Wii hits the right educational notes Dec 1, 2008
The game comes bundled with a dance mat, a la the old Dance Dance Revolution, and you have to whip through the modes dancing and moving to the songs from the movie. Ads by Google. (The Province)
Consider these tech toys for holiday gifts Nov 27, 2008
Plus, with this dance game, there's no dance mat, just your feet wearing slip-on Motion Tags (a special button attached to an elastic band that you slip over your feet or shoes). To play, you follow footprint icons that show up on the screen, and the game tracks your dance movements, which can include jumping, sliding, crossovers and more. (USA Today -- Tech)
'High School Musical 3' fans can rock out in 2 video games Oct 31, 2008
Since this Wii version doesn't come with a dance mat controller (although the versions for the Xbox 360 and PS2 coming in November will have them), the screen creates an interactive dance circle. The circle has six hotspots, corresponding to upper right, upper left, middle right, middle left, lower right and lower left. (USA Today -- Tech)
Riding dinosaur, robot top hot holiday toy list Oct 8, 2008
Hasbro's U-Dance game that eliminates a dance mat and wires is $74. 99. (MSNBC -- Politics)
Exercise video games get kids hopping Aug 2, 2008
In "Dance Dance Revolution," from video game maker Konami, players use their feet to hit arrows on the game's dance mat, matching their own steps with arrows set in time to music on screen. One study, from the University of Nebraska, measured the heart rate and oxygen consumption of kids playing "Wii Boxing," "Wii Tennis," "DDR" and a sedentary auto racing game for 15 minutes each. (Yahoo News -- Auto Racing)
Roses n’ Raspberries Aug 2, 2008
In addition to providing the young people with more reasons to enjoy this great community resource, the games also provide a considerable workout, especially that treacherous dance game that prompts participants to match their flying feet to the squares that correspond on a dance mat with the arrows appearing before them on a computer screen. Let us tell you, that s a game not designed for people older than 30. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)
Exercise video games get kids off the couch Jul 31, 2008
In Dance Dance Revolution, from video game maker Konami, players use their feet to hit arrows on the game's dance mat, matching their own steps with arrows set in time to music on screen. HEALTH BLOG. (USA Today -- Tech)
Playing a video game? No, it's health therapy Jun 26, 2008
Before Wii revolutionized the concept of physically participating in games with a motion-sensor controllers, Konami introduced the dance mat game "DanceDanceRevolution" to Japanese arcades in 1998 which migrated to North America a few years later and made its console debut on PlayStation in 2001. The game is still going strong and is even bought by schools. (Yahoo News -- Technology)
Casual Friday: Wii Fitness and Gaming Rehab May 23, 2008
It's already lasting longer than some of my older gaming workout gear did: That DDR dance mat is more like a welcome mat now. I quickly let my membership to PlayStation 2's virtual gym lapse. (PC World)
Cool toys make exercise fun May 3, 2008
HANNAH MONTANA' LEARN TO BE A POP STAR DANCE MAT ... But the stars of the set are the dance mat and accompanying DVD. Kids lay the mat on the floor near a TV set, pop in the DVD and get ready to learn some fancy "Hannah Montana" footwork. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Living)
Virtually fit Apr 15, 2008
There are eight dance mats, two games walls with flashing lights and a special PlayStation where you race cars on a track, but instead of using your thumbs [as you would on regular computer games], you use your body to turn the car. We normally start with a warm-up, then have 15 minutes on the dance mats where we have to move our feet to correspond with flashing lights on the wall and mat, five minutes' rest, then two games on the walls ... When I started I was on the easy dance mat setting and... (Guardian Unlimited)
Today's Entrepreneur: Toy titan behind Furby unites fun, work Apr 14, 2008
Among them: a karaoke microphone, which lets kids sing along with the songs, and an interactive dance mat. "It was very successful," Samet notes. (USA Today -- Money)
LMN adds video games to rehabilitation program Apr 3, 2008
They hope to eventually acquire a dance mat game for the program. "Our patients didn't realize how much muscle was actually involved," said registered respiratory therapist Jenna Green. (Chetek Alert, WI)
CONSOLE yourself Apr 2, 2008
Konami's popular and frenetically paced arcade game Dance Dance Revolution was also ported to game consoles, including the Xbox and PlayStation 2, with help from a plug-in dance mat. It displayed arrows that corresponded to parts of the mat players had to step on in time with the music, and gained serious attention from exercise practitioners when it seemed to do the impossible: encourage video game-loving children to exercise vigorously and often. (Melbourne Herald Sun)
U-DANCE - New Gaming System Uses Motion Sensing Technology to Give Players Total Freedom of Movement Feb 18, 2008
With U-DANCE, players arent limited to a dance mat and can perform real dance moves like jumping, sliding, cross-overs and more ... With no dance mat to limit their movement, players can perform actual dance moves and groove to their hearts content. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Grammy-Nominated Pop Artist Chris Brown Makes Special Appearance at Hasbro Showroom to Introduce U-DANCE from Tiger Electronics Feb 16, 2008
With U-DANCE, players aren't limited to a dance mat and can perform real dance moves like jumping, sliding, cross-overs and more. Dancers simply plug the console into their TV, attach the wireless Motion Tags to their feet and literally STEP INTO THE GAME, using their body as the game controller. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Dancing With The Stars Review Feb 6, 2008
Your challenge is to hit those moves as they enter the empty silhouettes by either tapping the buttons on your PlayStation 2 controller -- the d-pad works for the directions on the left and the face buttons work for the directions on the right -- or using a dance mat and tapping your feet in rhythm. If you really are a Dancing With The Stars fan who is looking to get into this game, I'll break down the dance mat in a bit more detail. (IGN PS2)
Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Channel Edition Review Jan 25, 2008
IGN: Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Channel Edition (includes Dance Mat) Review. . (IGN PS2)
Rock star-inspired toys Nov 26, 2007
Marc Rosenberg, chief marketing officer of Zizzle LLC., which licenses many High School Musical toys, said a best-seller is the High School Musical Dance Mat, which challenges users to dance along to its songs. The rock-star trend transcends the gender barrier as well, Rosenberg said, noting the popularity of Zizzle's High School Musical Basketball Jam box, a basketball children plug an iPod into. (AZCentral -- Entertainment)
Kids keep the beat of rock-star fantasies Nov 26, 2007
In a year marred by toy recalls, a "major bright spot" for the business is High School Musical, says Marc Rosenberg of toy manufacturer Zizzle, whose HSM dance mat is bopping to the top of the best-seller lists, just in time for the DVD release of High School Musical 2 on Dec. 11. "It's the most important license out there for girls right now, bar none," Rosenberg says. (USA Today -- Life)
Toymakers in a great state with Montana Nov 24, 2007
There's the Hannah Montana Learn to be a Pop Star Dance Mat & DVD that includes a Hannah-style wig and microphone ($29. 99). (Waukegan News Sun)
'DDR Hottest Party' Nov 7, 2007
The bundle comes with one dance mat, which connects to the Wii through the GameCube controller ports atop the console. Up to four dancers can play at once, but each needs their own dance pad - an older GameCube pad from "DDR: Mario Mix" will work fine - as well as their own Wii remote and nunchaku. (AZCentral -- Entertainment)
* Video GAME REVIEWS Nov 1, 2007
T he Dance, Dance Revolution series, which challenges energetic dancers to tap their toes on a dance mat to the beat of popular music, has been solid gold for Konami. Numerous DDR titles exist and a new one with a different array of tunes seems to come out every few months. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Nintendo's 'Dance,Revolution' more foxtrot than boogie Oct 27, 2007
The "Dance, Dance Revolution" series, which challenges energetic dancers to tap their toes on a dance mat to the beat of popular music, has been solid gold for Konami ... Head-to-head competition between up to four human opponents is possible, but every player has to have a separate dance mat to enter the mosh pit. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Living)
4 simple steps to make your family a fit family Oct 23, 2007
Disneys High School Musical Dance Mat ($29. 99) video gets players dancing, and Fisher-Prices Smart Cycle ($99. (MSNBC -- Health)
Video games the whole family will enjoy Sep 6, 2007
DDR controls are tight, when a player stomps on the dance mat he knows what will happen. With "Boogie," shaking the control up, down, left and right feels so imprecise that one is never certain the on-screen character will bust the proper move. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Living)
Guitar game takes design prizes Aug 18, 2007
"We're big fans of role-playing games and rhythm games," he said, "though originally it used a dance mat and you danced at your enemies.". But, he said, the growing popularity of games using a guitar-shaped controller prompted them to change tack. (BBC News -- Technology)
Guns, guitars, gizmos: Attack of gaming clutter Aug 4, 2007
As the gaming industry seeks to broaden its appeal, playing a game may mean picking up a guitar, laying down a dance mat or juggling a bunch of specialized controllers ... Building fun accessories into games is smart business, says Mr. Birlew, himself the owner of a Dance Dance Revolution dance mat that falls out every time he opens his entertainment cabinet. (Globe and Mail)
Nintendo at E3 2007: The Verdict Jul 14, 2007
The bastard son of a dance mat and an exercise mat. Whilst it doesnt appeal to me massively as a way to while away the hours, the potential impact it could have on the gaming world is huge. (Cubed3)
E3 2007: Konami Kids Playground Hands-on Jul 14, 2007
This is the only game in the series to come bundled with a Kids Playground-branded dance mat, although if you're a Dance Dance Revolution fan then any compatible mat will work ... Finally, Toy Pals Fun with Numbers improves counting because kids must pop bubbles by stamping on the dance mat ... Indeed, we're in no position to say if they're actually a great way to teach your kids about colours, numbers and the alphabet - only an extended playtest with a child can answer that question - but... (IGN PS2)
Do you have rhythm? Apr 23, 2007
The latest iteration challenges fleet-footed gamers to burn up the dancefloor (or in this case, a plastic dance mat controller) along to songs by Kylie Minogue, Chris Brown, New Order and 60-odd others. DDR Universe is definitely one of the most physically demanding games out there right now, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. (Edmonton Sun)
Dance for joy With Acclaim Apr 18, 2007
Up to six players can gyrate alongside each other, by busting into a sweat on a dance mat and taking it easy by playing on a keyboard. The game is free to download but users must pay for new song packs, which feature more musical content from Warner. (IGN PC Games)
'Shortcake' leaves young players shortchanged Feb 20, 2007
First, "Strawberry Shortcake: DDR" is a stand-alone, battery-operated, plug-"n'-play videogame system; a dance mat that jacks directly into your TV set with the entire game residing on a microchip within, so no console is required. It's also inexpensive, which in this case, also means "cheap" in the worst sense of the word. Graphically, it couldn't look worse on an 8-bit game console circa 1988, so splotchy and blocky (and way too pink) are the renditions of Strawberry and friends, dancing along... (Buffalo News)
Deerfield firm helping Cheetah Girls rock way to toy aisle Feb 13, 2007
Items will include a dance mat, Hannah Montana play microphone, wig and guitar and Cheetah dress-up clothes. Jaclyn Giovis can be reached at jmgiovis@sun-sentinel. (Sun-Sentinel.com)
I got rhythm Feb 5, 2007
they could combine a dance mat with the wii motion sensors, to be able to have routines that combine foot movements ... they could combine a dance mat with the wii motion sensors, to be able to have routines that combine foot movements. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
'Guitar hero' game attracts students Feb 1, 2007
Guitar Hero joins a legion of other innovative games such as Dance Dance Revolution which comes with a dance mat, and The American Idol video game which includes a microphone to test your ability to stay on pitch. Page 1 of 1. (The University Echo, TN)
Let's get physical Jan 22, 2007
Another game for Playstation 2, you lay down a dance mat and get jumping. It's easy to get started and doesn't take long to feel like you are getting some rewards. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
Study: activity-based games fight obesity Jan 6, 2007
Posted Jan 4, 2007 9:24 pm PT Couch, dance mat, couch, dance mat, couch, dance mmm, couuuuch. Posted Jan 4, 2007 9:12 pm PT cool thats a pretty nice study Posted Jan 4, 2007 7:33 pm PT i love Dance Dance Revolution =] Posted Jan 4, 2007 7:32 pm PT What people don't understand is that with excercise, a proper diet plays a key role. (GameSpot)
