On this page you will find the main websites about DDR, and where to buy the hardware :
Shop for hardware
This is where you start... I focus on the European market, where it can be kinda hard to grab a good mat. I am always grateful for good info about merchand websites.
http://www.fl-games.com : s grateful for good info about merchand websites. If you are just looking for the basic usb mat, 15€, this is a good place.
http://www.mayflash.eu : This is the main (only ??) place to buy good mats in Europe. Good selection of both metal and foam mats, from the brand Futuremax (netherland). The shipping is pretty expensive though. The support from the website is nice and professional.
http://www.positivegaming.com : Swedish compagny who is very active in the little DDR world. They make a top notch, affordable, but impossible to find foam mat and have fitness related activities based on their wireless metal mat. But, where can we buy their stuff ???
Find musics
Your quest for DDR title will be time consuming, but exciting as you discover the HUGE variety of available songs. Begin with the DDR, what's this ? section of this website. You will find a few downloadable titles in "Getting started with DDR". This will not take you anywhere far though... There is two category of DDR files :
Official packs are the PCs counterparts of the Dance Dance Revolution games released in arcade or console(also spin offs like Dancing Stage). All of them have been converted to Stepmania and Dance With Intensity, this represents a huge pile of ddr files.
Then you have the originals files. Made by fans, they cover an incredible variety of musics. Dozens are released everyday ! This is what you sould look at if you want "hits" songs.
http://www.ddruk.com is THE english speaking reference website. Every official packs are donwloadable there. You can choose between direct download or torrets files. The site follows closely the DDR news and features an active forum.
http://www.bemanistyle.com/ is where you find the most simfiles, the original ddr files created by the communauty. Go to Simulation then search simfiles, with some luck you're gonna find adaptations of your favorite song ! The database is impressive, think about a dozen thousands of titles. Fallout of this,
it takes days to go through the entire list looking for attractive songs.
Be alse warned that the quality of the files ranges from wonderful to unplayable : there is a good deal of heavy only files, sometimes the folders are a mess, and often the synchro is spoiled... you are gonna dig to find the simfiles you dream of ! Luckily there is a rating system which will let you make a first sort.
For the records, benami is the name of the division "musical games" of Konami.
http://www.ddrplace.com : Same kind as Benami, much less titles though. You will find a DDR tutorial which claims it can rise you up to the heavy level in one week, worth a try ?
http://zenius-i-vanisher.com/v5/index.php contains both officials and originals simfiles. The download is pretty fast, and no inscription required ! Go to Bemani, DDR & DS, simfiles.
Communauty websites
Once you gathered the necessary equipment you maybe will want to know more about DDR and to keep in touch with the latest news. ddruk and bemanistyle are great for that, but you should also check these websites:
http://www.stepmania.com : all you need about the reference DDR simulation software.
http://www.stepmaniaonline.com/ : you want to do some network play, find challenge online ? There you go. There is a ladder, a world ranking just like in Blizzard games ! European version : http://www.stepmaniaonline.eu/.
http://www.ddrfreak.com/ : ddrfreak is a big american website about Dance Dance Revolution. It covers all the news, and you will find in Tips and tricks materials to rise your level of play. Also a complete list of DDR versions along with the songlist for each, and stepcharts : you can print the arrow succession on official songs !
Others links I did not really read : http://www.ddronlinecommunity.com/ , http://www.ph-online.net/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi , http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/, http://www.ddrei.com/ .
French speaking websites : Orgames , Azur Games , DDRBordeaux, NTss Tss , Powa. French teams : Initial , Dance or Die, slippershurricane or Ryhtm'n'Rogues.
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