5 lessons from practicing game play with 4 fingers

The Issue

Since I was a child, I have known about the arcade game machine with a green or red joystick that looks very much like a chicken leg, on the left are 5-6 brightly lit buttons. Living in a relatively bustling place, I rarely saw a shop like this. I still remember that sometimes when I came back from school, it felt like some invisible force pulled me inside to watch what people were playing. If I managed to save 1-2 thousand for breakfast, there was no way I would remain a spectator. It's been too long to remember every detail, but the allure of video games is real.

2008 was the first year the game Crossfire was launched in Vietnam. At that time, I was just starting middle school, and besides studying, I didn’t know what else I could do. Being a shy kid, obedient but I must admit the attraction of online games back then was too great. Once again, I was drawn into the virtual world, which also contributed to my current career path because I believed that studying Information Technology would allow me to play games freely.

I tell this to let readers see how much I "addicted to gaming" back then. It wasn't until my second year of university that I gradually stopped because the allure of games was no longer as strong as before. Looking back now, I realize I only played one game. After quitting computer games, I switched to playing some lighter mobile games. It was coincidental when a colleague invited me to play a newly released game, and in the blink of an eye, I had been attached to it for 5 years.

Recently, I accidentally downloaded a new game, with cute graphics, featuring gameplay from first-person or third-person shooting genres. Suddenly, my old passion resurfaced, a bit of nostalgia and excitement when playing. It quickly became my favorite game, replacing the old game from 5 years ago.

One thing to note when playing FPS games is speed. Just a little slow or out of sync is enough to face dire consequences. In the game, there are quite a few buttons, each button representing an action of the character such as lying down, sitting, jumping, shooting... Usually, those who are skilled, coordinate smoothly, and act quickly will have an advantage in battles where just a few milliseconds can turn the tide. In short, if you master your fingers, you will have a significant advantage.

Most mobile games with character control I play using my two thumbs, while the other 8 fingers only support holding the phone. No matter how hard I try, with just 2 fingers, I cannot press all the buttons on the screen. When watching other players, I noticed they could operate three, four fingers, or even more on the tiny screen. Seeing their interesting playstyle, I imitated them to see if there was anything good.

Setting the button positions similar to what I had seen, placing my fingers like those in the video, in practice mode, I felt I had mastered the new board in just a few minutes. Thinking I was accustomed, I entered a real match, and in the first 10 seconds, my character "died before I knew it."

The new operations I practiced seemed "familiar," but when facing the enemy, I became confused. Most of my fingers moved chaotically without any order, sometimes reverting back to controlling with just my two thumbs. I realized that when focusing on the enemy, my fingers were no longer controlled naturally, but were remembered and operated according to the previous habit.

A few weeks ago, I managed to master using 4 fingers. I could play with 4 fingers without feeling awkward anymore, something I had previously thought I would never be able to do, yet now the story had changed... Reflecting on it, I see that it wasn’t just natural talent; it required a training process, but the reason behind it is a long story. I clearly recognize 5 lessons from this experience. They apply not only to gaming but also to life and work. I think it would be better to write them down, hoping readers will recognize the message I want to convey through this article.

If You Want to Get Better, Observe and Change

While playing, I discovered that top players are very flexible, from movement to shooting actions. At that time, I thought they were cheating, as if they were using emulators on computers to play with mouse and keyboard. Indeed, there are cases like that because just searching online reveals many videos demonstrating how to play this way. But alongside that, there are still players who are skilled; why do they play better while also having just 2 hands?

It turns out they play with multiple fingers. I only accidentally discovered this while watching videos on social media. Their fingers almost covered the screen, dancing and coordinating very rhythmically. Even if I imitated them, I couldn’t do it like they did. Could it be some talent or natural gift? They have flexible hands, sharp minds, or something called memory and quick reflexes?

If you have read "Outliers," you wouldn’t jump to conclusions like that. What is often considered talent is not just natural; it requires thousands of hours of relentless practice to make someone extraordinary. If you are endowed with special abilities, you start ahead of others. Conversely, you need to make more effort if you want to achieve your goal.

I could continue to play for hundreds of hours with 2 thumbs; my reflexes might get quicker, and my actions smoother, but in the end, the limit would only be pressing 2 buttons simultaneously. Compared to players using multiple fingers, they can press many buttons at once, which gives them an advantage in battles.

Distinguishing Between Difficult and Impossible

If you think, "I can’t play with 4 fingers," then you definitely will never be able to play with 4 fingers. On the contrary, if you think, "Playing with 4 fingers is very difficult," then the story immediately shifts in a different direction. It’s very difficult, not impossible; it just requires more effort. Speaking of this reminds me of a famous saying on the Internet: "I never win the lottery, so I won’t buy a ticket." It may seem unrelated, but what I want to say is that perspective and mindset can influence the issue.

In psychology, this self-belief that "I can do it" is called self-efficacy. It directly affects whether you start or how much effort you put in and how persistent you are when facing obstacles. Instead of dismissing the problem from the start, try to place yourself in a "difficult" state; at some point, try to achieve it.

Persistence

Transitioning from two fingers to four fingers is like changing control systems; the brain has to relearn actions, and the hands have to relearn the rhythm. During this stage, feeling like you’re playing badly is normal. This is an important stepping stone in the learning process. Because not everything can be mastered on the first try; it requires repetition to memorize. This is very close to what studies about growth mindset suggest, where believing that abilities can be improved leads to greater persistence and better learning strategies.

Typically, everyone prefers tasks that they have mastered because they are safe and provide expected results. Instead of risking doing something new without knowing the outcome, it leads to boredom. The fear of change gradually shackles us in a comfort zone, making us reluctant to embrace the new.

I have mentioned the importance of persistence in many articles. Going back to it, only persistence will help people achieve significant results in the future. I firmly believe that everyone has an inherent sense of persistence; when one says they lack the persistence to do something, it's simply a misunderstanding between "difficult" and "impossible."

Having the Same Technique Does Not Mean Having the Same Skill Level

There is a truth that when I could play with 4 fingers, I still did not rank among the best players.

We must acknowledge that in any job, there are always others who perform better. Because the environment surrounding each person is different, inadvertently creating skilled individuals in one area but sometimes appearing weaker in another. There are many factors contributing to each person's success that cannot be fully discussed within the scope of this article. But let's imagine, a professional player spends more than 8 hours practicing daily compared to an office worker who only plays for 30 minutes to 1 hour in the evening. In your opinion, who plays better? Looking at the leaderboard in the game, one must ask why so many people are skilled?

Many factors contribute to their success: time, money, and learning ability. When a player invests more time, they accumulate more experience. Coupled with good learning ability, skills increase exponentially. Not to mention that in games, there are many rare items that one must spend money to acquire, enhancing the player’s strength. All of this demonstrates that good technique only helps surpass players who are not as skilled, but it is difficult to match someone who possesses technique, experience, and a conducive environment.

Knowing When to Stop

Do not let past lessons repeat themselves. Play, but know when to stop.

The win-loss mechanism in games is an addictive factor, combined with the nature of online games, which is to compete with other players. When losing or feeling the pressure to win, doubting external factors, insisting on performing better next time... only increases the time "burned" on the game, meaning there is no time left for other tasks. The repercussions are clear; you may play better, but your work remains unfinished.

Knowing when to stop does not mean rejecting ambition. Sufficient ambition creates motivation to act, pushing the limits of oneself. When ambition becomes negative, it turns into excessive desire, selfishness, using all means, harming oneself and others. At that point, it is necessary to determine when to stop. For me, gaming should be a source of entertainment; winning and losing is normal, so time should be allocated for more important tasks.

Conclusion

Through the experience of practicing game play, I have drawn many important lessons that apply not only to gaming but also to life and work. First, to become better, we need to observe, learn from those who came before, and be willing to change ourselves. Second, we need to distinguish between "difficult" and "impossible," as the belief that we can do something is the motivation to start and overcome difficulties. Third, persistence is a key factor that helps us overcome the initial awkward phase, accept failures, and continue to strive for achievements. However, having the same technique does not equate to having the same skill level, as success also depends on time, environment, and each individual's learning ability. Finally, knowing when to stop is essential to balance entertainment and responsibility, preventing ambition or competition from overshadowing and negatively affecting other aspects of life.

Gaming can be a valuable form of entertainment and learning if we know how to control and direct it properly. The lessons from practicing game play with four fingers not only helped me improve my skills in the game but also opened deeper awareness of the ability to change, adapt, and develop oneself. The important thing is to cherish the learning process, maintain patience, and know when to stop to keep balance in life. I hope you find similar values through your own experiences.

What about you? Do you play games? Have you learned any lessons you want to share with me and others? Please leave a comment. Thank you.