How to Choose a Gaming Mousepad

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By HowDragon
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gaming mousepad

With computers, keyboards, mice, and even chairs designed specifically for gaming, it's easy to overlook that small sheet of rubbery plastic material that is your computer mousepad. But that same mousepad that you've labeled "insignificant" could turn on you when you least expect it--you might run out of space, or worse... Don't let "or worse" happen to you, and learn how to choose a mousepad that has sworn allegiance to your art. Learn how to choose a gaming mousepad.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Get the right size. The first thing you'll notice about gaming mousepads is how some of them are huge. This is for good reason. At the peak of battle, a mouse that falls off the mousepad can mean disaster. A large mousepad will at best ensure victory, and will at worst take up the spot where your drink was supposed to go. What's more important--victory, or your lifeblood? The answer should be obvious.
Step 2

Choose the best style. All gaming mousepads have their own personality, and all personalities have a mousepad designed for them. Gaming mousepads not only vary by size, but also by design, color, texture, and even lighting effects. To keep bickering among your computer components to a minimum, it's important that the style you choose meshes well with not only your personality, but also the atmosphere of your domain. Take care to appease both your keyboard's and especially your mouse's personality or you may come to regret it only after it's too late.
Step 3

Get the right texture. The textures of gaming mousepads can be broken down into two types--speed and control. On a speed surface, you accelerate and reach maximum speed fast, but you may find it lacking in the ability to help you make short, precise movements. On a control surface, acceleration is slower, allowing for extra precision when moving short distances.
Step 4

Try it out. The best way to ensure that you get the best material is to try the gaming mousepad out--and in a variety of games. If it's impossible to do so, buy both types of mousepads. If you don't have the cash, then lucky for you there are a few two-sided gaming mousepads out there that feature both a speed and a control surface.
Step 5

Read reviews. Why waste energy doing what someone else has already done? Search the internet, visit forums, and read articles until you have a good idea of which gaming mousepad works for what game, and which ones don't work at all. Once you've found the perfect gaming mousepad, that's one less thing you can blame your failure on, so be certain you're ready to accept the consequences of your actions. If you are, victory is inevitable.

Comments

sonni57 said

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on 3/28/2009 I've never heard of a gaming mouse pad now you know I don't play games. Thanks for the info.

jasminemars said

on 1/20/2009 Nice article, you mentioned things I never thought of. I am not a gamer, but live in a household with two gaming addicts. I should get my son a new mousepad. Thanks!! 5*