About Us: Contents

1. About DDR
2. About Bemani
3. About Maine DDR/Bemani
4. About In The Groove

About DDR

DDR, or Dance Dance Revolution, is an arcade game that you "play with your feet." It was originally released in Japanese markets and Konami has currently sought to increase its presence in the US. The cult gaming phenomenon it started peaked around the end of 2002, when DDR Extreme (the last of the arcade series) was released. After which, Konami's US branch began to focus on console releases, which are all still widely played. DDR Supernova is the latest arcade release, which has received moderate response, but no where near the same degree as the previous "mix" titles.

It is unique in that the controller consists of four panels that you step on in accordance to scrolling arrows on the screen. The patterns vary from slow and steady marches to fast and furious endurance feats. While highly addictive, the game is also extremely physical and can become a decent source of exercise, depending on how much you play. However it's no substitute for an actual exercise regimen and shouldn't overtake any of your normal exercise activities. After, it's just a game.

Links: DDR Freak: About DDR, Wikipedia: Dance Dance Revolution, Konami of Japan's DDR Arcade Site

About Bemani

DDR is made by Konami's Bemani division, which focuses on games where music is integral to the gameplay. Other popular Bemani games include the Beatmania and Pop'n'Music series.

Links: Wikipedia: Bemani

About Maine DDR/Bemani

DDR and Bemani in general has a strong following in Maine. Many of the heavy hitters in New England region tournaments come from Maine and are typically only beaten by the top players in Massachusetts. In other New England states, the following is more casual and less competitive. This site focuses primarily on the Maine gaming community.

About In The Groove

In The Groove is a DDR clone made by Roxor, designed to be installed in existing DDR cabinets or sold as a standalone unit based on the design of the Pump It Up cabinet (called "dedicab"). While the gameplay is the same, ITG has its own list of songs with a difficulty scale that goes much higher. The game also introduces notes that require your hands and feet to hit, mines that must be dodged, and the marathon/survival modes. This game has been widely accepted as the successor to arcade DDR and has a PS2 release. The legality of the Roxor's business is a gray area, but has not been prosecuted despite a court filing made by Konami of Japan.

See Also: Roxor Games: In The Groove, DDR Freak: About ITG, Wikipedia: In The Groove (game)