Dance pad
A floor-based controller for rhythm and music games.
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A dance pad (also called a dance mat or dance platform) is a flat electronic controller you place on the floor to play music-based video games. Most pads are laid out as a 3×3 grid of square panels, where some or all of them match directions or actions in the game. Extra buttons like "Start" and "Select" often sit outside the main stepping area. For certain game modes, two pads can be linked together.
Arcade hits like Dance Dance Revolution, In the Groove, Pump It Up, and StepManiaX use large steel dance platforms built into the cabinet. Home console versions, however, usually come as smaller, often flexible plastic pads. These home pads work on systems such as the GameCube, Wii, Dreamcast (Japan only), PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, and can also connect to computer emulators like StepMania via adapters.
Types
Soft
Soft pads are thin plastic mats, typically costing $10–$20. They’re meant for light, casual use and tend to wear out quickly. Manufacturers include Konami, BNSUSA, RedOctane, Intec, Mad Catz (Beat Pad), MyMyBox, Naki International, and Nintendo (Action Pad). OEM makers are Futime and Topway (which produced RedOctane pads).
Some soft pads come with stiff foam inserts for stability and durability. These inserts usually ship as three or six interlocking pieces (using dovetail joints) that slide into the pad, which then zips shut. Certain foam pads have raised plastic sections under the directional buttons so players can feel them with their feet and keep them centered. These foam-reinforced pads generally cost between $40 and $100.
Hard
Hard pads are built from metal (and sometimes wood) for durability. They often include a raised bar behind the player. Arcade machines use tough metal pads designed for heavy use.
Home-use hard pads range from $100 to $1,000. Manufacturers include DDRgame, Cobalt Flux, L-TEK, MyMyBox, Brown Box, RedOctane (stopped production in February 2010), and Naki International. Hard pads work with all arcade music games that use dance pads, and they’re a popular goal for DIY gamers building "homebrew pads." Homebrew kits often provide instructions for converting soft pads into hard pads, sometimes adding extra inputs.
Solid State
Solid State pads replace mechanical switches with proximity sensors that detect a player's steps without needing pressure.
Quick Facts
- Types
- Soft
- Hard
- Solid State
- Soft pad price range
- $10–$20 USD
- Foam pad price range
- $40–$100
- Hard pad price range
- $100–$1,000
- Common panel layouts
- 4, 5, 6, 8, or 9 arrows
- Arcade platform material
- large steel dance platforms
- Home console systems
- GameCube
- Wii
- Dreamcast (Japan only)
- PlayStation
- PlayStation 2
- Xbox
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Popular arcade games such as Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), In the Groove, Pump It Up, and StepManiaX use large steel dance platforms connected to the arcade cabinet, while home console versions typically use smaller, often flexible, plastic pads. Home dance pads are made for systems including the GameCube, Wii, Dreamcast (Japan only), PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, and can also be used with computer emulators like StepMania through adapters.
Soft pads are thin plastic, intended for light casual use and known to wear out easily. Some soft pads contain stiff foam inserts with interlocking pieces that slide into the pad, which zips closed. Hard pads are usually constructed with metal or wood for durability and often include a raised bar behind the player. Solid State pads replace mechanical switches with proximity sensors, eliminating moving parts but potentially allowing dirt into the mechanism.
Some players construct their own homebrew pads using materials like plywood, sheet metal, and acrylic glass, often incorporating circuit boards from standard controllers. Homebrew pads may use metal contacts, arcade button switches, or optical, pressure, vibration, or proximity sensors. Others modify existing soft pads by stapling on plywood sheets or office chair floor protectors.
Reader's Guide
Dance pads have become a defining accessory for rhythm games, bridging arcade and home play. The distinction between soft, hard, and solid state pads reflects different priorities: soft pads offer affordability and portability but limited durability, while hard pads replicate arcade feel at higher cost. Solid state designs address mechanical wear but introduce sensitivity to dirt. The variety of panel layouts—from four to nine arrows—means purchasers must match the pad to the game they intend to play.
Homebrew construction emerged from durability and cost concerns, allowing players to create custom pads with features like additional arrows, menu switches, and bars. Dance pads have also found use beyond rhythm games, including educational systems for navigating virtual environments and games that do not involve pressing arrows to a song's rhythm, such as the NES Power Pad titles, the Active Life series for Wii, and the rogue-like rhythm game Crypt of the NecroDancer. Compatibility issues arise when using PlayStation pads with computer simulators, as most PlayStation-PC adapters cannot register all directions simultaneously due to D-pad design limitations.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Dance pad (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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