Remote controls are pretty rigorous devices that are designed to take a licking and keep on ticking. But that does not mean that it will keep ticking as long as it should. If you have ever experienced an April Fool’s Day controller where you press the buttons down but they seemed to have been super glued down, then chances are that controller belongs to a button masher. The ultimate in lack of skills. Every friend has them. Every game has a character designed for them. Eddie Gordo, the all time, legendary, button mashing character. Any one that has any basic knowledge of fighting games knows about this character to the point that many experienced characters will not play against an opponent if they pick this character for its high level of cheesiness.

Do yourself a favor, actually learn a few combinations, aka combos. The belief that if you frantically bang on the buttons, you will somehow unleash a super powerful special attack is a myth at best. And as long as you randomly bang on your friend’s controller, you may not be welcome to play their game again and your level of skill will never improve from its current state. Most 3 dimensional, or 3D, games, i.e. Virtua Fighter, Dead Or Alive, et cetera, have a move list within the menu options. Pause the game in the middle of a match and scroll down to the move list option.

Here are a couple secrets to be able to point button mashers and joystick breakers out of a crowd. First, experienced players usually tap the 1P button before inserting a coin to make sure that there might be a free game. Next, check to see if he holds the joystick with his entire hand in some form of GI Joe action grip and looks at the screen to see how to do the special attacks. Also look to see if he is pressing the buttons with a single finger or laying a full fledged palm down slap onto the buttons and jerking the joystick from left to right as if he is trying to take it home with him after the match. Also most experienced players like to play on 2P because it is usually less likely to be broken or sticking because most people play on the left side by habit. These are just a couple signs to find a button masher in an arcade. In a home environment, it is a little harder to spot them but you will know. Trust me.

I also have a few tricks to get a button masher to realize what they are doing. That no skill is involved. If they happen to somehow activate a special attack, ask them how they did it. Their response will most likely be, “I don’t know.” Repeat this process as you try to end the match with your most damaging combos immediately to save your controller or the joystick from any further damage. Last word of advice to button mashers everywhere...”Stop That!!!” It’s not cool. You will not develop any friendships or brownie points from your peers. Spend the time to actually learn the basics and then ask someone to teach you the more advanced moves once you have learned how to play the game and not frantically bang on the buttons.