Forget Formula One, the future of motorsports might be in the hands of gamers. BMW DesignworksUSA has created the latest mouse for Thermaltake, a Taiwanese based company well known for gaming. The so-called Thermaltake Level 10 M mouse that just went on sale is a high-tech extension of a gamer’s hand in computerized sports competition.
Traditionalist sports fans, as in occupiers of stadium, race track or couch potato seats, might be surprised to learn that that e-sports have evolved from simple Nintendo or Playstation set-ups at home to professional competition at the annual World Cyber Games with millions of dollars in prize money. So much money is floating around from sponsorships that professional gamers can now earn hundreds of thousand of dollars a year. At peak times, 15 million gamers could be online – and football and auto racing are the top games, err sports.
In Asia – half of the world’s population and one-third of its car sales – there are televised competitions, with the U.S. and Europe now following the leaders. For these TV shows, the pro teams are trained, outfitted and coached for public events. This includes intensive practice session of as long as ten hours a day working the electronic reality of virtual game scenarios with a navigating mouse and keyboard. (Sound like a professional racing team to you?)
The DesignworksUSA´s mouse is a two-part aluminum construction, with the upper half above the base. BMW claims Level 10 M is both lightweight and immune to corrosive effects. The top part, where the gamer´s hand would be resting for hours during competitions, can be individually adjusted for height and lateral inclination. The mouse is also outfitted with a number of keys, which a gamer can set to meet specific demands.
The software behind the hardware is able to read out DPi-rates for gaming visuals. The drilling in the upper shell serves to ventilate a player’s palms during competition. The mouse can even be illuminated in different colors.
For the detail minded:
- 3D Steering Axis Movement: The mouse is divided into lower and top part. The top part, which is also the essential steering element of the mouse, can be adjusted for height and angle. The 3D dimensional character of the mouse provides for new axis movements in various directions and allows the mouse fit as many gamers’ preferences as possible.
- Solid Aluminum base: Aluminum is said to offer high resistance to corrosion, and ensures a the user’s Level 10 is durable and resilient to mouse-gliding movement.
- Air-Through Ventilation System: The perforated surface provides for air and temperature exchange as a means of passive ventilation, potentially solving heat problems during long use.
- Intelligent Software Application: The Level 10 M programmable capable of using the most comprehensive software application to customize settings based on a user’s needs. The mouse has 2 regular keys on top and 5 additional keys at the side. Each key is programmable by a single press with the finger. The so called “Z” key is especially designed for 5 different commands. There are a total of 11 programmable command keys, while the “Z” key offers another function: During the gaming mode, this key can switch between up to 5 gaming profiles. In addition, the polling rate and the 7 lighting-effect colors of the Mouse are also customizable. The Level 10 M Mouse is equipped with 8200 DPI, adjustable from 800, 1600, 3200 to 5000 (default setting), and customizable by software application up to 8200 DPI. The Function-Lock Mechanism also serves to avoid accidental error command by locking side keys during gaming mode.