A new videogame craze has many high school and college students dancing their way to the arcade.

According to keepdancing.com, “Dance Dance Revolution,” or “DDR,” is an innovative dancing simulation game that challenges a player’s coordination with its combination of music and rythym.

“DDR” was created in the late 1990s by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. and has been enthralling gamers ever since.

Some people might have seen a look-alike “DDR” featured in a Nike running shoe commercial or the game itself on the Fox sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle.”

Justin Evans, a freshman in computer science and engineering, said he learned about the game on a ski trip three years ago, and has been obsessed ever since.

“One of my friends already knew how to play, and he said ‘try it’ and I got hooked,” Evans said.

“DDR” players stand on a platform with four arrows pointing in different directions, each facing a screen with corresponding arrows. The player then selects a song and difficulty level. Players then must the follow the arrows on the screen by matching the sequence on the pad. Play continues until the song ends and the participant is awarded a grade anywhere from an “AAA” for a perfect score to an “E” for a poor performance. The player with the better score wins, Evans said.

Patrick McCormack, an undecided freshman, said after a lot of practice it becomes normal to get perfect scores on songs.

“If you use a song long enough, you will eventually learn how to do it right,” McCormack said.

McCormack said he discovered the game in eighth grade when one of his friends imported a “DDR” system from Japan.

“That was the first time I saw it,” McCormack said. “But I have only been playing (the game) for two years.”

McCormack, who plays a couple of times a week, said “DDR” is a good way to kill time and boredom.

“It’s fun, it keeps you occupied and it’s something to do,” he said.

Evans, who plays three to four times a week, said playing the game makes him want to come back and play more.

“It’s a very addictive game,” Evans said. “But it is also a hobby.”

Both Evans and McCormack said while they enjoy playing “DDR” with friends, they also compete in tournaments.

Evans said he has traveled to contests in Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York, one of which had a top prize of $1,000.

“I have won about four or five (contests),” Evans said.

At a contest, Evans said, there are usually 20 to 30 contestants, but at one with a large prize there could be hundreds of competitors.

While there is a home version of “DDR” available for Playstation 2, Evans and McCormick said the best place to play is Magic Mountain East at Easton Town Center.

“That’s where all my friends go,” Evans said.

McCormack said he also enjoys going online to trash talk with fellow competitors in chat rooms and message boards on www.ohioddr.com.

“It’s where all the players in Ohio go to talk to each other,” McCormack said.

The Web site posts results from local tournaments and has news from throughout the world of “DDR.”

There are many more advantages to playing “DDR” than just the satisfaction and the prizes, Evans said.

“I’m in great shape,” Evans said. “It keeps your legs in great shape, just like if you do a bunch of running.”