Introduction
Answer the following questions yes or no:
1) Have you played a game for an hour or more straight?
2) Is your PC more valuable to you than your car?
3) Have you called in sick to work to play a new game?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions then be proud, you're a gamer for sure! If you answered yes to more than one of the questions then you're a hardcore gamer.
Being a gamer usually means you are more discriminating about the peripheral items used for gaming than most PC users. These would be the extras that help or enhance our ability to game well or help our performance.
This review is of a brand new item to hit the market called the Fang™ Gamepad. This gamepad comes from Ideazon, which is the same company that introduced us to the ZBoards. More recently Spectrum did a review of another new product they have introduced the MERC™ Gaming Keyboard.
The Fang™ Gamepad was initially developed as a tactical military training device for the U.S. Armed Forces to use with what they would call "training", but we call gaming. Now it is available for us civilians to get some of that tactical advantage. Now I am "Locked and loaded!"
Specifications
- Keyboard Interface: USB 2.0 port
- Product Dimension: 21.1 x 7.9 x 1.1 inches (53.6 x 20.1 x 2.7 cm)
- Tactically Placed Keys: 41 tactically placed keys including four thumb-specific keys and 11 weapon keys surrounding a lethal central butterfly layout.
- Left and Right Hand Compatible: Ambidextrous
- Windows 64-bit USB drivers available
- System Requirements : USB 2.0 Port, Windows® 2000/XP Home/Professional/x64, Pentium® III/Athlon® 1GHz or higher, 128MB RAM, 100MB of hard disk space, CD-ROM drive, Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher, Sound card and speakers for multimedia controls
Features
- Powered by ZEngine™ Technology:
Supplies gamers with pre-defined key layouts (a.k.a. MOD Files) and the ability to easily switch between them for today's top PC gaming titles.
- Main game commands are labeled for quick access, including run, crouch, voice, score, use and reload.
- Z Engine software provides intuitive access via a single graphical user interface (GUI)
- Downloads: Drivers, wallpaper, videos and MOD files for 109 games
- Compact Design: Compact design provides enhanced portability for mobile (LAN) gaming.
- Technological Advantages:
Registers up to 7 simultaneous key-strokes, in comparison to 2-4 on most other keyboards!
- Butterfly Movement Keys:
Enlarged and sloped "butterfly" movement keys that keep fingers comfortable and accurate!
- Dome Shaped Keys:
Unique domed action keys give gamers the responsive feel that they demand.
- Control Zones:
Players can easily access more critical commands with the one hand control zone.
Ideazon product quote:
The U.S. Military Training Combat Pad will be declassified, for use by non-military personnel, for PC Gaming use. Total control. Tactically places keys featuring 41 keys including four thumb-specified keys, and 11 weapon keys surrounding a lethal central butterfly layout. Military training feedback has echoed the sentiments of the gaming community to develop a weapon that is Left AND Right hand compatible. Compact design provides enhanced portability for mobile gaming. The FANG Gamepad allows up to 7 simultaneous keystrokes while employing phantom keystroke elimination capabilities.
