A multi-button mouse with a scroll wheel, such as the Mighty Mouse that comes with all iMac, Mac mini, and Power Mac computers, is a necessity while playing first-person shooters (FPS) and comes in handy when tackling a real-time strategy (RTS) game.
Embark on the adventures found in such titles as Battlefield 2142 and you’ll soon discover that a second mouse button becomes crucial when you need to access a weapon’s extra abilities. For example, in Battlefield 2142, you’ll need to right-click to zoom in, and the mouse wheel lets you cycle through your available weapons.
Most first-person shooters also allow you to carry multiple weapons and switch between them when necessary. While you can use your keyboard to make a change, a scroll wheel lets you rapidly move between options without looking away from the screen and fumbling with keys. Not only does this come in handy during single-player campaigns, but this option becomes crucial when you head online for multiplayer action. There’s nothing worse than running out of ammo and trying to switch to your grenades, only to be gunned down because you weren’t fast enough.
In the strategy genre, such titles as Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs and Civilization IV Warlords also benefit from mice with extra functions. A scroll wheel often allows you to zoom in and out of the action while the second mouse button acts as a shortcut to other game commands. The Razer DeathAdder Gaming Mouse fulfills these needs.
Those of you hampered by wrist problems may want to use a trackball instead. There are a variety of such peripherals available, such as the Kensington SlimBlade Trackball Mouse, that allow you to fly through FPS and RTS maps with a flick of your fingers. Most feature a variety of buttons that you can map to different functions.
Other mice
Wires can also be an obstacle to gaming success, particularly if your desk doesn’t have a lot of room. If that’s a problem, try one of the many wireless multi-button mice available, such as the Microsoft Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000. We also offer a wireless version of our multi-button Mighty Mouse. You don’t need a tangled wire getting in the way as you try to turn and see who just snuck up behind you during a FPS battle, or if you need to quickly move across a map in a RTS to discover who has breached your defenses.
And road warriors take note: there are a variety of portable mice, like the Razer Pro|Click Mobile Notebook Mouse, that you can use instead of your computer’s track pad. These mice really come in handy when playing games on a laptop.
