How to hit arcade buttons faster/button mashing techniques

truck-a-sauras

We have quite the contest at work playing the old Track & Field game on the arcade cabinet. In order to get the upper hand in this battle I must find a method in which to slam on arcade buttons faster. How do you guys button mash?

I have two techniques which are pretty solid, but not good enough to break world records.

1. hold my thumb firmly against my index finger forming a little beak in which to peck at the button.

2. turn my hand sideways and stick out my index and middle finger like a doctor about to probe you. then try and vibrate my arm rapidly while striking the button with the side of my middle finger.

Any other styles out there that can produce a blindingly fast button press with a short stroke?

I really want that Long Jump record back. Had the #1 record with 8.86 meters, but now that is bumped down to 3rd with the top record being 9.01 meters.

Chanus

Masturbate frequently.

You know... to build up endurance.

Khavall

So often on piano, I'm faced with single note rhythms that are far too fast to play on a single finger. I remember playing those from about the age of 10 or so. So I learned how to quickly, well, press buttons.

Use more than one finger. Quickly alternate between index and middle finger. That way they only need to be able to move half as fast to be able to hit the buttons. Or use middle, index, and thumb. Make sure they're all hitting the buttons and make sure they're getting off the buttons in time for the button to go back up.

Some people do some shit with a spoon. That's a dumb way. This is the smart way.

Madpanda

I actually use your number 2 method on arcade pads, for game pads i curl my index finger and use my knuckle. I actually get a few bruises with this method, suspiciously near the release of any god of war game.

Have you tried using index fingers on both hands to drum as it were? I haven't played track and field so I don't know how much control you need over the stick.

EggyToast

Remember, too, that these games rarely care how hard you press the buttons. You don't need to slam on it to register, and you'll be a lot faster if you essentially "bounce" rather than "slam slam slam slam"

Improvolone

I find that I can button mash faster if i curl up my fingers a little and move my whole hand using my wrist, rather thaan move the finger on its own.

KidDynamite

Dude, I am going to impart some game changing skills on you.

A Bic lighter

I usually hold it like I would an aerosol can (this is hard to describe)
The roundy shape is perfect for both one and two button mashing. If one, just put it to the side, and then shake, if two put it in the middle and shake.

Never tried on arcade buttons alas, but gauranteed on NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1/2/3, and xbox to mash up to 20% better after application.

KidDynamite

Khavall wrote: »

Use more than one finger. Quickly alternate between index and middle finger. That way they only need to be able to move half as fast to be able to hit the buttons. Or use middle, index, and thumb. Make sure they're all hitting the buttons and make sure they're getting off the buttons in time for the button to go back up.

Some people do some shit with a spoon. That's a dumb way. This is the smart way.

Interesting... the logic is sound.

Scroffus

When I've needed to button mash with a controller, I've usually went for the sleeve method. Pull your sleeve over your hand and use it to rub really quickly over the button. The downside is that you sometimes end up pushing one of the other buttons by accident, but you can get by that with a bit of positioning. It's also a good way to put all thouse years of masterbating to good use.

Sir Red of the Manti

For Track and Field specifically I've seen people use thin metal rulers, strumming them over a button with fairly rapid results.

Kai_San

The two finger method has gotten me far in my gaming career.

In the balloon minigame back in the simpsons arcade game, I could anhillate anyone sometimes by even twice the amount.

I mean really. You effectively double your mashing speed give or take. It starts to be about how fast the button can move and not your fingers.

Esh

When I was a kid and this was in the arcade (dating myself), some of the other kids would use two pencils to whack the buttons. I have no idea how this worked, or what the logic was, but that memory was just dredged up by this thread.

Blake T

KidDynamite wrote: »

Dude, I am going to impart some game changing skills on you.

A Bic lighter

I usually hold it like I would an aerosol can (this is hard to describe)
The roundy shape is perfect for both one and two button mashing. If one, just put it to the side, and then shake, if two put it in the middle and shake.

Never tried on arcade buttons alas, but gauranteed on NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1/2/3, and xbox to mash up to 20% better after application.

You need to scale this up for arcade machines.

Get an empty plastic coke bottle.

You can 'wave' it back and forth the buttons faster than you can press them.

starmanbrand

I use a the three finger beak- Middle on top of index, sandwiching it against my thumb.

Rhan9

Holy crap. We have Track & Field on an arcade cabinet in our break room. And I've been having this exact same problem. Uncanny.

VThornheart

My brother's the fastest button masher I have ever met (who didn't use the aid of a physical tool ), and his primary technique is somewhat similar in theory to yours but different in practice.

He holds his thumb in a wedge much like you described, but he then slides it quickly back and forth on the button, basically like you were strumming a guitar. In games like Mario Party, he is nigh invincible with that technique. I've not seen him try it in an arcade, but I imagine it would come to similar effect. Hopefully this technique will help you.

truck-a-sauras

VThornheart wrote: »

My brother's the fastest button masher I have ever met (who didn't use the aid of a physical tool ), and his primary technique is somewhat similar in theory to yours but different in practice.

He holds his thumb in a wedge much like you described, but he then slides it quickly back and forth on the button, basically like you were strumming a guitar. In games like Mario Party, he is nigh invincible with that technique. I've not seen him try it in an arcade, but I imagine it would come to similar effect. Hopefully this technique will help you.

gotta try this today and the 3 finger beak. I'm really looking for a method that doesn't require the aid of a tool. To me it cheapens the personal achievement if I can't do it myself.

tried another method with varying success, but not a guaranteed staple. The buttons on our arcade cabinet are concave, so what I tried is pressing down on the outer rim of the button with two fingers of one hand and put it down as far as possible without registering a button press. Then with the other hand just did a single finger peck at the button. It helped a bit as it aids you in making the shortest button stroke possible, but with the frenzied action my guide hand often lost placement.

The alternating two finger method I just think I'm limited physically from moving as fast as is required.

As it is summer I don't have nice long sweater sleeves to pull over my hand and use the wiping/rubbing technique. I've used that in the past to great success and it is clearly the most dominant technique when you have the convex style buttons, the concave buttons though still it works good, but the friction and chafing ewww. I might be bold enough to try this a bit today and see how painful it is.

truck-a-sauras

Rhan9 wrote: »

Holy crap. We have Track & Field on an arcade cabinet in our break room. And I've been having this exact same problem. Uncanny.

put up any good records yet?

yesterday I got 89 meters on the hammer throw

Twin Galaxies Tournament rule for Track & Field- "Tool usage" of any kind to assist in game control is not permitted; only bare skin on controls is allowed.

Sure I'm not in a tournament, but like a I said before there is a self satisfaction to doing it without the aid of implements. Guess using a sweater sleeve is cheating too due to this. We take this shit seriously yo :P

too bad the world records on that site are a bit sporadic. For Arcade or MAME they only list total score, not individual events. Seeing one record there though for 91 meters on hammer throw though. I'm not far off.

Rhan9

truck-a-sauras wrote: »

Rhan9 wrote: »

Holy crap. We have Track & Field on an arcade cabinet in our break room. And I've been having this exact same problem. Uncanny.

put up any good records yet?

yesterday I got 89 meters on the hammer throw

Twin Galaxies Tournament rule for Track & Field- "Tool usage" of any kind to assist in game control is not permitted; only bare skin on controls is allowed.

Sure I'm not in a tournament, but like a I said before there is a self satisfaction to doing it without the aid of implements. Guess using a sweater sleeve is cheating too due to this. We take this shit seriously yo :P

too bad the world records on that site are a bit sporadic. For Arcade or MAME they only list total score, not individual events. Seeing one record there though for 91 meters on hammer throw though. I'm not far off.

Hell yeah, hammer throw. 90.something meters. Then the cabinet bugged out and after reset the most recent records were wiped. The record is now 88 or something like that.

I really suck at all the events that require tapping though(pretty much all of them ). I qualify, but I don't reach anywhere near the scores a few other guys do.

truck-a-sauras

today my main competition blew everyone out of the water in the long jump. put up like a 9.36 and was only one bar away from full power I think.

I can't even fathom what it would look like to reach full power someone hitting the button that fast. At this point I believe it really depends on the physical build of the machine itself. Our cabinet is fine, but totally constructed by people here at work. There are known issues with the track ball and we recently had to replace a stick. with the abuse we are giving it with Track & Field I think we'll have to redo the buttons soon. Maybe we could find something to make them a bit more springy.

so far I'm yet to find a method to increase speed. methinks my old bones just don't want to move that quickly.

truck-a-sauras

Rhan9 wrote: »

Hell yeah, hammer throw. 90.something meters. Then the cabinet bugged out and after reset the most recent records were wiped. The record is now 88 or something like that.

I really suck at all the events that require tapping though(pretty much all of them ). I qualify, but I don't reach anywhere near the scores a few other guys do.

yeah same here. tapping events I'm fine, but slowly getting pushed off all those leader boards. Hammer throw and High Jump I can't be touched yet. my days of glory are quickly coming to a close though.

GPIA7R

I read the title expecting to come in here and impart a gem of wisdom and skill upon you...

But you already do it.

Yeah, the two-finger "beak" with the vibrating arm. I just tense my arm up really tightly and the vibration just happens. Yeah, you look like a physically challenged kid with some sort of disability... but it works.

I've heard of people using pens and sharpies horizontally on the button, then shaking it wildly side-to-side... never tried though. Probably best for dome/recessed buttons, rather than the chunkier arcade-style ones.