Yep, definetely a dance pad problem.  This happens to me too. D: It happens occasionally, but after a while it's fine.  It doesn't happen every time I play.

I believe it's because one of the arrows on the pad is stuck... do what the others said, and see if it works.

I chose the "By Myself" option.  I always practice by myself to improve, so 95% of the time I play by myself as well.

On the rare occasion I will play with my sister, and my friend and I play together.  When I have a group of friends over sometimes they try it out.

-- eClaire 

I play DDR for all 3 of those reasons mentioned.

I started originally because it seemed like a fun form of exercise, but then I started working out so it wasn't my dominant form of physical activity anymore.  I still play DDR though - I'm not much of a gamer, but I play because I know DDR benefits me (unlike most video games in which I feel like I am wasting my time, but that's just my opinion) in the fact that I can work up a sweat after a bit of play and I know I'm getting pretty moderate cardiovascular exercise.  But the main reason I play is because it's fun and challenging. 

I study both the piano and the violin, and for me DDR is like playing a musical instrument; it's a skill that you can improve.  I play for the challenge - like when you play the piano, you get better every time you practice.  Reading the screen on DDR is just like reading music on paper.  It's good to progress and be able to play more difficult songs, or improve your grades on a particular song.  That part of the game is very linear, straightforward and mathematical and I like seeing those results of improvement directly on the screen; it's very satisfying.

On top of that, the music is very catchy, fun to dance to and commonly gets stuck in my head.  

However, I believe I'm a pretty casual player, so my reasons for playing might not reflect the majority of players, but I don't really know, =) 

I will edit this post later. 

-- eClaire 

My favorite unlock mode is Dance Master Mode from Extreme 2.  I've only played Stellar Master Mode and Hyper Master Mode other than that - Extreme 2 was by far the most enjoyable. 

-- eClaire 

Strange, there's an option with no answer.

I usually play between 20 minutes and 1 hour, so I picked "Up to 1 hour."

I don't play every day though.  Just when I feel like it, or have a "craving" to play DDR.

 -- eClaire 

Personally, I've never used a bar for DDR and don't plan on using one. But it doesn't really matter in terms of the game whether the bar is used or not.  Here's why:

These are my general thoughts and my opinion, so feel free to disagree. 

I believe it takes more stamina and balance not to use the bar.  I just think it looks more impressive not to use the bar simply because it looks better stylewise and takes more endurance/balane.

However, speaking in terms of the game itself it doesn't really matter to me whether the bar is used or not.  It's no big deal - it's still the same game and the same songs.  If someone can pass the song and they're good at DDR, gamewise that's all that counts. 

So speaking in terms of style/appearance/balance/endurance, it does make a difference whether or not you use the bar.  Speaking in terms of the game itself, it doesn't.  I guess it depends on the way you look at it.

-- eClaire

I'm a relatively new player to DDR (it'll be 2 months since I first started playing on June 28th), wondering which home dance pad people think is best, and am perhaps in search of buying a new one.   

Which is your preferred dance pad to use at home?  In your opinion, which pad is the best and why?

Discuss here.

Also, a few additional questions I have:

Are metal pads worth the price, or do they break easily? 

Which do you think is the best "hard foam" pad?

Which do you think is the best metal dance pad? 

What's with these "solid state" pads? (Touch Touch Evolution, etc.)

Thanks for your answers and discussion.  Talk about which dance pad you prefer here, which one you think is best, etc. (unless there already is a topic on this which I failed to see). 

-- eClaire 

Good for you.  I guess you've been playing long enough, then.

-- eClaire 

Hello!  My name is eClaire, I've seen this site for quite a while but I joined about 2 days ago.  I've been playing DDR SN since Monday, April 28th, 2008, for about a month now as it's May 26th.  I don't really play that much, just when I can.  I'm in no way hardcore, I play for fun but I also want to improve both my grades and skills a lot and progress in the game.  I've been playing with 3rd party soft pads (the ones that slip all over the floor) for about a month, but I got an official Konami soft pad on Saturday the 24th, so now I've been playing with that for 2 days.  I am pleased to say it doesn't move around as much.

If I have the time I will eventually link my DDR game to this site/play DDR online. 

I can pass most difficult songs with an A or B, and I can pass some Expert songs.  Don't even get started with me about the Challenge songs. *newbie*

Edit: On the 28th of May (ironically exactly a month after I first started playing) my new "hard foam" pads arrived in the mail. 

-- eClaire

Thanks for the explanation again.  I'll do my best.

Guess it's for both of them then.

I'm glad that everything is unlocked now.

-- eClaire 

Thank you very much for that explanation. 

So that means after you play Game Mode/Stellar Master Mode/or the whole game for a certain amount of time it unlocks things? 

-- eClaire 

Hello, I own a PS2, and have DDR Supernova (US Version) for it.

Recently I've been playing in Stellar Master Mode.  Until then I mostly played all the time in Game Mode.

My total play time in Stellar Master Mode is 3:27:24.  The total Charisma is 34%.  

Today I checked the Shop, and a whole bunch of songs that I had never seen or played in SMM were availible there for purchase, including all 5 of the red Boss Songs, seven courses, Endless, Survival and Combo mode, a bunch of arrows including a bunch I have never even seen or played on before, and characters from what seemed like all the joints, including Pizza Box, Phantom, The Last (in which I have never even unlocked their stellar joints) and PiERiA (which I hadn't even started).  It seemed like all of the songs in DDR SN were suddenly availible in the Shop, as well as all of the characters and arrows, including ones I had never seen or played with before.

I'd never unlocked or played with any of those characters/songs before, so why are they suddenly appearing now?

Obviously I didn't do any of that, which seems very strange to me.  Is this a glitch in the game or is this supposed to happen? 

-- eClaire