Dance Dance Revolution - USA (aka DDR US 2nd Mix)

(**Not to be confused with the Japanese Dance Dance Revolution 2nd Mix**)
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FAQ by Ikari Gendou (igendou@hotmail.com)
Copyright 2000 Benjamin Fields

Dance Dance Revolution is a copyright of Konami.
Bemani is a copyright of Konami.
Beatmania/HipHopMania is a copyright of Konami.

All Other Rights Reserved.
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	* Hard copies to be posted at DDR Machines for viewing
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	* Konami Officials (drop me a line though, please? :) )
Such reproduction is allowed within these rules:
	* Modification of FAQ CANNOT take place
	* Media Outlets are not authorized to reproduce FAQ w/o contacting 
	  Benjamin Fields first for permission

Anything not explicitly listed above is denied.

Parties wishing to reproduce this FAQ outside the rules set forth are 
required to contact Benjamin Fields via e-mail to file a request.

Parties violating the above terms of use will be subject to proceedings up to 
and including legal action.

Reading of this FAQ confirms your consent to abide by the rights set forth.

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v0.6
Updated 10/30/2000
-------------------------------------------------

0.0 - Changes
0.5 - Notes, Credits, and Stuff To Be Added
1.0 - Dance Dance Revolution USA
	1.1 - DDR USA - Arcade
		1.1.1 - Changes from DDR US 1st Mix
		1.1.2 - Beginner Mode
		1.1.3 - Changing Difficulties
		1.1.4 - Secret Codes
		1.1.5 - Song List
		1.1.6 - Internet Ranking
2.0 - Song Data (Difficulty)
3.0 - DDR USA - Home Version (Coming Later)
4.0 - Links

***

0.0 Changes
------------------------------

v0.6 - Minor text edits and some reformatting of lines, nothing major.
       Expect FAQ to stay this way while I compile lots of new information.
v0.5 - Added song level information
       Edited scoring information
       Added "Beginner Mode" information
       Added "Change Difficulty" information
v0.4 - Woo! Finally got to play USA Mix.
v0.3 - Added copyright section, text edits.
       Fixed mistake listing the fastest DDR song as Afronova. Thanks Nickel!
v0.2 - Fixed formatting to 80char length.
       Moved links from section "0.5" to a new "3.0 Links" section.
       Added a small section to section "1.1.1" describing the new interface.
v0.1 - Woo! It's published!

0.5 Notes, Credits, and Stuff To Be Added
------------------------------

* Dance Dance Revolution USA will be referred to as USA Mix or US 2nd.
* Dance Dance Revolution will be referred to as US 1st Mix or US 1st.
* There is ALWAYS more to add: 
	Beats Per Minute (BPM) for each song
	Number of steps per song/difficulty	
* This is my first attempt at writing an FAQ, be gentle.


1.0 Dance Dance Revolution USA
------------------------------

USA Mix is the new sequel to the hit game from Konami, Dance Dance 
Revolution. The object of the game is simple, yet complex.

There is a stage with 8 arrows, 4 arrows per player, and one arrow for each 
direction (up, down, left and right). The player then selects a song with 
varying difficulty (the more feet, the harder), and starts dancing!

Arrows will scroll up from the bottom, and the player needs to step on the 
corresponding arrow or arrows when they reach the top of the screen.


1.1 DDR USA - Arcade
------------------------------

With a slated release of October 2000, the new US 2nd will come in 2 flavors:
(Note these prices are not dead on accurate, but are round about correct from
 what I have heard)
* $2,000~  - Upgrade kit for existing machines. Will include board to replace 
             current DDR board, game name paneling and side advert/info 
             paneling.
* $12,000~ - Totally new machine. Need I say more? :)


1.1.1 Changes from US 1st Mix
------------------------------

A whole lot has changed from 1st Mix to USA Mix. There are missing songs, but 
that will be discussed later.

* New Scoring System:
	The days of scoring E-D-C-B-A-S-SS are gone in USA Mix. They have 
been replaced with the newer 4th Mix / Solo Bass scoring system. Now there is 
E-D-C-B-A-AA-AAA-AAAA:

	AAAA = SSS (This is from DDR 4rd Mix in Japan, a quad A means the 
                    player has gotten all perfects)
	AAA  = SS  (This means the player has obtained more perfects than 
                    greats, but not enough for a AAAA)
	AA   = S   (This means the player has scored a mix of perfects and 
                    greats)

	The A-B-C-D-E system represents a player that has scored a mix of 
perfects, greats, goods, boos, and misses, with the number of boos and misses 
getting higher and higher as the letters go down.

* New Difficulty And Play Modes:
	In USA Mix the player could input codes for Basic, Trick, and Maniac 
modes. Those have been renamed Standard, Difficult, and Expert.
	There is a new mode that may make getting into DDR easier for new 
players. There is a mode named "Beginner", where all songs are just 1 foot 
(the easiest rank).
	Also, the couple mode has been removed. No more alternating step 
patterns between players 1 and 2 anymore. The options left are Single, Versus, 
and Double. I guess KOA figures people were getting confused and reading the 
wrong steps?

* New Interface
	USA Mix will use the "interface" from DDR 3rd Mix.
	Another change with the interface, will be that the backgrounds and 
even the "groove" bar are more vibrant. Players have likened the 3rd Mix style 
to a "rave" like setting.


1.1.2 Beginner Mode
------------------------------

To choose beginner mode, just select "Beginner" from the difficulty select 
screen after you've chosen a song. The next screen will show your dancer 
showing how to follow the arrows and when to step.
Then, the song starts. The songs are VERY dumbed down (think Have you Never 
Been Mellow basic from US 1st Mix), and you get a top down view of the stage 
with your dancer ontop pressing the correct panels.


1.1.3 Changing Difficulties
------------------------------

When you select a song from the list, you're next presented with 4 options 
for difficulties:
*Beginner (see 1.1.2)
*Standard
*Difficult
*Expert

Just press the right yellow arrow to advance difficulties, and the left 
yellow arrow to reduce difficulties. Expert is "hidden", as in you have to 
press the right arrow 4 times to get to it.
The foot color will change from Blue/Yellow/Red/Green depending on the level. 
The number of feet will also change depending on the level.

There is no "party" mode in USA Mix like there is in the import DDR 3rd. 
What "party" mode means, is 2 players could play different difficulties on 
the same song.


1.1.3 Secret Codes
------------------------------

To enable the following codes:
 * Hidden  (Steps dissapear half way up the screen)
 * Sudden  (Steps appear half way up the screen)
 * Stealth (Steps are GONE and do not appear on screen)
Step this code on the stage:
 * U,D,U,D
You can only choose 1 of the 3 codes. Keep entering the code and it will 
switch between the 3.

For Left Mode (Steps are rotated 90 deg. left)
Step this code on the stage:
 * Lx9 (IE, left 9 times)

For Right Mode (Steps are rotated 90 deg. right)
Step this code on the stage:
 * Rx9 (IE, right 9 times)

For Mirror Mode (Steps are rotated 180 deg.)
Step this code on the stage:
 * L,R,L,R,L,R,L,R

For Flat Mode (Steps are same color instead of the varying colors to show 
offbeat steps)
Step this code on the stage:
 * L,L,L,R,R,R,L,R

For Little Mode (Steps are all on beat during song)
Step this code on the stage:
 * L,D,R,D,L

For Shuffle Mode (Steps are "random")
Step this code on stage:
 * U,D,L,R,D,U,R,L

To cancel a code, just input the code again.


1.1.5 Song List
------------------------------

There are 26 songs in the new USA Mix, pulling from songs available in the 
Japanese DDR 3rd & 2nd Mix. Listed below are the song names and difficulty 
levels (stars denote holdover songs from US 1st Mix):

1.  Dead End
2.  Afronova
3.  Paranoia Rebirth
4.  Dynamite Rave
5.  Put Your Faith In Me [**]
6.  20, November
7.  Paranoia Clean Mix
8.  Make It Better [**]
9.  Brilliant-2-U [**]
10. Stomp To My Beat
11. Make A Jam
12. I Believe In Miracles
13. La Senorita
14. Boys
15. Keep On Moving
16. Let Them Move
17. So Many Men
18. Luv To Me
19. Jam Jam Reggae
20. Love This Feeling
21. End Of The Century
22. Trip Machine [**]
23. Trip Machine [luv mix]
24. Dub I Dub
25. El Ritmo Tropical
26. Silent Hill

As you can see, we've gained, but lost. The lost songs are Butterfly, along 
with Boom Boom Dollar, AM-3P, Make It Better (So-Real Mix), Paranoia 180, Put 
Your Faith In Me (Jazzy Groove), B2U Orchestral Groove, Mellow, and My Fire.
Some of the new songs to point out are the 2 mixes of Paranoia (might I add 
that Paranoia Clean Mix is quite intense), and that Afronova is also the 
2nd fastest song currently in the DDR series, clocking in just at or over 200 
beats per minute!
(Side note, the fastest song in the DDR series is from the DDR Solo / 4th Mix, 
called Drop Out, which is estimated at about 260bpm! -Thanks Nickel)

Some of the songs, like Jam Jam Reggae and Luv To Me, are in 
the other Konami music game, Beatmania (aka HipHopMania).


1.1.5 Internet Ranking
------------------------------

How internet ranking works is fairly simple. The player will go and do their 
set of songs. Then at the end, the machine will give you a number and pass-
word. The player will then go to to www.konami.com/arcade and enter in the 
number and password.
There are just 2 problems with this. :)

* A player could get 3 quad-A's on the machine set for 3 songs, and still be 
outranked by a player who was on a machine set for 5 songs, and got A's on 
the 5 songs.
* So far the Konami site isn't even UP yet to input the codes.


2.0 Song Data (Difficulty)
------------------------------

This list is be arranged from the easiest basic song to the hardest basic.

El Ritmo Tropical
	Standard  - 2 Feet
	Difficult - 6 Feet
	Expert    - 7 Feet

Silent Hill
	Standard  - 2 Feet
	Difficult - 6 Feet
	Expert    - 7 Feet

Jam Jam Reggae
	Standard  - 2 Feet
	Difficult - 7 Feet
	Expert    - 8 Feet

Put Your Faith In Me
	Standard  - 3 Feet
	Difficult - 4 Feet
	Expert    - 6 Feet

So Many Men
	Standard  - 3 Feet
	Difficult - 5 Feet
	Expert    - 6 Feet

Boys
	Standard  - 3 Feet
	Difficult - 4 Feet
	Expert    - 7 Feet

Make A Jam
	Standard  - 3 Feet
	Difficult - 5 Feet
	Expert    - 7 Feet

20, November
	Standard  - 3 Feet
	Difficult - 5 Feet
	Expert    - 7 Feet

Let Them Move
	Standard  - 3 Feet
	Difficult - 6 Feet
	Expert    - 7 Feet

Keep On Moving
	Standard  - 4 Feet
	Difficult - 5 Feet
	Expert    - 6 Feet

Make It Better
	Standard  - 4 Feet
	Difficult - 5 Feet
	Expert    - 7 Feet

Brilliant-2-U
	Standard  - 4 Feet
	Difficult - 5 Feet
	Expert    - 7 Feet

La Senorita
	Standard  - 4 Feet
	Difficult - 6 Feet
	Expert    - 7 Feet

Dub I Dub
	Standard  - 4 Feet
	Difficult - 6 Feet
	Expert    - 8 Feet

Luv To Me
	Standard  - 4 Feet
	Difficult - 7 Feet
	Expert    - 8 Feet

End Of The Century
	Standard  - 4 Feet
	Difficult - 7 Feet
	Expert    - 8 Feet

Stomp To My Beat
	Standard  - 5 Feet
	Difficult - 6 Feet
	Expert    - 7 Feet

I Believe In Miracles
	Standard  - 5 Feet
	Difficult - 6 Feet
	Expert    - 8 Feet

Dead End
	Standard  - 5 Feet
	Difficult - 7 Feet
	Expert    - 9 Feet

Afronova
	Standard  - 5 Feet
	Difficult - 7 Feet
	Expert    - 9 Feet

Dynamite Rave
	Standard  - 5 Feet
	Difficult - 7 Feet
	Expert    - 9 Feet

Paranoia Clean Mix
	Standard  - 6 Feet
	Difficult - 7 Feet
	Expert    - 8 Feet

Love This Feeling
	Standard  - 6 Feet
	Difficult - 7 Feet
	Expert    - 8 Feet

Trip Machine
	Standard  - 6 feet
	Difficult - 7 Feet
	Expert    - 8 Feet

Trip Machine [luv mix]
	Standard  - 6 Feet
	Difficult - 7 Feet
	Expert    - 8 Feet

Paranoia Rebirth
	Standard  - 6 Feet
	Difficult - 7 Feet
	Expert    - 9 Feet


3.0 DDR USA - Home Version
------------------------------

Nothing is known at this time, just that it will be for sale for the PSX come 
2001.


4.0 Links
------------------------------

DDR Action - http://www.visual-shock.com/ddr
Changoland - http://www.changoland.com
AMOA       - http://www.amoa.com
Konami     - http://www.konami-arcade.com
             http://www.konami.com