While some gamers may think a mousepad isn't a very important accessory or may even still be using the same crummy piece of rubber that was purchased alongside their computer and mouse several years ago, a hardcore gamer knows a good mousepad can be the difference between victory and defeat. When aiming for a precise shot in a first-person shooter or quickly clicking between attacks to fight back an opponent in an MMO, the accurate slides of a mouse on a smooth surface can make all the difference. The Siru mousepad from ROCCAT takes into mind all of the different factors that can turn a good mousepad into a game changing product that gamers won't want to leave home without.
The Siru is razor blade thin to keep players hands level with their playing surface, and the accessory almost feels as though there is nothing beneath the mouse at all. The material used to construct the Siru feels great to touch though, and players will notice the texture is perfect for sliding and gliding the mouse across while also providing a nice surface for the wrist to touch during the lazier moments of a match. Despite having a smooth surface to glide across, the mousepad also seems to perform great when making quick stops while aiming to prevent any over or under aims. Likewise, the bottom of the mousepad is made with a rougher surface that performs well and keeps the lightweight accessory from sliding around during gaming sessions.
The Siru mousepad from ROCCAT comes in two designs: Cryptic Blue and Pitch Black. Both look great sitting beside other accessories from the brand and are great looking products in their own right. The mousepads are easy to clean and don't seem to suffer from any wear and tear during the first hundred hours of gaming or so. The materials that create the mousepad also makes the accessory flexible and easy to roll up and carry on the go when necessary. The one problem we encountered while using the product was when the mouse slid off of the pad, it was a bit difficult to notice for a few seconds, since the Siru is so thin. Luckily, the mousepad is wide and gives a very large surface area to work with so that this rarely ever occurs unless the player is being a bit exaggeratory with their mouse movements. All in all, the Siru mousepad is an excellent product that gamers looking to get the most out of their PC gaming rig will not want to pass up!
Score: 9 out of 10
ROCCAT's Lua gaming mouse is one of the best accessories of its kind that we've had a chance to try out. The device offers the flexibility to be used with either hand and at any tracking speed to ensure its a perfect fit for any gamer. Additionally, the mouse is made from the highest quality products that gives it a satisfying touch and feel while making each push of a button precise and intentional. The design of the product is exceptional as well, and it fits perfectly with other products from the company or looks great on its own with a blue LED lion logo lighting up the gaming rig in the dark. The Lua is one of the best gaming mouses ever, and it combines equal parts of comfort, high quality materials and customizable options to make it the best available at the $30-$35 range.
The Lua gaming mouse has a no nonsense design that comes with only three primary buttons: left click, right click and a scroll wheel. Fans looking for a wireless gaming mouse or a mouse with tons of buttons to configure will need to look elsewhere, but the design of the Lua means there are never any latency issues and that each mouse click will be deliberate. The left and right clicks don't have their own buttons but are instead cut out of the main casing to keep the same soft touch as the rest of the mouse without having to worry about the buttons wearing out soon after purchase. The wheel of the mouse is even more impressive and is easily the most accurate we've had a chance to use. The wheel isn't difficult to turn, but each turn is precise enough to keep gamers from ever rolling too far or coming up short. A fourth button on the mouse is used for instantly changing DPI settings without the need to leave a game session or enter any in-game menus.
Though the Lua is a wired mouse, it hardly seems to matter with more than enough length available to fit any sized gaming rig. The rest of the expert design includes the previously mentioned ROCCAT logo that lights up in Arctic Blue colors and can be customized with some different lighting options. Gamers will also be happy with an ambidextrous design that allows left-handed and right-handed gamers to easily use the mouse, which is a feature seen in far too few gaming mouses on the market nowadays. The previously mentioned DPI adjusting button is located conveniently at the top of the mouse, so it is easy to access when wanted in matches with seven different settings between 250 and 2000 DPI. Some gamers will also be interested in the built-in driver that allows the mouse buttons to be fully customized for different layouts and playstyles.
Score: 10 out of 10
The Ryos MK gaming keyboard was the last of the products currently available from ROCCAT that we were able to try out, but it's perhaps the most noteworthy of the bunch. The rising popularity of Steam and similar platforms that are pushing PC gaming to new heights is no doubt influenced heavily be developers continuing to offer controller support for PC games, but there are still plenty of gamers that enjoy their games with the classic keyboard and mouse setup. The keyboard is likely the most important tool for these types of gamers, and the Ryos MK keyboard line is an excellent choice for fans that want the ultimate control over their games with a keyboard.
One of the first things anyone will notice about the accessory is that the ROCCAT Ryos MK keyboard features a large design with an integrated wrist rest at the bottom of the keyboard. The rest allows hands to rest on the keyboard for long periods of time with little fatigue issues, whether gamers are stuck in another long session or writing out a term paper. Since the rest is built-in, it provides a great anchor for the keyboard along with some rubber pieces under the device that help keep the keyboard in place instead of sliding around a desk or tabletop. The rest of the keyboard design features a smooth finish that feels great to touch and doesn't leave any smudges behind and additional hotkey buttons that can be used to help further customize button layouts for games.
The Ryos MK is a fast and responsive keyboard that includes a built-in 32-bit processor to quickly record button presses and ensures that no keystroke is wasted while gaming or performing other online activities. The keyboard also comes with internal memory that can save custom control schemes so that gamers always have the perfect layout for all of the games in their PC gaming library. The keys of the keyboard come built with high quality materials that ROCCAT guarantees to last for at least 50,000 keystrokes, and we saw nothing during our time with the Ryos MK to suggest otherwise. There are a few different models of the Ryos MK keyboard currently available from ROCCAT. We were able to try out the basic model that will cost gamers only about $100 but with a few features missing from the more expensive models. The Ryos MK Glow costs a bit more to purchase but comes with some new features the most prominent of which is LED backlit buttons that light up blue when the lights are out. Likewise, the Ryos MK Pro costs even a bit more than the Glow but comes with all of the above features plus additional customization options, key configurations and more. Check out all three products from ROCCAT and take your PC games to the next level!
Score: 9.5 out of 10
ROCCAT PC gaming accessories are now available from select retailers worldwide or online. For more information on the line of PC gaming accessories, check out the official ROCCAT website.