Dance Dance Revolution (video game)
Produced by Konami and introduced in 1998

Game Summary:
This game is played with your feet. Standing on either a platform (at an arcade) or on a mat (at home), players tap arrows in time with the beat of a song, as the arrows scroll from the bottom to the top of the screen. Players must hit the correct arrow at the exact time it crosses over a set of stationary arrows at the top of the screen. Missing too many notes will cause the song to stop and the player will fail.

Critical Evaluation:
I can see why people like this game, I just had a really hard time with it. First of all, the songs were incredibly annoying--either techno or disco songs that I had never heard, which made it hard to get the rhythm down. Secondly, I'm just plain uncoordinated and could barely make it through a song on the easy level. And really, the easy level does not offer much in the form of exercise, so that wasn't reason enough for me to play. However, it was very entertaining watching others play, especially the ones who were really good at it and made it actually look like they were dancing.

Player’s Annotation:
Let's go dancing! Dance Dance Revolution will get you grooving in no time.

Information about the Producer:
Konami is a leading Japanese developer of a number of games and toys. It was founded in 1969 as a jukebox rental and repair company in Osaka, Japan.

Genre: video games

Curriculum Ties: none

Gametalking Ideas:
This game needs no introduction for most teens. I would explain how it works, how to get situated on the pad, choose a song, and make sure you hit the correct arrow at the precise time.

Interest Age:
This game is appropriate for all ages, tweens through older teens would enjoy playing it.

Challenge Issues:
I can't imagine this game being challenged except for people who don't like games being in the library at all, or by those whose religion prohibits dancing. I would explain the library's selection policy and let the challenger fill out a complaint form.

Why I chose this game:
I chose this game because I had students who loved to play it, and I've also read about libraries using it for game nights and getting a big crowd of teens who might not regularly use the library.