Gamer culture: I can't ambi-shoulder-button
by Blake Snow 
{ Sep 7th 2006 at 1:45PM }
I have a confession to make: I'm not an ambi-shoulder-button user. That is, my left shoulder-button skills are lacking. Sure I can get by, and fortunately, most game developers usually don't rely on the "L" button for primary action tasks, but I've never been any good at using shoulder buttons with my left hand.Any other right-handers plagued with a lack of ambi-shoulder-button skills? What buttons do you find most difficult to use, if any, regardless of your dexterity?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tyler @ Sep 7th 2006 1:50PM
My right pistol always fires a little faster in Halo 2, but the left isn't far behind and I get the kills, so no complaints.
Psaakyrn @ Sep 7th 2006 1:50PM
The L3/R3 button. I never realised they even existed until GTA:SA. c.c;
socrates @ Sep 7th 2006 1:50PM
This is perhaps the most irrelevant post I've ever seen, but I can't stop laughing from the picture. Bravo!
jc @ Sep 7th 2006 1:50PM
The only button I have a problem with is the Power button... seems I can't turn off my console and get a decent night sleep.
AlloyNES @ Sep 7th 2006 1:50PM
So, you follow up "MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT COMING!!!" with "Useless blog post of the day."
Nice, Joystiq... real nice.
McWeen @ Sep 7th 2006 1:55PM
Do lefties have trouble with controllers that were desinged for the right handed placement of joysticks and D-pads?
Himrin @ Sep 7th 2006 1:52PM
I'm left handed and have no issue using the "L" or "R" shoulder buttons. Maybe I'm actually ambidextrious?
Derbeste @ Sep 7th 2006 1:52PM
Absolutely.
I could NEVER play SFII in the SNES days with the default configuration (strong attacks on the shoulders). I always had to configure the strong and weak attacks to the primary four bottuns since I rarely every used the medium attacks.
It's just odd to control direction AND attacks with the same side of your brain (and hand).
This is a case where NONE of me knows what left hand does.
Swifty @ Sep 7th 2006 1:55PM
At first, I couldn't find the 'Z' button on the GC controller and went frantic because i couldn't figure out how to play SSBM :( lol
colin @ Sep 7th 2006 2:29PM
I'm not sure how well my shoulder-button usage is. But it has bothered me that Metroid Prime: Hunters forces me to use the "L" button to fire. I'm certain that's the reason, the ONLY reason that I'm so bad at it.
rcf1105 @ Sep 7th 2006 2:05PM
My problem is similar: I just bought a PS2 (I never owned an original playstation) and for the life of me I can't get used to having two buttons up there. I keep hitting the wrong one (or both at the same time). I guess I just naturally expect that if I put my hand in the middle and press down, it will hit the shoulder button I want to press.
Emphar @ Sep 7th 2006 1:59PM
I can't really saw there is any button that really gives me any problems over any others based on being right handed. As a fellow right hander, it is a bit more natural to use the right hand so I can't always click quite as fast with my left hand but it is a very minute difference. I will admit that click and holding thumbstick buttons (crutch on Halo 2) is an endurance challenge, I can only hold it for a few minutes.
cringer8 @ Sep 7th 2006 1:57PM
The Nintendo DS has given my left index finger the practice it needs to succeed.
boots @ Sep 7th 2006 1:59PM
Holy shit, me too Blake! I thought I was the only one. I actually used to do the Hadoken with my right hand to press the left L button (don't ask) on the SNES.
I wish there was a controller like the Wii for PS3, except with all the buttons that are included right now with the PS3 controller (and maybe more in case I just want to use my right hand).
cringer8 @ Sep 7th 2006 1:59PM
@ AlloyNES
Ummm, it's a blog site...meant for discussion on gaming. Go somewhere else.
nootau @ Sep 7th 2006 2:00PM
I thought i was the only person with that problem. I had horrible trouble with the PS1/PS2 controller. I had just figured out how to deal with one shoulder button, and now there were two on each side?! my god! i still have trouble using them on occation...i also have a bit of trouble with the click buttons (R3/L3 i think).
Negativecool @ Sep 7th 2006 2:00PM
I don't have a problem with either the L or R shoulder buttons.
My only problem with shoulder buttons (This problem is only applicable to Sony's controller) is that I can't use all 4. I can only use two at a time because it just feels awkward to have all front support fingers on the ready over a button. My middle fingers usually provides support on the bottom, and my index finger usually hits the 4 shoulder buttons...
If they could design a controller somday that allows me to give the controller some support in the front and still allow all 4 fingers over the 4 buttons, I'd be set. (the 360 is about as close as it gets to solving my problem--although there are some 3rd party wireless PS2 contollers who have L2/R2 buttons that also wrap above your finger so it can be held up yet)
AlloyNES @ Sep 7th 2006 2:02PM
@cinger8
You're right. *walks away, tail between legs*
andrew smith @ Sep 7th 2006 2:03PM
depends on the game in a normal game my left shoulder buttons are lacking, but on a fighting game where i use my first and second finger for the normal buttons my right shoulder buttons are lacking.
my question is does anyone else play fighting games like that?
jopojelly @ Sep 7th 2006 2:03PM
I sliced my left index finger a while ago and loss most feeling in it, so using left shoulder buttons is a chore. I sometimes use my left middle finger and right index finger for shoulder buttons because of this, but that means my hands are twisted weirdly.
A @ Sep 7th 2006 6:19PM
hmm- never had a problem. guess those years of goldeneye and perfect dark paid off. not to mention dragging shells in mario kart 64. and shifting in world driver championship. maybe the young'ins don't have those skills. but... didn't the rest of us get enough practice?
Bob @ Sep 7th 2006 7:19PM
I hate any device that isn't nailed to the furniture. Don't like game pads, atari joysticks... they suck and always have.
WASD works for me.
CynicalMotive @ Sep 7th 2006 2:58PM
I'm a lefty and can shoulder-button with the best of them. However, I can't use dual joysticks for the life of me. My brain just can't work like that. I'm usually stuck on the sidelines while my friends play Halo.
eialba @ Sep 7th 2006 4:47PM
@ alloy,
you're totally right. wtf? i want to hear some major NEWS!
RobotTank4Ever @ Sep 7th 2006 2:18PM
The black and white buttons on the original XBox controllers (both varieties) were horrible. Moving these to the shoulder on the 360 was an obvious move.
For some reason I never quite got the N64 controller. The way you had to hold the center grip to use the analog gave my synapses all sorts of hiccups. The intellivision disc was goofy too.
Zertoss @ Sep 7th 2006 2:14PM
The N64's Z trigger was under my left finger. I guess that was when I really learned to use my left hand for things like that. It felt so natural on that controller and so awkward on the SNES before it. I too did my Hadoukens with my right hand mashing the L trigger. Now I don't have any problem using my left hand. I've even gotten to where I can use my mouse in either hand.
Thank you, N64, for making me ambidexterous.
flymolo @ Sep 7th 2006 2:36PM
I have trouble withe the left joystiq on the dualshock. It's low position gives me finger cramps.
Negativecool @ Sep 7th 2006 2:18PM
My very first game for the PS1 was Tomb Raider II.
I had only had a sega genesis 6 conroller pad before that.
Needless to say I had to learn to use all of the shoulder buttons well in order to beat the game.
Since that intimidating eduacation, I have been fine with anything ever since...still prefer Keyboard and mouse though...mmm online FPS with keyboard and mouse *gargles*
flyNN @ Sep 7th 2006 3:09PM
I'm right handed and have no problem with L1 / L2. Actually, because I often use my fingers for pushing buttons (vs. my thumb... I'm quicker with fingers), I have probs with games that are R1 / R2 intensive.
However, if the game doesn't require fast paced mashing of the face buttons (like Ratchet:Deadlocked or any driving game), then I'm ambi-shoulder button-trous.
Spencer @ Sep 7th 2006 2:23PM
Meh, my left index finger is permanently fused at an angle due to an accident with a stapler (no joke) and I don't have much trouble with the left shoulder button.
Maybe I'm just special.
Well, more special than I thought.
gok @ Sep 7th 2006 3:19PM
I'm lefty, and i dont' have any problems with any game controllers, including joysticks that i have to use with my right hand. So im ambidexterous when it comes to gaming equipment (minus mouse in the right hand) but in everything else i just cant use my right hand :) Feels so clumsy.
Dave @ Sep 7th 2006 2:33PM
I wouldn't say I ever had difficulty with using the left shoulder buttons, but it definitely didn't come as easily to me as others. Until I played Frequency, that is.
At the suggestion of a friend, I assigned left, center and right to L1, R1, and R2, respectively. By the time I finished the game, the left shoulder buttons didn't really cause me any more trouble. Go figure...
skullivan @ Sep 8th 2006 9:51PM
This is odd because even if you're right handed the majority of game control is done with your left hand (analog stick, D-pad). I've never even thought about it being an issue. Being ambidextrous (at least with a pad in your hand) just kind of goes with the territory.
I couldn't even hail a cab with my left thumb under other circumstances :p
Crummy @ Sep 7th 2006 2:37PM
Yep, L3 and R3 are pretty hard to hit in the middle of combat... they're fine for little used or non-combat functions, but binding R3 to melee in CoD2? Ow :(
Also, agreed on the Z button on the gamecube.
Ryan @ Sep 7th 2006 2:30PM
I knew being left-handed would pay off somehow.
Ragnar @ Sep 7th 2006 2:36PM
The only game I can think of that extensively used the "L" button was Earthbound (SNES). This was a button for examine/talk/use. I think I actually wore out the button from playing that game
rogue @ Sep 7th 2006 2:39PM
Weird. I've never had a problem dealing with the PS2 controller's shoulder buttons, or any control really (aside from the annoying white and black buttons on the original Xbox controller).
Thumbs ready at the thumstick/dpad/buttons, my pinky and ring fingers gripping the controller, my index and middle fingers could all be perched over the respective shoulder buttons, no problem. I wonder how much the engineers behind controllers consider this kind of thing. It seems natural to me, but I've been gaming since I was about 5... two decades ago. Sheesh.
PachuyiChomp @ Sep 7th 2006 2:48PM
I never had a problem with any shoulder buttons left or right until the 360... Now I can remember the triggers but I always seem to forget there is also a shoulder button. Not that I have a trouble pressing them per say... just trouble remembering additional buttons in a different position from the trigger buttons...
Street Fighter II on SNES fixed any issues I might have ever head using my left trigger finger. (Thanks Capcom)
ALH @ Sep 7th 2006 2:42PM
Most difficult button to use ever= THE THUMBSTRAP IN MARIO 64 DS.
I dont know my my hands are freakishly small or if the DS phat was just stupidly designed, but I honestly cannot grasp how the heck youre meant to use that thing without the corners of the console sticking into your hands. oucchh.
The non touchscreen controls werent much better tbh, having to press X in the D-pad to get up enough speed for it to be playable and A/B to jumo/attack= awkward.
DannyOB @ Sep 7th 2006 3:43PM
Hey i like this post, you should do more of these joystiq :)
As for the shoulder buttons, on the 360 pad i'm talking, i suck using them, well, when i have to use the triggers at the same time, man, i can't get used to using my middle fingers to operate the triggers, its so alien to me, anybody else have the same situation??
RogueJedi86 @ Sep 7th 2006 2:57PM
I'm a leftie so I have no problem with the infrequently-used L triggers. Though I have trouble rapidly pressing the O button on the PS2. Like in God of War, having to press it quickly to rip off one beastie's head, I could never do it. My thumb just can't tap very quick.
The problem nowadays is that the Gaming and Computer industry pretty much forces Lefties to go Righty. There are no reversed/mirrored game controllers for Lefties. The default computer Mouse setting is for the Right-hand. So after so long of using a right-handed mouse, I can't even use a Mouse with my left-hand. It's like writing with the wrong hand.
Twist @ Sep 7th 2006 4:41PM
Depends on the controller design. I hated L one the SNES controller (and so I found me one with six face buttons). I don't care for the L's on the various Playstation controllers either but I find the left trigger of the Xbox Type-S to be just fine. Haven't used the 360 controller enough to judge the left shoulder button yet though.
Tucker @ Sep 7th 2006 2:54PM
It took a little transitioning, but once I moved from the regular buttons to the shoulder buttons in Frequency/Amplitude, I started whooping ass at the game. That's a real good trial-by-fire way to get those left hand shoulder button skills down. I've never had a problem since - though I wasn't aware of a problem beforehand.
Chris Taran @ Sep 7th 2006 2:55PM
I'm left handed, but I don't have any problem with the right handed buttons. On PC games I have problems with the default setups, but I can usually configure those for my needs.
The only products that are specifically designed for right handed people that I have so much trouble with that I can't even use are scissors and computer mice.
MysticX @ Sep 7th 2006 3:05PM
Z-Targeting in games like Metroid and Zelda, no problem at all, I think its because of the position og the L-Button on the Gamecube controller and the excellent shape. It´s such a comfortable controller.
32_Footsteps @ Sep 7th 2006 3:11PM
I broke my right (dominant) hand back in 7th grade, and I learned how to use my left hand during the two months I wore a cast. After that, I had no problems using left trigger buttons. Of course, I don't recommend using this method to build dexterity in yoru left hand (somewhat ironic use of the word dexterity there).
Actually, my problem is in using my right foot in DDR and other floor pad games. I sprained it back in my junior year of high school extremely badly, and now it's signifigantly weaker than my left. I end up using my left for balance much more than my right, and I sometimes have my right lock up (extremely bad during a harder song - I've fallen off DDR pads at least 5 times).
mykie @ Sep 7th 2006 3:15PM
@MysticX
I totally agree, the Gamecube controller is the most comfortable controller ever, as it fits my [medium-sized] hands perfectly, I can play for HOURS.
Except for Metroid Prime, when in the heat of a battle while L-targeting I have a nasty habit of hitting X and rolling into a ball while trying to squeeze off a charged shot.
I think it might be intentional, but the Black/White buttons on the Xbox S Controller are placed in such a way that they are impossible for a person without contorted thumbs to use quickly in a game.
SuicideNinja @ Sep 7th 2006 3:20PM
I can use the buttons just fine. However, if turbo or boost is necessary (i.e. Tiger Woods '06) on the left side, I just use my right hand.
On Halo 2, my right hand is actually gimpy when it comes to Magnums. I have no idea why. Every other combination is fine. And I'm right handed!
If you are talking PS2 controller, then of course your left hand will be weak. It has the most uncomfortable shoulder buttons ever of all the current consoles.
Tom Watson @ Sep 7th 2006 3:24PM
I'm left/right dyslexic which means I have trouble with my left and rights, I always have to work out which ones are the left shoulders and which are the right shoulders. This is an absolute nightmare when you have to do some of those quick time events or something similar!
Rallion @ Sep 7th 2006 3:31PM
Hmm, I haven't played any games that use both sets of shoulder buttons on the PS2 since I hurt my right ring and pinky fingers a month and a half ago. That might cause some problems, as I doubt it would be comfortable to hold the controller with my middle finger up on the top. I don't think the last two fingers don't have the strength to support the controller for long anymore.
Of course, I've ALWAYS sucked at using both sets of shoulder buttons.