Razer Intros Orbweaver Mechanical Keypad; Game Controller

While most of the attention Razer is currently receiving is focused on its upcoming gaming tablet (which we will gladly fondle next week), the company has announced two new products over the last two days: the Razer Orbweaver Mechanical Gaming Keypad for the PC gaming audience, and the Razer Sabertooth Xbox 360 Controller for console junkies (you know who you are).

For starters, the Razer Orbweaver Mechanical Gaming Keypad is based on the Razer Nostromo, and lets PC gamers bind an "infinite" number of controls to 20 mechanical keys. Razer claims that only 50g of force is needed to punch in each key, thus the speed of command execution is only limited to the user's finger movements.

In addition to the keys, the gadget also sports a programmable eight-way directional thumb-pad that can be used for in-game movement, or as a modifier for "endless" combinations. There are also adjustable rests for the thumb, palm and wrist which can be slid back and forth or tilted to suit any hand curvature or size.

"The Razer Orbweaver is the ultimate gauntlet of game control," said Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. "The feeling of having every command at hand to destroy the competition in so many different ways is just sublime, and the tactile feedback and fast key actuation from the mechanical key architecture gives you a feeling of satisfaction and an added edge in the games you play."

The Razer Orbweaver Mechanical Gaming Keypad will retail for $129.99 USD when it lands on store shelves worldwide in Q1 2013. For those who can't wait, Razer is selling the gadget directly to customers online for the same price now.

Xbox 360 gamers looking for a good replacement for Microsoft's stock controller can look no further than the Razer Sabertooth Elite Gaming Controller which sports six additional buttons and an OLED screen. This console peripheral will be available at retailers worldwide sometime this month for $79.99 (EU €79.99), but it's up for purchase at Razer's online shop now.

According to Razer, there are two shoulder multi-function buttons, four removable multi-function buttons, and four backlit Hyperesponse "action" buttons. There's also an OLED screen for feature customization, allowing gamers to remap the multi-function buttons, adjust the analog stick’s sensitivity and save profiles – the display visualizes their modified preferences.

"Users are able to reconfigure controls found elsewhere on the device to the multi-function buttons ergonomically positioned at their fingertips," the company said. "Overall, the design of the Razer Sabertooth increases actuation speed, reduces fatigue, and encourages natural hand posturing for a more precise and comfortable gaming experience, giving console players the competitive edge they crave."

This controller, developed with professional eSports teams and players, comes with a fully detachable, lightweight braided fiber cable that securely screws onto the controller, and its own carrying case. Razer said that Team Epsilon, Quantic Gaming and Team Prophecy have been involved in the validation of the controller.

I'd actually dust off my Xbox 360 just to check out this new controller... if I can be pulled away from Dead Island on the PC long enough, that is (read: addiction).

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