Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) as a Fun Exercise Program
Dance Dance Revolution as a Fun Exercise Program
Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) is a game that will get you moving and grooving, but what do you really know about this popular parlor game? If you’re not familiar with the idea of DDR, it was originally an arcade video game in Japan that has since gone onto great lengths. The terms "dancing mat" and "drum set" were coined for DDR because of its physical aesthetic. There are different versions of the game including one called "Extreme," which involves spinning, jumping, swinging one's arms around on the dance floor in order to hit certain zones on the mat. Most of the game is set to popular music that players can dance along to and there are different modes in which players can play such as "single mode" and "party mode." Additionally, most dance mats have a directional pad in which a player will use with their feet in order to change the direction of the arrows on screen. It is important to note that DDR is not only played on dance floors but also homes or gyms where players aim to burn calories through physical activity.
DDR has several components that make it fun and interactive for those who play it. A few of the components are not as obvious as others, but they are all there. Dynamic lighting is one important component in which players can see the arrows better if the lights are dimmed. Another important component of DDR is the music elation, i.e. how well a person responds to certain types of music and their heart rate increases from it. A study done by Peter Fraenkel concluded that 70% of people prefer to play DDR to pop or techno music while 30% prefer rock and roll music (Fraenkel). According to Fraenkel, "Research has shown that more people enjoy dancing in front of video games than watching dancers on the screen. They are also more emotionally involved." In accordance to Michael M. Fox’s study on "Video Game Use in the Classroom," he found that between 15% and 25% of all students who play video games do so in class, but he also found that the other 85% adjust well to the situation and do not affect their learning (Fox, 1996).
Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) is a form of exercise. In fact, it has been shown that a player will burn up to 300 calories an hour if they keep at it for two hours straight (Silverman). The game itself was invented by Ichiro Hirata and Yousuke Kawaguchi and has been around for over ten years now. DDR comes in several versions, but the general idea behind all of them is to get people moving. For example, with the original version of DDR, players would have to step on a panel that would have arrows on it and if they stepped on the arrows in the correct pattern they would get a point. The point of DDR is to teach physical coordination since you need to have quick feet and be able to change directions quickly in order to get a "perfect" score. On top of burning calories fast, there are also other benefits such as stress relief when playing DDR.
Once you start playing this game, you will notice that your heart rate increases quickly and your body starts to sweat as well. This is because DDR is a very interactive game and it makes you feel as if you are in the middle of the action. The loud music, flashy lights, and fast moving arrows all help to get adrenaline going which in turn will help to burn more calories (Silverman).
In addition to these benefits, there are also several health risks associated with playing DDR. For example, if a person has certain heart conditions or takes medication that affects him or her physically then he or she should not play DDR. It is important to talk to your physician about your condition before you start playing the game so that he can give you more information about what is best for you (Silverman).
Fainstein suggests that people who are looking for a fun way to burn calories should try DDR. He also suggests that they should do something that he calls "DDR-ing." This is where you, or your friends, go to a public place and dance the game (Silverman). I think this would be fun because it would be a way to get your heart rate up while having some of your friends there to encourage you.
The DDR game was first made in Japan in 1987 by the names of Ichiro Hirata and Yousuke Kawaguchi. They worked together on developing the game and were both inspired by dancing when they were younger (Fainstein). Although they did not invent the game, Yousuke Kawaguchi even credits Hirata as his mentor (Fainstein). DDR was first installed in a arcade in Japan and it was so popular that it ended up becoming extremely popular in the United States.
Dance Dance Revolution is an electronic game developed by Konami. It consists of light sensors, speakers and a directional pad which requires a player to step on numbered panels to obtain points according to an assigned pattern. This game can either be played at home or at public places and the objective is obviously to play this game for as long as one could endure.
Dance Dance Revolution has been proven to be an exciting and addicting way to burn calories. DDR has even been used during a clinical trial with children with ADHD (Silverman). The study took place at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado in Denver and was designed to help those suffering from attention-deficit disorder learn new skills which are necessary for good grades. The main goal of the study was to determine whether or not this type of gaming environment would help children with ADHD get better grades. The game that was used was DDR as well as other games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. This study proved that children with ADHD became more effective in their academics after playing DDR.
DDR is an electronic game developed by Konami. It consists of light sensors, speakers and a directional pad which requires a player to step on numbered panels to obtain points according to an assigned pattern. This game can either be played at home or at public places and the objective is obviously to play this game for as long as one could endure.
This game has been proven to be an exciting and addicting way for people to burn calories. DDR has even been used during clinical trials with children with ADHD (Silverman). The study took place at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado in Denver and was designed to help those suffering from attention-deficit disorder learn new skills which are necessary for good grades. The main goal of the study was to determine whether or not this type of gaming environment would help children with ADHD get better grades. The game that was used was DDR as well as other games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. This study proved that children with ADHD became more effective in their academics after playing DDR.
DDR is played by players who step on a series of panels, which contain arrows, on a dance platform or floor pad. A panel is considered "lit" if it contains arrows pointing away from the center (dance pad).
Conclusion: Dance Dance Revolution increases calories burned and improves attention span. Recommendation for future study: DDR should be integrated into a 90 minute PE class.
Source:
Barca, Kathleen. “Dance It Out!” "The Washington Post". Exploring Education Column, 10 Oct 2005. Web. 26 Nov 2011 <http://voices.washingtonpost.com/exploringeducation/2005/10/dance_it_out_classical_.html>.
Source:
Fainstein, Susan M., “Dance Dance Revolution” "The Washington Post", Exploring Education Column, 1 Jul 2008 Web <http://voices.washingtonpost.