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I've only played on the actual DDR Arcade machine a few time, and I have to say, I suck at it.

I'm used to the soft plastic dance mats and playing in front of a tv.

But as soon as I hit the arcade machine, I really... really suck.

My feet can't seem to find the arrows, the not-completely flat surface and flashing lights mess me up. Plus all the people standing around me, and having to hit the arrows harder than I'm used to.

Is there anything I can do to help myself get better at playing at the arcade?

Yes, I know the main one. Practice.

But if anyone else had a similar experience, could you offer any tips? Like shoes or no shoes, holding onto the handle bar or not, etc.

Which do you prefer? The home additions of DDR or the arcade?

I prefer the arcade for a number of reasons.

Which is ironic since I have two Cobalt Fluxes and Stepmania with 600+ songs sweatdrop

I prefer playing at the arcade because I have a lot more fun there, but since our DDR Extreme machine's pads suck, I do much worse than when playing on my redoctane pad at home.

I personally like playing in the arcade cause it kinda gives me an adrenalin rush seeing all the lights and the "UN-SS UN-SS UN-SS UN-SS" sound of the techno beat just kinda puts me in a nirvana-like state... domokun

My feet dont do well in shoes so playing in the arcade is uncomfortable. Ive gotten used to the precise location of the arrows, as Im used to the raised ones on my red octane ignition. At the arcade I cant bend my feet like I would normaly because of the shoes which restricts my movements and speed. I prefer the home version.


And for whatever reason I absolutely can not pass B4U challenge on the machine. S'one of my favorite to play and is easy at home, but on the machine decent sequences of gallops screw me up easily.

Arcade is more of.. a good feel. I like having people watch me and say I'm good because it makes me want to keep playing.

What kind of soft pad are you using? Sometimes the soft pads aren't completely regulation size... like the cheap beatpads. How do you have your soft pad set out? Is it duct taped to a flat surface to ensure that it doesn't move or bunch up, because that could also provide to your "arcade suckyness." What I did, I got a piece of plexiglass/wood from Home Depot, made it a bit bigger than the size of the pad (an inch or two on all sides), and then I used packaging tape (strong and clear) so that the pad wouldn't bunch up or move around (because it's a bit heavier).

That could help you get used to the arcade feeling--and with that pad mod, you can start playing with your shoes--which is another factor of people having trouble at the arcades. You also have to get used to the friction and lifting your feet a bit higher, because at the arcade, the arrows are engraved about (x <= centimeter). Hitting the pad harder doesn't always work--sometimes the pad is messed up... so try the other side and see how it feels. Usually the right pad works better than the left one--because everyone is so obsessed with being player 1.

Holding the bar is okay, I guess. I don't recommend it for beginners, because it only hinders your progress and learn to balance. If you hold onto the bar, you'll probably never go into doubles mode--and usually the bar gets in the way of a good Perfect Attack.

I prefer the Arcade--not only because it's shiney, but because the arcade can fit all my friends in there... and it's cheap! 3 tokens a game, 6 tokens per dollar (spring break special--100 tokens for 10 dollars, i'm set!)

I had the same problem. I was able to AA about all of the songs playing at home, but barely A them when I play in the arcade. My boyfriend suggested me buy a custom mad metal pad by Namco for $140, that's exactly what I did.

Plus, the arcade makes me tire faster. I may be anemic, but I'm not going to let it take over me. The metal pad is helping me adjust with hard stepping as well.