Dance Praise

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This article is about the computer game series. For the first game in the series, see Original Dance Praise

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The Dance Praise series consists of various dance music video games published by Digital Praise. These games use contemporary Christian music to promote a positive message to listeners. The lyrics can also be read while dancing.

[edit] How to play

This game is played similarly to other dance games, such as Dance Dance Revolution or StepMania. Arrows scroll from the top of the screen to the bottom, and enter a target zone before disappearing. The game is played with a dance pad, requiring the feet to press on the arrows that enter the target zone.

When a player successfully hits an arrow that shows up near or in the target zone, the score increases, and a judgement (Perfect, Great, Good, Almost, and Missed) is momentarily displayed to indicate timing accuracy. An arrow pressed at the accurate time will receive points, and will increase the player's life, shown in the life bar.

However, if one misses (or presses the arrows too early or too late), the player gains very few if any points, and life decreases. An empty life bar will generally end the game, but an option allows one to finish the song, despite an empty bar.

[edit] Differences from other dance games

[edit] Music and steps

The Dance Praise series most notably differs from other dance games in that all the songs are from the Contemporary Christian genre in various styles. Games in the series include 52 songs written in a proprietary step format; the only songs and steps that can be added to the game come in form of Expansion Packs, which must be purchased separately. Open source dance games such as StepMania, on the other hand, allow players to create custom step files for any song, and some proprietary games, such as those from the In the Groove series, allow users to import custom songs.

[edit] Arrows and target zone

In StepMania, the arrows generally scroll from the bottom to the top.

In Dance Praise, the arrows always scroll from the top to the bottom.

During a dance session in a game from the Dance Praise series, another difference that can be noticed is that the arrows scroll in a different position (see images).^[1] Unlike other dance games, all arrows carry the same colors. This makes it harder to hit the arrow at the right time, since in other dance games, arrows are colored differently, to indicate at what time they must be hit. ^[2]

The target zone in the Dance Praise series also has a thick border, designed to help users hit the arrows at the right time, which is not the case in other dance games, which instead include a gray reproduction of the four arrows.

[edit] Game announcer

While games such as Dance Dance Revolution discourage new or unexperienced gamers with excessive booing^[3], games in the Dance Praise series instead encourages dancers.^[4]

[edit] Monitor and television support

None of the games in the Dance Praise series offer an arcade or console edition; only a PC and Mac edition is available. This can cause trouble to one who sets up a computer in a bedroom or office, as the only current method to connect this game to a television set involves connecting either a composite or an S-Video cable between the computer and the TV. ^[5] Also, an adapter and audio cables are required to play sound from the television speakers. ^[6]

[edit] Games

[edit] Original Dance Praise (September 2005)

Main article: Original Dance Praise

Original Dance Praise, formerly known as Dance Praise, was the first game in the series, released on September 29, 2005. ^[7] It has low system requirements and for this reason it can be played on most older computers. There were 52 songs initially available, featuring artists such as ZOEgirl and Steven Curtis Chapman.

[edit] Dance Praise Party (May 2007)

Dance Praise Party is the first and currently the only dance game capable of supporting 10 simultaneous players. Since it is based on the Original Dance Praise, it offers a similar interface. The package costs over 2000$, and the only way to obtain it is by calling Digital Praise or visiting their online store.^[8]

[edit] Dance Praise 2: The ReMix (November 2007)

Main article: Dance Praise 2: The ReMix

Dance Praise 2: The ReMix includes many new features not available in the previous game. It comes with 52 new songs, and now features animated backgrounds, dancing characters, and a new interface. Its system requirements are also higher, requiring a 1 GHz processor and 32MB of video RAM.

[edit] Expansion Packs

The seven expansion packs currently available for the Dance Praise series.

The Dance Praise series does not officially allow users to create custom step files for the game, but instead offers 7 expansion packs. Each of them adds 35 songs to the Original Dance Praise or Dance Praise 2: The ReMix.^[9]

[edit] Modern Worship

Songs by Steven Curtis Chapman, ZOEgirl, David Crowder Band and more can be found in this pack.^[10]

[edit] Hip-Hop/Rap

Popular hits from GRITS, tobyMac, DJ Maj and more can be added to Dance Praise with this pack.^[11]

[edit] Rock and Pop Hits

Artists featured in this pack are Relient K, Stacie Orrico, Rebecca St. James, and many others.

[edit] God Rocks!

This is the only expansion pack featuring all songs performed by the same artist - God Rocks!

[edit] Praise and Worship

[edit] Contemporary Hits

Generally includes latest hits, but with some exceptions (for example, "Forward Motion" from Relient K's Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do and "One Girl Revolution" from Superchic[k]'s Karaoke Superstars^[12]). A "Simon Says" mini-game is also available, but can only be used with Dance Praise 2: The ReMix. ^[13]

[edit] Top Hits (April 2008)

This can currently be purchased from Digital Praise and third-party stores such as Amazon.com, and Dance Praise 2:The ReMix users will be able to play a "Rock 'n Block" mini-game. Original Dance Praise users, however, cannot access the mini-game.^[14]

[edit] Free Add-On

Digital Praise has also released a free add-on, which can be used in both Dance Praise 2: The ReMix and the Original Dance Praise. The songs "Get In The Game" and "One Choice" from Altared Life can be played after installing the add-on. It can be downloaded from the company's website by registering either product, which requires the user to fill out personal information. The add-on also slightly modifies the appearance in the Original Dance Praise. ^[15]

[edit] See also

Original Dance Praise, released in September 2005.
Dance Praise 2: The ReMix, released in November 2007.
Christian video games

Other dance games:

[edit] References

v • d • e Digital Praise

Dance Praise series	Original Dance Praise \| Dance Praise Party \| Dance Praise 2: The ReMix

Dance Praise Expansion Packs	Modern Worship \| Hip-Hop/Rap \| Pop & Rock Hits \| God Rocks! \| Praise and Worship \| Contemporary Hits \| Top Hits

Other games	Veggietales Dance Dance Dance \| Solomon Says \| Light Rangers series \| Adventures in Odyssey series \| Hermie and Friends series