When talking about PC hardware, most discussions are about the processing part (CPU, GPU, RAM, polygon count, fps...) of the IPO model (input-processing-output). But the input devices (mouse, keyboard, gamepad, flight stick, racing wheel...) and output devices (TV, monitor, multi-monitor-setups, 3d glasses, VR HUDs, video projector, AV receiver, speakers, headphones) are also important factors of a good gaming experiences.
Some people say, they are even more important, because they are the direct connection between man and machine. Also different input and output devices can deliver very individual (sometimes extraordinary or even unique) gaming experiences.
So let's talk about these often overlooked peripherals, beginning with the computer mouse. Which models did you have over the years and which are your favorites? Did you chose them for special features or doesn't the differences matter to you at all and you just buy a cheap one?
My first computer mouse was a "GEOS mouse" for the Commodore 64/128... it was a waste of money since almost no software supported it. Most C64 games were made for joysticks and the rest for keyboard controls. Point&click adventures were still rare, most adventures were text based with keyboard input. Although GEOS was a nice preview of future GUIs.
My second mouse (bundled with my Amiga 500) was much more in use, since the whole Amiga GUI (workbench) was based on mouse input. Also many Amiga games had good mouse controls (many point&click adventures, RPGs, Civilization, Sim City, Populous, Lemmings, The Settlers, Marble Madness, Shufflepuck Casino and even action games like Cannonfodder).
1993 I bought my first MS-DOS/Windows3.11 PC, later upgraded to Windows 95. And on that system a good mouse which controlled the cursor fast and precise was essential, especially for the new genres FPS (first person shooters) and RTS (real-time strategy) or games like Diablo. My first two PC mice were okay, but not great... they were also prone to dust and got unreliable when the mouse ball or the mouse pad weren't perfectly clean. Mouse pads weren't optional these days.
In 1996 I bought the Microsoft IntelliMouse... what a great mouse! It was much more ergonomic than my previous mice, had a scroll wheel and was well built... after I replaced it 3 years later, my brother used it for another few years. At the end of 1999 I switched to the IntelliMouse Explorer... the ergonomics were even better and it came with two additional (easy-to-reach) thumb buttons, a clickable mouse-wheel and an optoelectronic sensor which worked on almost any surface. Good riddance, unreliable mouse balls!
Seven years (and many thousand mouse clicks) later my IntelliMouse Explorer was still working properly... but the left mouse button was already blank, so it got its well deserved retirement. I still liked the shape of that mouse, so I was looking for a similar replacement. I found it with the "Habu" gaming mouse, co-designed by Razer and Microsoft. That 7-button-mouse came with a nice configuration software which allowed multiple profiles (button assignment, sensitivity, polling rate, macros) for different games.
Another eight years later it got the same problem as the IntelliMouse Explorer before: it wouldn't stop working properly although I was ready for a new mouse. ;) Finally it had some connection problems in 2014, so I had a reason to replace it. Despite my great experiences with Microsoft mice, I wanted to try something new. At that point, Zavvi was selling some formerly expensive gaming mice for a fraction of their original price... I chose a nice looking SteelSeries mouse with 11 buttons for merely €25 (shipping + taxes included). Thanks to the flaps on the sides it is very comfortable and ergonomic, most of the 11 buttons are easy-to-reach and with deactivated light it doesn't look as flashy as feared.
At the same time I wanted a good bluetooth mouse for my windows tablet and other mobile devices. It had to be a small and light mouse with enough buttons and without being uncomfortable... I chose the Microsoft Sculpt Comfort mouse, which was also surprisingly low-priced. Additional to 4 easy-to-reach buttons and a 4-way mouse-wheel, you can also set commands to swiping gestures over the thumb button. I really like that mobile mouse: it is comfortable and responsive, the bluetooth connection is flawless and the small batteries seem to last forever.
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