A Closer Look:

Secondly, the wheel also has LEDs in it to indicate the current DPI setting: Violet for low, blue for mid and red for the high setting. While this is a nice feature that's often lacking on other mice, its implementation is faulty. This is because your thumb rests right on top of the wheel, almost completely obscuring it from view. Thus, to see the current DPI setting, you have to explicitly move your thumb out of the way. While having a lit up wheel is fashionable, the DPI indicators should've been put in a better location.

Grip is mostly comfortable.

Wheel/LED DPI indicator.

Other than these shortcomings, my initial impression of the FPSGun was favourable, especially considering I thought it would be akin to something out of a freakshow. Check out some shots below of a "typical grip".

Thumb obscures wheel.

Typical grip/arrangement.

Clearly, it's not aiming at replacing your current mouse, but just aimed at gamers who want a different experience in FPS games. Let's see what it will offer those folks.

Installation:

Installation is as straightforward as any other mouse. Simply plug it in, and install the optional software. All of the buttons work out of the box, including the DPI switching, but if you want to configure the button settings or adjust the DPI settings/polling rate, you'll have to install the software.

Button settings.

Button Settings.

The software is very basic, but gets the job done. All buttons can be configured, except for the DPI switcher. However, configuration options are very limited compared to other mice; there are only six options for each button, seven if you count "none". You can't assign keystrokes or custom commands to buttons, so if you regularly use this feature, you may be disappointed.

Movement options.

DPI/Polling rate and profiles.

Movement options basically mimic those found in the regular control panel. The DPI switcher button cycles through three different levels, the values of which are somewhat configurable. You can set the low, mid and high DPI values to one of the predefined levels. The polling rate can be set as high as 1000 Hz, comparable to other high-end mice. Overall, the software isn't that remarkable and the only reason I could see for installing it would be the DPI settings and adjusting the polling rate. Other than that, it doesn't offer much.

Testing:

The FPSGun is a radically different mouse than any other and since it was intended for usage in FPS's, I mainly tested in those games, but also gave it a whirl in some other games such as the The Witcher, Guild Wars and Overlord. The first thing you'll want to know is that you don't have to move the mouse from side-to-side to move the cursor in that fashion. As indicated under the "Specifications" section of the product page, you can simply twist the FPSGun to accomplish the side-to-side movement, which is more natural for the style of grip you'll use. Though the product page said not to use lateral movements at all, I found either way worked well.

I decided to just jump right into a game of COD4 without any prior usage of this device, as a sort of "trial by fire". I was expecting to completely suck (even more than normal) with this completely new device, but instead I was pleasantly surprised at how natural and easy it was to learn. True, things weren't as smooth as with a regular mouse, but they weren't so awkward that things were abnormally hard or impossible.

After about 30 minutes or so, I found myself really enjoying this device. I hate to say it, but the trigger-style grip really does make things more fun in FPS games. Additionally, the placement of the extra buttons near your thumb are great for other commands/actions, such as tossing a grenade, etc., which are common in FPSes. The only real problems I encountered have been mentioned before: The grip is weird because of the unnecessary "bump" at the bottom, and the LED wheel (indicating the current DPI level) is hidden by your thumb, defeating its purpose.

Conclusion:

Okay, let's admit it: The FPSGun looks tacky and gimmicky. But it performs well and definitely surprised me with its functionality. For the most part, it's designed well, especially for a device that could have been much, much worse. For hardcore FPS gamers, it provides a new way to experience the same action and may make the game play a little more fun.

While it's not aimed at replacing your regular mouse, it does well in what it's geared towards. Furthermore, it was a breeze to use, even on the first try - the learning curve was basically nonexistent, contrary to what I was expecting. The FPSGun may have a limited market, but it does deliver on what it promised.

Pros:

• A nice way to experience FPS games

• Mostly well designed

• On-the-fly DPI switching

• Feels natural

• Easy to use

• Buttons well-placed and easy to use

Cons:

• Grip awkward because of inexplicable bump on base

• Thumb covers LED wheel, so can't see current DPI level

• Probably will not replace your regular mouse

A big thanks goes out to Acoustic PC for providing this review item.

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