Gizmodo
Not to be a prick, but I'm a better gamer than probably 80 percent of you. At any given first-person shooter, I will probably kill you more than you kill me, and by a decent margin. The point is, I'm good—but I'm no pro. I've actually always been skeptical about "pro" gaming gear, and the sliver of an edge you might gain by paying a lot more. I put complete setups from both SteelSeries and Razer—using my beloved, well-worn five-year-old Logitech gear as a control—through a rigorous multi-day Battlemodo to definitively answer a single, fundamental question: Will pro gaming gear make me a better gamer?
The Gear
From Razer, I got the Lachesis mouse, Lycosa keyboard, Piranha headset and Destructor pad. That's $80 each for components plus a $40 mouse pad, totalling $280.
From SteelSeries, it's the Ikari Laser ($90), 7G keyboard ($150), Siberia Neckband headset ($100) and QcK+pad ($15). Do the math and it adds up to $355.
My old, battle-tested equipment, all Logitech: MX500, Media Elite keyboard, whatever free Logitech headset came with Unreal Tournament 2004 and a free Vista mousepad. Street (or garage sale) value of about $45.
Quick and Dirty Conclusions
It takes more than 20 minutes to get used to a new keyboard and mouse. So I spent a couple days with each set to get comfortable before actual testing with what I've been at almost exclusively on PC as of late: Team Fortress 2. I didn't want readjusting to a game like Battlefield 2142 added to the list of possible variables.
Because of my style of play (mostly heavy/sniper, offensive support), the best indicator of whether or not my game improved is still kill-to-death ratio, even though TF2 is an objective-oriented game. I've taken the results for 15 rounds of gameplay for each set of gear, then averaged them out to a single K-D ratio for each, and accounting for dominations (killing same guy three times).
SteelSeries: 2.6, with 5 dominations
Logitech: 2.42, with 2 dominations
Razer: 1.98, with 2 dominations
What It All Means
Objectively, SteelSeries made me a better gamer. Why? Because comfort level is the bottom line when it comes to gaming (or any) gear you grip or pound everyday, more so than any stupid spec or number proving how awesome a piece of equipment is. Ergonomically, the SteelSeries stuff just felt right, even after using it a short while.
Fans of Logitech's MX500 (me!) or G5 series mice will dig the SteelSeries Ikari mouse, since it's almost the exact same, but with an extra nub for your ring finger, plus it fixes the crappy scroll wheel issue that plagues the G5 and G7. The Razer Lachesis mouse is ambidextrous, and it just never felt right. (I'm not a claw gripper, though.) I kept accidentally hitting the buttons on the right side of the mouse, causing it to reboot to change profiles, which got me killed more than once. The braided cable on the Ikari, like on Logitech's G5 mouse, was a construction plus over Lycosa's thin rubber cord, though they both feel solid. I don't think either is worth the price ($90 for a mouse is insane), though—my MX500 is still just fine.
Keyboard-wise, Razer's Lycosa actually has a better layout (big backspace, small enter) than SteelSeries' 7G. It's also the much sexier of the two. But I'm not too big on its squishy laptop-style keys for gaming, and the keys' rubber coating started out as a plus and grew into a minus as it made my fingers feel weird and sorta chapped after extended sessions. SteelSeries compromises between big clacky keys and soft touch by registering the key press at the halfway point—they're tall keys—so you can go light or really slam them. I wish it had the subtle backlighting like the Lycosa , and maybe some more macro options. But the build quality of the 7G is absolutely bunker-worthy—it's incredibly heavy. I could club a family of baby seals to death with it and go back to gaming (after wiping the blood off). Yeah, it's $150, but it feels like it's going to stick around to the next ice age, so you're actually paying for solid equipment, gaming BS aside. The Lycosa feels more fragile—not crappy, but just above average.
Headsets have the same build matchup—the SteelSeries is heavier and more sturdy—but this time the cheaper Razer Piranha comes out ahead in audio quality (no surprise, actually). Positional audio was much truer, especially rear to front (a necessity to avoid getting backstabbed by a bastard Spy). Besides, as SteelSeries readily admitted to me, the Siberias suck for music.
Mousing surfaces? Whatever. Beyond the basics of non-reflectivity, it's total hype.
Conclusion
SteelSeries made me a better gamer, but the label "gaming gear" is BS. Buy what feels comfortable, because that's what you'll game better with. If you're a fan of Razer ergonomic styles (I wasn't overly) then it might be worth the extra price, but on the construction merits alone, it doesn't necessarily stack up. The SteelSeries stuff felt more substantial and like the build quality was slightly more commensurate with the higher price point (though I still think the 7G should go for like $100, not $150). Most scientific statement I can make: I was most comfortable with SteelSeries and my old gear, so I did better with them. [SteelSeries, Razer]
Comments
Baby seals?
Really?
--sad face
haha... I guess I'll skip the haiku I normally post on Kotaku.
I had a Razer Lycosa and I wasn't very happy with it either. The shallow keystroke was an interesting way to try to squeeze a bit of competitive speed out of me, but that rubber texture and a grip of maddening issues (Multiple people, including myself, experienced the shift key not working. Shift! Imagine my surprise when my password wasn't working and I had no clue why) convinced me to return it to Razer and be done with it for good.
I'm interested to try the mouse though. I departed from Logitech after the MX518 to try the Deathadder (hey, cool! A mouse from Razer that doesn't cramp out my hand or drag my fingertips across my desk), but I've been pretty disappointed with it lately too. I will be giving the SteelSeries a try for sure.
WOW Team Fortress 2...Bought it 2 days ago..am absolutely addicted. Before that I played Counter-strike Source Almost exclusively, but now counterstrike doesn't even seem fun anymore...wierd huh?
Oh and as for you thinking your better than most people here? think again bud - My sentries probably own your butt every day in TF2. Yah that's right, I'm an engineer - wut?
:D
Should have shot for the Logitech G series. That line is quite impressive.
I like my intellimouse.
Logitech G7 mouse + G15 keyboard > those.
Ill take u...any time any place.
JK!
Thanks for the review...I was actually looking at some of this new stuff and this helps.
Also, I think that using those in an online environment isn't exactly the best test bed.
For testing the mouse, I suggest Doeo:
[www.kongregate.com]
Play it 10 or more times on hard, alternating between mice; then compare the scores.
@chiablo: ^
A single player mission/game would have been a better comparison. Unless you did some very fancy math calculating your K:D's to account for variables within the servers/players.
Small return key good? Oh no way, no how. Big return key, big backspace. Already would never buy the Razer just because of that.
G5/G7 + G15 keyboard = best combo for gaming. Period.
Cool review!
I'm going to look into a new keyboard soon too.
And, I fall in that 20% of people who you do not pwn.
That SteelSeries mouse looks pretty bad ass because its FUCKING HUGE, which is still the reason I like my MX510 (and it still works), and yeah $90 for a mouse is nuts, but $150 for a keyboard is much worse, I think. I think the precision of a mouse warrants price, but seriously, I use a Dell keyboard, and I'm still awesomesauce ;)
Computer gaming? i tend to stay away. I hate mouse + keyboard
I personally love the Lachesis. I never rest my hand fully on the mouse. I basically use my 4+1 fingers to control the mouse, so my fingers do the movement, not my entire arm. It allows for more subtle movements. The Lachesis, in this respect, is small, low, and very light, making it perfect for me.
The Lycosa, which i also have, is all right. Its there for looks, and thats about it. But i do agree that the rubber keys do cause a bit of tingling on the fingertips (due to the rubbing). For gaming, however, since my fingers are always over the same spot, its perfectly fine. For typing, its not so great. And the finger (palm, actually) marks on the glossy part is just annoying. They expect you to only use it in the dark i guess.
@Ryanraven: By the beard of Zeus i hope you are kidding.
LOGITECH MX Revolution Mouse and G15 Keyboard.
Works for me wonderfully, won't eben try these by looks alone..
I'm happy. Love the mouse, fits awesome in hand!!
Faslane
Big shift and return keys a must!!!!
Faslane
OK. So Razer lost this matchup.
Paula Abdul: "Razer, I wasn't a big fan of your performance. But I'm a big fan of you. Your heart showed through tonight. People love you. I love you. *kiss*"
@P3nnst8r: Maybe he doesn't like keyboard and mouse? Big deal.
While most sneer at the thought of playing FPS games with anything but a keyboard and a mouse, I have never found it comfortable or even fun. I gave it a fair shot, but I tried a trackball and joystick combo back 12 years ago, and still prefer this setup today. I can hold my own (when I want, and when the ADD doesnt kick in) against the k/m players, and I have more fun and enjoy the games better. Isn't that what it's about?
Oh, Im sorry, where's my head? Its a blog, I am supposed to say something like "Keyboard and Mouse FTW!". It may be better (and FAR cheaper) for most, but not for me.
I bought a G15 keyboard right after they came out and it's been my favorite since then. I had used the original G5 for awhile, but after buying the VX Revolution to use at work it's become my mouse of choice to game with. I have oven mitts for hands and the small mouse fits surprisingly well. I took my G5 to the office to use :P
@Acemonster: rgr tht. Logitech's been in the biz for how long? Way over a decade? I've got the MX 518 Mouse and it's incredible. I'm using a Saitek keyboard that I also find superb. Guaranteed I'd whip all ya'll in COD4.
BALL MOUSE REPRESENT!
Not really though.
Question: Did you control who you were playing against? That could be a factor that would change results.
those mice have wires...lol
aka they're shit, can't game properly w/o a wireless imo
Does the Lycosa work with a Mac at all?
You would think a keyboard would, but their site states windows-only.
I've been looking for a while for a desktop keyboard that is nicely backlit like apple's laptops, and this is the first one I've seen. I don't care about the other features, I just need something I can see as I'm often in a room with no lights on. So I would understand that some features would not work on a mac without special software, but can you (please!?) confirm if the backlighting does?
I have used the G15 and the Lycosa, and after a day of using the G15, I went back to my Lycosa. Big, noisy, looks-low-quality keys are not my kind of thing.
Lycosa+MXRevolution+QcK = perfect IMO.
:D
They're wired because they're supposed to be maximum performance gaming mice. Anything for that fraction of a second. As for the razer mouse, I dont like my mouse to glow excessively. Tacky.
@faslane:
just got the mx revolution, and it is the fine partner to the g15 i have, haven't done a lot of gaming with it yet, but it seems to be all good so far
Why in the world would you ever spend so much on a mouse pad, not to mention the mouse?
If the mouse sucks, I'll make up for it with better skills. As long as it is an optical or laser mouse, has a scroll wheel, buttons that aren't too easy to click (or that stick), and doesn't jump the cursor around when moving it, it's fine, and no more thought should be put into it.
- PR-0927
my 10$ steelseries mousepad has actually helped my gaming. I prefer Razer mice over any others so far/
Logitech MX Revolution + Generic Multimedia keyboard that came with my computer case = works for me. Yes. The keyboard is on the way out. It no longer has the white writing on the left ctrl, a, s, w, and d keys, just a plain black square. It will be kept as a trophy. Also using Logitech 5.1 X-530 speakers. Yes. I am a Logitech fanboy especially after how much I despised my Razer Diamondback Plasma.
What I wanna know is what these guys are smokin' when they're coming up with names like "Lycosa" and "Lachesis." Not to mention Reclusa by Razer/Microsoft.
@chiablo, ABlueDuck: I played on the same 24-man server for all of the testing (and more often than not outside of testing), and night over night, at least half the people are the same guys, usually close to 2/3. So it's about as controlled an internet multiplayer-environment is, and I wanted this to be as real world as possible.
Don't even know how you can compare gaming equipment with just one game.
The author hitting the Razer side keys just says that he still haven got used to the mouse yet or the fact is he is a more "right hand mouse" person. Razer have right handed mouse too, and i feel a better comparison would be done using the Deathadder.
Beating seals? I dunno, do i need to smack my keyboard onto the table every 5 minutes? I feel as long the keyboard is sturdy enough for the keys to last(which Lycosa is)it is enough. More important is the macro keys that i sometimes use in my MMO's.
@mgoldman89: I don't like the scroll wheel on the Revolutions, though the ergonomics are mostly fine. The MX500 is the standard I measure all mice against, if that wasn't clear—I mean, I've used it for five years.
@eblingmis: they name their products after spiders and snakes.
@matt buchanan:
I had my Diamondback for a few years, and I enjoyed it. Honestly, it was the most durable mouse I had ever used. Back in high school, I took it with me to school to use. After school at rugby practice one day, it started basically monsooning. I forgot my mouse was in the side mesh pocket of my backpack until I got home. I plugged it, and despite the fogging, it worked fine! The Diamondback Plasma gets the seal of uber durabililty. I started using my buddy's mx revolution one day, and I fell in love. The wheel is a little funky at first, but I can't use anything else now. The only gripe I have is that I have to clean my desk a lot more often now compared to when I had my razer, otherwise the cursor skips, which has caused a few deaths in TF2. I should probably invest in a mousepad...
@matt buchanan:
I'm also surprised you chose to do a Razer vs. SteelSeries and not a Razer vs. Logitech. I had never heard of SteelSeries until this article.
I have always hated Logitech mice. I don't trust this review from one of you vile, foul Logitech users. Fie on Matt Buchanan!
Damn that is some nice looking gear...but HOLY SHIT that is expensive. I will stick with my Logitech stuff G15 and MX5000 keyboards with a G5v2 and an MX1000 mouse.
I have my wired and bluetooth for both my PC and PS3 gaming.
@mgoldman89: I have a set of steel series headphoes and I LOVE THEM...they come apart for easy travel in my backpack and have a slide in mic...the 5Hs are sweet.
[a248.e.akamai.net]