Konami had its reasons: America’s arcade scene was declining, and tumultuous lawsuits had nibbled at the company's resources and manpower.Īmerican arcade visitors had trouble finding reliable DDR machines. He says it was a dream come true.įor the decade prior, it was almost impossible to imagine an American taking home the DDR title, even one as rhythmically prolific as Chike, who gained notoriety for becoming the first player to 100 percent “Through the Fire and the Flames” on Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock.Īfter the arcade release of DDR USA in 2000, Konami effectively cast off the majority of the North American dance game scene, much to the disappointment of the local DDR fanbase. “I’m taking the title back to America,” Chike said onstage after being presented the championship trophy. Moments later, as the four top players embraced each other on the awards stage, the competition’s host shouted into his microphone, and scores flashed onto the screen behind them.Ĭhris Chike had become the first American DDR champion, 6005 to his rival’s 5974 points. After Felker lost in the preliminaries, it was up to Chike and Lloyd to take the title home, with the pair following FEFEMZ by less than 40 out of 3,700 points.Īfter a blistering final performance by Chike and FEFEMZ, anxiety and exhaustion had so riddled Chike’s mind that he wasn’t even sure who had won.

They faced stiff competition from experienced professionals from Japan, Korea and Taiwan, including former KAC champion “FEFEMZ.”Ĭhike, Lloyd and Felker spent their days preparing any way they could: Playing friendly exhibition matches with competitors around Japan, finding arcades off the beaten path, and burning calories by running up flights of stairs just outside the competition hall. For the first time in the Konami Arcade Championship’s six years, Americans were allowed to compete for the title of Dance Dance Revolution world champion. The three young competitors had the chance to make history. What started as simple hangouts with friends or family vacation diversions became a passion shared with thousands of others, one they’d dedicate their entire selves to, despite the company responsible nearly allowing it to perish.

For Chris Chike, Jeff Lloyd and Hudson Felker, the moment had been over a decade in the making.

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