Afternoon, all (original) (raw)

Hello there (fellow) PA DDR fans!

I've always been a bit on the sidelines of liking DDR. However my s/o has expressed an interest in DDR as a way to improve her health.

I'm looking for the answers to a few questions. I'll try to prefix them a teense.

Software

Console

I have a PStwo (and a GC; I know DDR Mario Mix is impossible to find). What is arguably the best title to begin working with DDR? Cost isn't a problem, but I'm looking for a good mix of music (I like hard banging techno, my s/o's more of a classic rock fan) and a good mix of features--including a training mode. PSone versions are okay, but I don't have an appropriate memory card so that does factor into my price considerations slightly.

Linux

I have a good lot of computers running Linux that I could easily turn one into a dedicated game machine. I think my program of choice would be StepMania but I haven't heard too much about what core DDR players think of it. Where would one get music for such a system? Can you make your own dance routines--easily (I can hack together something in a few days, but can my s/o make her own?) Are there limitations of the engine that I would need to know about (limit on song length, encoding format, etc.)?

Pads

Connectivity

I also need pads. If I'm going for PC I'll need decent USB pads that are detected as joysticks (redoctane seemed to fit that bill). PStwo pads are also workable...do the PStwo versions of the console mixes allow the use of USB pads? (I know that the XBox ones do as the XBox controller spec is USB with a funny plug.) I can always get PStwo->USB adapters from say LikSang as long as they translate into joystick presses.

Slip

What's better for slippage and why? I have double-sided duct tape which is awesome for holding down carpet so that may mitigate things a bit but I am worried about taking the carpet with the tape when I pull it up.

Neighbors

Oh, we're on the second floor of an apartment complex, so any pad we get should be fairly sensitive. Would this rule out hard pads?

Thanks for your time. Hopefully I won't start a flame war here...