Razer Krait
Price: £29
Size: 120mm x 60mm x 33mm
Shape: Symmetrical
Buttons: 3
Wheel: Vertical
Sensor: Optical (Infra-Red)
Resolution: 1600 DPI
USB Rate: 125 Hz
Linear Limit: 1.78 m/s (70"/s)
Skipping Point: 3.84 m/s (151"/s)

Razer Diamondback
Price: £30
Size: 120mm x 60mm x 33mm
Shape: Symmetrical
Buttons: 7
Wheel: Vertical
Sensor: Optical
Resolution: 1600 DPI
USB Rate: 125 Hz
Linear Limit: 1.78 m/s (70"/s)
Skipping Point: > 4.5 m/s (177"/s)

Razer Copperhead
Price: £47
Size: 120mm x 60mm x 33mm
Shape: Symmetrical
Buttons: 7
Wheel: Vertical
Sensor: Laser
Resolution: 2000 DPI
USB Rate: 1000 Hz
Linear Limit: 0.83 m/s (32.5"/s)
Skipping Point: 0.85 m/s (33.5"/s)

Logitech MX300
Price: £15
Size: 115mm x 60mm x 33mm
Shape: Symmetrical
Buttons: 4
Wheel: Vertical
Sensor: Optical
Resolution: 400 DPI
USB Rate: 125 Hz
Linear Limit: 1 m/s (40"/s) [3.91 m/s (154"/s) @ 1000Hz]
Skipping Point: 3.91 m/s (154"/s)

Logitech MX500
Price: £15
Size: 130mm x 70mm x 36mm
Shape: Right-handed
Buttons: 8
Wheel: Vertical
Sensor: Optical
Resolution: 400 DPI
USB Rate: 125 Hz
Linear Limit: 1 m/s (40"/s) [3.91 m/s (154"/s) @ 1000Hz]
Skipping Point: 3.91 m/s (154"/s)

Logitech MX518
Price: £35
Size: 130mm x 70mm x 36mm
Shape: Right-handed
Buttons: 8
Wheel: Vertical
Sensor: Optical
Resolution: 1600 DPI
USB Rate: 125 Hz
Linear Limit: 2.03 m/s (80"/s)
Skipping Point: > 4.5 m/s (177"/s)

Logitech G1
Price: £20
Size: 115mm x 60mm x 33mm
Shape: Symmetrical
Buttons: 4
Wheel: Vertical
Sensor: Optical
Resolution: 800 DPI
USB Rate: 125 Hz
Linear Limit: 1.68 m/s (66"/s)
Skipping Point: 3.30 m/s (130"/s)

Logitech G3
Price: £39
Size: 115mm x 60mm x 33mm
Shape: Symmetrical
Buttons: 6
Wheel: Vertical
Sensor: Laser
Resolution: 2000 DPI
USB Rate: 500 Hz
Linear Limit: 1.30 m/s (51"/s)
Skipping Point: 1.35 m/s (53"/s)

Logitech G5
Price: £49
Size: 130mm x 70mm x 36mm
Shape: Right-handed
Buttons: 6
Wheel: Vertical
Sensor: Laser
Resolution: 2000 DPI
USB Rate: 500 Hz
Linear Limit: 1.30 m/s (51"/s)
Skipping Point: 1.35 m/s (53"/s)

Creative Fatal1ty 1010
Price: £33
Size: 105mm x 66mm x 33mm
Shape: Right-handed
Buttons: 5
Wheel: Vertical
Sensor: Optical
Resolution: 1600 DPI
USB Rate: 93 Hz (average)
Linear Limit: 0.67 m/s (26.5"/s)
Skipping Point: 2.70 m/s (106"/s)

Creative Fatal1ty 2020
Price: £50
Size: 105mm x 66mm x 33mm
Shape: Right-handed
Buttons: 5
Wheel: Vertical
Sensor: Laser
Resolution: 2700 DPI
USB Rate: 500 Hz
Linear Limit: 1.17 m/s (46"/s)
Skipping Point: 1.60 m/s (63"/s)

A4tech X7 X-710BF
Price: £15
Size: 121mm x 68mm x 36mm
Shape: Right-handed
Buttons: 6
Wheel: Vertical
Sensor: Optical
Resolution: 1000 DPI
USB Rate: 125 Hz
Linear Limit: 2.23 m/s (88"/s)
Skipping Point: 2.23 m/s (88"/s)

All of the mice together... oops except one I had to take away urgently so I could use my PC again.

2GD vs Ztrider

Stermy vs Socrates

Toxic vs Fatal1ty

I've spent a long time making this mouse article...

Building the benchmarking setup: 10 hours

Writing to mouse and pad manufacturers for samples: 1 hour

Installing mouse drivers and firmware: 3 hours

Doing the revolutionary benchmarking: 10 hours

Making pretty graphs from the results: 5 hours

added: Taking all the photographs: 2 hours

Writing up the article: 15 hours

The result had better be priceless or I'm going to cry in a corner.

A few days ago I finally sorted out the major slowdowns on ESR. It was down to some innocent looking queries hogging the database, slowing everything else down. Since then I've been going through the php and rewriting anything that looks like it might be a database hog. The site seems to be super speedy now since the changes. So much so that I've put back in a lot of the features I cut to try and improve the speed.

The search page is back and working properly.

You can browse posts by user again (from the profile page).

The archive is being used for listings when you go past page 1, so older postings should appear as normal even if they are archived).

I also rewrote some of the comments section, so that the "First unread comment" link is back. I know a lot of people used that link so I'm glad to reinstate it. The tricky part was working out which is the first unread comment from a list that might span pages, but it all got worked out in the end.

Another problem was uploading big demos, which caused Nicky some grief when she had some huge TDM files to upload. I modified the java upload app from the galleries so that it can be used for uploading larger files to any kind of post. That should sort out anything up to around 32MB, which is enough for demos for now. If you need to upload a file bigger than 8MB, you need to make the post without the file first, then edit it to attach files using the java applet.

I also made a few more changes today following some requests. The latest threads box now remembers how you left it, at least until your session expires. nvck didn't like the betting box taking up so much space at the top right, so I made it collapsible to a smaller version. Also Jamerio reminded me to look into a bookmarking system, so I've added a 'Save' button to threads. Hopefully these work as expected, and I'll tinker with the details until they're right.

All 8 Quake 4 players line up for a photo. Hmm wait something is wrong here...

World Cyber Games!

The Quake 4 1v1 final was played on the main paddock stage.

Special measures are taken to reduce screen glare.

An evil look...

Fatal1ty hits the wrong basket.

Just in front of the stage waiting to set up.

The double elimination bracket kicks off.

F1 cars were here!

Quake 4 area

Names and order will be sorted out later!

There was a welcome party on the day most people arrived. It was called a party but not a whole lot happened. There were a few speeches then some food and soft drinks.

1000 gamers go to get food at the same time.

It was a free-for-all to get anything from the buffet at first. Thankfully they didn't run out. The lasagne was good.

av3k and Toxic prepare for their matches on the first day. Forever came to Italy to spectate the matches.

First day games. Fox was playing avek and Cypher was playing Toxic.

Some called this the tough group, but the other one had a 3-way tie.

Unlike the Fifa area next to us, where you are not allowed to have any open bottles or cans of drink, not allowed to stand up unless a referee gives you permission, not allowed to say anything out loud when you score a goal, and generally not allowed to do anything at all, in the Quake 4 area we all got comfy and are watching a lot of great games.

Discussing their games.

Not on his game.

Fat laser mouse, Fat keyboard, but Sony headphones today.

Socrates has a reflection of the ceiling lights on his screen so Black2lip sorts it out.

Starting up the Group B matches.

Fatal1ty and Ztrider need to up their game after losing their first matches.

There are 4 Cyberstages set up for spectating matches with live commentary from the ITG crew. Cyberstage 1 was the FPS room showing Counter-Strike and Quake 4.

Redeye and wheat commentate the toxic-av3k game.

Apparently Socrates wanted to get the at-home feel so he'll be wearing his PJs and sandals for all matches. No, really.

Forever and Stermy clash poses.

In a heated game, Fatal1ty defeats Stermy in the groups by two maps to one. Because of the map difference Fatal1ty still does not qualify for the double elimination rounds (he needed to win 2-0) but he does manage to knock Stermy down to 2nd place in the group with Socrates taking first place on map difference. Stermy is NOT a happy guy after the deciding game on Galang where he can't find Fatal1ty quickly enough to get the last few frags.

Gametype: Duel
Map: Various Maps
Mod: N/A
Viewpoint: Both
Version info: 1.3
How to play back Q4 demos



Group Stages of the WCG 2006 Quake 4 All Stars Tournament.

This is the first match of the tournament, the first from Group A, played on Phrantic then Monsoon.

Gametype: Duel
Map: Various Maps
Mod: N/A
Viewpoint: Both
Version info: 1.3 q4max
How to play back Q4 demos



Group Stages of the WCG 2006 Quake 4 All Stars Tournament.

This is the first match of the tournament, the first from Group A, played on Monsoon then Phrantic.

Group Stages of the WCG 2006 Quake 4 All Stars Tournament.

This is the first match of the tournament, the first from Group A, played on Monsoon then Phrantic.

A short gallery of Seules visit to the Omega Sektor Harrow gaming centre in the UK.

View Coverage: Extreme Masters
Organiser: ESL
Website: http://www.esl.eu/eu/masters
Duration: 27 Oct 2006 to 27 Oct 2006

The Extreme Masters 2006 event with $200,000 in prize money.

With E3 gone, I'm wondering if there will be a lot more gaming stuff at CES next January. Does anyone know if there will be any esports related stuff, tournaments, etc?

http://www.cesweb.org/

Just a quick note that Hexus interviewed Dominic Mulroy briefly about the Omega Sektor project, and also the refurbishment of Harrow.

I was going to post something myself but I'd prefer to wait until the shop front is done, so you can get photos of the whole place. We've spent considerable money (and time and effort) to bring up our Harrow centre to scratch. We wanted to set the standard and in the mean time test out our ideas that will put into action on a bigger scale in Birmingham.

Anyway read the interview and check out the photos on the following link:
http://gaming.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=6681

I'll probably write more and talk about the ideas when we get the final bits of artwork and shopfront done.

Scheduled: 18:00 CDT, 28 August 2006 to 18:00 CDT, 3 September 2006
Schedule: Passed

Select the eight players, you would like to see in the World Cyber Games 2006 Quake 4 All Stars tournament. Please see the News Announcement for full details of the competition and rules. Before voting you should read the Player Profiles, prepared by iTG`Redeye.

You must chose exactly 8 players for your choices to be counted. To take part in the vote you need to have an ESReality user account and be logged. If you do not have an ESR account, you can create one for free on the Registration Page, simply follow the instructions you receive.

If you are not receiving the registration email, pease contact sujoy@roy.org.uk for assistance quoting the email address with which you registered.

I just found this mini interview with atr|James. He was going to be playing in the VIA ESi tournament in January but couldn't make it in the end so it never went live. I thought I may aswell just post it here in my journal rather than hit delete.

---

Nick: acelethal
Name: James Potts
Clan: alltherage
Location: Hertfordshire, UK
Date: January 2006


ESR: Tell us about your gaming background.

acelethal: Played the command and conquer rts series for 4 years, followed by a year of call of duty. Then played some painkiller on the world tour as my first deathmatch :D

ESR: What hardware do you use?

acelethal: Using a shuttle as they are good for travelling with. Using a logitech G5 on a Steelpad Qck+ as they both rock and a Logitech media keyboard.

ESR: How do you think you'll do in the VIA ESi tournament?

acelethal: Not to sure really, never played a quake before so this is all new to me but ive been playing quite a bit for the last 2 or so weeks so well have see :)

ESR: Who are you most wary about in the VIA ESi tournament?

acelethal: Im expecting to see deus, toogood, garpy and kuula placing well.

ESR: Quake 4 has been out for a few months now, what do you think of the game and do you think it has a future in Esports?

acelethal: Yeah I like it. I think its got room for improvement but its not as bad as people make out. I think its got atleast a year or 2 in it depending on how good ut2007 is.

ESR: How would you describe your Quake 4 playing style?

acelethal: Erm... defensive ?

ESR: Who do you think will dominate Quake 4 in 2006, and why?

acelethal: I think when it comes down to it if Fatal1ty has his heart in it then he will take the world series. There are a number of others like Cooller, Ztrider and Vo0 who will be up there but his dedication, practice regime and especially experience are hard to match.

Quickfire Round!

Favourite Q4 Weapon: Lightning gun

Favourite Q4 Map: Phrantic

Favourite Q4 Player: Ztrider

Favourite Game: Tiberian sun

Favourite Country (to visit): Brazil

Favourite Colour: Green

Favourite Food: Sunday roast

Favourite Drink: Mountain dew

Favourite Car: Audi tt

Favourite Sport: Tennis

Favourite Band/Group/Singer: Counting Crows

Favourite Film: A Knights Tale

I've been trying to sort out the journal links for a while. In the end I've gone for a traditional calendar, which you'll see at the bottom of every journal entry now. This should make the journals a bit more practical.

To make this work I had to restrict journals to just one per day now, otherwise I couldn't find a pretty way to make multiple links for the same day on the calendar.

If you notice bugs let me know.

Germany vs Portugal

Germany win 3-1

Italy 1-1 France

Italy Winner on Penalty Kicks: 5 - 3

Zidane 06 min

Sagnol 120 min
Abidal 120 min
Wiltord 120 min

Materazzi 18 min

Materazzi 120 min
Del Piero 120 min
De Rossi 120 min
Pirlo 120 min
Grosso 120 min

In the final group match, Winz beats Toxic to take the better seed. The French crowd got right behind Winz for this game and seemed to push him to play better than he has ever before. We'll have to see if the French support can take Winz all the way to the final.

After the Winz-Toxic game everyone goes outside for a breather and to chat.

Must have just played a big game because they all gather to talk about it.

Andrew arrives to watch the World Cup. Only he's going to a bar across the road for England vs Portugal! I can't talk, I'm just about to leave and join him.

Cooller steps outside to get some air before the crucial matches tonight. By the end of the day he will know if he made it to the ESWC final match.

Taking a walk, I expect for a food break.

Following the big match on stage Winz also comes outside.

The Russian female CS team hot after a victory in the tournament.