Are Gaming Mice/Keyboards Really That Useful?

[Max Wilco]

I was on Kotaku today when I saw an this article:

http://kotaku.com/5809911/razers-4g-dual-sensor-technology-makes-for-a-ridiculously-precise-gaming-mouse

I didn't read through the whole article, but it got me to thinking. I was planning to purchase a new computer sometime in the future, and I wanted to get a computer that was well suited to gaming. Because of that, I figured that if I was going to get a gaming computer, I should try to get one that includes a gaming mouse/keyboard combo.

However, I've always been skeptical when it comes to gaming mice and keyboards. I could see the usefulness of back-lit keyboard or a more ergonomic design, but beyond that, I can't tell what the difference is.

Part of the problem is that I've never actually used one. Whenever I play games like Team Fortress 2, or Fallout: New Vegas, I just use a regular keyboard and mouse, and I never find myself saying, "God, I wouldn't die so often if I were using laser mouse!".

So is there any extra benefit when you use a gaming mouse/keyboard?

 

[Gxas]

Comfort is really all I ever see in gaming keyboards.

The mice, however, are of a much higher tier than any old mouse you can buy in a store.

 

[bob1052]

Mice yes. Keyboards no.

 

[zehydra]

Not particularly no. It's just for convenience.

Though I suppose if you really liked RTSs, you could probably re-map the keys to assign groups.

You know, the ctrl+1, ctrl+2 thing. That'd be convenient.

 

[4RM3D]

The difference between regular and gaming is the customization, IMO. If you want to tweak your hardware, get a "gaming" one.

Also, welcome to the Escapist.

 

[Luthir Fontaine]

I play alot of paradox games and yeah mice are damn usefull

 

[TiefBlau]

Ergonomics is a funny word that basically means you're going to be doing the same repetitive motions with your arms over and over again for the next few hours, so you better make sure your body's okay with that. Basically, it's the WoW episode of South Park where Cartman gets carpal tunnel. Almost all specialized keyboards and mice are designed to prevent that.

I don't know what gives a gaming keyboard any particular edge over any other keyboard. I have one of them Saitek Eclipses, but I just thought it looked nice and matched the color of my rig. There are programmable buttons and other stuff, but it's not all that important. Unless, of course, you're talking about gamepads. Now THOSE put you in business.

Mice are a bit more worthy of interest. Regarding mice, there are a few features that make a mouse more suitable for gaming:

A) Sensitivity (or the ability to adjust it)
B) Weight (or the ability to adjust it)
C) Programmable buttons
D) Accuracy (really not that important unless it's a really sensitive mouse)

Overall, it's to everyone's tastes what hardware to use, but the mouse and keyboard setup really isn't all that crucial.

 

[Irridium]

I'd say no. I use a $20 USB mouse, and $40 wireless keyboard(was bundled with a wireless mouse, but that died).

They've been working just fine for 3 years.

Then again I never need to really customize anything, so there's that. I suppose if you need customization, gaming mice are the way to go.

 

[Amondren]

Looks like my mouse lol. I love my mouse It works well for me.

 

[Hellsen]

In my opinion it only really matters if you play games competitively and is deemed somewhat average by Korean standard.

Otherwise it just feel good when you hold it also nice to have something you other nerdy friends would be jealous of.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Gaming keyboards are useless.
Unless you like having extra hotkeys to the left side or somesuch. Even so, not worth the price tag.
I would rather buy a few $12 keyboards at once so I can break them or spill stuff on them and not care .. they work just fine.

Gaming mice aren't actually worth having for most players.
If you don't use high sensitivity settings, you probably won't be any more precise than just using a stock standard optical mouse.
So, it mostly boils down to comfort. I know players that like the ergonomic design or being able to customise the weight of the mouse .. but these things are luxuries, y'know, like a leather seat or somesuch.

If you wanna be pro, however ... get a gaming mouse and practice on high sensitivity settings.

 

[infohippie]

I think gaming mice can have some advantages, but I don't think they're all that much better than a regular mouse. I just wish somebody would make a decent gaming mouse without so many extra buttons. A lot of these mice look beautiful, and I'd happily pay the high-end prices they ask for such a pretty mouse, but all the extra buttons really get in the way. Why doesn't anyone make a really nice mouse with just the standard two buttons plus clickable scrollwheel?

 

[Danceofmasks]

I think gaming mice can have some advantages, but I don't think they're all that much better than a regular mouse. I just wish somebody would make a decent gaming mouse without so many extra buttons. A lot of these mice look beautiful, and I'd happily pay the high-end prices they ask for such a pretty mouse, but all the extra buttons really get in the way. Why doesn't anyone make a really nice mouse with just the standard two buttons plus clickable scrollwheel?

They exist ...

Hmm. The only one I can think of off the top of my head is the Razer Abyssus.

 

[Max Wilco]

I guess it depends on whether or not you can afford it. If you've got the cash to spare, then a back-lit keyboard and a mouse with adjustable DPI is pretty nice. If not, then you're better off with a regular mouse and keyboard. It's a luxury, like Danceofmasks said.

I don't play any competitive, multi-player games, save for Team Fortress 2, so an adjustable DPI might not be much help to me. I also don't play any MMORPGs, so that hot keys might not be that helpful either.

 

[Danceofmasks]

I don't play any competitive, multi-player games, save for Team Fortress 2, so an adjustable DPI might not be much help to me.

Well, it's not just about the DPI being adjustable, but the native DPI.
(I don't ever adjust DPI .. I just stay on 5400 or whatever my mouse is at)

It's about the standard mouse being 1200 or whatever, and if your regular settings are high sensitivity, the gaming mouse can detect the tiny movements, while the standard mouse can't.
Ok, that's a simplification, but I don't know how to explain it better.

 

[viranimus]

Personally, for gaming? No. However I wont go back to an optical mouse after getting my laser mouse just for how much easier, and timesavingly accurate it makes working in photo manipulation and in other programs.

Keyboards are completely irrelevant to me considering any "gaming" keyboard is built on the assumption I just love me some WASD movement control, and words cannot express how much I loathe it.

Honestly Keyboards and mouse from gaming a gaming perspective is pretty irrelevant because anything that isnt supported natively I will just map to a 360 gamepad because well, ive yet to see an instance where I actually needed the "advantage" of a mouse.

 

[uhgungawa]

Nuff said

 

[Max Wilco]

Personally, for gaming? No. However I wont go back to an optical mouse after getting my laser mouse just for how much easier, and timesavingly accurate it makes working in photo manipulation and in other programs.

Keyboards are completely irrelevant to me considering any "gaming" keyboard is built on the assumption I just love me some WASD movement control, and words cannot express how much I loathe it.

Honestly Keyboards and mouse from gaming a gaming perspective is pretty irrelevant because anything that isnt supported natively I will just map to a 360 gamepad because well, ive yet to see an instance where I actually needed the "advantage" of a mouse.

Then in that case, I would buy a gaming mouse, as I'm someone who uses Photoshop, and having that extra precision would be extremely helpful for me.

As to the matter of using WASD or a game-pad, for me it's dependent on the game. In first-person shooters, I'd rather use the mouse than an analog stick to adjust my view, but that's just a personal preference.

Nuff said

Y'know, when I first saw that, I thought, "They combined a mouse with a phone? Why?"

 

[Drunkbot]

The best feature I have found on a gaming keyboard is a Windows key lock, for the rare game that does not block it, or when I play something in windowed mode.

I found a gaming mouse is really good for MMOs, not too impressed with it so far in other games.