I need help people

JP_Sasuke17 · Post by **JP_Sasuke17** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 8:51 pm

How much does it cost for an actual DDR machine? I'm actually willing to save up the money to buy one, but I don't even have a rough estimate of how much the thing will cost. What about getting new software to update it? Power Usage? Lots'o'things I don't know but need to. hmm... maybe I should have just asked Ho....

Post by **MonMotha** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:02 pm

My suggestion is to hang out on ebay for a while and get a feel for costs. A used machine in decent condition tends to run between $4500-8000 (yes, it's a big range). Pretty much anything you find will be running Extreme these days. "Upgrade Kits" tend to fetch ~$300 on eBay, though you can now find entire used system units for about that much which pulled from machines upgraded to SuperNova. These are all bootleg upgrades, but they're what most DDR machines in the USA are running on (and you cannot buy legit upgrade kits for older versions anymore).

A new SuperNova machine from Betson has been rumored to cost ~$12k. I haven't bothered to call them and ask for a quote, but you could if you want to. I'm not sure what a SuperNova upgrade for an old cabinet runs, but figure a few thousand as it would be legitimately licensed and includes new hardware.

As far as power draw, I believe the sticker says something like 600W max, but I'm sure it averages well less than that. The biggest continuous draw is the monitor, and figure it's just a 27" CRT. Of course, it only pulls power while turned on.

Also, consider that you need a place to put it. These things are surprisingly large.

JP_Sasuke17 · Post by **JP_Sasuke17** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:06 pm

MonMotha wrote:My suggestion is to hang out on ebay for a while and get a feel for costs. A used machine in decent condition tends to run between $4500-8000 (yes, it's a big range). Pretty much anything you find will be running Extreme these days. "Upgrade Kits" tend to fetch ~$300 on eBay, though you can now find entire used system units for about that much which pulled from machines upgraded to SuperNova. These are all bootleg upgrades, but they're what most DDR machines in the USA are running on (and you cannot buy legit upgrade kits for older versions anymore).

A new SuperNova machine from Betson has been rumored to cost ~$12k. I haven't bothered to call them and ask for a quote, but you could if you want to. I'm not sure what a SuperNova upgrade for an old cabinet runs, but figure a few thousand as it would be legitimately licensed and includes new hardware.

As far as power draw, I believe the sticker says something like 600W max, but I'm sure it averages well less than that. The biggest continuous draw is the monitor, and figure it's just a 27" CRT. Of course, it only pulls power while turned on.

Also, consider that you need a place to put it. These things are surprisingly large.

I guess it's a good thing my room is in the garage and my mom is buying the house huh, only people down here are me, my stepdad, and the evil monkey in my closet lol.

Original Sin · Post by **Original Sin** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:18 pm

You might want to ask yourself is it really worth that much money for a game while you're saving. A lot of players I've been around (including me) were really into the game for a while....and then interest dwindled, and now a lot of us seldom (if ever) play at all.
Just wanna make sure what you're going to get out of it is worth such a hefty pricetag. I mean hell, that's a car...some of a colledge education....or my personal favoratie, a crazy weekend in vegas!

Riot · Post by **Riot** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:32 pm

I remember when I really wanted a machine =) Granted, it'd be nice, but yes, you do have to consider that it is a large sum of money and your interest won't near where it's at in a year or two as it is now when you're just starting to play.

mexican ninja · Post by **mexican ninja** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:17 pm

I wouldn't suggest buying a DDR machine. Seriously, half of the fun of DDR is the social aspect. While it would be rad to own a machine, I think the novelty of owning a machine would wear off after a while, and you would see yourself returning to play at the arcade after a while. (MEXY NOTE: THIS IS BRIAN HO'S OPINION AND NOT MINE, SEEING AS HE HAS STATED IT NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE I EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT.)

However, if you're one of those guys that has everyone and their mother constantly hanging out at your house, then a machine might not be that bad of an idea.

Pheonixguy · Post by **Pheonixguy** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:24 pm

mexican ninja wrote:I wouldn't suggest buying a DDR machine. Seriously, half of the fun of DDR is the social aspect. While it would be rad to own a machine, I think the novelty of owning a machine would wear off after a while, and you would see yourself returning to play at the arcade after a while.
.

As Ho has said multiple times...

and of course you could buy this... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/custom ... &n=3375251

Comments wrote:I bought this for my daughter before her Prom so could she learn to dance, well worth the money!!!!! You should have seen her out there, she was even considered for Prom Queen!!!!

Now it's in my basement and my son uses it all the time, he wants to be a backup dancer. I see it as an investment in his future.

mexican ninja · Post by **mexican ninja** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:05 am

Pheonixguy wrote:
mexican ninja wrote:I wouldn't suggest buying a DDR machine. Seriously, half of the fun of DDR is the social aspect. While it would be rad to own a machine, I think the novelty of owning a machine would wear off after a while, and you would see yourself returning to play at the arcade after a while.
.
As Ho has said multiple times...

Oh god you're right! Post edited to reflect this!

Original Sin · Post by **Original Sin** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 7:35 am

...because Ho has that point of view copywritten?

mexican ninja · Post by **mexican ninja** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:51 am

Original Sin wrote:...because Ho has that point of view copywritten?

Yes. Yes he does.