If you are not aware, Dance Dance
Revolution (DDR) is a cultish Japanese
arcade game in which the player
must step on one of four arrow
buttons in time to the music. It has
varying degrees of difficulty, and
advanced players can pull off crazy
combination moves, and look damn
cool doing
it.
My suggestion is for a DDR Arena
consisting of hundreds of pads
connected to each other. The effect
would look sort of like a giant board
game. The chosen song is blasted
throughout the arena on giant
speakers, so all players can get their
groove on. In the center, are four
pads that function normally with
giant video screens. On the outside
are several starting pads in which X
number of players (depending on
how big the arena is) start. The goal
is to be one of the "final 4" to make it
to the center for a traditional DDR
showdown.
Instead of video screens that tell the
players where to step, the buttons on
the pads light up to show the player
which step is next. In basic play, a lit
arrow is the next step; flashing
arrows will show the next possible
steps. There are variances that are
discussed later.
The original point system is used, in
which each step is judged either
"poor," "O.K.," "good," or "perfect"
based on whether or not it is in time
with the music. This will discourage
people from just hitting the buttons
as quick as they see them light up.
Scores are counted throughout the
song, and are used to make a
"decision" if 2 or more players are
not eliminated by the end.
As in the standard game, a "Dance
Meter" is given to each player.
Correct steps with good rhythm keep
the meter full, while missed steps
decrease the meter. Elimination
occurs when a player's meter is
empty.
Dance-step Variations:
As in the regular arcade games, there
will be more difficult steps that
increase the player's score. "Jump
steps" can be shown when two
arrows light up at the same time.
"Freeze arrows" will light up green,
and the player must remain standing
on them until they go off. "Half-
time" arrows will light up blue at the
same time as the regular arrow, and
must be hit in rhythm within one
beat of the song.
Multiplayer Variations:
This is where DDRA heats up!
Number arrows light up red, and are
generally out of the path of the
normal steps. If a player can hit the
number arrow the given number of
times while maintaining their regular
dance pattern, they will unleash an
"attack" on a nearby opponent. The
attacks that I have come up with
consist of:
Laser - A burst in the form of a
straight line is sent across the arena
from the attack square. All arrow
buttons in the path of the laser are
temporarily de-activated, and
combinations requiring those arrows
are rendered useless, breaking the
opponents' chains and lowering their
scores. The effect only lasts for a
few seconds.
Bomb - Similar to the laser, but the
burst is sent out in all directions. All
arrows in the general vicinity of the
player are de-activated for a second
or two.
Atomic - finds the nearest player
and increases the difficulty and speed
of his dance pattern, making him
more susceptible to elimination.
(Other variations could easily be
developed. Of course, in all cases,
the "attacking" player is immune to
the negative effects.)
Number arrows can also benefit the
player who uses them. Purple
number arrows have positive effects
on the player who opens them by
hitting them the given number of
times. Such effects can include (but
are not limited to): double score
(doubles the players score for a given
period of time), invincibility (makes
the player invincible to enemy
attacks), "cool down" (makes the
arrows light up at half the speed of
the song, making them easier to
predict and hit correctly)
Showdown zones are located
throughout the arena, and consist of
two opposing pads that are painted
or otherwise decorated so they stand
out. Showdown zones also have a
video screen in the middle. If a
player's path brings him near a
showdown zone, all four arrows of
the showdown zone will light up. By
hitting one of them in rhythm, the
player locks himself into the
showdown zone and invites all
nearby players to a one-on-one DDR
showdown. Once another player
accepts by touching an arrow on the
opposing side, the two players are
locked in the showdown. The video
screen displays the moves, as in
traditional DDR, and the speed and
difficulty continues to increase until
one of the players is eliminated. The
winner of the showdown gains all of
the opponent's points. Normal
scoring is shut off during the
showdown.
If you have any other ideas for
"variances, " please let me know!