Dance Revolution TV

Even though most people associate those flashing arrow pads of Dance Dance Revolution with an arcade, the fun doesn’t have to stop there. An entire line of different styles of pads let you bring this gaming favorite to your living room. Twelve years after its inception, fans are still running to get the next DDR pad. As much as we all want to crown ourselves a dancing sensation, there’s more to this game than just a putting a little swing in your hips. With over 18 different pads to choose from, no matter what level you can claim to have mastered, there is a DDR pad that will suit you.If you’re a newcomer to the game you might want to try out something inexpensive and simple like the DDR Non-Slip Pad. This mat is available for Playstation, Playstation 2, Xbox, Wii, and even your PC. This is one of the more affordable DDR pads, and the no-slip feature is a must for rookies. You may look on and think it’s a piece of cake, but wait ’til it’s your turn to tangle up your feet, face plant and come up with (more…)

Even though we’ve all had to learn the hard way that “It’s harder than it looks,” you don’t want to give your friends the satisfaction of watching you eat it on the arcade floor. Even if it means a little incognito, at-home practice, there are a few easy tips to mastering at least the basic levels of the game.

1. Don’t Punish the Pad: Your determination and concentration may make you want to put down a heavy foot on each step, but this is not only ungraceful, but unsuccessful. You don’t have to stomp on the arrows to register your body weight, you’re not a feather. Stomping also takes longer and can throw you off balance, making the next step harder to execute. Besides, it makes you look like you have a personal vendetta against an arcade machine, which will lose you major cool points.
2. Stay Out of the Middle: After the game starts, there is no logical reason to have your feet in the middle of the pad. It’s much easier to go from one arrow to the other then to go from one arrow, back to the middle, and then to the next arrow. You won’t lose points for keeping your foot on one of the arrows, so don’t waste your time. Especially when you move to the higher levels, this will kill your game. (more…)

It’s certainly up for debate whether the rapid, spastic foot movements of Dance Dance Revolution gamers are actually a form of dance, but one thing is sure, it gets the heart pumping. The Japanese video game is now over a decade old and still one of the best-known games on the market. The four-arrowed dance pad became such a sensation in video arcades that fans began running to the stores to bring this game to their living room. It’s something the whole family will enjoy, and many parents are more likely to allow their children to play this game for extended periods of time because it requires physical activity. Even President Obama’s kids get to play DDR, and Michelle Obama has suggested incorporating this game into schools to get kids active again. Though some scoff at the fact that kids today need a machine to make them get up and move, it’s better than nothing. (more…)

For some, this may be a light-hearted game that you play with friends on occasion, but for others, DDR is a way of life. This year’s search for a national champion has already begun. Unlike last year’s tournament this round is seeking out volunteers to host round one events at local arcades and clubs. The first round is well underway, having began on July 15^th. Round one is open to any individuals; all you have to do is register, which can be done online. The first round will end September 30^th. Round 2 will last from October 1^st to November 19^th and will include the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place finishers from each round one event. The finals will be held on December 4^th, the day a new DDR champion will be crowned. (more…)