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Razer's New Mouse Optimized for MMO and RTS
An anonymous reader writes "XYZComputing has a review of Razer's new Krait mouse which is specifically designed for massively multiplayer online gaming as opposed to the usual design focus of first-person shooters. From the article: 'The criteria for an appropriate mouse for each style of gaming are different, or at least Razer would want you to think that this is the case. With the market starting to accept products like gaming mice and gaming keyboards, it was only a matter of time until someone introduced a mouse for a certain type of game. While it is easy to be skeptical of such an idea, Razer has a great reputation and may actually be onto something here.'"
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According to the article, the mouse is not really distinguishable from previous mice by the same manufacturer, and probably not from $1 mice by $TAIWANESE_SWEATSHOP either, even though the review doesn't mention this.
Looks like a non-product: an expensive mouse, with a small form factor and nondescript design, with a 300 gram paperweight to prevent drag on the cable, where you could just have used a book instead, and from a manufacturer making a nonsensical argument about how this mouse was specifically suited to a specific style of computer game.
As a state gets corrupt, its laws multiply; the most corrupt states have the most numerous laws. (Tacitus, Annales 3:27)
I suppose if you were that fast, then you could afford to throw away £40 on this thing with all the money you were winning from Starcraft tournaments.
*Yes, I know its in $, but from my experience computer gear costs the same in £ as it does in $ despite £ being worth more. Sometimes it sucks being English.
If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
they invent a mouse (pc) that my cat doesn't chase while i'm moving it, or chew the wires of. I just can't get excited about a smaller more sensitive mouse that glows orange instead of red.
...specifically designed for massively multiplayer online gaming as opposed to the usual design focus of first-person shooters.
i'd say as opposed to the usual design focus on productivity, the office, windows etc
Ultra Precision - nope Ultra Clickable - nope (only needed when I play Diablo II) Overpriced Aesthetics - I'm a geek, if I want aesthetics I'll mod it somehow. More buttons than a mouse can possibly hold - Definitely needed for lot's of key binds. This mouse meets none of my criterion. I think it would do just as well as any other mouse. It would probabily be less usable than the five button Intellimouse I got four years ago. My review: Stick with what you have.
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I thought the article was worthless too. I think this "MMO mouse" is more marketing than anything. They are just trying to get a marketing edge. I play WoW and WC3(DotA) competativly and let me tell you the best mouse for RTS games IMO are mice with lots of programmable buttons.
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So it's pretty clear that they've just made a mouse which is just like all their other models and without any clear benefits marking it specifically for MMORPG. Personally I expect any gear designed for a specific case would end up being less usefull in generic cases, which might be a good indication of how much thinking actually went into this generic mouse. But what features WOULD make a mouse specifically suited for MMORPG's?
;)
Here's some of my ideas which may or may not be ridiculous, but feel free to add your own.
I'd like the ability to disable the clicking of the mousewheel. Or atleast make it's resistance configurable. It's all too easy to click it in hectic gaming situations.
How about "multifire" buttons? Imagine the left mouse button being split horizontally, the bottom part acting like a normal mouse button, the top part firing off a click every half second or so (configurable ofcourse). Usefull to automatically attack some monster without having to click continuously.
A mouse that detect rotation (around an axis perpendicular to the desk), might be usefull to rotate the camera axis.
Mousebuttons with surface grip (similar for the wheel), against sweaty fingers
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"Razer makes good mice, but there are a lot of companies who make good mice, i was just trying to clear up your confusion about this product :) it is a 7 button mouse."
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It is NOT a 7-button mouse. If it was, I doubt Razer would be advertising it as a 3-button mouse. I think I'm going to trust the guys who made the mouse...
http://www.razerzone.com/store/index.php?main_pag
Having played all 3 genres (RTS/RPG/FPS) both online and offline including both online variants of MMOs (MMORPG and MMOFPS) and being reasonably proeficient at all of them, i came to the conclusing that the by far most demanding on the mouse genre is FPS, followed by the RTS and last by the RPGs (online or off).
If your mouse works well in the hectic, fast paced situation which is playing a FPS (where both speed and precision are important), then it's quite likelly well suited for then somewhat less demanding RTSs and RPGs (RTSs can have somewhat more frequent "clicks", RPGs not so much since the skills/spells/actions usually either take some time to execute or have a cool-down timer).
This is not a comment on the overal quality of the Razer, only on the validity of any "beter for RTS/MMO" claim by a mouse manufacturer - personally i read "beter for RTS/MMO" as "possibly not really good for FPS"
From the review: "Buttons - 3 physical buttons optimized for gaming response and independently programmable"