Dance Dance Revolution

So, I guess I want to introduce myself officially. I've been browsing the forums for a couple of weeks.

I'm male, 6'4" and currently 295 lbs. (lost 11 lbs, so I'm happy).

Does anyone else play Dance Dance Revolution to try to become more fit? How does it seem to be working for them?

For those who don't know, Dance Dance Revolution is a video game. There are various versions. You'd probably recognize it as the game the kids in the arcade play where they dance around like crazy to electronic music. It's literally all over the place (I've found.) The point is to step on arrows in time to the music. It ranges from reasonable to "Oh my god! How can ANYONE hit all those arrows?!?! (Answer: I dunno, but your kids can do it)"

I have the home version for PS2 and I know I work up QUITE a sweat doing so. I tend to play in "Standard" mode so the steps/dancing can be quite intense.

I was just wondering if anyone else does it :)

one of my friends lost so much weight doing it. it was crazy- he became a little obsessed but looked great haha

I do it

I have the mat at home and picked up the latest one.  I usually don't do it for exercise specifically but it gives a hell of a workout!

My friends get together often and play it - its fun.  And if you master it you can go to the arcades and show off there lol.

Heh. Not THAT great, uberman, but it IS an insane workout, I've found.

I also have the latest version and am enjoying trying to finish it :)

Wow... Sounds like a fun way to exercise. 

I do the workout mode (burn off 300-400 calories typically) when I don't have time to go the the gym or if it's too late at night.  It seems to work quite well - I've doubted the validity of the calories burned sometimes, but at the end of a week of just doing it, I was a little skinnier and felt just as good as if I had gone to the gym. Plus - it's fun!

I do it! I love it! I used to be on heavy, and now I'm light/standard. I have a mat hooked up to the computer.

I've been playing DDR for about 2 years now....and I can tell you, once you get to trying the "Oh my god, how can they DO that" songs, you get a hell of a workout--I accredit a lot of my previous weight loss to DDR, and I still play every day during lunch and some on the weekends as well. It's a great way to burn some MAJOR calories!

I love DDR...although I am obsessed with anything asian >_<

I normally use it for cardio on days when it's really nasty out. It is a lot more fun than a tredmill but I too wonder about the validity of the calorie count...Extreme 2 even keeps track of your weight which is kind of nice but the songs are well...less asian so I like the first 'Extreme' better.

yeah... 

Wow, lots of comments...

I do doubt the total validity of the workout counter, but i know that I work out a helluva sweat and that it's a FUN way to do Cardio. Because I'm playing a game and being competitive, and it's alot less mind-numbing than the treadmill.

Also, it's alot cheaper than getting a membership to the local gym.  For $40 I bought an investment that will amuse me for a few good months.
On the other hand, a gym has more options...

Sparkle... you hooked the mat up to your computer? I've got an ignition pad and DID notice it could hook up to a USB. IS there a PC version of DDR I wasnt' aware of?

Ally... am working my way to Heavy (aka OMGWTF.. how the hell do they get all those errors.. I'm a big 6'4" clutz, though, and haven't succesfully done better than a five or six foot song. But *I* get a huge workout from just the five foot songs. Some of them really have you jumping around the pad!

I comepletely LOOOVE DDR! I have dance dance revolution extreme 2- and I loove it. Personally I think the counter is a little under probably but it gives a good basis. It's so addicting to :) lol I loove it though haha

Take Care.

There are a few systems for the computer the most popular is Step Mania it has all sorts of cool anime/jrock songs as well as techno...If you are any good on the computer you can even make a routine for your own song. It also has a ton of modes...such ae the drunk mode where the arrows swagger around so it gets to be a bit harder.

Oh...and Step Mania is FREE TO DOWNLOAD!!! so as long as you have a pad the only extra invesment you need to make is the adapter and maybe a DVD-R (the program is HUGE so it helps to keep some of the song packs off of your hard drive) 

Have any of you ever tried the i-toy? My little brother had one, came with a sample game that was similar to dance dance, complete with an arobics game. Its a ton of fun because you are interacting with the game on screen. Im thinking of getting one,  because i had so much fun playing it!

Which game? Eyetoy Kinetic?
I was looking at that myself, Sandy, but heard there were some problems (such as.. needing 10 feet between yourself and the eyetoy and.. needing a non-changing light source)
If you do get it, PLEASE PLEASE tell me what you think :)

I've been playing DDR for over three years now.  (I just finished playing, actually!)  It adds variety in to my weekly workout (besides running, workout videos/DVDs, biking etc.) and I love the challenge.  My friends and I compete often, so it's also a good way to socialize if your friends do it.  The best thing that's come out of it is that I always get compliments on my calves.  If you're looking to use it to lose weight, I'd use the workout mode...you can set it to either play for a certain time or burn a certain amount of calories.  I play Heavy, and I can burn over 150 calories in 8 songs.  Hopefully you'll get there someday!  Plus, it's just so much fun!

That so funny. I hadn't really thought about it but I have that pronounced third muscle on my calf that my gym teacher always asks me how I got (she says she works on hers all the time but it just doesn't want to develop) and all this time I didn't even think about it being from DDR >_<

freelei-You made my day.

My boyfriend has the psp..  I played the DDR game at the aracade once and looked like an idoit!  maybe I will get that mat and play at home and NOT look like a tard in front of people!

The first month of my weight loss (13lbs lost) was contributed to DDR.  I lost all that weight and toned up fast.  I play it occasionally now, but you will prolly need a little other stuff to supplement your workouts, at least so that u dont get bored.  I switched to bellydancing and hiking, but I still use the DDR workout mode, and my daughter loves to play along with me (she says - that way we pass every song lol!)

Yeah, fishes. Right now, I'm just DDR'ing and weight lifting (DDR for Cardio), but I plan to switch it up a little here and there.  We do have a mini-gym in the apartment complex with ellipticals and treadmills.
Or.. I could just go for a walk/bike ride (once we get the bike tuned up).
But, for now.. DDR is GREAT Cardio :) Especially on Standard :)

I actually started DDR in January (you know...the whole New Years Resolution thing).  Tried to do it at least three times a week, but that fell apart after three weeks.  I'm new to this website...and I just started a new weight-loss plan on a whim (nothing specific, just eating better and counting those calories!), but Dance Dance will be a part of my routine every day now.

I prefer workout mode...and I created a few of my own workouts so it doesn't get too monotonous.  Also, I tried to create my workouts to last 15 minutes each so I have nice round numbers!  I can generally lose 300 calories on the standard DDR workouts but 500 calories if I strictly use the workouts I created.

I think I am going to buy this ddr and try it out thanks for the info