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Molly Milroy | The Appalachian
Joseph W. McLaughlin plays Dance Dance Revolution twice a week in Hawksbill Gameroom. His key for success: fast feet. |
Dance Dance Revolution
by Alison Fosbenner
Staff Writer
Step left-down-right. Now step left-down-right-up-left. Next, right-down-left-up-right.
These foot steps are typical movements for the Dance Dance Revolution arcade-style video game that is located in the Hawksbill Gameroom of Plemmons Student Union.
Dance Dance Revolution, often shortened to DDR, is a video game that involves dancing out steps that appear on a screen.
The machine is set up with a stage for two players, each with four arrows to dance on: left, right, up and down.
Once a song is selected, a screen shows the pattern of steps that the player must perform. The music pumps out of two large, illuminated speakers at the bottom.
During spring 2004, the DDR machine made its introduction to the student union, with the help of Heather R. Moore, who was the game room manager at that time.
Prior to that, Moore spent time on vacation in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where she came across a Dance Dance Revolution game for the first time.
With an increase in business and profits in mind, she then pitched the idea to Scott R. Cato, the assistant director of operations of Plemmons Student Union.
He allowed her to make phone calls and do some research. Soon after, the latest DDR mix was ordered directly from Japan.
DDR is made by Konami Gaming, Inc. There are different versions of the game and there are also different companies that produce a similar product, in addition to personal gaming systems like Playstation, X Box and more.
These games come with an electronic dance mat, an equivalent to the stage.
Kristen L. Daniels, who was a game room manager last semester, said she has seen an increase in interest since it first arrived.
“As I have found, a lot of students have the video game at home,” Daniels said. “They come here to practice.”
Many Appalachian State University students have embraced its presence in the game room.
Joseph W. McLaughlin, a sophomore computer information systems major, was introduced to DDR when the game made its first appearance in the student union. The game sparked his interest and he decided to try it out.
He plays about twice a week and said that his ability level has improved since he first started.
“I play it in [the game room] when I get a chance,” Moore said. “But most of the time there is a line.”
DDR is more than just a video game.
McLaughlin enjoys the “thrill of passing [each level].”
“I like it because it is challenging and it’s fun to play with other people,” Moore said. “It’s also really good exercise,” Moore said and mentioned that she heard once that someone lost 90 pounds by playing DDR for a year.
“Actually, the Play Station version has a workout mode,” Moore said.
Daniels said that DDR is a moneymaker, but it takes away from other games in Hawksbill.
Likewise, Moore explained that at times, it can disturb others in the game room, like the pool players.
With the game directly next to the cashier counter, it tends to get a bit noisy for the game room attendant.
Daniels has mixed feelings about the game. She said after sitting in the game room for awhile, it can get annoying.
“But to put personal feelings aside, it generates money and it makes people happy,” Daniels said.
For those that it makes happy, DDR can become pretty serious among its devoted fans. There are even tournaments all over the world.
These “gamers” are the majority of DDR users. However, the lights, the upbeat music and the energy often attract others to test their rhythm and coordination.
“People who don’t know what the game is, they’ll come into [the game room] and watch some people play it and say, ‘Ooh, I want to try that,’” Moore said.
The Hawksbill Gameroom is located on the first floor of Plemmons Student Union next to the Information Desk. Its hours are: Monday - Friday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 2 p.m.-11 p.m.
A round of three Dance Dance Revolution songs costs 75 cents.
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