Dance games for the Macintosh?

January 25, 2006 2:40 PM

Inspired by this question and a whim, I'm considering dance games as a possible path to improved fitness. I have a modern Macintosh, but no PC and no game consoles. Though I can't find any commercial dance games for the Mac, I have found StepMania. Based on this info, what is my best option? Should I buy a console, a dance game, and dance pad? Can somebody recommend a good Mac-compatible dance pad? Are there other inexpensive solutions? This really sounds like a fun way to exercise, but I don't know where to start.
posted by jdroth to computers & internet (14 comments total)

You can find the original Playstation consoles for dirt-cheap these days; a handful of PS1 DDR games also exist at rock-bottom prices.
posted by neilkod at 3:21 PM on January 25, 2006

I'd recommend Dance Dance Revolution. Yes, you'd have to spring for a console (PS2 or Xbox), plus the pad but it really is a lot of fun. (And this is coming from a person who hates dancing.)

You can find DDR in game arcades, if you want to give it a try before committing to buying the hardware.
posted by luneray at 3:22 PM on January 25, 2006

In addition to Playstation consoles, as neilkod mentions, you can also pick up Dreamcast consoles and dancepads for cheap.
posted by Otis at 3:32 PM on January 25, 2006

Beware that DDR in the arcades != DDR at home.

The arcades use Konami's industrial-revolution-era-steel dance pads, which are of arcade quality. Any home pad (except those offered for high price by RedOctane) will be a soft mat that at the very least, requires you to tape it down, and at the worst will annoy you to death, unless you're okay with it.

My point is that getting used to the arcade and then attempting to turn it into a home activity isn't the best of ideas. You're better off starting at home, with the lesser pad. As ridiculous as it sounds, the entire experience does hinge on the quality of your dance pad.
posted by disillusioned at 3:45 PM on January 25, 2006

Also, be aware that RedOctane's Ignition Pad DOES work on a PC, for games like StepMania. (USB 2.0!)

This might be a much better solution for you, but if you want to splurge, they offer a metal pad as well.
posted by disillusioned at 3:48 PM on January 25, 2006

You could probably use a worthless obsolete PC with stepmania. The advantage of that is it can be a single-purpose turnkey solution - turn it on and the game comes up.

A cheap set of two dance mats and the USB adaptor and shipping cost me less than $30 on ebay. I taped them to fibreboard, since the tape wouldn't stick to the carpet :)

Get two mats. The miniscule extra cost is trivial compared to gaining the ability to involve friends.

I'd recommend a big display, such as the TV or a projector. That adds another hurdle since most obsolete PCs won't have a RCA jack for video out. (I just used my laptop)

You can get all the original DDR tracks transcribed for stepmania, but it's not a legal download, so you might have to use P2P or something, I doubt a respectable website would host it.
posted by -harlequin- at 3:55 PM on January 25, 2006

Maybe your cheapest solution could be to just go out and actually dance at a club until it closes. Find a place without too many chavs (or not, if chavs are your thing) and just throw down. Everybody looks ridiculous dancing, it's all about how much pleasure you take in that ridiculousness.
posted by dobie at 4:10 PM on January 25, 2006

I've tried StepMania on a Mac; it was a pain in the ass, especially compared to the plug-in-and-go ease of a console....
posted by mr_roboto at 5:28 PM on January 25, 2006

GET A CONSOLE!

I have two separate setups in my house - PC with stepmania, and a PS2 with 2 pads. I can't tell you how much of a pain the PC version was the setup. It's hard to find an adaptor that works properly for usb - there are very few that allow simultaneous up+down combos, even less that lets you use two pads (hey, in case you want to play versus or double.)

There's no need to spring for a metal / expensive / redoctane pad. I have a generic crappy mat bought from ToysR'Us that works just fine, for a measly $20.

When you get better, definitely MOUNT your own pad.
posted by Sallysings at 5:48 PM on January 25, 2006

While I don't have suggestions for a mac-friendly pad, I'd have to be a vote for using a computer. We didn't have problems finding an adaptor and just bought our second pad. Why would you want to do this? I found that the best part about it was getting to choose whatever music I wanted to dance to. There are several download sites, some high quality files, and even software to make your own, which I played with for awhile.

(But definitely cheaper than an exercise club!)
posted by artifarce at 6:09 PM on January 25, 2006

I'd just ditch the whole idea entirely and get out of the house to get exercise.

Exercise equipment at home, even fun stuff like DDR, quickly wears out its welcome.

The key to good exercise is to get out of the damn house. Go for a walk in the park, join a gym, walk to a friends place and use his/her DDR mat for a half hour. Just get outta the house! :)
posted by drstein at 7:14 PM on January 25, 2006

It's a mistake to think that the metal pads are so much better than others. The main thing they are is harder. I am very glad to own these pads filled with playground foam; on the metal ones my knees hurt after a while.
posted by Aknaton at 7:45 PM on January 25, 2006

If you live in an apartment building this probably isn't going to work. DDR, as you get good enough for it to be a workout, gets loud.

Get a PS2, and the DDR Extreme 2 Bundle (which comes with a dance pad). DDR Extreme 2 is the funnest (IMO) version available for the XBOX or PS2. If you live outside of Region 1, get someone else's suggestions.

You'll be fine with the bundled dance pad until you get pretty good, at which point, consider either buying or making a hard pad. The reason I eventually bought metal pads is that as I got better the soft pads (and the foam insert pads like aknaton likes) just didn't last very long under a 220 pound guy doing 7-foot songs.
posted by aubilenon at 12:57 AM on January 26, 2006

If you live in an apartment building this probably isn't going to work. DDR, as you get good enough for it to be a workout, gets loud.

More specifically, if you live above somebody else. But yeah this is a really serious point!

the foam insert pads like Aknaton likes just didn't last very long under a 220 pound guy doing 7-foot songs.

And once again we see the power of AskMe. My wife and I are more like 130, and haven't hit this issue. Careful with your knees, big guy!
posted by Aknaton at 9:06 AM on January 26, 2006