[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
Just like other computer peripheral makers, Genius has a special brand for gaming-grade products with more advanced features. The company releases the DeathTaker mouse geared towards the MMORPG/RTS crowd – that is to say, its main feature is recording macros. The DeathTaker reaches 5,700 dpi of resolution, and it features nine configurable buttons (eight regular buttons plus the scroll wheel itself) and an ingenious weight adjustment system. We’ll analyze its performance after we describe the product.
Figure 1: DeathTaker mouse
The DeathTaker is a medium-size mouse for right-handed users that strays from the more sleek style found on similar products on the market. The design has an industrial flair with a pinch of car tuning thrown in. If the user would prefer a more discreet mouse, the DeathTaker is not a good option. It has three different coatings: a rubberized surface on the thumb rest; a black piano coating all over the main body (including the two main buttons); and a glossy surface with the GX Gaming tagline and scorpion logo, over the weight adjustment compartment.
Figure 2: Right side
There’s a silver detail (with the GX Gaming name on it) that encompasses the two lateral buttons, and three other silver buttons: the X, Y and macro buttons. A tiny red button marked D changes the resolution setting. The colorful design is complete with the scroll wheel that features an illuminated strip running down the middle.
Figure 3: Left side
Figure 4: Close-up on the buttons
[nextpage title=”Introduction (Cont’d)”]
On the underside, the user can find the Avago ADNS-9500 laser sensor that reaches 5,700 dpi of resolution, plus two Teflon feet for precise sliding.
Figure 5: Underside
As we said before, unlike other models, the DeathTaker’s weight adjustment system doesn’t reside on the underside, but instead it can be found inside the rounded top of the mouse, under the glossy cover with the scorpion logo. The cover is released after applying a little pressure with the thumb and then sliding it to the right. This way, the user finds a small compartment to insert the rubber rail that holds six weights with 4.5 g (0.15 oz.) each, for a total increment of 27 g (0.9 oz). The cover is magnetically closed. There’s no storage for the weights in case the user doesn’t fit them all inside the DeathTaker.
Figure 6: Weight adjustment system
The 1.8 m/6 feet cable is cloth-wrapped and ends on a gold-plated USB connector. A Velcro ribbon neatly ties up the cable.
Figure 7: Cable with Velcro ribbon
[nextpage title=”Main Characteristics”]
Genius sells the DeathTaker as a mouse geared for players of MMORPG/RTS games, due to the fact that it features several programmable functions. However, the truth is that the peripheral is also good for FPS games; the user just won’t need that many macros to begin with. The package includes an installation CD with the GX Gaming configuration software. Once it is installed, the user can assign 11 functions to eight buttons plus the scroll wheel (the wheel can execute three tasks).
Figure 8: Button configuration
As usual, it’s possible to control the pointer speed, set five different values for the resolution (from 100 to 5,700 dpi), and record five user profiles on the mouse’s internal memory, which is useful for the player on the move. Each profile can have up to 11 macros, for a total of 55 recordable macros on the DeathTaker.
Figure 9: Macro configuration
Macro recording doesn’t break any market rules, but it does have a major difference. The program only records up to 20 key presses; however, the user can configure a button to act as a Shift key to gain access to a different profile when it is hit in combination with another button. With a little organization and some trial and error, this can be a powerful tool for those players who really like to record macros for everything.
Finally, the user can turn off the illumination or choose any color among 16 million RGB options to light up the DeathTaker. The lights in the scroll wheel and underneath the GX Gaming text can be set to pulsate in a breathing mode or just stay lit – right from the desktop to a Mardi Gras parade.
Figure 10: DeathTaker lit up
[nextpage title=”Playing with the DeathTaker”]
The first impression one gets from the mouse is its mixed gripping style. Since the DeathTaker has a big bulge on one end and buttons located too far on the other end, it’s almost impossible to control it with a claw-grip style. On the other hand, since it has a medium-size body, palm-grippers will find it too small to hold it with the hand completely over it. It takes some time to find the right way to grip it, but once it’s accomplished, the experience is very comfortable thanks to the thumb rest a
nd well-distributed buttons. Since there are a good number of programmable functions available, the user can choose the buttons he or she finds easier to reach to assign new functions to them.
It was fairly easy to program the most obvious World of Warcraft macros (invoke mount, attack rotations, etc.) and, since we use a big monitor, we selected a high dpi setting to cover more screen space with fewer hand movements. When in combat with multiple foes, we set the resolution low to precisely pick each one, without missing an enemy on the fray. The DeathTaker performed gracefully at every moment, and it was very comfortable to play with.
We let the weights inside it keep the peripheral more grounded, but the weight adjustment system is very interesting. We just missed some way to store the weights if we had chosen to extract a few of them.
[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]
The main specifications for the Genius DeathTaker include:
- Gaming-grade laser mouse
- Right-handed design
- Connection: USB
- Assignable Functions: Eleven (eight buttons plus three functions on the scroll wheel)
- Tracking resolution: Up to 5,700 dpi selectable on five user-selected levels
- Polling Rate: 250 Hz/500 Hz/1,000 Hz
- Illumination: 16 million colors
- Dimensions: 4.5 x 3.1 x 1.3 inches (115 x 80 x 35 mm)
- Weight System: Six weights with 0.15 oz. (4.5 g) each
- Cable: 6 feet (1.8 m)
- More information: https://www.gx-gaming.com
- Average price in the U.S.*: USD 69.99
* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The DeathTaker is a good MMORPG/RTS gaming-grade mouse that can also play RTS games, but for that it would have to have a bigger resolution setting. It’s a comfortable mouse, but its peculiar grip and medium-size body may put off players with big hands. The buttons are well-located. The magnetic cover is an ingenious solution to the weight adjustment compartment, just like its location on the lower back of the mouse. The design has a very dubious taste (visually polluted with too many logos and texts; three different coatings), and it goes against the trend of a sleeker and more discreet peripheral.
Strong Points
- Ingenious weight adjustment system
- Well-located programmable buttons
- Great number of recordable macros
- Scroll wheel can be assigned to three functions
- Comfortable grip
Weak Points
- Visually polluted design
- No case to store the unused extra weights
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