STACK #187 May 2020

FEATURE GAMING

PADDING PERIPHERALS Is your desktop’s computer’s desktop surface your best-effort mousepad? Tsk, tsk. It’s definitely

time to change that. Mousepads may not cost a motza, but they provide a consistent tracking surface that’s the best match for your newfangled gaming mouse purchase. Brand names don’t matter so much here, and more expensive types are usually bar-mat- sized gigantic or wireless Qi-charging capable (for compatible mice). For a good-sized option with non-slip grip and low-friction tracking, try the Corsair Gaming MM100 mousepad or the slightly larger, slightly costlier Logitech G240.

Sane in the membrane Gaming keyboards are a lot more varied than gaming mice and headsets, particularly when it comes to membrane vs mechanical considerations, as well as individual key actuation points, full-sized vs tenkeyless, and even the feel of the keys themselves can greatly impact how appropriate a gaming keyboard is for even the lengthiest of gameplay sessions. Mechanical keyboards may be the fastest, but if you’re looking to stream your sweet skills or not interrupt the other people in your home with the sounds of Mad Men -like clickety clack, membrane keyboards are very much still built with gamers in mind. They’re not just kinder on the ears, either; they’re also a lot kinder on the budget than mechanical keyboards. For your membrane keyboard comparisons, start with the Corsair Gaming K55. During everyday use, take advantage of dedicated media playback controls and the RSI-defying detachable soft rubber wrist rest. For gaming, take advantage of the dedicated Windows key lock (a must for those who love playing online), six programmable macro keys and quiet keystrokes. Alternatively, the Razer Cynosa Chroma offers individually programmable backlit keys for the RGB fans seeking illumination, finger-friendly keys and on-the-fly macro command recording to distil complex in-game tasks to a single keystroke. Hopefully, you’ll start to notice that ‘gaming’ is a powerfully wielded adjective. Gaming mice best match your intentions with actuations. Gaming keyboards gift greater control and versatility. And the right gaming headset takes sound to all-new tactical levels.

CAN-CANS With so many headset options out there, let’s simplify it to a high-end set of cans that

ROCCAT AND MOUSE If you’re after ultra-light, ultra-comfortable gaming mice, Roccat has made a name for itself in this space. In terms of budget, the mid-range Roccat Kone Pure Ultra is incredibly lightweight (66 grams) with a great sensor and grip-friendly coating. For not much more, you can tap into the zero-snag perks of the Roccat Kain 202: a wireless upgrade with a hand-friendly design, all-day comfort and speedy mouse clicking. Both of these mice are available exclusively online.

ticks all the right boxes and will reward the extra dosh invested. The Logitech G935 is a wireless headset with sound that’s both rich and accurate (particularly for shooter fans) and complemented by 7.1 DTS surround sound. Compared to a basic headset, you’ll notice more audio cues and, therefore, have access to more information to formulate an utterly appropriate ambush reply. Not only is the sound great, the included boom mic makes for clear fast-fire comms.

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