Author - Jerry Paxton

Antec 900 Gaming Case Review

2008/03/18

The 900 is Antec’s premiere gaming case. We got a chance to put it through the motions and hope you find our results helpful in your purchasing decision-making.

Official Case Features:

Unique Top mounted 200mm ‘Big Boy’ TriCool exhaust fan to cool the hottest system
Perforated front bezel for maximum air intake
Two front loaded HDD cages for up to 6 hard disk drives
The HDD cages act as air ducts to take air in more efficiently. Optional middle 120mm fan bracket to cool the hottest graphic cards or CPU
Two 120mm TriCool blue LED front fans to cool hard disk drives
Window side panel comes with an optional 120mm fan mount for maximum VGA cooling
Top tray for your MP3 player, digital camera, doodads, etc.
Rubber grommeted ports on the rear for liquid-cooling tubes allow you to mount external liquid-cooling hardware
Advanced cooling system:

1 top 200mm TriCool fan with 3-speed switch control
1 rear 120mm TriCool fan with 3-speed switch control
2 front 120mm special black TriCool blue LED fans with 3-speed switch control to cool HDDs
1 side (optional) 120mm fan to cool graphic cards
1 middle (optional) 120mm fan to cool CPU or graphic cards

9 Drive Bays

External 3 x 5.25′
Internal 6 x 3.5′ for HDD, or – External 6 x 5.25′; Internal 3x 3.5′ for HDD, or – External 9 x 5.25

Motherboard: Fits micro and standard ATX
7 Expansion Slots
Top mounted I/O ports

Power and reset buttons

2 x USB 2.0

1 x IEEE 1394

Audio In and Out

Construction/Design: Antec’s 900 series gaming case is all about maximizing airflow. It does this by implementing two blue-led 120mm fans in the front of the case which suck air in while an even larger 200mm fan blows air out the top of the case and a 120mm fan blows air out the back. As if this wasn’t enough, Antec provides a VERY easy-to-install snap-in 120mm fan mount on the windowed side-panel. Inside the case there is another 120mm fan mount behind one of the 3.5′ bays. Antec claims this is to help draw additional air over the video card and CPU.

The 900 gaming case also features a very handy control/port array in front of a nifty gadget tray, recessed in front of the top 200mm exhaust fan which you can use to hold an mp3 player or digital camera. The control/IO array is located in front of the aforementioned tray and consists of the power button, reset button, a microphone/headphone jacks, two USB 2.0 ports, and one Firewire port. These are set at a 45 degree angle for easier access.

Antec designed the 900 so that the PSU would sit at the bottom instead of the usual placement of on the case’s ‘roof’. This not only helps get air directly to the PSU via the front 120mm fans, but also makes room for that huge 200mm fan at the top of the case which would otherwise be blocked.

Each of the front 120mm fans is connected to a three-drive 3.5′ drive bay module. These modules slide out through the front and one of them has a mounting for an additional 120mm fan at its rear. The reason for this design instead of the drive bays being independent from the fans is to maximize airflow over the drives. Basically, these modules force air through a ‘tunnel’ over the enclosed drives and into the case. I would have preferred them to have some kind of ‘quick-load’ side-mounting feature instead, as removing/installing them from the front is a bit more labor-intensive.

Overall, the case design is very stylish and functional.

Installation: Prepping the Antec 900 for installation was relatively straight forward. After adding the mobo tray mounts, we attempted to lay in the mainboard only to find that the 8800GTX video card would not fit in the case in its stock configuration. The 3.5′ drive bay with the extra fan mount was blocking it from fitting. So, we switched the drive bays around and the mobo/video card fit with no problem. There is actually quite a bit of wiggle room when compared to many modern gaming cases. One thing that would benefit this case greatly would be a slide-out motherboard tray. This would allow a much easier installation without having to ‘angle it in’ from the side of the case.

Each of the fans has a three-way speed switch but they are connected on very short wires. It is a great feature to have in a stock case, but it would have been nice to have slightly longer wires to place the switch where you wanted, perhaps route them all to the same location or give you enough wire to cut and rewire into a fan-control bay module.

Cable management can be tricky with this case, with the power supply resting on the bottom of the case coupled the bottleneck created by larger video cards. I highly recommend a modular PSU with this case so that you can avoid alot of the issue, not to mention the burden of hiding unnecessary cables ain the . If you do not have a modular PSU, I recommend using some cable ties and careful planning as to where you will place the internal cabling.

Usage: When all the fans are set to ‘high’, including the extra 120mm I placed in the side mount, the case noise is like a pleasant ‘whoosh’, and does not take away from the gaming experience in the least. It is definitely not the quietest case in the world but we have heard many louder ones without the 900’s amount of fans. Changing fan speed is troublesome, as previously stated, due to the length of the fan switch wires, so I just left mine on the highest setting available. Placing my hand over the top of the case, the exhaust air remained cool. And, with the amount of air being blown from the top…lets just say you could use it to dry your hands after washing them, although GamingShogun.com does not recommend getting water or wet hands anywhere near your electronic equipment (Thanks legal team!).

The top tray is extremely useful, as I am one who likes to put a camera or mp3 player on top of my PC while it is synchronizing to the machine. In this case, the recessed tray holds all manner of doodad while helping keep it in one place due to its high-friction rubber bottom.

The first thing I did once getting the case together and ready was to start up Call of Duty IV. I love that game: not only is it graphically very pleasing, but also can be very challenging. Even at its highest settings, the exhaust air only slightly warmed up – a HUGE step up from the airflow in my last PC ‘gaming case’ which belched hot air like Rush Limbaugh on a tirade.

Conclusion: Even with its few quirks such as not having a sliding motherboard tray, this is bar none the BEST gaming case I have ever seen. It is also the most gamer-centric. The Antec 900 will definitely be turning heads at any LAN tournament while also allowing you to overclock your hardware, thanks to its intense cooling.

Mass Effect 2 Promises to Leave You A Crumpled Mass of Geek

2008/03/14

Jerry Paxton

News

Speaking of the sequel to Mass Effect today, BioWare Senior Manager Matt Atwood had the following to say about the upcoming title:

‘How will it correlate to Mass Effect, the original? There’s a lot of really exciting answers to that question. I think that people are going to be blown away.’

He also stated:
‘I’ve learned some of the things. I don’t mean to tease people. The
teams are just so brilliant and the story writing is so good that
straight out from the beginning of Mass Effect 2, people are going to
be in awe…I will tell you that things you did and people you
interacted with in Mass Effect… you may very well meet up with them
again, whether it be the main character or other characters.’

Lighthouse Interactive Website Relaunched

2008/03/14

Jerry Paxton

News

Game publisher Lighthouse Interactive has relaunched their website today with enhanced features and information as well as a news section.

Official Release:
Leading worldwide Publisher Lighthouse Interactive today announced the launch of their totally revamped website, www.lighthouse-interactive.com. The new Lighthouse HQ features the latest game trailers, screenshots, contests and company information. The news section covers all interesting information concerning Lighthouse games and corporate activities. Furthermore there is a game support section where the latest patches and updates can be downloaded and the forums for the latest gossip and inside-info.

Cyber Snipa Stinger Gaming Mouse Review

2008/03/12

Jerry Paxton

Reviews

The Stinger represents Cyber Snipa’s latest gaming mouse and it is a gigantic leap forward from their previous entries into that crowded market.

Features (from company page):

7,080 frames per second(FPS)
Up to 3200 DPI laser engine
Tracking speed of 45 inches per second(IPS)
9 buttons including 6 macro programmable
Up to 1000Hz(1ms) adjustable report rate
8kb of onboard memory
16 bit ultra wide data path
7 removable weights(20g each)
4 super size easy glide feet

Design/Construction:
The Stinger features a slick-plastic body, save for a swatch of rubberized plastic from the primary and secondary buttons, all the way down to the palm-rest area of the device. In addition, on each side of the Stinger are rubber pads to increase grip.

The shape of the mouse seems fairly standard until you hold onto it. Thats when you realize just how much your thumb and pinky fingers ‘sink in’ towards the center of the Stinger. It has unusually deep depressions where those fingers rest but is a good-looking design overall.

Cyber Snipa’s trademark ‘Bullseye’ is lit up on the palm rest area and the scroll wheel alternates between 4 colors to denote the current performance setting and the macro profile button alternates between three pulsating lights to denote the current macro mode.

Besides the primary and secondary mouse buttons, the scroll wheel depresses as a third button and also clicks left and right giving the option for two additional controls than normal. On the left side of the unit, there are two additional buttons that can be configured as macros using the included software.

The mouse chord is of a very ‘loose’ nature and feels extremely flexible (almost more of a rope) but strong at the same time. At the chord’s end exists a gold-plated USB connector for increased connectivity.

Included are seven 20g weights that can be placed in the Stinger’s underbelly. These weight docks are placed in a ‘revolver-style’ formation, allowing the gamer to fully customize the weight not only of the unit as a whole, but individual sides of the mouse too. When fully loaded with the included weights, the Stinger felt even more controllable in my hand, the weight giving a counter-balance to the forces I exerted upon it. The option of having an extra 140g of weight to place in the mouse should appeal to those who need a heavy mouse.

Cyber Snipa also includes an additional set of mouse foot pads, so the user can select which ‘glide-level’ they like more.

Performance:
The Stinger features a 3200dpi laser sensor and 1ms reporting rate, which provided ample sensitivity during gaming sessions. In addition, the shape of the mouse with its deeper side-depressions actually lends itself to excellent control. It felt more like part of my hand instead of just another peripheral I was using. Even after using the mouse for several hours, I did not have any hand or wrist discomfort to speak of. The Stinger’s sensor is one of the best of the laser-variety bunch I have ever used, providing excellent sensitivity while not being ‘jumpy’, which is a problem in some high-dpi laser-driven mice out there. When coupled with a bit of weighting down, the mouse is extremely precise.

However, I do have an issue with regards to the dpi and macro switching. The Stinger has four presets, each with a different dpi rating as well as reporting rate. To switch between them, you have to press a button underneath the scroll wheel. However, because the user’s hand is set so far forward in comparison to this button, it is difficult to reach and required me to slightly lessen my grip on the mouse to click it. The same can be said for the macro profile button, which is actually more of an issue as it is set underneath the dpi-switching button, making it even harder to reach.

The macro software is functional (but could be a bit more user-friendly), allowing the user to set the two macro buttons on the left side of the Stinger to whatever control combos desired. In fact, there are three different profiles available for those two buttons, making the unit actually have 6 macro controls. Of course, getting to the other 4 settings for the two buttons requires pressing the macro profile button.

Conclusion:
Cyber Snipa has unleashed an incredible performer in the moderately-priced gaming mouse field. Not only is the sensor very good, but the Stinger has so much customization available that gamers of all kinds will find it useful. Much like their Warboard gaming keyboard, the Stinger simply performs like you would expect a much more expensive unit to.

Motorstorm 2 Debut Teaser

2008/03/12

Jerry Paxton

News

A teaser for the upcoming Motorstorm 2 was released today. Word is that the sequel will take place on a non-descript Pacific island and feature up to 16-player multiplayer racing. It is gearing up for a Fall release.

Cyber Snipa Warboard Gaming Keyboard Review

2008/03/10

Jerry Paxton

Reviews

The Warboard is Cyber Snipa’s flagship gaming keyboard. Here are the advertised features from Cyber Snipa’s Site

Unique ‘Macro Force’ Software
Anti-ghosting key architecture
104 keys
10 dual mode (20x) macro programmable buttons
10 multimedia keys
17 replaceable custom combat keys
System: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME
Connection: USB

Design/Construction:
The Warboard features a very solid plastic outer shell, with a slick ‘armor plate’ graphic finish. There are five vertical macro keys on each side of the unit, and the outer casing around the macro-key areas is rubberized. It also comes with a rubberized wrist rest which we really found to be very comfortable in comparison to standard, plastic rests. It is also detachable for those of you who do not like using keyboard wrist rests. The ‘lock’, macro, and ‘bullseye’ keys all illuminate pretty blue led lights in the upper right-hand corner of the keyboard. We really like the looks of the Warboard. Aesthetically, it is very pleasing. Many gaming keyboards today tend to just go with an all black or silver finish. The Warboard’s design has style. Also, for as sturdy as the device feels, it is fairly light, making it easy to transport.

Usage:
Its action while gaming is very nice. The keys have a slight softness to them but are not so squishy as to have no spring-back. In addition, the 17 interchangeable keys have little gaming icons on them in case you want to make remembering what key does what a heck of a lot easier. Cyber Snipa’s provided tool makes swapping them out very simple.

The macro program allows gamers to record two different macros to each macro button via a very well-done GUI, making the total number of macro keys come to 20. It cannot record mouse movements as of yet, however. The control array at the top of the Warboard features a center key with the Cyber Snipa ‘Bullseye’ on it as well as media controls. The center key disables the Windows keys on each side of the space bar.

Thanks to the Warboard’s Anti-Ghosting technology, the cavalcade of button mashes we rained down on the keyboard during our Call of Duty IV trials went splendidly. Each key receives its own channel of communication to the computer, making it so that the dreaded Windows Sticky-Keys is not activated and also avoids a PC lock-up while it tries to figure out what keys were pressed in which order.

Function in the desktop environment was more than good enough with the keys providing a good amount of shock absorption if you have to stay up for hours typing out your homework…or a gaming keyboard review. I found myself actually using the media keys on this board unlike many others which feature small buttons. The media controls on the Warboard are robust in size with large, easy-to-understand diagrams on them of their function.

Our Druthers:
As solid as the Warboard is, there are a couple things that it could feature which would push it out in front of the saturated gaming keyboard crowd. Most notably – internal lighting. Many gaming keyboards feature some sort of internal lighting for dark-condition gaming these days. Without it, the Warboard needs an external light source. Also, the the keyboard could do with a USB and headset pass-through.

Summary:
Overall, the Cyber Snipa Warboard is a very solid keyboard with many nice features. Its lack of internal lighting does hurt it slightly in the ratings, but with a price point as low as $50 depending on the retailer, it is an excellent mid-range keyboard that performs like a keyboard selling for $30 dollars more.

You can find the Cyber Snipa homepage here.

Combat Mission Shock Force Review

2008/03/06

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Reviews, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Battlefront has been developing and publishing computer wargames for many years now. Such titles include TacOps, which is used as a US Army training tool, as well as the Combat Mission series. The latest in the Combat Mission series is called Shock Force.

About the Game
Combat Mission Shock Force (CMSF) is a real-time or turn-based strategy game set in the modern world. This is in opposition to the rest of the Combat Mission series which have been set during World War II. CMSF features a single-player campaign which chronicles an invasion of Syria by the United States as well as a Quick Battle generator and Scenario Editor. It also features several multiplayer options including play-by-email.

Gameplay
Combat in CMSF depends a bit on what gameplay mode you choose to play in (real-time or turn-based). In real-time play, it runs alot like any other RTS. However, with CMSF, you can pause the game and give orders for your units to carry out when play resumes. This is an exceptional ability as strategy is the single most important element in successfully playing CMSF. While in turn-based mode (which uses the ‘WeGo’ system found in other CM games), the game runs in phases. Players will first issue orders to their troops and then set the action phase in motion. In that phase, which lasts one real-world minute, orders can no longer be sent and you get to watch the consequences of your choices unfurl, good or bad.

There are a multitude of orders to give units, and are split into four categories: Movement, Combat, Special, and Administrative. Different movement orders trade speed for vigilance, for instance, there are even orders for a unit to cover a specific firing arc – useful when running vehicles together in formation. Infantry can go into buildings (any of the various floors including the roof) for shooting position and cover, and can even tire out from running too far of a distance. All commands are stackable to help make sure your unit’s next action is not its last. In addition, morale plays a huge part in determining your troops’ willingness to follow your orders and their success in battle.

Players can command many types of units, from M1A2 battle tanks, to ‘unconventional’ forces. The armament of each unit was taken from military spec and it shows. The previously mentioned unconventional units come in many shapes from ‘Technicals’ to foot soldiers which can plant IEDs across the battlefield.

Replayability
CMSF offers the single-player campaign, a host of single missions, and a quick-battle generator which randomly creates a mission on-the-fly, based on your selected options. This greatly extends the life of this title, as every encounter is different.

AI
Enemy AI is fairly good once higher difficulties are selected. In the lowest settings, we found that enemy units will tend to sit in one spot during quick-battle missions. In fact, the higher difficulty settings can be too much sometimes. In one quick-battle, I was running my forces through a city attempting to engage the enemy at the far end (or so I thought). Much to my surprise, they had taken up residence in a building alongside one of the roads which one of my Strykers was traveling up. They proceeded to effectively ambush the Stryker, destroying it with an RPG. The ensuing chaos of locating available assets, diverting them to assist, and at some point attempting to storm the building was extremely eerie given today’s urban combat environment.

Graphics
CMSF features very functional graphics. They are sometimes very pretty, but almost always have that ‘military simulator’ look to them. The saving grace of the graphics in the game are the units, which are modeled, amazingly, to the smallest detail. Unit animations are pleasantly fluid as well. However, the graphics go to the ‘plain’ side quickly when looking at the environment. The far-off background seems parallaxed but it is of a lower resolution and appears slightly distorted. The street objects such as buildings, light poles, etc are all of low-polygon count but with the detail work on the units, you really don’t notice. The camera is nicely controllable, and can get to virtually any angle a commander could need to get battlefield awareness. Tracer fire runs rampant in CMSF, and when a battle starts heating up, the rounds fly and ricochet all over the place. It can truly be a spectacular gaming sight.

Initially, we were having some difficulties getting solid frame rates out of the title and out test rig is running an 8800gtx in Windows XP Pro 32-bit. As it turns out, there is an optimization in the Nvidia graphics card that was causing a whole host of troubles called ‘threaded optimizations’. After being disabled, the frame rate improved considerably. We expect it to get even better given Battlefront’s track record of long-term product support and patching.

Sound
Sound design in CMSF is very realistic, and all the vehicle/weapon noises were recorded from their real-world counterparts. Sound is positional, allowing you to go from faint weapons fire when hovering on high, looking down at the battle, to the bone rattling roar of vehicles moving about and even idle infantry chatter from a soldier’s eye-level.

Music
The score for CMSF is of the standard action-fare, with hard drumming military marches, electric guitar madness, and even the occasional sitar.

Multiplayer
Multiplayer can be done several ways in CMSF. The first way is to play over IP or LAN. The game can also be played on a single PC in a ‘hotseat’ mode or even a play-by-email option. Not many games allow play-by-email these days and it is a welcome addition for when friends cant play together at the same time.

Conclusion:
After spending quite some time with Combat Mission Shock Force, I have to say it is one of the most fun battle simulations I have ever played. It has the eerie realism of an embedded journalist’s footage coupled with the fun of a puzzle game. As previously stated, strategy is everything in this game. The game has a moderate learning curve but, once gotten the hang of, it is very rewarding.

Gamplay Video from Youtube:

Microprose – Resurrected and Dead All at the Same Time

2008/03/05

Jerry Paxton

Articles

Way back when, youngsters, there existed a company that put out some of the best video games in history. Titles such as F-117 Stealth Fighter, F-15 Strike Eagle III, F-14 Fleet Defender, and Master of Orion II just to name a few. This company was started by Sid Meier and Bill Stealey who called it…. Microprose. And, after serious financial trouble and a six year hiatus in the great beyond, some investors and ‘industry veterans’ have resurrected the software company….Or have they?

After browsing the new corporate website, it seems to me that they just bought the name to slap onto some hardware they produce (or perhaps just license from manufacturers – that is not clear). They mention the games of the past every so often, but never state they will make games again. The ‘new’ Microprose is all about hardware and cabling, NOT software development.

From the company site:
‘In 2007, the Microprose brand was acquired from Atari Interactive, Inc. (formerly known as Hasbro Interactive, Inc.). It is being restructured and relaunched by a team of veterans of the video game industry as a Video Game accessories and Consumer Electronics products firm. The new Microprose stays true to the brand, focusing on high quality products delivering to the user the ultimate experience in the interactive entertainment universe.’

And just what is the ‘ultimate experience in the interactive entertainment universe’? The answer: Digital TV Receivers. Yup, thats right, those and HDMI 3-port switchers. In what is almost a slap in the face nod to gamers, they will also make a very crude-looking gamepad/joystick (looking like a relic from 1985) which will surely have gamers lined up around the block. All of these products branded with the once proud Microprose logo.

They claim that the new company ‘stays true to the brand..’, which is true I guess, my father told me that they once had a Microprose stereo system. It was cherry. They only thing that is staying true to the brand is their use of the original logo and they added some text to it as well. Maybe that ‘brand truthfulness’ will really drive the point home, Microprose: We are the same…but totally different – hey, look at our logo!

I seriously wish them success, but I also wish they did not have to tarnish the name of one of the greatest game developers in history to get it. So I ask you, gamers who remember the Microprose that was: Is it really back?

The ‘new’ Microprose site.

Image gallery of Microprose hardware after the break.

*The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this web site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the GamingShogun.com and its owners.

Uwe Boll Puts Down Spielberg

2008/03/05

Jerry Paxton

News

In an email to Bloody Disgusting, Uwe Boll puts down Steven Spielberg, saying ‘Spielberg gets sloppy. We saw that with War of the Worlds (why the fuck the older brother survived?) and also in parts of Jaws, E.T., Munich etc.!’

He goes on to say, ‘My performance in Postal as ‘Nazi Theme Park Owner’ outperforms easily Ben Kingsley in Schindler’s List!’

What kind of Bizarro World does he fricken live in!?! Hopefully, this is just him trying to stir the pot of publicity for his sure-fire crap fest, Postal.
It gets better, as Boll will release his masterpiece of modern cinema against the new Indiana Jones movie…. His failure is almost complete…muhahaha….

Microsoft Sidewinder Gaming Mouse Review

2008/03/04

Jerry Paxton

Reviews

Partnering with Razer once before, the Sidewinder is Microsoft’s first solo attempt at creating a gaming mouse. The Sidewinder is a very funky looking peripheral, having the appearance of something John Travolta’s character would have used in Operation Swordfish. I know it is a bizarre reference, but it means the mouse looks futuristic and cool. Its slightly blocky however, and my ring and pinky fingers never fit on the mouse quite right. In addition, it is fairly large, being roughly the same size as the Logitech G7 but more robust. The size could be a problem for folks with small hands. The Sidewinder features a mostly black plastic body with two vertical metal thumb buttons on the left side of the mouse, metallic scroll wheel, optional weights, three different dpi buttons below the scroll wheel, dpi-displaying LCD screen, and a ‘quick-turn’ option. The primary and secondary mouse buttons would be better off being rubberized like the sides of the mouse are. In their current state, the primary and secondary buttons are a bit too ‘slippery’ for my tastes.

The two vertical metal thumb buttons on the left side of the mouse are easily clickable, allowing access to two control buttons in a space usually designed for one in other mice. The thumb buttons are a bit smaller than usual mouse side-buttons, however they depress very nicely with a tactile click.

The Sidewinder features a metallic scroll wheel with a great action. Weighted, so that it is not mistakenly turned as well as detentes to allow the user better control, the wheel feels alot sturdier than on other mice we have tried and is easily one of the best features on this mouse.

With the click of a button on the underside of the unit, the Sidewinder’s weight tray will pop out to allow the user access to its three weight-slot tray. Microsoft has packaged the mouse with three 10g weights and one 5g weight. The box which the weights are packaged in also contains two different sets of feet for the mouse so you can choose the one with the glide most to your liking. The weight box can also be used to anchor the mouse chord in place, giving the user some slack in normal usage. We applaud Microsoft for giving the Sidewinder this many customization options.

Below the scroll wheel sit three buttons which change the Sidewinder’s dpi setting. These three different levels of sensitivity are set within Microsoft’s software provided with the device. When clicked, the red LCD screen on the mouse will light up with the current dpi setting of the button. This is the first time ever that a company has placed an LCD screen on a gaming mouse. Personally, I did not find much use for the screen as I did not forget what dpi button I assigned which setting, but, it is a cool addition. However, if you happen to be in an intense LAN game and forget what you set each button to, no worries, it is right there on the display – nice!

Inside the software provided for the mouse, which basically just adds features to the standard Windows’ mouse control panel, is the option to set the buttons of the mouse to whatever controls you would like. They also provide the option of setting one of the buttons to be a ‘Quick Turn’ control. When pressed, the mouse will cause you on-screen character to do a 180 degree turn – quite useful in tight spots. Gamers can also record macros in-game using the Sidewinder’s macro button. This on-the-fly capability adds an additional layer of flexibility while in the heat of battle.

The performance is very good while gaming with the laser sensor set to 2000dpi (the highest setting available) but when using desktop applications I found it appropriately ‘non-jumpy’ at 1600dpi. The sensor will decrease to 200dpi at its lowest setting and works great for super-fine sniper shots.

Conclusion:
Even though there are better mice out there when measuring pure dpi/response rate alone, one cannot dispute the amount of customization available to gamers with the Sidewinder. With its durable construction and solid performance, it is hard NOT to recommend this mouse to those looking for a gaming mouse. The biggest factor in deciding to use this mouse would be the size/shape, which not everyone will find to their liking.