Mechanical Keyboards
For an entry-level mechanical keyboard,
the SteelSeries 6G v2 ($89) is an entry-level option. The ($174.92) is a fully
mechanical keyboard with 18 programmable G-Keys. Logitech also sells the G710
($139) mechanical keyboard, which is short on G-Keys and lacks an LCD screen,
but boasts whisper-quiet mechanical keys (loud keys can be a distracting
problem for most mechanical keyboards). If you want a more responsive
keyboard—essential for both fast-paced shooters and micro-intensive
real-time-strategy games such as StarCraft II—mechanical will provide a
noticeable speed advantage.
SteelSeries 6Gv2 Mechanical Gaming
Keyboard
But Is It Fair?
All of the aforementioned peripheral
options list the main ways you can acquire a measurable competitive edge which,
when combined, makes for a considerable advantage that leaves room for debate
as to how fair it really is. Unlike hardware ‘cheating’, software cheating is
incredibly easy to identify as it offers a competitive gameplay advantage not
afforded in the original design of the game. Anything which buffs your
abilities—speed, aiming, ghostly sight through physical objects,
etcetera—beyond what can be fairly earned in a game is classifiable as
cheating.
Glitches And Exploits
Software glitches are a far less
black-and-white affair, with a pertinent grey area wide open for discussion in
terms of which ones constitute in-game cheating. A glitch to one gamer may be
seen by another as opportunistic exploitation that is, technically, allowed for
within a game’s design. In many ways, gaining a competitive edge by way of the
purchase of equipment that’s supported by a game’s design is akin to the debate
between whether glitching is cheating or whether it’s advantageous gaming. The
key difference is that glitches often result in community outcry that pressure
developers into amending such exploits in future game updates.
Tournament Gaming
Interestingly, even at a tournament level,
there are certain hardware restrictions in place, but they’re nowhere near as
limiting as they could be. Major League Gaming (MLG) forces players to play on
a provided desktop and monitor, but asks them to bring their own headset,
keyboard, mouse (no wireless models, though) and mouse pad to compete in
StarCraft II. This means, in the instance of StarCraft II where speed is
everything, mechanical keyboards, high-dpi and/or multibutton mice all offer
the potential for an all-important speed boost on the actions-per-minute (APM)
front; and all of these can be potentially used by contenders. That being said,
the MLG equipment guidelines do include the disclaimer that all equipment is
subject to approval.
Major League Gaming has taken its online
game broadcast
to its own streaming network called MLG.TV.
And You, At Home
For a home user, though, every piece of
hardware installable on an operating system and supported in a game is
technically fair play. The fact remains that all of the aforementioned
equipment is really only fully useful to semi-pro or pro gamers. While it can
certainly give any gamer the potential for an edge when stacked next to stock
peripheral hardware, there’s still a requirement of a higher skill level before
the advantages become noticeable. If you’re competing at a high skill level,
the chances are good you’re already flirting with the top of the leaderboard.
Gear Up, Soldier
Arming yourself with the aforementioned
equipment is more likely to value-add to your gaming experience, as opposed to
converting you from ladder loser to the lofty heights of best player.
Arming yourself with the aforementioned
equipment
In this respect, the use of hardware
peripherals to gain a competitive edge is comparable to motorsports: teams are
allowed to tune the parts of their cars as they see fit to unlock better
performance. Running with that comparison, purchasing relevant gaming
peripherals isn’t cheating; it’s smart.
There has been great evolution in the
gaming scene over the years, turn it to your advantage.
