DDR: Player Class System

[Suko]

I'm bored, and that boredom has spawned ideas.

I was thinking about how a class system could be created in regards to DDR/ITG players and their abilities. I thought of a class system, and the players are ranked according to specific achievements they've accomplished in their DDR/ITG career. Since this is a brand new idea, I'm not claiming that the prerequisites I'm listing here will be perfect, but that is why I'm sharing my idea with the community. I want all players to contribute with their feedback and perhaps, just MAYBE, we can actually start something that may be adopted by the community. I'm sure there will be many people who disagree with me on certain things, so please let me hear your thoughts.

*Note: I intended this ranking system to be used in reference to arcade players. I generally didn't include anything related to playing at home, but would like anyone's input if they feel that this is an important aspect which I left out.


I'll start from the bottom ranks up.

Noob: (approximately 70% of all players)
Just as it sounds, a noob is someone who doesn't play regularly enough to be competitive, or who has never progressed beyond easy mode. They're almost always uninterested in serious competition and DDR is generally just a fun distraction for them. Players like these have no need or use for a class system, and as such, don't need any specific categorical specification. [The gaggling group of school girls who fail on Graduation light fit this category, as would the 7 year old kid who barely passes Crash! the third time in a row.]

------------------------------------------

3rd Class: (approximately 20% of all players)
Third class is the first true class ranking and the majority of serious players are classified under this category. 3rd Class players generally dance on Standard or Heavy mode and usually play (but are not limited to) the 5-9 step songs. Most of these players have not yet achieved a AA or ** ranking on any song. Also, most of these players would probably be unaware of their class status, simply because at this point, they're probably not frequent visitors to the online community sites and still play mostly at a casual level, or at home. Many members of this class have enough drive and potential to make it to 2nd Class with time and practice.

General Prerequisites for 3rd Class:
-Have achieved a full combo on a 6 step or harder song (either on Medium or Hard difficulty).
-Can pass almost any song, with a difficulty of 7 or lower, without failing.

------------------------------------------

2nd Class: (approximately 10% of all players)
This class represents the player who has a passion for the game that has propelled them noticeably above the rest. A player in the 2nd Class category is semi-competitive in their playing and is actively trying to improve their own scores, or beat the scores of their peers. Many have been playing for at least a few months or a year by this point, and would likely attend local competitions if available. These players have moved past Standard/Medium mode and now play almost exclusively in the Heavy/Challenge or Hard/Expert categories. In this class, a player's skill should be to the point where they can pass most 9 step songs, and their accuracy should be to a level where they have achieved a few AAs or *s.

General Prerequisites for 2nd Class:
-Plays almost exclusively in Heavy/Challenge or Hard/Expert mode.
-Can clear the majority of 9 step songs (not including the ITG Expert difficulty).
-Have achieved a minimum of four AAs (pre SN2 scoring) or four *s on a Hard/Challenge/Expert song, regardless of foot rating.
-Can almost always full combo songs with a difficulty of 8 or lower.

------------------------------------------

1st Class: (approximately 5% of all players)
Players with the title of 1st Class have risen above their peers in all forms of the game. Often these players are highly competitive and are constantly trying to improve their scores for themselves, or to surpass their peers. First class players have refined their game by excelling at all aspects of DDR; Accuracy, Technique, and Endurance, just to name a few. These players can score in the 95%+ on many of the songs they play, and are often able to complete all but the hardest of songs. Few make it to this point, and it often takes years of practice for a player to make it to this level. [Anyone who is upset at their score when getting a AA or ** is probably a 1st Class player. Same can be said for anyone who can pass 10 or 11 foot songs with a 95% or higher. A large number of the people on these online communities fit into this category.]

General Prerequisites for 1st Class:
-Plays almost exclusively in Heavy/Challenge or Hard/Expert mode.
-Can clear almost any song under 12 foot difficulty.
-Has AA'd or **'d most songs under 9 steps.
-Has achieved at least one (traditional) AAA or ***.

------------------------------------------

1st Class+: (approximately 3% of all players)
This is a place holder. I felt like there may need to be an additional class between 1st and Pro, since the Pros are usually so far beyond the majority of the players, yet there are many who are past 1st class. I was thinking that this class could represent the top 3% of the players out there.

General Prerequisites for 1st Class+:
-Plays almost exclusively in Heavy/Challenge or Expert mode.
-Has cleared or can clear all official stepcharts. (Vertex^2, Pluto Relinquish, etc)
-Has at least 40+ (traditional) AAAs or ***s.
-Has at least five ****'s in ITG's Hard or Expert mode or 4 FMC AAAs in SuperNova 2's Hard or Chaellenge difficulty (or an equal equivalent to these prerequisites).

------------------------------------------

Pro Class/Platinum Class/OMG UR A LEGENDZ Class: (approximately less than .5% of all players)
This is the cream of the crop. The absolute top 1%. These players are no longer mere mortals, they have transcended to a place few can follow and have become legends. This class represents players who have literally perfected the game and are known world-wide. Players like JSB, Take, Yasu, Lil Q, and MMX (and others) would fall into this category. If you qualify for this class, you probably already know it.

General Prerequisites for Pro Class: (I really have no idea what serious prerequisites should be. It almost seems pointless. Also, since I can't even imagine being this good, I have no idea what the prerequisites might be...suggestions?)
-AAAs are more comon than AAs.
-You have achieved 99% on all songs with a difficulty of 9 or less.
-You have cleared all songs in the 10 - 13 range, with a 98% or higher.
_________________

"Arcades have gone away but the culture is not gone."

DDRecall | Groovestats | Beatspace | UI Bemani Club | Suko's Shirt Shack

[Vandel.M]

wow this is really cool i like this a lot lol to the 1% of like super godly people that just seemed funny but the idea as a whole is really good
yay i fit into 2nd class now time for more training haha

[recoil56]

this feels like it would be a add-on to the points system n8 was talking about that one day. Figure he has 99 points, and the best player in the world has 100 points he would be the 1% margin. The actual ranking goes higher than 100s. I'd almost like to think the chess rating system would work, where Grand Masters are like ~2500 points, while the best computer in the world has ~4000 points (yes no actual person can win). Everyone has 800 points to start (about a 1500 rating is a pretty good person in chess btw, like the equivalent of someone who could pass Sakura, and just maybe max 300, but far way from passing Healing D-vision.) This person could almost always FC a 7 footer. This requires deeper thinking and i don't got the time right now. Curerently typing up 5 pages on Otto Hahn.
_________________

Politically Correct (JFK) wrote:

some kid devised an evil plan to make the mod have to click 3 different things and sigh to himself.

[Suko]

Using the Chess system sounds interesting. Being able to distinguish your abilities with a number relative to other players would be really easy and convenient. I myself know nothing about how it works, but it sounds like if it applied to DDR that it would be a Player vs Player ranking system. So each time you beat a player, you get 1 point. Every time you lose you deduct a point. I'm sure there is some huge flaw in my logic that would prevent it from functioning correctly or accurately, but it's fun to think about.
_________________

"Arcades have gone away but the culture is not gone."

DDRecall | Groovestats | Beatspace | UI Bemani Club | Suko's Shirt Shack

[GERARDAMO]

Seems interesting, anyway. I feel like all of the major groups are covered. The only thing bugging me is the percentages seem a little off and add up to more than 100
_________________

[That guy with the afro...]

Alright, I am two classes below Pro class (1st class). I gotta step my game up to move into pro class. Whoo. Sure I didn't get to AAA anything, yet, but I sure as hell will this year.

This is surprisingly accurate. I thought "Man, this can't be accruate. I am already up to 2nd class and I cannot fit this description. I can't possibly be in the same class as the people who play here in New York" and BAM! I was proven wrong/right.
_________________

frick YEAH BOAT!

[Slowpoke]

I was going to try to figure out what percentile I was in, until I realized the percents added up to 109%
_________________

[quote:06ffac8e40="Pamsey"]you Slowpoke, you're my hero![/quote]

[Da-Risin-Smoke]

That seems about right.

Out of 100 people, at least 1 person must be a perfectionist.
Not Spokane maybe, but perhaps Tukwila (actually they would be higher).
_________________

Knock knock.
Who's there?
I eat mop.
I eat mop, who?
Haha, you eat your poo.
Groovestats

[Vandel.M]

i like the points system and like the win a point and loose a point thing would be cool or like have matches where you can like like doudle the points you wager something like that idk and find a way you cant cheat the system lol if possible and imma think of more ideas

[That guy with the afro...]

[Vandel.M]

lol thats so true i like your idea seems a little complicated though to me but cool it would take a while

[mb41186]

I would consider myself either first class or first class plus.. probably inbetween lol..
_________________

DDRbeat.com my dance games page

[January.]

i'm second class
_________________

your rhinestone eyes are like...
factories far away.

[yukihime]

oh yay, I've passed noob and am now 3rd class!

Boy do I need a ton of practice, gah. Of course, I only started playing DDR in mid-May and ITG in late August and I am 54. So, this is gonna take a long time!

Will be very happy if I can make it to 2nd class
_________________

Live Like There's No Tomorrow,
Dance Like Nobody's Watching!

[T-14]

I'm somewhere in between 1st class+ and Pro Class. That prerequisite, getting a 98% or higher on all charts under 13, is almost impossible, but I do have every 9, 10, and 11 ***'d and I have over 125 AAA's on SuperNOVA. I'm really trying to learn double now, I'm already OK at it but I know I can pull a 97% average at least on Expert.
_________________

I'm not the best but I'm a DDR nerd.

[chennymountain]

woo i'm 1st class I never played ITG though

the point system seems kind of confusing
_________________

DDR? Did someone say...DDR? DDR?! DDR?!?!

[That guy with the afro...]

I'm thinking of the point system as something DDRecall could be. It's already 75% what I described. The only thing it's missing from what I described is...

- A system where people formally challenge each other
- Skill points based on your average of overall scores
- A foolproof way for people to gain and lose points when versing each other.

It's a shame I can't make a site for crap to make my ideas come to fruition.
_________________

frick YEAH BOAT!

[__]

First Class + and OMG PRO sort of overlap for me... so this might need some revision:

-Plays almost exclusively in Heavy/Challenge or Expert mode. [Yes]
-Has cleared or can clear all official stepcharts. (Vertex^2, Pluto Relinquish, etc) [Everything except vertex^2 because it's crap]
-Has at least 40+ (traditional) AAAs or ***s. [yes, 52 expert ***s]
-Has at least five ****'s in ITG's Hard or Expert mode or 4 FMC AAAs in SuperNova 2's Hard or Chaellenge difficulty (or an equal equivalent to these prerequisites). [I probably do - never kept track].

-AAAs are more comon than AAs. [Nobody gets more AAAs than AAs in a single day unless they want to show off - black flags on the other hand... I will go with that].
-You have achieved 99% on all songs with a difficulty of 9 or less. [Yes]
-You have cleared all songs in the 10 - 13 range, with a 98% or higher. [No, but getting there...]

The cleared all songs 10-13 with ** or higher is about right for "PRO", these are the kinds of people that would beat you at Rocky Mount. 1% is a little generous though. Going from who I see on the tournament scene, and scoring ability, ~80 people would fit into this category. It's pretty rare...[/b]

[Suko]

[pleasedon'thurtme]

I was wondering whether the class ranks should be renamed. I love the idea, but the problem I see with the names selected is that we must move the ranks up each time a new category is discovered (what was once first class might become second class). This is because the starting point (first) is set as the highest as opposed to starting with the lowest and counting up. So, I was wondering if it would be better to rename the ranks as tyro, rank one, rank two, rank three, and so on. Of course, the word tyro is sort of a working name as I foresee the problem of people not agreeing on word preference (possibilities include novice, rookie, amateur, beginner, newbie, rank zero, etc.). Perhaps, rank zero would be best then. Anyway, this is not an expert opinion, so feel free to criticize or ignore my nonsense. I am merely third class (rank one?). Oddly, I can pass a number of In The Groove nines, but I cannot pass most Dance Dance Revolution nines (I can't pass some eight-footers, yet I can consistently score an A on Matsuri Japan heavy and sometimes full combo In The Navy heavy ). I think I am used to hands and gallops now, but I have trouble with crossovers and taps/jackhammers or whatever they are called (are taps only two or three?) as well as fast jumps. Of course, this is mostly home play -- I do not believe I have ever AAed any heavy song on the arcade. I have had an idea of designing stats for players. You know how video game characters are often rated by speed, attack power, etc. I was thinking skill can be illustrated by these stats: speed, stamina, endurance, balance, coordination, agility, adaptability, sight-reading, rhythm, precision, style (flair of moves, non-essential stat). Maybe we could design a groove radar for players...
_________________

Hate only bad actions, never people themselves because they bear the potential to become the good people you want them to be.

www.stayonsync.com/forum