Richard Simmons had it wrong all along, and I'm not just talking about those sparkly Hooters shorts he wears all the time. I'm talking about Sweatin' to the Oldies: What a boring waste of time. Perhaps if he'd met Mike Rak, Richie would have learned that Oldies ain't got nothin' on Dance Dance Revolution.
Since Rak started playing the Japanese arcade dance game in the Memorial Union a month and a half ago, he has lost 17 pounds!
When I first saw Rak performing/playing DDR, I was blown away by his mastery of the craft. Not only was he keeping up with all of the blinking lights beneath him, he also was incorporating all kinds of crazy moves - including leaping over the handle bar onto the dance floor and doing a "Matrix Walk" across the game console. And when I found out how he lost all that weight, I was even more amazed. It seems DDR is the antithesis to other video games that are played indoors and lead to hemorrhoids and stomachs big enough to rest cheese doodles on.
SPM: Don't I know you?
Rak: I'm the guy who goes freestyle, but my friends call me Sora.
SPM: Do you ever get a big audience down here?
Rak: I have been known to get a couple people down here. It's mostly just my DDR buddies.
SPM: How did you get started on this?
Rak: I first saw it about two years ago. I tried it, and I lasted about three seconds. I never danced ever. I tried it again a month and a half ago. I tried it, and I just kept going - and eventually I added some fancy moves.
SPM: What sets you apart from other DDR dancers?
Rak: I know I'm not the best, but I'm the only person that puts as much into the freestyle.
SPM: Are those your Vienna cookies over there?
Rak: Yeah. Since I started DDR, I've lost 17 pounds and all of my pants are too big for me now, so I had to pick up a belt on the way to school. After that I stopped to pick up the cookies for a snack.
SPM: Holy Moley. I think you might be on to something: the Dance Dance Revolution diet. You could have your own videos and everything.
Rak: Actually, the home version of the game has a workout mode, and I was looking on the Internet and some guy lost 50 pounds.
SPM: Have you ever worked out before?
Rak: In high school I did some weightlifting and running, but I never went above or below 190 pounds.
SPM: Do you play other video games?
Rak: I like all of the popular ones like Final Fantasy, Tony Hawk and Metal Gear Solid.
SPM: Is the video game aspect part of the appeal?
Rak: Yeah, that and since I was never really able to dance, this compensates for it. Before this, the only dance I ever knew was the Macarena. Now I've even learned a little bit of hip-hop style.
SPM: Has this helped you adjust to your freshman year?
Rak: I've become relatively good friends with a lot of the DDR guys like Fluff and Jeremy.
SPM: Do you have any signature moves?
Rak: Nobody else really does any moves. I have two moves. One is on dynamite rave: I go underneath the bar, jump up and click my heels together. And the other is the spinning Matrix walk where I jump up and kick off of the console.
SPM: Are there any misconceptions about DDR?
Rak: Especially for beginners, it's definitely harder than it looks, but it's easy to pick up if you keep at it.
SPM: Do you have any tips for beginners?
Rak: Loosen up - you gotta feel the beat.
SPM: Has Dance Dance Revolution changed your life?
Rak: I'm a relatively shy, introverted guy. With this, you gotta work yourself up to try different moves in front of different people. I've found that everybody's pretty cool about it.
SPM: Do you ever dream about Dance Dance Revolution?
Rak: Once or twice I've heard the beats in my head, and it's gotten to the point where I know the words to some of the Japanese songs.
Reach the reporter at joy.hepp@asu.edu.
