Mad Catz isn’t actually known for being subtle, but this is a bit much even for them. It’s the new Cyborg R.A.T. – and it’s a hot mess of wasteland design gone wrong.
Imagine that the world ended, people live in underground bunkers, but there were some survivors. They’d build stuff out of whatever they could find, combing buttons, switches, and dials into an ungodly mess of function and form. Now imagine someone from this post-apocalyptic future came back and designed a mouse. That’s what the Cyborg R.A.T. makes me think of.
Ultimately though, what matters is if the thing is comfortable. We’ll get one when it comes available and review it for you, and let you know how well it works. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe it’s the best. mouse. evar.
Update: I met the Mad Catz guys, and not only are they good people, but I might have been a bit hasty on my judgement of the Cyborg R.A.T. In person, it’s actually quite cool looking, and seriously customizable. We will definitely be getting one to review soon, and I’m interested in hearing what Devin thinks of it after he gets a chance to play with it.
From the press release:
San Diego, January 06, 2010
Mad Catz® Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading worldwide third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, today unveiled a new range of premium Cyborg gaming mice expected to begin shipping in Spring 2010.
“Cyborg is best known for ergonomic and fully adjustable flight sticks, gaming mice and keyboards. The new mouse range incorporates the same market leading design principles and applies them to gaming mice. For the first time ever on a mouse, the key points of contact between the gamer’s hand and the mouse are fully adjustable allowing it to be customized for any grip preference” commented, Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. “The Cyborg mouse range was developed entirely in house and I believe they are the most comfortable gaming mice you’ll ever use. Besides, they just look cool!”
Following-up Darren Richardson said, “The addition of this line of mice bolsters Cyborg’s strong gaming keyboard market presence and is a continuation of our strategy of developing products that evoke a passionate consumer response.”
For a complete feature matrix, see the table at the end of the announcement. The gaming mice expected to ship as part of the range includes:
• Cyborg R.A.T. 7 Gaming Mouse
o Features: Fully Adjustable; 5600dpi laser; Programmable; Weight System; USB powered
o MSRP: $99.99 / £79.99 / €99.99• Cyborg R.A.T. 9 Gaming Mouse
o Features: Wireless, Fully Adjustable, 5600dpi laser; Programmable,; Weight System; Powered by Rechargeable Batteries
o MSRP: $129.99/ £99.99 / €129.99• Cyborg R.A.T. 5 Gaming Mouse
o Features: Adjustable Length; 4000dpi laser, Programmable; Weight System; USB powered
o MSRP: $69.99/ £49.99 / €59.99• Cyborg R.A.T. 3 Gaming Mouse
o Features: 3200dpi laser; USB powered
o MSRP: $49.99 / £34.99 / €49.99