Editing StepMania (section)

==Gameplay==
The primary game type features the following game play: as arrows scroll upwards (or downwards if the player has selected the "Reverse" scroll modifier) on the [[Display device|screen]], they meet a normally stationary set of target arrows.  When they do, the player presses the corresponding arrows on their keyboard or [[dance mat]]. The moving arrows meet the targets based on the beat of the song. The game is scored based upon how accurately the player can trigger the arrows in time to the beat of the song. The player's efforts are given a letter [[Grading in education|grade]] and a number score that tell how well they have done. An award of AAA+ (triple A plus, formerly AAAA or quadruple A) is the highest possible award available on a standard installation and indicates that a player has triggered all arrows with "Flawless" timing (within 0.0225 seconds under official [[Computer configuration|settings]]) and avoided all mines and completed all hold (freeze) arrows. An E indicates failure for a player to survive the length of the song without completely draining their life gauge. Default scoring and grading for ''StepMania'' is similar to scoring in ''Dance Dance Revolution''; however, timing and scoring settings can easily be changed.

During a song, if the player successfully triggers all arrows with "great" or better timing, the player will receive the message "Full combo" alongside their grade. Players can also achieve "Full perfect combo" for completing a song with all arrows triggered with perfect timing or better, and a "Full flawless combo" if all arrows are triggered with "flawless" timing.

''StepMania'' allows for several input options. Specialized adapters that connect console peripherals like [[PS2]] and [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] controllers or dance pads to one's computer can be used. Alternatively, the [[Keyboard (computing)|keyboard]] can be used to tap out the rhythms using arrow or other keys. Many song charts designed for keyboard are unable to be passed using a pad. In addition, the game possesses the capability to emulate other music games, such as ''[[Beatmania]]'' itself, o2Jam and [[DJMAX|''DJMax'']]'s 7-key arrangement, [[Pump It Up (video game)|''Pump It Up'']] and [[Techno Motion|''TechnoMotion'']] - scoring however, remains similar to old DDR-style play by default (i.e. more weight is given for later notes).