[Health] Pad users and thumb blisters?

[cyanprime]

Okay, so this topic might seem a little dumb, but I'm honestly curious about when the point of "stop being a sissy" becomes the "I need to take a break for a week or so or I'll mess up my thumb." Now I know blisters don't have long term effects, but I'm starting to get one on my thumb (around the middle of it) just from a day of playing GGAC+R on my Dual Shock 3, so I think I'll be getting a lot of them until I get a calus there (Which I'm thinking is a good thing, kinda like a guitar player?)

So, my question is: at what point do you take a break to let your thumb heal up, and what are things you can do to prevent blisters?

Also, I've ordered a Hori Gem Pad 3, and am wondering if that + dpad would cause less blisters then the Dual Shock 3's dpad?

[Dark Ranger88]

I ran into this problem when BB became a PS3 exclusive and I had to switch consoles.

 

I can't really put an exact timetable on it, but eventually your thumb will get a callus on it, which will allow you to play pretty much indefinitely without any pain. I'd give it a few weeks to a month or maybe more before it fully develops though.

 

However, developing a blister where you want to get a callus is a bad thing, because opening the blister could cause the old skin to rip off. Then you'll have to start over, building a callus with the newly exposed skin. And then there's simply the pain factor. Playing with a blister probably hurts like a mother, and you shouldn't make yourself suffer when there's no need to.

 

You should simply stop playing whenever your thumb starts to hurt and you feel pain. I know FGs can be really addicting, but you just have to put them down until your thumbs can handle it long term. I would take a break for a few hours whenever I started to get mild pain, and I never got a blister on my D-pad thumb.

 

 

 

As for your current situation though (already having a blister), I think you should let that thing heal before seriously playing long sessions. Or you could use the tip of your thumb until the middle heals.

 

Or get a fight stick

Good luck.

[Celerity]

The best thing is what guitar players do: apply some rubbing alcohol to your thumb for about 10 minutes, 3-4 times a day, preferably after long sessions. This will dry out the skin and develop a callus more quickly. Once you have it, you're set for life, unless you take a break from fighting games like I just did. >_>

[Osuna]

I put my thumb in the center of the pad and tilt it instead of rubbing my thumb all over it. A lot of people apply more tension and force than is reasonably necessary. If you are using dualshocks also try as many controllers as you have access to. Some are much more comfortable than others. This doesn't solve the problem exactly, but I find everything helps.

[Stellarcircle5]

Just be a trooper like me and use the analog stick. It's not bad at all. Pad induced injuries become a non-issue.

[TeeJay]

I put my thumb in the center of the pad and tilt it instead of rubbing my thumb all over it. A lot of people apply more tension and force than is reasonably necessary. If you are using dualshocks also try as many controllers as you have access to. Some are much more comfortable than others. This doesn't solve the problem exactly, but I find everything helps.

I'm gonna experiment with that just to see how it feels in general. It might make my street fighter pad alternate to my stick better. 

[Poultrygeist]

I find that the newer a controller is, the more uncomfortable it is.  Just break it in, eventually your hands will adjust and the pad will feel nice and smooth.  

[pokerus12]

Just be sure not to break the controller. I did that with P4A when I got it and not only did my thumbs hurt, but the down input doesn't work as often.

[D.R.F.]

Just be a trooper like me and use the analog stick. It's not bad at all. Pad induced injuries become a non-issue.

I really want to see play on an analog stick. Sounds so foreign to me, especially since i have tried and failed before