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Form Meets Function |
| August 23rd, 2006 |
Razer has delivered some of the highest sensitivity input gaming devices ever developed. Over time we heard from a specific segment of gamers that our products were not quite right for their needs. Their game or their style of play required them to lower their mouse sensitivity to the point where exceptionally high resolution did not reward them sufficiently.
Our Razer Diamondback, Razer Copperhead and Razer Krait form factors were developed after countless hours of gameplay testing and feedback from professional gamers. The ambidextrous streamlined form factor addressed the needs for many “flick” gamers of whom swear by the Razer ambidextrous form factor. However, we have heard from some of the top players in the world, again and again, “please put your technology into a right-handed ergonomic form factor”. They often offered some very specific recommendations.
While we were listening, reacting and testing new forms and designs, our good friends and competitors from Microsoft were hearing pretty much the same comments from the same segment of gamers. Simply stated this segment of the gaming community wanted the imminently popular Microsoft mouse form encased in Razer’s advanced technology.
In order to deliver the optimum gaming input devices Razer and Microsoft are partnering for the first time in either company’s history to co-develop and co-brand a gaming mouse and eventually other gaming peripherals.
These products have been designed from the ground up to deliver the best player performance ever. While the mouse is being designed specifically for low sensitivity users, all gamers within every genre can benefit and use this product.
Microsoft Hardware is putting an increased focus on PC gaming. Fueling the PC gaming fire is the upcoming launch of Windows Vista, which is expected to invigorate desktop gaming. And Xbox is extending to the PC with their “Live Anywhere” initiative.
Microsoft’s strategy for this increased focus on PC gaming is to center on exactly what gamers are asking for and to address their unique set of needs and demands. In order to deliver on that, they have partnered with Razer, as one of the leaders in developing cutting-edge gaming peripherals.
By partnering with Razer, Microsoft is building on their own legacy of developing innovative hardware solutions while taking advantage of Razer’s expertise in providing smart technology that elevates the PC gaming experience.
Today, Razer’s suite of gaming peripherals now encompasses the traditional ambidextrous form factor found in the Razer Diamondback, Razer Copperhead and Razer Krait favored by the “flickers” and the right-handed ergonomic form factor found in the Microsoft Habu. Our many hours of playtesting and codevelopment with Microsoft have also gained valuable insights and input for our own ergonomic products.
So what does this bode for Razer? Well, we’re still on the cutting edge of technology and way ahead of the curve – we’re still working at having our technology generations ahead of our nearest competitors so that we can deliver more precision, more speed and more accuracy. The Razer suite of products will still remain the top of the line, crème de la crème of gaming peripherals and we will continue to work with valued partners like Microsoft to incorporate our next generation technology in co-developed products.
We see the ultimate winner here is the PC gamer who is looking for gear to provide them with an edge on their competitor. More on the new alliance products in our upcoming blogs.
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August 23rd, 2006 at 7:07 am
Hi Razerguy,
a truly great achievement for Razer.
I’m sure the partnership will elevate Razer’s profile from what the pro gamers are familiar with the truly global attention.
cheers!
August 23rd, 2006 at 4:44 pm
this is great!
razer can grow because it’s in publisity. razer get’s more money, more money to give out on developing good stuff and that means even better stuff for us! I hope razer now can go BIGG! just like logitech. and everyone nows that razer is the best mouse developing company!
August 23rd, 2006 at 6:56 pm
A Microsoft/Razer alliance. Hmm. An interesting development to be sure - and one I didn’t see coming. I’ve always wondered why Microsoft didn’t recognize the effect that the Intellimouse 3.0 (and 1.1SE) had on the gaming community. It seems that they finally did now.
I’m very much looking forward to trying out this new mouse for myself. It looks to efficiently combine the best of both worlds; both the classic shape and the newest technology. Great job, Razer.
August 23rd, 2006 at 10:33 pm
I’ve been a diehard Razer fan since the Boomslang and this baffles me. Why would Razer partner up with Microsoft who is lagging quite a bit behind the competition as far as technology is concerned and create a superior product that will compete with Razer extensively just because it has the Microsoft brandname let alone the same tech?
Unless there is a substantial amount of money and royalties involved (which is no different then basically buying Razers tech) why would such a thing happen?
I would imagine Logitech would be a even better partner then Microsoft if you’re going to make a stunning knockout product, then again they don’t have oodles of money and the ability to just buy what they need no matter what it is.
August 25th, 2006 at 12:13 am
Great work Robert…Looks fantastic! I hope all is well and look forward to talking to you sometime. Keep up the great work Razerguy!
August 28th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
Bensam123, Microsoft may be behind in terms of technology, but advanced technology isn’t all there is to a peripheral, in fact it’s only a small part. The MS IE 3.0 was and still is leaps and bounds ahead of any mouse, ever, and I gurantee that there are others who feel the same way. If you think technology is all that matters in a mouse you have to wonder why so many top players and general users choose an IE 3.0 over any other mouse on the market, despite the fact that there are many other mice with far higher specs. The reason is that the comfort of the IE 3.0 is far superior, and that’s why Razer is teaming up with Microsoft. It could be a perfect match, Razer’s technology and Microsoft’s comfort, which is pretty much what Robert said in his post.
“Why would Razer partner up with Microsoft who is lagging quite a bit behind the competition as far as technology is concerned” - I bet you think CS isn’t as good as CS:S because CS’s graphics aren’t as advanced.
August 28th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
The benefit to Razer is having a partner who can manufacture more efficiently and distribute to more channels than we have in the past. Players in some more remote countries and cities who could never buy a Razer mouse will now be able to.
August 28th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
Er … I meant “more cost efficient”
September 4th, 2006 at 5:35 am
I love the idea of mixing the technologi from the Copperhead, which is one of the best performing mice on the market, with the design from one of the most popular gaming mice ever. I know that a lot of people got very excited when they heard MS would release a new version of the IE 3.0, and when the news about the Habu got out, a lot of them got even more excited.
I have no doubt this will be a great product. I’ll ask the webmaster of the danish hardware site (www.tweakup.dk) to test the Habu. So check back there sometime. We’ve got a few other tests of Razer products too.
benne^
September 12th, 2006 at 6:58 pm
Just make sure it works on popular surfaces, will you? And don’t do too many ‘ergonomic improvements’. These are what made Razer unpopular with most players.
September 13th, 2006 at 7:21 am
Just had an idea.
Since Habu is going to be a low sensitivity mouse it might be a good move to make it 400 dpi by default instead of 2000, since most low sens players use 400 anyhow. Should be a simple trick and would win Razer a lot of points, especially in CS community.
Of course it should be adjustable up to 2000dpi for people who want high sens. What do you think?
September 19th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
September 29th, 2006 at 3:58 am
i’m more than sure that microsoft did IE3 again just because Razer told them about it showing them the requests from gamers around the world. Here is a Microsoft mistake, they are not “opened” to the public and they think that they can solve this just by adding “accesibility” to any feature.
and that’s wrong. razer is “opened” to gamers desires and I think they started to really listen to the customers. a little research with google and you can come out with the perfect mouse.
intelli 3 shape, laser buttons (a little smaller anyway) and scroll wheel and thumb buttons from logitech (with razer positioning) would make the best mosue ever.
i’ll buy both mshabu and intelli3, the only part that i’m affraid is the laser senzor. can you tell us more about the laser ? is it going to really be better then optical? what was wrong with it? please answer this …
November 8th, 2006 at 5:27 am
Razerguy, can you please install on your computer counter strike 1.6, install anir’s fix or cpl_fix to remove you accel, don’t install razer drivers, and start playing with your HABU mouse, with razer drivers sensitivity 10, windows sensitivity 3 of 11, and game sensitivity of 1 -> 1.5, 2000 DPI.
and tell us if you cand use it. also tell what what mouse pad you’re using.
thx alot, sorry for the direct request, hope you’ll understand us better.
November 8th, 2006 at 5:29 am
no problem if you use drivers, just put 10 sensitivity
so we can be sure that your ingame sensitivity is between 30 and 60 cm for a 360 degrees turn - sorry for double post, but can’t edit
January 30th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Was just about to buy this mouse when I spotted that it’s right hand. Well er… thanks for leaving us out I guess.