SteelSeries Ikari Laser Mouse Review

Gaming mice are getting serious… what once was marketed as a niche novelty item is now taken seriously as professional sports equipment.

Nearly every computer peripheral maker has a pointing device targeted towards different users.  Some of these gadgets focus on ergonomics, some on office use, and others on serious gaming performance.

Most gaming mice have a core set of common features that PC gamers look for.  These rodents usually feature notched scroll wheels, high DPI, on-the-fly sensitivity changes, macro ability, and onboard memory just to start.  Most manufacturers seem to think that more features translates into a better gaming mouse, but this isn’t true at all.  Having too much granularity or complicated features can slow down the PC gamer when timing is absolutely critical.

To this end, SteelSeries enters the professional gaming mouse arena with their Ikari Laser Professional Gaming Mouse.  Instead of fancy lights and other gimicks, the Ikari focuses on build quality and no-nonsense features.

Features:

• Programmable macro buttons with driverless plug-and-play feature
• 40.000 samples per second (SPS) for unbeatable tracking
• 1 – 3.200 CPI (changeable in increments of 1)
• Built in LCD display to help set CPI values on-the-fly
• Chassis material and shape based on input from professional gamers
• Samples per second: 40.000
• SteelSeries FreeMove Technology
• Large pressure points that reduce friction for optimized glide
• Driverless, plug-and-play feature for LAN gamers
• Supports Windows XP/Vista/2000/Win 9x/Mac OS
• CPI high/low indicator
• Gold-plated USB connector

	SteelSeries Ikari Laser Specifications Specification Value Acceleration 20 G Sensor data path True 16 bit Lift distance 1.8mm (0.07 inches) Programmable buttons 5 Cord 6.5 foot (braided to improve durability) Polling 1000 Hz Measurements 130mm(L) x 83mm(W) x 36mm(H) Counts per inch 1 – 3,00 (in 1 CPI steps)

SteelSeries Ikari Description

The SteelSeries Ikari mice are the result of 15 months extensive research of ergonomics, technology, shape, motion, hand grip and play styles by gamers. The shape, materials and specifications of the SteelSeries Ikari mice are based on input from professional players from Team 3D, compLexity, mousesports, SK Gaming, Team NoA and other world-class gaming organizations, who collectively represent the world’s most accomplished gamers in Counter-Strike and other gaming disciplines.

The SteelSeries Ikari Laser mouse features programmable macros for RTS and MMO gamers and a high precision sensor suitable for FPS gamers. Furthermore the Ikari Laser is completely driverless which enables the mouse to remember settings and macros when plugged into tournament computers – without installing any drivers or software.

The advanced SteelSeries XY2 laser engine supports resolution settings with increments of only 1 CPI, which for the first time ever gives the user the ability to fine tune the mouse exactly to his personal reaction pattern. Set your windows and in-game sensitivity to default and set the CPI on your hardware instead of forcing software calculations.

With the built in LED display in the bottom of the Ikari Laser you are able to adjust your CPI anytime, anywhere – you are completely independent of software or drivers.

The gaming grade engine used in the SteelSeries Ikari Laser utilizes a new way of analyzing tracking, reaching 40,000 SPS (or around 5 times the speed of conventional laser technology).

The Ikari Laser mouse is packaged in a professional-looking box, which shows off its unusual but well-contoured shape.  Included in the box is the mouse itself, a SteelSeries sticker, a quick-install guide and software CD (even though the mouse is supposed to be “driverless”).

The mouse itself has a very unusual ergonomic shape, but not so unusual that it forces or contorts your hand into an uncomfortable position (as Microsoft Natural Laser Mouse 6000 does).  The left side of the mouse has a subtle thumb-rest, and the right side of the mouse is shaped to support the often-overlooked ring and pinky fingers.  The entire surface of the peripheral is coated with a textured plastic that has a slightly rubbery feel, which reduces perspiration and makes it easy to grip.

The mouse cord is encased in a professional-looking braided mesh and terminates its generous 6-foot length with a gold-plated USB connector.  Because of its braid, the cord glides over surfaces that would otherwise snag a rubberized cord, but does add a little weight.

The mouse has 5 buttons which are standard fare on any mouse these days: left click, right click, scroll-wheel button, and two thumb buttons.  All of the buttons are programmable, but realistically you will only change the thumb button definitions for gaming.  There is an additional button which toggles between two pre-defined DPI settings, but more on that later.

The scroll wheel is made of a white plastic and coated in silicone for extra grip.  Like other gaming mice, the scroll wheel is notched to provide tactile feedback when changing weapons in PC games.  Like most gaming mice, the left and right tile has been omitted, which is a feature rarely used even by office users.  The scroll wheel seems thinner than other mice, and because of that does not get in the way.  Other gaming mice feel the need to place bright LEDs under the scroll wheel, but the Ikari goes without.

Two small white LEDs appear on the top-left portion of the mouse, which indicate the mouses’ current DPI mode (high or low).  The placement of this indicator is ingenious: it can be easily seen and isn’t hidden under your finger (as in Logitech’s G9 mouse).  Unfortunately the usability team didn’t complete their thought processes because both high and low indicators are white:  different colors for each mode would be alot easier to identify in the heat of battle.  A blue/white combination would easily distinguish between the different DPI modes and still not be overtly bright or gaudy.

The middle-mouse button is easy to click without accidentally scrolling, and it has just the right amount of resistance when notching up and down.  From my experience, Logitech’s “aluminum” wheel is far too sensitive, so it is very easy to over-select, and Razer’s enormous scroll wheel takes too much effort to push into a notch.  The Ikari’s scroll resistance just feels right, but using it for web browsing is a major chore.

Casual users may not understand the need for the extremely high DPI (or CPI) used in modern gaming mice.  But the need becomes clear once you disable the “mouse acceleration” included in mouse drivers since 1985.  Mouse acceleration basically interpolates small mouse movement into a large cursor movement depending on the mouse’s speed.  Most FPS games require constant fast movement, so it is very easy to over-turn when running through hallways, and harder to hone in on a headshot with acceleration enabled.

There isn’t alot to the Ikari configuration software, which can be good or bad depending on how you look at it.  The software is divided up into three categories: Button Settings, Sensitivity Settings, and FreeMove.  At the top is a dropdown list where you can switch between pre-configured profiles or save new ones.

 

The Button Settings tab allows you to set any mouse button (except the DPI toggle switch) to practically anything.  You can select between common tasks such as Copy or Paste, or define custom macros.  Macros can be as simple as emulating a keypress, or complex as a series of keypresses and mouse clicks, with configurable delay time.

The Sensitivity tab allows you to define the High and Low DPI of this profile.  You can enter any number between 1 and 3200.

 

The FreeMove tab is a setting that allows the mouse to “smooth out” horizontal mouse movement.  In theory, this could keep your crosshairs on the horizon with minimal jitter, but this feature has yet to be battle-proven.  I really didn’t notice when this feature was completely turned off or on during a game.  The effects can be easily seen when drawing a straight line in Photoshop, however.

One feature that should be included is the ability to turn off Mouse Accelleration.  By default, mouse acceleration is enabled on every Windows PC, which adds fake positioning data through interpolation, and makes movement rough.  If you’re a PC gamer, you want this off, and it really should be eliminated for desktop purposes, as well.  Other standard features that were omitted are scrollwheel sensitivity and double-click sensitivity.  Although these features can be disabled through the Control Panel’s Mouse applet, they should have been included in Ikari’s for one-stop shopping.

Weight Issues

Some people prefer a light mouse, and some prefer a heavier mouse.  In all honesty, I feel that this is a gimmick that manufacturers have implemented to their products just to make their product look more customizable.  In the real world, a lighter mouse is a better gaming mouse.  We add weight to mice just to make ourselves feel better about the paperweights that are wireless mice.  A better solution to increase or reduce friction is to change your mousepad, rather than trying to configure weight.

	Gaming Mouse Weight Comparison mouse mouse weight (oz) cord weight (oz) total weight (oz) SteelSeries Ikari Laser 3.5 1.7 5.2 Hades H1 (weight cart full) 4.2 1.2 4.7 Hades H1 (weight cart empty) 3.4 1.2 5.3 Microsoft Explorer ver. 3.0 3.2 1.2 4.4 MS Natural Wireless Laser (1 battery) 5.2 N/A 5.2 MS Natural Wireless Laser (2 batteries) 6.3 N/A 6.3 Razer Lachesis 3.4 1.2 4.6

The SteelSeries Ikari Laser mouse is just as light as other corded mice.  The braid on the mouse cord adds some weight overall, but your hand doesn’t have to push this weight around.  The braid also serves to reduce friction of the cord against other surfaces (desktop, mouse pad) and also makes the cord slightly stiffer.  Because of these properties, the Ikari doesn’t spring back as badly as other mice when your hand is removed.

Laser tracking

The compact infrared laser of the Ikari tracked well on nearly every surface, including white plexiglass and every mousepad I could throw at it, including SteelSeries’ own SP mousing surface.

Case Study: Unreal Tournament

Other gaming mice allow you to toggle through several DPI settings, but most gamers will find themselves frantically running for their lives one second and then perched on a ledge with a sniper rifle a split-second later.  You have less control of your movement while toggling through four different DPI settings, especially if you can’t see a visual indicator of the DPI settings.  Being able to immediately go from frantic mode to ultimate control mode with one click is invaluable, and has actually improved my game, and the guys at LanPartyNW will confirm that I suck.

Multiple DPI steps are actually more helpful in a desktop environment, where you can dial-up or dial-down sensitivity depending on the needs of the time.  You can quickly move your cursor across multiple monitors, and then tone it down for webpage navigation,and then down further when doing Photoshop work.  I do miss the extra steps of granularity on the desktop, but the time saved in games has spared my virtual hide on several occassions.

As mentioned earlier, the only buttons that are realistically re-programmed are the two thumb buttons.  I map my main thumb button to Jump, and the secondary thumb button to the Teleport gun  (to quickly get my ass out of the way when being chased).  If I had more programmable buttons, then I would program them to my favorite weapons or taunts, so my left hand never leaves WASD.  Alas, the Ikari has no extra programmable buttons.

The Ikari’s unusual shape cradles and supports the entire hand in a natural way, and the textured surface reduces hand perspriation.   These two simple but practical design features make the Ikari more comfortable than even “super-ergonomic” mice, and is easily the most comfortable gaming mouse available.

Some of the features of the mouse seem to confuse me.  On one hand, SteelSeries provides an unheard of level of control by implementing ultra-fine DPI granularity, but doesn’t provide additional buttons that a serious gamer would use.  The Ikari’s low-key design is streamlined to allow extreme customization without sacrificing usability.

The whole idea of a “driverless” mouse is that you can take your custom mouse settings to any computer without any setup.  You can only switch profiles and assign macros using the Ikari software, so the point of this mouse being driverless is absolutely moot.  Ikari’s LCD display shows you the actual name of the current profile, but there’s no way to change it without the software.

Since gaming mice support on-board memory, why can’t there be a user-writable area where we can store the configuration program?  In lieu of a profile-switching button, at least allow users to take the configuration software with the mouse.

There are a few improvements that could be made, but these are minor gripes when compared with other gaming mice.  The fact of the matter is that the SteelSeries Ikari Laser mouse is streamlined to truly improve in-game reaction time and is the most comfortable gaming mouse available.

	REPORT CARD : SteelSeries Ikari Laser Professional Gaming Mouse category rating comments Quality 5 The build design is supurb, buttons have just enough resistance, and braided cord makes this mouse truly professional. Innovation 4 Minimalist two-step DPI and selector increases reflexes in games, and shape is better than even ergonomic mice. Control-freaks will want more buttons. Performance 5 Best ergonomics for a gaming mouse, laser tracks on surfaces that others won’t. Installation 4 Mouse is “driverless” but still requires software to change profiles? Value 5 Slightly more expensive than other gaming mice, but you get an ergonomic and excellent gaming mouse in one FINAL VERDICT: 5 out of 5 stars

Q: What makes the Ikari so special?

A: The Ikari Series has been developed in cooperation with professional gamers from all around the world. Teams like SK-Gaming, mousesports, Team3D, compLexity and others were involved in many of the stages of development of the Ikari. It took us a total of 15 months to gather and process the feedback we have received. The result was the Ikari series. We believe both of the Ikari mice are a perfect addition to your arsenal of professional gaming gear and will help you to improve your game.

Q: What is the difference between Ikari Laser and Ikari Optical?

A: The SteelSeries Ikari Optical is a mouse that’s perfectly suited for FPS players. The optical sensor is well proven and can track even when moving the mouse at an extremely high speed when playing on a very low sensitivity. It’s a very simple mouse where the focus was clearly on performance in games like Counter-Strike. The Ikari Laser is made for all of the MMO/RTS players that need high precision at a rather high sensitivity. It’s not made for extremely fast movements of the hand (and by that we really mean EXTREMELY FAST). It offers a LCD , on the fly CPI switching and macro functionalities which can be programmed with the software.

Q: I’m considering buying an Ikari mouse – which mouse pad is recommended for it?

A: The Ikari Optical is perfectly compatible with all our mousepads. The Ikari Laser is not compatible with glass mousepads so you shouldn’t use it with the SteelSeries Experience series. We recommend a mousepad of the SteelSeries QcK series or the SteelSeries 5L for use with the SteelSeries Ikari Laser.

Q: When will the Ikari mice be available?

A: Both models will be available in the end of November.

Q: Will the old IntelliMouse 1.1 SS & 3.0 SS still be available?

A: No. You might still be able to get one of the last pieces from an online store. Currently there are no plans on reviving them again.

Q: Which glides do you recommend?

A: None. Both Ikari models are already equipped with huge contact area made of a very slippery material. Padsurfers wouldn’t improve it nor would any other tape for application on the Ikari’s contact areas. Matching replacement feet might be available at some time in the future though.

Q: Where can I download the drivers for the Ikari?

A: There are no drivers for the Ikari mice. There is only a specific software for configuring the settings. Both mice work perfectly fine with just plug&play.

Q: I’m confused. You use the term CPI (counter per inch) but every other mouse manufacturer uses DPI (dots per inch). Why can’t you just use the recognized term?

A: DPI is an expression from the printing world and has nothing to do with mouse movement. DPI is meant to describe that for one inch of distance you move your mouse on any surface, the equivalent number of counts are sent to the PC – resulting in movement on your screen. CPI is the correct term for this as it actually is consistent with what you seek to describe with the abbreviation.

Q: I’m still confused. You use the term SPS (samples per second) but every other mouse manufacturer uses FPS (frames per second). Why can’t you just use the recognized term?

A: Other mouse manufacturers use sensors that take “pictures” of the surface and compare them to each other. This is why referring to frames per second is correct here. Our technology only takes samples and is in this way a lot more efficient than always processing a bigger image. We’re just using the correct term for our technology for the Ikari Laser.

Q: What is SteelSeries FreeMove?

A: SteelSeries FreeMove offers users the option to choose the degree of when this feature should kick in and correct your movement. Through seven steps in the Ikari Laser software you are able to adjust how much control should be left up to the mouse and how much control should be left up to yourself – in other words how precise should the mouse be reproducing your movement.

Q: How do I find a CPI and FreeMove combination that fits me the best?

A: Through experience. By adjusting your CPI and FreeMove degree over time you will be able to find the perfect combination. Try assigning two nearly identical settings on the Low – High toggle and go in-game to try it out. Keep doing this until you find the perfect combination.