fingers or thumbs?

[Kid Ice]

I was playing RE4 on the PS2 the other day, and I reached one of those annoying sequences where you have to press the X-button really fast to do something. I find that when this happens in a game I have a tendency to grip the controller tightly with my left hand and tap away at the key with my right pointer finger. I can tap with my thumb pretty fast, but for some reason I feel I can achieve faster tapping using my finger. Also when I play an arcade game that requires a lot of fast button pressing, I prefer to use a real arcade stick rather than a gamepad because I feel like I can press the button faster.

What's your preference? I’m sure I’m not alone on this one…

[Vectorman0]

For fast tapping sequences with only a button or two, there is no doubt I can tap at least twice as fast with my index finger. I can't really explain what I do, but I sort of tense up my forearm and fire away.

[FantasiaWHT]

For fast tapping sequences with only a button or two, there is no doubt I can tap at least twice as fast with my index finger. I can't really explain what I do, but I sort of tense up my forearm and fire away.

I do the exact same thing. Basically, if you clench your arm muscles, your arm will shake at a very rapid pace. Using that technique, I slaughter everyone I meet in the button-mashing mini-games (like in Mario Party)

[Pantechnicon]

While using a pad I generally rely on old thumbkin, but there have been a couple instances where I've switched to an index finger to really speed things up. Big the Cat's fishing levels on Sonic Adventure come to mind as an example of index over thumb power.

[Andred]

I use the same arm muscle-tension thing as you index finger people but I hit the button with my thumb.

[Habeeb Hamusta]

I use the same arm muscle-tension thing as you index finger people but I hit the button with my thumb.

Exactly. I lock and twitch my entire lower arm...no matter how much it hurts.

[TheTrench]

For me, it´s just easier to use the index finger and much faster.

[RetroYoungen]

I'm another for the thumb. Mine's really pretty fast, never had a real problem. Hell, the only time I've ever been beat in a "triangle battle" (Dragonball GT for the PS1, the battle between energy blasts) was when my buddy his... umm... "self-pleasure" speed technique.

Yeah. A little embarrassing - for him - but hey, he won, and that's what matters, right? lol

[mailman187666]

I also use the tense my arm till it shakes method. I kick everyone's ass in any kind of button mashing game (especially Mario Pary). People don't understand how i press the button so fast.

[Poofta!]

For fast tapping sequences with only a button or two, there is no doubt I can tap at least twice as fast with my index finger. I can't really explain what I do, but I sort of tense up my forearm and fire away.

ditto.

[FaSCoRP]

fingers and thumbs. in the "comrade fight" is a must really quick response

[FantasiaWHT]

Wow never met anybody else who used the twitch method like me. I wonder if we could all have some sort of contest to see who twitches the fastest. Maybe take pictures of scores in some MP mini game...

And then there's endurance, too!

[calthaer]

I use the index finger as well. Don't usually play too many of those games...last time I remember using the technique was doing berry crushing in the Pokemon games. That was like a year ago.

[chicnstu]

If we had a button-pressing twitching contest Michael J. Fox would so win.

EDIT: yeah, that's mean...

[RegSNES]

The thumbs, my friend, it is all about the thumbs. My thumbs have gotten me out of many a tight situation. Although there have been times where I'd use my index finger, I've come to fully depend upon my thumbs to get me through whatever lies ahead.

[kaedesdisciple]

My hands and fingers can move, twist and bend in all sorts of crazy ways, and they move freakishly fast. It's almost unfair when I play people in button-masher type games. Course the only downside is that the faster my hands move, the quicker they start to hurt. Plus I know I have carpal tunnel just around the corner, so I gotta watch it.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I flick a switch. It's called the Turbo button. ;P

[Kid Ice]

I flick a switch. It's called the Turbo button. ;P

You know it's funny, for whatever reason, I've always considered any controller with a turbo feature inferior. It just seems gimmicky and tacky to me. I know it doesn't make much sense logically...at some point I became prejudiced against those types of controllers.

[bangtango]

You know it's funny, for whatever reason, I've always considered any controller with a turbo feature inferior. It just seems gimmicky and tacky to me. I know it doesn't make much sense logically...at some point I became prejudiced against those types of controllers.

They are usually cheaply made, especially a lot of the ones that came out for the Sega Genesis, which seemed to be flooded with Turbo controllers. I always hated the slow motion ones worse, though Turbo controllers sometimes came with that feature, since all they did was pause the game over and over.

[FantasiaWHT]

I LOVED using my Genesis ProPad for certain games... actually for SMS games on the power base converter- especially Golvellius and Wonder Boy II.

[eric nintendo]

For tapping sequences, I have a method involving using my index and middle fingers, alternating presses on the button really quickly.

I've never been beaten in a button mashing contest!

[RedMan01]

I use the tense your arm method when it comes to button mashing things. The only downside to that method is...well there are 2; first your hand starts to hurt then CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME or REPETIVE STRESS INJURY. Oh yeah, i can out button-tap a turbo controller by 26 button taps in a period of 10 seconds (thank you Mario Party 3 for that info).