The computer mouse of a gamer is quite a different beast from that of a casual computer user; the ergonomics are a key factor, as are the locations of buttons, the commands they send when pressed, and even just the ‘cool factor’ of looking, well, badass. What kind of gamer could properly slay his enemies in his MMORPG of choice using a swirly-designed, two-button wireless mouse? Clicking attack commands on that kind of mouse (incidentally, I just described my own mouse) does not exactly instill heroic e-courage into the heart of a gamer.
Thankfully, there’s a slew of products tailored just for the gaming community. SteelSeries, with world headquarters in Denmark, prides itself as being “the leading global innovator of gaming peripherals,” and for good reason. The company offers mice, headphones, keyboards, controllers, and many other products geared toward the tech-savvy gamer.
In October 2013, SteelSeries introduced their Rival Optical Gaming Mouse, featuring an ergonomic right-handed design, an advanced optical sensor, and even anti-sweat coating and rubber side grips to enhance the entire gaming experience from performance to feel. The mouse boasts a 30 million click lifespan, so it should last for a while. Since its release, it has also received positive reviews and a handful of awards.
SteelSeries’ CEO, Bruce Hawver, noted upon the Rival’s release that, “The new ergonomic shape and state of the art hardware deliver unmatched levels of precision, comfort and durability. Combining this level of hardware with new SteelSeries Engine 3 software, users will find an entirely new customization experience that redefines how a mouse can be configured.”
One key feature of the Rival is its customization capabilities. Sure, you can choose from 16.8 million color illumination options, or customized settings via SteelSeries’ Engine 3 software, but the big news for us is the 3D printed customizable back panel. Certainly, other gaming mice offer 3D printed, customizable components, but it’s always interesting to watch this technology adapt and spread in different ways.
In much the same way that a shiny brass nameplate on a desk or outside an office door can designate a President or CEO, marking a mouse with a name, gamer tag, or other chosen word can be to a gamer a clear distinction of ownership and pride of place. Working with Australia’s The 3D Printer, SteelSeries was offering 3D printed name plates for the Rival at PAX Australia, a huge gaming convention which ran from Octob
er 31-November 2 in Melbourne.
At SteelSeries’ booth, visitors could get a Rival with a customized 3D printed name plate. While those ordering the mouse online could get a part 3D printed from Shapeways whileat PAX Melbourne the part was made using a BEETHEFIRST from BeeVeryCreative.
The Rival mouse and its customization will surely catch the attention of many interested gamers eager to put their mark on both their games and their mice. What do you think? Would you want to customize your mouse? Discuss over at the steelseries forum on 3DPB.com.
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
You May Also Like
Biden Admin Announces Flurry of Reshoring Actions, Including Council on Supply Chain Resilience
Yesterday, I posted about the over $6 billion in new funding for US advanced manufacturing related to batteries and semiconductor packaging announced by the Biden administration to be awarded in...
Biden Admin Announces Over $6 Billion in Funding for Battery and Chip Advanced Manufacturing in November
In a development that has become routine for the Biden administration, the White House announced a total of more than $6 billion in new funding opportunities for advanced manufacturing applications...
America Makes and NCDMM Funding Now Tops $729M for American 3D Printing and Beyond
In a significant move to advance the U.S. manufacturing sector, the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and America Makes have recently announced substantial ceiling increases on their...
US Army Reserve Test 3D Printed Explosives
In October 2023, US Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to the 102nd Training Division (Maneuver Support) attended a two-week Combat Engineer Reclassification Course at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, where they...