Cobalt Flux
Encyclopedia
Cobalt Flux is a game controller
manufacturer based in the greater Salt Lake City, Utah
area of the United States
. One notable product from Cobalt Flux is the polycarbonate
plastic and metal-based dance platform
, which is used with console
dance games such as Dance Dance Revolution
.
made of polycarbonate plastic and metal. It is used with console
dance games such as Dance Dance Revolution
.
designs. Instead of the typical four arrow plus corners panel layout as is common in soft dance pads, there are nine usable foot panels (center, left, right, up, down, and corners).
Internally, the Cobalt Flux dance platform is unique among typical hard/metal dance pad
designs. Official Dance Dance Revolution
arcade machine dance pad
s contain a hollow area beneath each panel with small sensor switches. The Cobalt Flux design contains no hollow areas. Sensor contact is achieved by the flexing of layers of lexan
panels and metal plates on a solid wood base. This results in a simple platform design and therefore increased durability.
The Cobalt Flux dance platform itself connects to a "control box", which contains the start and select buttons for the dance controller. The connection to the control box uses a 9-pin serial connector which hangs out of the top of the pad as a dongle. This control box also handles the wiring needed for different gaming console connectors, which lead off of the control box. The control box is removable.
Cobalt Flux have provided two modification kits/options for their dance platforms. One kit adds raised black textured panels to the corner panels, and more closely mimics the feel of the arcade platforms.
A demonstration of reliability is given in the youtube video, "The Cobalt Flux survives!". In the video, a Cobalt Flux dance platform being run over by several vehicles. It is then carried inside, plugged in and shown as still functioning.
style games (using four arrows), and Pump It Up
simulators (using five buttons). However, official Pump It Up
compatibility requires a separate control box, and the corner square panels are smaller than their rectangular equivalents in Pump It Up
. It is also compatible with the existing eight arrow Dance UK game
The original control box shipped with Cobalt Flux pads was designed to work only with the PlayStation 2
; many home players wanted to use the pad with an Xbox or PC, but running this control box through converters for standard PS2 controllers
usually caused an unacceptable amount of latency during play. Cobalt Flux has since released a new control box with built-in connectivity for PS2
, Xbox
, and the PC
.
There is also a special Pump It Up
version of the control box that enables the center sensor and properly maps all buttons in order to play Pump It Up
without issue. This version connects to PS2
only.
players often dislike the flat feel. The black panel modification kit that Cobalt Flux produces attempts to simulate arcade-style inset arrow panels.
Other concerns on the design include mobility and safety. The wood base adds considerable weight and bulk, although it has a slimmer profile and is lighter than arcade dance platforms. However, many buyers of Cobalt Flux dance platforms have set them up permanently.
The connection to the control box uses a cable which hangs out of the top of the pad as a dongle. If one is careless in setting down the pad it may be possible to sever this connector.
, to build your own control box. This is especially popular for the Xbox
, as a control box built with the electronics from a soft dance pad will be properly recognized as a dance pad, not a controller.
The Flux is shipped with the central panel de-activated. This central panel is used in Pump It Up
, and a procedure in the user manual describes how to activate it.
It is possible to adjust the height of unused panels by inserting a piece of cardboard or a shim underneath the panel.
Game controller
A game controller is a device used with games or entertainment systems used to control a playable character or object, or otherwise provide input in a computer game. A controller is typically connected to a game console or computer by means of a wire, cord or nowadays, by means of wireless connection...
manufacturer based in the greater Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
area of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. One notable product from Cobalt Flux is the polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
PolycarbonatePhysical PropertiesDensity 1.20–1.22 g/cm3Abbe number 34.0Refractive index 1.584–1.586FlammabilityV0-V2Limiting oxygen index25–27%Water absorption – Equilibrium0.16–0.35%Water absorption – over 24 hours0.1%...
plastic and metal-based dance platform
Dance pad
A dance pad, also known as a dance mat, dance platform, or jiffer deck is a flat electronic game controller used for input in dance games. Most dance pads are divided into a 3×3 matrix of square panels for the player to stand on, with some or all of the panels corresponding to directions or actions...
, which is used with console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
dance games such as Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution, abbreviated DDR, and previously known as Dancing Stage in Europe and Australasia, is a music video game series produced by Konami. Introduced in Japan in 1998 as part of the Bemani series, and released in North America and Europe in 1999, Dance Dance Revolution is the...
.
Intro
The Cobalt Flux dance platform is a dance padDance pad
A dance pad, also known as a dance mat, dance platform, or jiffer deck is a flat electronic game controller used for input in dance games. Most dance pads are divided into a 3×3 matrix of square panels for the player to stand on, with some or all of the panels corresponding to directions or actions...
made of polycarbonate plastic and metal. It is used with console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
dance games such as Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution, abbreviated DDR, and previously known as Dancing Stage in Europe and Australasia, is a music video game series produced by Konami. Introduced in Japan in 1998 as part of the Bemani series, and released in North America and Europe in 1999, Dance Dance Revolution is the...
.
Design
Fundamentally, the Cobalt Flux dance platform is similar to most dance padDance pad
A dance pad, also known as a dance mat, dance platform, or jiffer deck is a flat electronic game controller used for input in dance games. Most dance pads are divided into a 3×3 matrix of square panels for the player to stand on, with some or all of the panels corresponding to directions or actions...
designs. Instead of the typical four arrow plus corners panel layout as is common in soft dance pads, there are nine usable foot panels (center, left, right, up, down, and corners).
Internally, the Cobalt Flux dance platform is unique among typical hard/metal dance pad
Dance pad
A dance pad, also known as a dance mat, dance platform, or jiffer deck is a flat electronic game controller used for input in dance games. Most dance pads are divided into a 3×3 matrix of square panels for the player to stand on, with some or all of the panels corresponding to directions or actions...
designs. Official Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution, abbreviated DDR, and previously known as Dancing Stage in Europe and Australasia, is a music video game series produced by Konami. Introduced in Japan in 1998 as part of the Bemani series, and released in North America and Europe in 1999, Dance Dance Revolution is the...
arcade machine dance pad
Dance pad
A dance pad, also known as a dance mat, dance platform, or jiffer deck is a flat electronic game controller used for input in dance games. Most dance pads are divided into a 3×3 matrix of square panels for the player to stand on, with some or all of the panels corresponding to directions or actions...
s contain a hollow area beneath each panel with small sensor switches. The Cobalt Flux design contains no hollow areas. Sensor contact is achieved by the flexing of layers of lexan
Lexan
Lexan is a registered trademark for SABIC Innovative Plastics' brand of polycarbonate resin thermoplastic. Polycarbonate polymer is produced by reacting bisphenol A with carbonyl dichloride, also known as phosgene. Lexan is the brand name for polycarbonate sheet and resin in a wide range of grades...
panels and metal plates on a solid wood base. This results in a simple platform design and therefore increased durability.
The Cobalt Flux dance platform itself connects to a "control box", which contains the start and select buttons for the dance controller. The connection to the control box uses a 9-pin serial connector which hangs out of the top of the pad as a dongle. This control box also handles the wiring needed for different gaming console connectors, which lead off of the control box. The control box is removable.
Aesthetics
The Cobalt Flux dance platform is often used with shoes, as is common on traditional arcade dance platforms.Cobalt Flux have provided two modification kits/options for their dance platforms. One kit adds raised black textured panels to the corner panels, and more closely mimics the feel of the arcade platforms.
Reliability
Cobalt Flux dance platforms are considered to be among the most reliable according to dance game enthusiasts, however there are also anecdotes of less than high reliability.A demonstration of reliability is given in the youtube video, "The Cobalt Flux survives!". In the video, a Cobalt Flux dance platform being run over by several vehicles. It is then carried inside, plugged in and shown as still functioning.
Game and System Compatibility
The pad is compatible with both DDRDance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution, abbreviated DDR, and previously known as Dancing Stage in Europe and Australasia, is a music video game series produced by Konami. Introduced in Japan in 1998 as part of the Bemani series, and released in North America and Europe in 1999, Dance Dance Revolution is the...
style games (using four arrows), and Pump It Up
Pump It Up
Pump It Up, commonly abbreviated as PIU or shortened to just Pump, is a music video game series currently developed by Nexcade and published by Andamiro, a Korean arcade game producer. The game is typically played on a dance pad with five arrow panels: up-left, up-right, bottom-left, bottom-right,...
simulators (using five buttons). However, official Pump It Up
Pump It Up
Pump It Up, commonly abbreviated as PIU or shortened to just Pump, is a music video game series currently developed by Nexcade and published by Andamiro, a Korean arcade game producer. The game is typically played on a dance pad with five arrow panels: up-left, up-right, bottom-left, bottom-right,...
compatibility requires a separate control box, and the corner square panels are smaller than their rectangular equivalents in Pump It Up
Pump It Up
Pump It Up, commonly abbreviated as PIU or shortened to just Pump, is a music video game series currently developed by Nexcade and published by Andamiro, a Korean arcade game producer. The game is typically played on a dance pad with five arrow panels: up-left, up-right, bottom-left, bottom-right,...
. It is also compatible with the existing eight arrow Dance UK game
The original control box shipped with Cobalt Flux pads was designed to work only with the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
; many home players wanted to use the pad with an Xbox or PC, but running this control box through converters for standard PS2 controllers
DualShock
The DualShock is a line of vibration-feedback gamepads by Sony for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 video game consoles. The DualShock was introduced in Japan in late 1997, and launched in the North American market in May 1998...
usually caused an unacceptable amount of latency during play. Cobalt Flux has since released a new control box with built-in connectivity for PS2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
, and the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
.
There is also a special Pump It Up
Pump It Up
Pump It Up, commonly abbreviated as PIU or shortened to just Pump, is a music video game series currently developed by Nexcade and published by Andamiro, a Korean arcade game producer. The game is typically played on a dance pad with five arrow panels: up-left, up-right, bottom-left, bottom-right,...
version of the control box that enables the center sensor and properly maps all buttons in order to play Pump It Up
Pump It Up
Pump It Up, commonly abbreviated as PIU or shortened to just Pump, is a music video game series currently developed by Nexcade and published by Andamiro, a Korean arcade game producer. The game is typically played on a dance pad with five arrow panels: up-left, up-right, bottom-left, bottom-right,...
without issue. This version connects to PS2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
only.
Design Concerns
The design of the standard dance platform allocates for each panel to be at the same height, with a small gap between each panel. Experienced arcadeVideo arcade
An amusement arcade or video arcade is a venue where people play arcade games such as video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, merchandisers , or coin-operated billiards or air hockey tables...
players often dislike the flat feel. The black panel modification kit that Cobalt Flux produces attempts to simulate arcade-style inset arrow panels.
Other concerns on the design include mobility and safety. The wood base adds considerable weight and bulk, although it has a slimmer profile and is lighter than arcade dance platforms. However, many buyers of Cobalt Flux dance platforms have set them up permanently.
The connection to the control box uses a cable which hangs out of the top of the pad as a dongle. If one is careless in setting down the pad it may be possible to sever this connector.
Additional Versions
Commercial and school versions of the Cobalt Flux are sold which add additional trim to the pad. The commercial version is intended to be fixed in place and have shock absorbing material included to lessen joint strain. The heaviest duty commercial mat is built to US military specification and has a four year warranty. School platforms have handles as these tend to be set up and packed away.Modification
It is possible, with knowledge of the dance platform's pinoutPinout
In electronics, a pinout is a cross-reference between the contacts, or pins, of an electrical connector or electronic component, and their functions.- Purpose :...
, to build your own control box. This is especially popular for the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
, as a control box built with the electronics from a soft dance pad will be properly recognized as a dance pad, not a controller.
The Flux is shipped with the central panel de-activated. This central panel is used in Pump It Up
Pump It Up
Pump It Up, commonly abbreviated as PIU or shortened to just Pump, is a music video game series currently developed by Nexcade and published by Andamiro, a Korean arcade game producer. The game is typically played on a dance pad with five arrow panels: up-left, up-right, bottom-left, bottom-right,...
, and a procedure in the user manual describes how to activate it.
It is possible to adjust the height of unused panels by inserting a piece of cardboard or a shim underneath the panel.