Games - Button mashing

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	Games - Button mashing

Button mashing is the term given to repeated button presses over a short period. Most of the time, button mashing is seen in athletic and fighting video games.

Athletic games

In athletic games, button mashing is the usual way of making the athlete run or set strength. Over time, different ways of achieving this result have been tried: Epyx relied on moving the directional pad left and right (this practice is commonly called joystick wobbling) and occasionally on 360º turns, Accolade's Challenge games used only one button, while other companies (such as U.S. Gold and ATD) use two buttons. In Olympic video games based on the Summer Games, usually only technical events (diving and gymnastics), archery, shooting and others that in reality do not rely much on physical strength are free from button mashing. In games based on Winter events, button mashing usage decreases greatly, since those events are either aerobic (such as cross country) or Alpine skiing, button mashing is reserved for starts (bobsled and luge) or in speed skating.

Fighting games

In fighting games, mashing is usually a desperation tactic rather than an actual skill. Less experienced players will button mash in an attempt to do moves that require a complex series of button presses. In some games, such moves often require combining over 10 button presses in under 3 seconds. Others, like many games based on the Dragon Ball franchise, require the player to mash the button to win a "power wave" move (such as a Kamehameha). In games involving swords, like Bushido Blade or Jedi Outcast, in order to break a sword lock, the player has to press one button repeatedly.

Criticism

Sometimes, random button mashing is actually more effective than skilled button pushing. This is frustrating to skilled players, who consider button-mashing a mindless action.

There are many games that greatly rewarded the player for punching, kicking, or shooting a gun as fast as possible, which must be achieved through button-mashing.

In order to reduce wear on controllers and allow players to gain the advantages of button mashing without having to actually mash the buttons, some game controllers feature a turbo button. This easily allows the player to maximize performance in games where a single button must be pressed repeatedly, but gives no advantage in fighting games or when two buttons must be pressed repeatedly one after the other.

Some games (like Metal Gear Solid during the torture sequence) attempt to detect turbo buttons and end the game if they receive an unreasonable number of button pushes in a short time or a pattern that is too regular. In response, newer game controllers with turbo buttons feature a lower hit frequency, closer to "human" values, but still high enough to allow passing even the most difficult sequences. Most modern game devices for PCs have drivers and applications that allow the same, and can record complex button sequences for fighting games.

Modern game designers recognize that many players do not enjoy hours of button mashing to complete games. The designers often incorporate auto-fire features or power-ups that alleviate button mashing requirements in their games. Button mashing is still used in gameplay, but sparingly during climactic points, such as a tight grapple with an enemy or breaking free from a confining attack.

History and examples

Button mashing was first popularized by Track & Field in 1983. Daley Thompson Decathlon (1996) used mouse clicks and holds, but the formula proved to be only effective or rewarding while playing in a working environment, as it can be perceived as working from distance.

Probably the most recent button mashing sequence in a console game is The Warriors produced by Rockstar Games (which is based on the movie of the same name), where one can increase one's fighting stamina by performing basic gym exercise.

Capcom's Resident Evil 4 featured several sequences of button mashing incorporated in the gameplay.

As of 2006, there has been something of a resurgence of games relying extensively on button mashing, two examples being Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy in the US) and Leisure Suit Larry 8: Magna Cum Laude
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[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Button mashing ]

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