It finally happened.

[jewpinthethird]

Years ago, back when I was a regular on the DDRFreak forums, I made a prediction. A prediction that around the year 2005, DDR would hit the mainstream.

My hypothesis was that Japanese fads take 7 years to travel over seas. 2004-1998 = 6 years.

That is resonable close. Pokemon took seven years to travel over seas too. That is why if you go to Asia (espcially Japan) you will notice that DDR is not as popular as you would think.

[evilbutterfly]

news like this has hit before, but with how many people have AOL...good lord, it IS happening! probably wont catch on much around here, tho. it seems the DDR fad already hit and left where i live...

[User6773]

I think it's here to stay in America for longer than it is in Japan...assuming they get more mixes here. Japan has a bigger arcade scene than the US, so they can add more vitality to games there by creating new mixes. Over here, it's a different story. DDREX will hold peoples' interests for a while but soon they will have to come up with new material.

[lightdarkness]

jewpin wins the prize!

ddr is awesome

[evilbutterfly]

wait a second, DDR is illegal. so, wont the illegalness be exposed if it gets too much attention? uhoh, this may be the end of DDR in every non-japanese arcade! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[insomniakxz]

I remember that it was on CNN awhile ago because EGM has a part on their show sometimes...

[jewpinthethird]

I am not saying that DDR wasnt popular before, but now...I mean, damn, it made AOL front page news....you cant get much more mainstream than that.

[Arch0wl]

uhoh, this may be the end of DDR in every non-japanese arcade! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I'd love to flame you on how ignorant that is but I'll just leave you questioning yourself

[Kilgamayan]

When the outside temperature rises
And the meaning is oh so clear
One thousand and one yellow daffodils
Begin to dance in front of you - oh dear
Are they trying to tell you something
You're missing that one final screw
You're simply not in the pink my dear
To be honest you haven't got a clue

I'm going slightly mad
I'm going slightly mad
It finally happened - happened
It finally happened - ooh oh
It finally happened
I'm slightly mad
Oh dear

I'm one card short of a full deck
I'm not quite the shilling
One wave short of a shipwreck
I'm not my usual top billing
I'm coming down with a fever
I'm really out to sea
This kettle is boiling over
I think I'm a banana tree
Oh dear

I'm going slightly mad
I'm going slightly mad
It finally happened - happened
It finally happened - uh huh
It finally happened
I'm slightly mad
Oh dear

Ooh ooh ah ah
Ooh ooh ah ah
I'm knitting with only one needle
Unravelling fast it's true
I'm driving only three wheels these days
But my dear how about you

I'm going slightly mad
I'm going slightly mad
It finally happened
It finally happened - oh yes
It finally happened
I'm slightly mad
Just very slightly mad

And there you have it

[evilbutterfly]

uhoh, this may be the end of DDR in every non-japanese arcade! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I'd love to flame you on how ignorant that is but I'll just leave you questioning yourself

i wasnt completely serious. if i was, my "NOOOOO!" would be something more disappointed sounding, like "damn, that sucks..." it's only illegal by japanese law, and the US would never enforce a japanese law. i'm not that stupid.

[SpookG]

Jewpin dear, next time we try to have a semi-serious discussion, remember to put the kids to bed first.

[Omeganitros]

That completely awesome, but I think it could get even more mainstream. SpookG, you went to E3, right? Did they have anything about DDR there? Though all I have for reference is news, I never heard or see anything about DDR at E3. I imagine they would at least show some booth babes playing it.

Edit: On second thought, replace the word "mainstream" with the word "popular."

[SpookG]

they had 02jam on a computer in kentia hall in a booth displaying the future of something another, but it wasn't that interesting... kwik seemed to care about it, a little...

The Konami booth had some soft pads set up... I didn't see what mix, because I really don't care too much about DDR, specially when Metal gear solid 3 was right around the corner.