcade.
THIS is why I don't like playing at arcades... It cuts my shoes, and makes me trip and fall onto little kids eating cake.IMO, I'd just stick with the home version pads if it's just to play DDR, because I've had one of mine for 3 years now and it's still working beautifully(I'm assuming total luck)! I'm probably gonna get a Flux to play stepmania so I can be more of a pro at the arcades rather than at home, because the only arcades that we have either have extreme, or are long distances away.
I can't put in an opinion on which is good/better because I don't have any metal dance pads yet...
Post #17 · Posted at 2010-07-27 02:19:14am 14.9 years ago
| -Viper- | |
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Fluxes don't feel like an arcade but really they don't have to, it's just a different (equally good) playing experience altogether. I have one and loved it back when I used to play at home a lot. I've never had issues with it malfunctioning though one issue that a lot of people brought up with the Flux is that it is too flat and is somewhat easily to drift off the sensors because they feel just like the corner sections. I never really had too much of an issue with that but I can see how one might. If thats a problem, they do sell that add-on the adds height differences and a bar.
I once had a TX-1000, don't waste your money on it. The sensors constantly stop working and it feels very fragile. My friend once had an Afterburner that we would play ITG on. It worked pretty well, though I prefered the Cobalt Flux.
I've never played on a Blueshark before but I've had people say that if you can manage to find them they are the pads you want to get.
I once had a TX-1000, don't waste your money on it. The sensors constantly stop working and it feels very fragile. My friend once had an Afterburner that we would play ITG on. It worked pretty well, though I prefered the Cobalt Flux.
I've never played on a Blueshark before but I've had people say that if you can manage to find them they are the pads you want to get.
Post #18 · Posted at 2010-07-27 02:23:11am 14.9 years ago
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Quote: Kynayo
I'm probably gonna get a Flux to play stepmania so I can be more of a pro at the arcades rather than at home.
The fact that you can pass 18's on a soft pad scares the shit out of me.Also, I have a TX-2000 that's in decent condition. Not the best metal pad, but its nice for beginners.
Post #19 · Posted at 2010-07-27 02:23:30am 14.9 years ago
| Cardia | |
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Cobalt Fluxes are fine if you get one that works and if you clean it pretty often. Every other metal pad I've tried has been bad and/or defective.
Post #20 · Posted at 2010-07-27 02:27:22am 14.9 years ago
| Bolt-Edge | |
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Quote: Kynayo
Quote: Tyma
Cobalt Flux also make an "arcade modification kit" for the Flux, which raises the corner panels, prevents bracketing, and forces you to play in a way that feels like the arcade.
THIS is why I don't like playing at arcades... It cuts my shoes, and makes me trip and fall onto little kids eating cake.IMO, I'd just stick with the home version pads if it's just to play DDR, because I've had one of mine for 3 years now and it's still working beautifully(I'm assuming total luck)! I'm probably gonna get a Flux to play stepmania so I can be more of a pro at the arcades rather than at home, because the only arcades that we have either have extreme, or are long distances away.
I can't put in an opinion on which is good/better because I don't have any metal dance pads yet...
if youre having those issues, then adjust your play style. no one cares how well you do at home. posting pad stepmania scores is a joke. if you really want to be "pro" then just play at the arcade with fixed standard timing windows.
whats wrong with extreme?