The gaming mouse problem
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Fast, sleek, overloaded with RGB lights, gaming mice have been around for years as one of the most important pieces of gear for PC gamers, particularly those who are serious with their competitiveness and style.
From DPI settings routinely going up to 12,000 DPI to prices reaching nearly $190, the market is flooded with options and features that few everyday gamers actually care about. Outside of the few true innovations, such as nearly lag-free wireless mice that eliminate the pain of cord management, we get more and more of the same mouse with slightly higher spec numbers.
It would seem like the gaming mouse market is mature now. Out of ideas. Out of steam.
Mouse makers seem desperate to put in new features (OLED screen on a mouse, anyone?). Are we truly out of meaningful problems to solve now? I think not. In my research of over a thousand PC gamers, there is one HUGE omission that no one has truly tackled.
The painfully glaring omission
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The biggest problem of our gaming mice, like most mice, is staring at us right in the face: pain.
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Now, we’re talking about at least 1 in 5 gamers who experience noticeable or severe pain while using the mouse. This number could be as high as 3 in 10. And based on what we know, many of these cases are caused by RSI (Repetitive Strain Injuries), which worsen with more use and more time — two things gamers have a very hard time avoiding. I, for one, often push through the pain, try to stretch my wrist a bit when I can, and jump right back into another game of Apex Legends, or League of Legends (what’s up with the obsession with “Legends”?).
We’re talking about at least 1 in 5 gamers who experience noticeable or severe pain while using the mouse
For many young gamers like myself, this is an occasional annoyance. However, according to medical professionals, the pain usually becomes more frequent and severe over time. As Time reported, pain from computer mouse use has ended the professional eSports career of Cloud9’s former captain, Hai.
“One of the world’s most accomplished competitive gamers has been forced into an early retirement due to a debilitating wrist injury, according to an open letter to his teammates.”
This is what gamers need: a pain-free gaming experience. Not flashier RGB, not slightly lighter bodies, not companion apps. Get the basics right, guys.
Ergonomic or Gaming: Pick One
Let’s be clear: despite every single mouse on the market claiming to be “ergonomic”, a quick search on Amazon will reveal that gaming mice really are simply refined versions of the traditional mouse.
There is a category of truly ergonomic mice, which are generally referred to as the “vertical mouse”.
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Yes, many of these vertical mice will also claim to be “gaming”, but if you follow any mouse reviewers, you know that they never really make the top list of the best gaming mice. In fact, these products list “gaming” in their description mostly as a SEO tactic, so more people would see them.
In the end, the gamer who wants to be competitive and get the most of their gaming experience is left to make a tough choice: health, or performance?
A Path Forward?
Some people will say that this tradeoff between health and gaming is an inherent one, that one will forever be for the aging, aching office workers, and the other for young kids who cuss in voice chat while playing Fortnite. I think mouse makers simply need to truly innovate. Remember, when the iPhone first came out, plenty of people laughed at the lack of a keyboard (you have to pick between typing and having a touchscreen, right?).
Stay Tuned for my Research!
This is all part of my grad school research project. As a gaming enthusiast and product designer, I have interviewed, surveyed, and collaborated with over a thousand people. It’s been a long journey of learning, and I will post more findings in the future. I welcome any suggestions and feedback!
So if you feel like a nice person today, click follow and stay tuned!