Dance, Dance Revolution (DDR)

[Markstorm]

I just went to a friend's house yesterday and we played DDR. It was quite fun, and a pretty good exercise (on the faster modes). I'm wondering if DDR provides both a fun time and a cardio exercise that would be beneficial for fencing. Any thoughts?

No flames please, just a random idea.

[AndrewH]

I play all the time, I can pass every 9 footer on heavy except maybe 1 or 2 songs, and I'm working on my first 10 footer (Max 300). I play at the arcade whenever I can, and I have a $300 metal pad to play at home/college. That being said, I haven't noticed a huge impact on my fencing, the only thing I think it would help with is stamina, but only if you really play all the time, and push yourself, same as if you were trying to increase your stamina by running. It is excellent for losing weight though, I would say that every hour I spend at the arcade/on my pad, I drink between a liter and a half gallon of water, which means I'm losing a lot through sweat.

Bottom line: it's a really fun game, and good for getting in shape/improving your stamina.

[Pancakes]

I wish I could play this, but the gear costs too much and I have nothing here at home to play it ON (unless there's a computer version somewhere, but the pad is still too much).

Needless to say, I don't have the balls to try it at an arcade.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

i am very very very very bad at DDR.

disgustingly bad.

but i suppose that ddr is nothing but noticing signs and doing certain physical motions as reactions.....


i mean, it's not going to directly affect fencing, but i suppose anything that helps you to be more physically and mentally active is good.

(or at least better than sitting on the computer playing unreal or evercrack all day...)

[noodle]

yes, its very good fencing exercise. no, i don't play.

[cowpaste]

I used to play back when I didn't mind looking stoopid. :P

[SwordSoul]

i've been trying to get some of our fencers together to go to the local mall to try it out--it's very fun and excellent exercise. Too bad t3h 1337 jerks ruin it for a lot of people. i own a few very cheap pads, i was wanting to incorporate it into a phys ed program somehow (the school i taught at was very small--biggest class size was 10.)

but yes. ddr is way more fun than sprints...

[fixxmyweapon]

yah i play. it helps some with my stamina and works on those calf muscles. those benefits only come around when i play on a regular, heavy, schedule [off-season]. none the less, its still a good time.

[cowpaste]

I used to be pretty decent. If you are remotely proficient at the game, a flimsy pad just will not do. The momentum changes that are required at even the immediate level will cause the pad to slide around too much. You will lose your balance, fall, die, and worst of all, miss your steps. A hard pad is a requirement. Of course, you can always play at the Mall, but that costs money and dignity.

[cornflower]

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

evercrack

Hehehehe! Clever!

[Thorin]

It improved my double advance, no lie.

Pre-DDR I just had no rythm whatsoever, so it taught me a lot about how to set & break patterns with my feet. To be able to anticipate them on the songs I knew, and how to read new ones & translate that into foot movement. I really think it improved a lot about my footwork.

[Zilverzmurfen]

I have absolutely no idea what "DDR" is. Would someone care to enlighten me..?

[fencerX]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

I have absolutely no idea what "DDR" is. Would someone care to enlighten me..?

DDR is the equivalent of karaoke for feet.

Dance, Dance Revolution started as a dance arcade game from Japan and is now available for home game consoles like PS2 and Xbox.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Ah, thanks!

[Junkie]

I think it was the US air force who released a report saying that in studies regular gamers showed a greater ability to aquire data quickly and react better than simmilar 'control' non-gamers, these skills are almost as important to fencing as they are to flighing jet fighter so in theory any video game should increase your fencing skills though something like ddr that links visual stimuli to movement witht eh feet should be particularly helpful.

I'm gash at ddr personally I prefer racing games.

[_fence(1)]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

I have absolutely no idea what "DDR" is. Would someone care to enlighten me..?

Known as Dancing Stage in Europe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Dance_Revolution

[Morion]

Originally Posted by cornflower

Hehehehe! Clever!

As a recovering addict I can point out that the term "Evercrack" has been in use for a long time. In fact my board name is the name of my Everquest "Main". As for DDR I think any aerobic workout would be beneficial. If I had time to go to an arcade to try it out I would probably give DDR a shot myself. It would at least give the young kids a laugh to see a 52 y.o. aging hippy making a fool out of himself!

[Larrison]

Hmm.. I've seen it, never tried it.

Wonder if you could hack a program and a pad to do fencing moves? Advance, retreat, ballestra, change of tempo?

Idle speculation..

[WhipLash]

u'd need a rather large pad for more than 1 action don't you think?

[little_old_me]

Originally Posted by Pancakes

I wish I could play this, but the gear costs too much and I have nothing here at home to play it ON (unless there's a computer version somewhere, but the pad is still too much).

Needless to say, I don't have the balls to try it at an arcade.

There is a computer version: http://www.stepmania.com

The program doesn't come with the song files, but these can be easily obtained using a file sharing program like Kazaa, Limewire, BitTorrent, etc.

And you can find some inexpensive pads on ebay fairly easily. Just get some that work for the Playstation 2 and get a Playstation to USB adapter. I got two good quality pads with 1.5 inch foam padding and the USB adapter for like $30.