I'm picking out Christmas gifts for my wife, and one thing I want to get her is a new DDR pad, since the one we bought way back sucks. She loves the game, but I don't really play it, so I don't know what the best, most durable, most usable pad is. Any suggestions?

buy the arcade thing.

Bean means one of the 'pads' that is encased in a large box-shaped metal case. Those might be well out of your price range, but I agree with him; they are VERY durable, if they weren't they wouldn't be used for the arcade version of the game.

You can purchase those pads for home use; I've seen them for sale at conventions and such, so I would be very surprised if you couldn't find them on eBay or amazon.

I wonder if they could take a swing from a sledgehammer...

then Id just play it like whack-a-mole.

hahahahaha

Thanks.

Yikes, I'll have to see on those... not only are they pushing $100, shipping seems to be anywhere from $60-100!

Whack-a-mole Revolution sounds fun. I also saw a "drumset" controller for DDR. Do you really think you could keep up, though, using an actual sledgehammer? That would take some insane strength and speed!

ya dont need a metal one you can take one of em flexible rubber ones (there alot cheaper and you can roll them up if ya aint usin it) and staple it or tape it to the floor.

Wow, that metal pad looks pretty sleek. Just don't play in your socks or you might slip and break something. :P

The problem with the one we have (later today I'll check what brand it is) is that though it stays on the floor without slipping, the top slips over the bottom, and drifts out of position. Taping might work, but I definitely can't staple it down.

What we did was tape 'em to some custom-cut plywood, and we happened to have one of those no-slip thingys for the carpet- we just roll the carpet back when we want to play.

Eh, it's hard to play anything past heavy on those plastic pads..

We had the thin flexible plastic (like I think what spidey is talking about) but it did not hold up at all. Eventually we found plastic ones, about two inches thick and dark dark gray (almost black), which held up REALLY well (although after 1 or 2 intense games or two you would have to reposition it squarely in front of the TV). Wasn't that expensive either. Unfortunately I don't remember the brand, but that would definitely be your best bet.

The metal one would be my choice if I was a DDR player but it looks like a real pain in the arse to bring it over to a friends place, but if its gonna be a stationary pad in the basement then ya better go with that one, or if you find one like smitty is talking about that woul be good too.