Going back over my collection of mixes, and especially some like 3rd Mix, 5th Mix, MAX 2, Extreme 2, Extreme (JP) and SuperNOVA... it got me to wondering just how much "improvement" the series really ever needs. I mean, critics may bash the "same ol' situation" thing quite a bit, you know... pick a song, play a song (or course), rinse and repeat... and that's really already done quite right. The SuperNOVA/X games solidified a fair and decent scoring system that really requires no further tweaking whatsoever. Master Modes have been a step in the right direction, but they mostly all feel kind of... "partial," if you know what I mean.

And then it hit me. What if the next step forward isn't with just the songs and stepcharts themselves, but by integrating all of these different playstyles into a primary, common, and even interactive mode (even Extreme [USA] was on the right track with that!)?

Say there's 8-15 spots around "BemaniTown" (or whatever you decide to call that ficticious world); much like in Street Master Mode. Each one may correspond with a primary game mode/interface, and the little quirks that go with it (Solo's "token" system and nonstops, MAX~EXTREME's Extra Stage system, Extreme 2's Dance Master Mode, SuperNOVA 2's Final/Extra Stage systems and Custom Modules, and so on). These modes can be copy-pasted anyways, minorly revised, and just adapted to the new tracklists (think EX 2 to STR!KE, for instance). But apart from that, there are random encounters and a progression of plot-driven Street Master Mode-style encounters as well in them, each with some quirks and challenges to them, much like SMM itself has.

3 spots, chosen at random, will have some "random encounters" that will occur instantly. Depending on the character and the location you're at, you'll be given the option to participate in a related challenge, such as a face-off, a straight song playthrough, a score/grade/combo goal, a nonstop/challenge course, or a song, sometimes with particular (usually hidden, like "Stairs") modifiers. You can choose from a selection of 2-5 (songs/courses), and whatever playable modifiers you like, for a wager. Or sometimes, you'll be allowed to choose 2-5 songs/courses, and the OTHER character will decide on one, based on their personal tastes (75 songs/14 characters means they can each have "favorites" and so forth while still keeping track exposure pretty well balanced, and then courses just equal totals of the songs they prefer).

AfroDisco does a lot of face-offs, Gus does a lot of courses, etc., Zukin does Challenge Lifebars and Robo/Konsento does Shock Charts... but they all do more than JUST one thing (one may be prevalent, like 75-80% of the time). In fact, you can just associate a number of songs (like a Top 15 preference), a few courses, a couple of gameplay modifers and other preferences with each character, and have that determine what your encounter is and what songs they choose with them. If you opt out, complete said challenge, or there's no random encounter, it'll take you to the next menu-like interface (the joint). If you complete the challenge, you'll get a reward (along the lines of a Custom Module) that's good for one challenge.

At a joint, you can freeplay a game mode there that corresponds with the place you're at, and the GUI will tweak to look accordingly (or sorta like a different, but updated DDR title) there. If there's "new chapters" of a character's Street Master Mode available there, they (and their corresponding characters) will appear for you to encounter, and take on. You can juggle multiple characters and their plots this way. Their "Chapter 0" and "Chapter 1" will both be available to start; "Chapter 0" just introduces you to them, and adds a little spin by tipping you off to something you don't already know about the character, even if you've played since 3rd Mix; where "Chapter 1" just launches their story outright. That will make two per location to begin with, right there.

Don't just limit yourself to expected modes either! Play through your history across all the systems, and utilize as much as you can! You can just jump in and freeplay songs (ala Event Mode) in one joint, see (and attempt to break) your records in an Awards Hall joint, choose and play a set number of songs (slight revision of Workout Mode) in another*, one will be a Battle Mode Battleground (every song is a Battle or Face-Off!), and one will even be an ongoing Mission Mode (different songs mix-and-match with some missions, like Request Mode, others are song-specific; but you can always choose between the two). The DDR X/X2 Endless Mode is a MUST, too! And then another character or two may be around, for another kind of "random encounter" that won't happen until you approach them.

*I'm thinking that's a good place for Solo's "token system" to fit in, btw...

Finally, there's the option to "call it a day," which will always save your game, and then allow you to either choose a new location, or exit to the Title Screen. More than anything, this is a "gameplay revision" that rather than being actual gameplay tweaks, simply revises the GUI and it's role, and not so much the actual gameplay itself. Basically, it takes what you're already doing in the game modes, and makes it all "relevant to something bigger," if you follow me. And multiplayer can be set up for simultaneous, jump-in jump-out, or take-turns gameplay as well.

PS: Online Expansion Mode. Take your already-established, well-loved songs' stepcharts and put those on the disc to begin with, along with perhaps the samples that appear on the song select screen (to eliminate loading time/bandwidth). Keep the music database (the songs themselves) on the Konami servers, and allow the game itself a temporary copy-paste of said music for playing. Now, when you hop online, a various selection of songs can be available in addition to the normal lineup (10-25 at a time, perhaps?), and will also appear in the different modes/challenges; along with variable courses that utilize them.

While ever-expansive (eventual access to everything) is a solid option, and one you might even elect to go with; I think by focusing on a concentrated amount of ever-circulating songs, you'll get better (and less split-apart) online multiplayer action (something RB2 and it's DLC effect suffers with HORRENDOUSLY), while having that many available at a time allows you to appeal to players of different skill/experience levels and musical tastes as well. Plus, it keeps good songs from getting perma-DL'ed, burned out, and then neglected.

You might even have 30 at a time, and keep 5-6 of them conditional (usually as results of playing the other available ones). That's where I'm seeing many "series songs," like TRIP MACHINE/PARANOiA/MAX/Fascination/Pluto/Insaner/xxxEVOLVED, etc. mixes playing into, in fact... besides the occasional "feature them all at once or one of each and course them all together" which will inevitably happen as well.

Of course, with online multiplayer, a "combined Player's Best" system, as well as access to one-another's custom Courses and Edits (to play or copy-paste, not just one or the other) is a must, as well.

Multigame Expansion Mode?

If Konami isn't planning to produce more Rock Revolution, Beatmania/IIDX, or Karaoke Revolution titles here; then as a possible afterthought, could there be something to do in this game with the controllers? Again, maybe way after-the-fact with the primary DDR experience... but I do think using DDR as a springboard will help these other titles tremendously. Even the opposite move - producing more of those titles, but with DDR stepcharts (regular DDR scrolling ones) on them as well - could be a terrific and successful move to make! (Case in point: KR3 is still the fan-favorite title there.)

pretty easy code.

but this code has something odd.

-

The challenge stepcharts mentioned in the first post can be unlocked by just reaching Lv.1 on your e-amusement profile. 

-

Have fun :) 

Hey Squidgette, well according to this FAQ (http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/file/928278/39197) it says:

B-30: ||........ UNLOCK: B-20
Song: CARTOON HEROES (Speedy Mix)
Diff.: BEG (1)
Challenge: Get 3.5 million points or more.
SECRET CHALLENGE: Get no more than 6.5 million points.
EXTRA ARROW: Measure 31, the second beat is a down arrow.  The measure before 
 it has a down arrow on the first beat and a left-right jump on the third 
 beat, and the measure of it has an up arrow on the first beat, and a left-
 right jump on the third beat.  It's in the second "What we do is what you 
 wish to do" line.
Notes: Remember that these score thresholds are AFTER the bonus, so be sure to 
 shoot really low to get your score as low as possible.

 X-07: |||....... UNLOCK: B-30 (Secret)
Song: INFINITE PRAYER
Diff.: LGT (2)
Options: Little
Challenge: Finish the song with a full Dance Meter.
Reward: This song for purchase (4000)

Dance Master Mode:

 There are four types of missions:

1. Yellow Border - Normal Mission.  Has standard set of requirements, for the 
 most part.
2. Red Border - Special Mission.  Most of these are necessary to "complete" 
 an area and unlock another.  Completing these will earn you the song or 
 course you played in the shop.  Also, you'll get a "prize" for completing 
 any of these.
3. Green Border - Course Mission.  You'll need to play through a series of 
 songs to pass the mission.
4. Blue Border - Handicap Mission.  

You're required NOT to step on certain  arrows for the course of this mission.

Hope that helped, if not, hoepfully someone else can help you. 

I don't have Extreme 2 anymore so I can't comment much more on this. 

I would say SD cards. Any SD cards. I have one. Mine is MicroSD. I only got one edit data which is Dynamite Rave ('Air Special') And yes. I used the step editor

there's a whole lot of ways this idea can go wrong, but i know this can "reunify" the ddr community, whether there are possible fails of minigames or not :P

as long as  the core and major and almost entire gameplay maintains as solid ddr, i see an easier way to have national tournaments too- no need for renting space or organizing so much expensive stuff :P (although the feel of a tournament wouldn't be the same if it were online :/)

given enough organization, i can imagine something really great, so WOOT mmoddr FTW :P 

Oh and this is for the PS2. Lol.

I play DDR Extreme 2. I have been trying to unlock Mission X-7 in Dance Master Mode and i can not figure it out. I went and searched how to do it and it tells me I have to get 8,500,000 points on mission B-30. I got the max amount of points (AAA) and still no Mission X-7.

Also, I have noticed something new while playing. A green number blinks on the down arrow sometimes, what does this mean?

DDR where you FIGHT ZOMBIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU RUN WITH THE ARROW COMMANDS AND WILDLY SWING A PLASTIC CHAINSAW!!!!!! AND IT'S ALL ONLINE MULTIPLAYER!! >:]

That's a terrible idea, but I really want to see a nice DDR MMO, or something online. And night time, I do agree with you 100%. However, I would also like to say that EX2 Butterfly on heavy has parts that resemble jump rope too, just not as intense. xD

Well I'm not sure about an mmo per se, but you're thinking the right way.  If Konami wants to save this franchise the only option is to somehow bring back the sense of community.  I feel that if konami ever implements some decent online multiplayer, this game could possibly get popular again.  Online multiplayer is the direction everything is going, so let's get with the program Konami!

Jump Rope: They have that. It's called Horatio [Oni]. ;)

:D MMO DDR! I just want to keep the trolls away... I know there will be that guy in the middle of the main city: "U suk @ t3h Danc3!" But trolls aside, that would be pretty cool! You could have "Races" based on sheer left and right arrow taps. (Think Fascination Maxx on CRACK) you could even have something so simple as jump rope! (You know what I mean) You could really go all out with this idea! :P

Sorry for the late reply, it really boils down to personal song preference.

I recommend searching YouTube and vieiwng videos of the song lists for each game to see which one you like best :)

Dear DDR Fans,

Its UNLOCK time again!  Please find another unlock below (Level 6 for DDR X)!

----------------------------

The Level 6 code will unlock the following:

Music
Dance Celebration (System 7 Remix) / Bill Harmel

Add CHALLENGE Sequence:
Freeway Shuffle
Raspberry Heart
SUNKiSS DROP

Character: Accessory 1

Arrow Speed: WAVE

Arrow: SMALL

----------------------------

Unlock Command

 

All the best and ENJOY!

Konami Digital Entertainment.

I read in another forum that there is an annual American Championships, does anyone know where this is and the date?  I guess it takes place before the world championships. 

If you got info pass it along.

blurwoman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5hc1E0d4GQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--S3k55fFy8

<u>TO THE BEST OF YOU OUT THERE, FAR MORE SKILLED THAN I...</u>

IF <u>ANYONE</u>  can do either of these songs on a mat on EXPERT or higher, I would like to request a video for motivational purposes. I believe these are possible, just insanely hard. I DON'T CARE IF YOU USE A BAR, OR ANYTHING ELSE. AS LONG AS IT'S YOU DANCING ON THE MAT IT'S ALL GOOD. xD

Download Stepmania: http://www.stepmania.com/wiki/Downloads  and install it, and then take the data from these OTAKU dream packs http://www.otakusdream.com/ and add .smzip to the file names and double click them, they <u>should</u> unpack themselves. Look under the left bar, OD mixes and go to anime packs 1-4. 5 was acting weird.

Then just take a USB compatible mat and hook it up to your computer and go to the control panel and check to make sure the mat was found under game controllers.

So there were questions, too? Okay, here goes: 

1.) What is your most memorable DDR experience from the past year?

SP-TRIP MACHINE (SMM-Special). :D

2.) What is your favorite DDR title released since the launch of the DDR Community Website, and why?

Probably a toss-up between DDR X and Universe 3. The X-Mixes, reformated scoring and Endless Modes, as well as Street Master Mode made X a bonafide winner in my book, and in spite of the fan backlash, I actually enjoyed most of the new songs and stepcharts from it, too. Universe 3 also delivered on killer songs and charts, IMHO defining what a modern DDR should sound and play like - save for the priority of graphics overload. That led to studdering arrows and long loading times, but fortunately not a "game-breaking" level of them.

For a game with no boss songs/10-footers though, I have to admit. Universe 2 is one of the funnest DDRs since 3rd Mix!

3.) What was your favorite Community Poll question asked since the launch of the Community Website?  For a refresher, click <font color="#b87235">HERE</font>

The 20-song custom mix poll.

4.) Have you uploaded a video to the DDR  Community Website?  If the answer is no, tell us why you haven't used this website feature.

Not sure if it's a "video" video precisely, but I did respond to aforementioned poll by uploading custom X-Mixes which, given some personal turmoil, I have yet to finish charting. I need to get back to doing that, actually! (I made 25, in fact. Recovering one of them is being a pain, though; since I had to replace the computer I composed them with...)

5.) What is your favorite thing to do here on the DDR Community Website?

Idea speculation and sharing.

6.) If you could add one thing to the DDR Community Website, what would it be?

Well, there *is* a heavy focus on the Universe titles; perhaps a more well-rounded approach, especially given score-comparison tables. Could be as simple as a couple of personally-updatable High Score tables per game, one for songs, the other for courses.

Maybe a games/artists/songs wiki for cross-referencing, including copy-pastes of Information Mode tidbits regarding songs, and features lists for the titles themselves. Even the classics! 

7.) What was your favorite news announcement made here on the DDR Community Website?

SuperNOVA 2 (Arcade) unlock Lv. MAX! }:D

8.) If you were in charge of creating the next DDR title, what would the game be like? 

I would actually incorporate a little bit of Rock Band 2 influence into the already-smashing series; aiming for about 25 new licenses (10 easy, 10 medium/fun, 5 harder/more technical ones) and 40 new Konami Originals and Bemani Crossovers (about 16 of medium/hard tiers each, 8 of boss-level); along with 10-15 fan-favorite tracks throughout the series. Note, each game has more than 2-3 big hits, so featuring about that many on average won't kill the saleability of the original games. MAX 300 would certainly be among them as well, it's long overdue for a revival. Then top it off with 10 X-Mix style stages, each with a theme (see previous answer about custom X-Mixes), and featuring at least a couple of popular songs from other titles as well.

In this game, I would actually make Nonstop Mode the primary focus of the game. You'd be allowed to adjust your difficulty rather freely as well as modifiers, and most of the early courses would consist of a same difficulty [ BASIC | TRICK | MANIAC ], though some of the middle ones will finish on a song that has a higher one (for songs that feature CHALLENGE steps), and the later courses being comprised entirely of the "higher" difficulties [ TRICK | MANIAC | CHALLENGE ]. There would be a section for BEGINNER/WORKOUT courses as well (or a "switch" per player that allows you to play the entire mode that way instead), but it would be entirely optional, players that want to get some good action can hop straight into it.

Many of these courses will also follow a generally simple theme, based simply on their origin (pop music, Konami Original, particular artist or label, etc.), their rated difficulty on each chart (for instance, BASIC 4s or MANIAC 9s), player's best ratings (by 5s/10s) but some will be custom-made as well (as in most previous games), or have a "mystery" song or two on them as well (and perhaps mystery options/mods, too!). These also include long tracklists similar to the "Infinite..." courses in RB2, but titled "...Unlimited", such as "Konami Originals Unlimited" or "NAOKI Unlimited," which will generally allow you to save and break off every 5 stages or so (similar to Endless Mode).

Scoring a high enough Total Score, or Max Combo for the course will net you an "Encore" stage, which is now a choice between 3 songs and a "Random" one, usually making one a new unlockable (or playing an already-opened song with a new unlockable wardrobe, arrow skin, etc.), and usually utilizing the Challenge lifebar (like SuperNOVA 2's Extra Stage system), but it may sometimes be a face-off (ala Street Master Mode battle), instead!

You can also do this by completing a "Request Mode" achievement for most of the songs, using a 3-Strikes system. A "Request Mode" goal is issued before every stage, during it's loading screen; chosen appropriately for your level of difficulty. If there are any song-specific ones, they will appear the first time you play each song, and then alternate between appearances if you play it again (second time it doesn't, third time it does unless you beat it already, fourth time it doesn't...). In addition, there are general goals that can be completed on any song/difficulty, generally score/grade-associated; a few of which are really meant to push you! Combos/Perfect/Marvelous counts are generally associated with difficulty ratings, btw.

Arcade Mode will still exist, and still be a reduplication of the general arcade experience, give or take edits, and/or loading screen "requests." You play your max amount of stages, aiming for ever-higher scores, and AA's get you the Extra Stage and access to the boss songs. Pretty straight-forward, if it ain't broken, don't mess with it! ;D Perhaps some bonus stepcharts can be accessible by beating a song under certain conditions (40 or more OK's, for instance; a Perfect Full Combo, or clearing a Shock chart without setting *any* of them off), generally with fun themes like full-streaming, skipping, twisty-freeze steps, extra jumps or the like; but only for the duration of that game.

You can also make up to 8 "Edit Characters," generally by sticking different parts of different characters together (along with a few unique parts), coloring them to your liking, and selecting 3 preferred dance styles/routines, along with an improv move and/or finale for kicks. (Routine finales or "win poses" are long overdue, if you ask me...) However, you're more than welcome to play the stock characters if you like them better! Maybe a varying set of graphical themes (some unlockable?), that you can have turned "on" or "off," which will change each time you load up the game. Everything from DDR original to "rainbows and unicorns" to "skulls and fire," all the way through X+X2! And of course, the "NAOKI Voltron/TigerZord" theme is a MUST.

EDIT: "Whoopsies!" - Your character can adopt an animation or two in response to auto-failing, like tripping or getting sad/angry in reaction to being booed!

PS3/360 will have monthly DLC, like about 15 stages available per month, while every 3 months, PS2/Wii "Booster Discs" will come out, featuring the same 45 tracks, as well as 5-15 from the core game (or an older DDR title for them), including at least 1 or 2 of the boss songs, which will only appear if a corresponding savegame is found. Songs from the core game will also have their records saved to the main savegame, rather than keeping the records seperately between the two discs. If this option seems too costly, perhaps 10 stages DLC/month, and every 4 months, release a "Booster Disc" with the 40 songs, and 10 or 20 from the core game. (Also note: You won't need to produce/distribute as many Boosters now as you once did in core games, since many of your customers will be using the online systems anyhow.)

Each game will obviously have it's own variations of the courses/modes/request goals and so forth, and perhaps some graphical tweaks as well, but core elements like Edit Character Management and overall achievement will still be managed by the primary savegame. So you build a character once, for instance, and it's accessible across all the discs. Unlockable goodies like arrow skins, and options settings (including calibration!) are managed similarly as well. The only things that may need an "expanded" or secondary savegame are disc-specific song and course records, really. Even Edit Libraries could be made compatible between them!

Online play can branch in a few interesting directions, but most of the time, will probably act as an online leaderboard for the most part. Perhaps live Battle Mode and Face-Off modes across the different gameplay styles would be interesting, as well as a renewal of Couple Mode; which would be like "Double-Double Mode," a set of Double Charts designed to be played with 2 players in sync across both pads (and with some unique style, too!), with each arrow judged individually (IE: not like jumps, even with identical timing). Like 2-to-4-couple face-offs/battles! Or you could just hook up for a multiplayer session of Arcade Mode, or a co-op/face-off approach to the Nonstop/Main mode. (Winner gets the Extra Stage, Loser gets to watch?)

Mini-tournament sessions for online systems (up to 16 players, 4-per-system, 4-systems max) could be established, and then interlaced within the community to create bigger, more manually managed mega-tourneys, even from home. I would stress inter-system compatibility (and universally-released content) as a major step towards this; though only the results screens need to be compared in this mode - players don't even need a "live" connection to one another throughout the song; you just all pop up and share a results screen! (That will eliminate lag problems with Tourney mode, right there.)

One more critical feature in this is online access to one another's Edit Libraries, Custom Courses ("Player's Choice"), and Player's Best Courses; which can be played directly from the "buddy's" system, not requiring them to play it along with you, or copy-paste it (though an option to copy it for offline play/resharing can be enabled, at the player's discretion). Different players can play different edits simultaneously, or play an official chart alongside a player who plays an edit instead, as well; though this is not enabled in Battle Mode, Face-Off Play, or Tournaments.

Finally, keep it solid awhile this time. This is a design/layout that honestly could serve you for 3-5 years of steady progression easily. Across whatever platforms you release it for. Annual core games and special editions were a great thing, back in the days of offline gaming. It made DDR what it once was. But that time really is passing, now; and this kind of "organic" approach to growth is what will keep DDR pumping now. Even the "Special Edition" stuff can simply be made a set of DLC/Booster data, rather than an entire standalone title!

There's no sense in producing more titles and tracklists for different systems than your fans can afford to buy; and that's where this industry, the players - where EVERYBODY is hurting right now. Licensing, producing, and distributing 3-4 titles per year does you no good when people are then basically forced to simply go with one or the other! Maybe make a tiny, trivial amount of songs - say 5 apiece or so - console-exclusive, if you *really* want to push the collectable/completeness aspect of it; heck, it's an excuse to have "x-console only" rankings (and a unique course), anyways. Completionists have already done more for less (what, 8 songs on EuroMix? FIVE for Party Edition?! And PAL-input compatibility to boot, even...). But right now? Solid will sell.

@bacon: nothing really, mainly since no new DDR games with online features have been released since the anniversary.

Hopefully when the new DDR game for 360/PS3 comes out, the site will have some changes :)

have any changes been made since the last anniversary?

i got the idea asking a question from the happy anniversary thread... here is how i answered....

"

8.) If you were in charge of creating the next DDR title, what would the game be like? 

for a while now i was thinking about how there's an issue with online gameplay, and i was thinking maybe to have an mmodance...? maybe create a dancing mmo (for the PC?) where one creates a character, walks around in some world or giant city and does missions and stuff for more "bling" and reputation.. maybe have a tournament ingame as well? form "dance crews" ingame- maybe have dance wars... while playing ddr, maybe have an image of you dancing in the city/area with awesome camera movements... maybe even while travelling having to do odd stuff like "kicking" or running with the dance pad to do quests (obviously having to ddr too)... still having an unlockable songs list playable single play as well ( and if someone tries to contact you they have to wait for you to finish playing the song, to fully enjoy the song)... also unlockable backgrounds, "home" (your own house ingame or even homescreen) stuff, etc... maybe have an edit stepchart system with ingame songs for oneself or maybe even anyone to play given permission... have a wide array of songs at first and then unlock more specific stuff via stores...

since this costs money i was thinking about selling a CD with a mat (preferably hard foam) for some price and then have some kind of ingame store selling stylish clothes for the character, backgrounds to be played while playing songs, minigames with the mat (?), maybe (and i mean as a last resort) certain "rare" versions to songs not available ingame or in subsequent releases/patches (patches which can also be sold in stores as a next-to-last effort to earn revenue)... Don't worry about copyrights when taking these ideas, (if you want them), just as long as I get to test it. :P

"

yea i really went all-out :]... it sounds awesome and i wanna hear feedback suddenly... say what sounds good/bad/awkward/weird/confusing, etc., etc... if anyone needs for me to explain certain stuffs i just made up feel free to cause i feel that i didn't explain all my ideas enough :P

EDIT- link to original thread page 2 http://www.ddronlinecommunity.com/forums/3/forum_topics/865?page=2#forum_post_15446 page 1 http://www.ddronlinecommunity.com/forums/3/forum_topics/865?page=1 :] 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY :) 

i guess i can still answer the questions lol

8.) If you were in charge of creating the next DDR title, what would the game be like? 

for a while now i was thinking about how there's an issue with online gameplay, and i was thinking maybe to have an mmodance...? maybe create a dancing mmo (for the PC?) where one creates a character, walks around in some world or giant city and does missions and stuff for more "bling" and reputation.. maybe have a tournament ingame as well? form "dance crews" ingame- maybe have dance wars... while playing ddr, maybe have an image of you dancing in the city/area with awesome camera movements... maybe even while travelling having to do odd stuff like "kicking" or running with the dance pad to do quests (obviously having to ddr too)... still having an unlockable songs list playable single play as well ( and if someone tries to contact you they have to wait for you to finish playing the song, to fully enjoy the song)... also unlockable backgrounds, "home" (your own house ingame or even homescreen) stuff, etc... maybe have an edit stepchart system with ingame songs for oneself or maybe even anyone to play given permission... have a wide array of songs at first and then unlock more specific stuff via stores...

since this costs money i was thinking about selling a CD with a mat (preferably hard foam) for some price and then have some kind of ingame store selling stylish clothes for the character, backgrounds to be played while playing songs, minigames with the mat (?), maybe (and i mean as a last resort) certain "rare" versions to songs not available ingame or in subsequent releases/patches (patches which can also be sold in stores as a next-to-last effort to earn revenue)... Don't worry about copyrights when taking these ideas, (if you want them), just as long as I get to test it. :P

hehe i've been thinking about this for a while :P... i guess this idea would be better in a standalone thread so i will post about this in another thread :] 

EDIT- i made a thread here http://www.ddronlinecommunity.com/forums/3/forum_topics/1226 :] 

Oh, and Nighttime, YOU ARE RIGHT anything harder WILL REQUIRE SUCH MOVEMENT. xD And Arribbiata is the MOST EVIL 9 FOOTER I'VE EVER SEEN. (On SN2) Some of the songs on X2 look interesting, but I'm hearing about the BS challenges... Hmmm...

JUST REPORTING: Stepmania DOES work with the mat! The step charts for all the otaku songs and anime songs are INSANE. They make SMMM or FAXX look easy. They make every boss song I've ever seen look easy. O_o I'm not even sure if godknows (euro remix) or Motteke! Sailor***u (para para remix) is physically possible on a mat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5hc1E0d4GQ

and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--S3k55fFy8

If they did that on a mat, then I am REALLY impressed! But I am pretty sure that those individuals used a keyboard.

 Just a note, Stepmania will REALLY help your endurance. There are quite a few anime songs that really take a lot out of you, and it's not just the voltage, it's the length. If anyone needs help setting it up, I can try my best, but I don't know THAT much about it. (You can message me and I'll try, but the site does a good job explaining. Look up stepmania on google, it's the first result.)  xD I highly recommend the OTAKU'S DREAM packs and the anime packs from http://stepmaniadownloadsource.com/

The otaku packs ARE BIG. http://www.otakusdream.com/ JUST ISSUING A WARNING: THE OTAKU'S DREAM SITE ALSO HAS HENTAI SONG PACKS. I don't actually know if they contain said content, but I assume they do. I just wanted to let you all know so you weren't shocked.

SOME of my favorites are:

Kaeshite! Knee Socks!! -> WILL help your jumps

Cruel Angel's Thesis (Para Para Remix)

[Asahina-san] Parallel Days! -Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu-> WILL HELP YOUR JUMPS

Love & Joy -> Challenge will help your streams.

Tank! (Para Para Remix)

There are other songs but, those are some of my favorites. :P

Really though, some of the songs on there, are they even possible on a mat? O_o I want YOU ALL to prove me wrong about Godknows(euromix) and Sailor***u!(para para) 

I AM ISSUING A CHALLENGE TO YOU ALL! I know someone here who is far better than I will be able to do it! :D 

BTW: THANKS SILVER AND MAX! :D "The Legend of SilvercubeMaxx 333" Oh goodness that sounds like it would be hard...

wii ftw :P

That year went by fast! Happy anniversary :)

Course Design idea!

This is so "DUH!" I'm surprized it didn't occur in DDRX. Using the shock-arrow ONI charts in X/X2, there's at least 2-3 courses you could make (varying the difficulty) so that all-HVY players can have a course they enjoy (on "Normal"), and the players on easier difficulties (or just like the shock charts better) have an option to play those instead (on "Difficult," which may simply need a name revision or something, given that circumstance).

I feel kinda dumb for not bringing that up WAY earlier.

3 kinds of songs/charts that killed X2 for me

1. Selection of pop songs seemingly mixed/charted exclusively for 6-year-olds.

I mean, yeah... every mix needs some songs charted for fun, not *just* difficulty, and pop music DOES fit that mold best. But not EVERY licensed song needs to be a sleeper-chart, especially since they're generally featured first and foremost. These are also your "attention-getters," and this isn't DDR 2nd Remix anymore - the vast majority of your fanbase is, and will probably continue to be, players that have been stepping for years, now. And some cool, exciting-sounding upbeat songs, available upfront, with fun, more intense charts is *also* a critical attention-grabber, now. (DDR Universe games do this well - why don't other releases, anymore?)

You aren't launching a new product here. You're continuing a successful one. ;) Delete a savegame or two, and go old-school for a month or so (we're talking PS1 titles, here or imported), and you'll see the difference IMMEDIATELY.

2. NAOKI re-covers

Don't get me wrong... nothing bad about a positive-reinforcement "pep rally" song in the mix. Maybe even a course full of them. But when 25% of your tracklist consists of this "butterfly pop," it's a bit overwhelming. And uh... kinda monotanous, really. And taking cool, successful songs that we've all loved for years, and turning them into the same kind of thing? (And not to mention almost an antithesis of their original theme/mood?) That's kinda like a kick in the teeth to the fans that found the older songs appealing, especially if arcade versions are using these as <u>replacements</u>, rather than additions/"remixes".

The whole kids/schools thing isn't really an excuse either - they already decisively adopted/accepted the older DDRs just the way they were. ;)

3. OMFG what was that?! (Instant-fail stages)

DEAD END (GRS). Pluto the First. NGO (CHG). MAX/MAXX anything (X-Special). Arabbiatta, even.

Really, now! Charts can still be challenging without being ridiculous, and plenty of songs/charts and edits out there prove it. Stages like PARANOiA Survivor MAX, Trigger, and Fascination ~eternal love mix~, for instance. Even songs like MAX 300, Xepher, CHAOS, on the bounce, and TRIP MACHINE PhoeniX; about on that level of challenge, are still appealing and satisfying to many of the more "hardcore" players. More attention to that difficulty range, and less on the WTF?! will go a long ways.

Personally, I think the scale of difficulty should end at 18. Not because I don't think charts CAN get harder. Just that they really shouldn't. DDR is ultimately a game regarding rhythm and fun, health and fitness. Anything harder than what's already out there is probably not going to be fun, OR healthy to do. <u>In fact, they'll probably *require* the very types of "extreme movements" that the warning screen you see first thing tells you NOT to do!</u>

d o.o That should tell you something right there!