If ever there was a game changer in the world, Blizzard would be it. It is impossible for anyone to deny that they have not only shaped the standards for MMOs, RPGs, and RTSs, but they have also set the bar so high that most “imitators” fall miserably short of the goal. One of the biggest franchises is Diablo. Even though it has been 11 years since Diablo 2 came out and we are well on our way to the 12 year mark, Diablo has such a following that it is still played and modded to this day. I’ve even seen Diablo 2 LAN parties going on this month.
So with the release date of Diablo 3 inching ever closer, don’t you think that you need to make sure that you have the best tools in your inventory? Blizzard does and as such, they have teamed up with SteelSeries to bring you the first and only officially licensed Diablo 3 mouse. A lot of times when a PC peripheral has a franchise name attached to it, it is more of a gimmick than anything. However, after hours of extensive testing, I can assure you that the Diablo 3 mouse is not just a logo thrown on a mouse, but a legitimately amazing device that is sure to make your friends do a double take and drool with jealousy as they walk by you at a LAN.
Design
So the basic design of the Diablo 3 mouse is that of the SteelSeries Sensei. It has the same ambidextrous shape, uses the same software (the SteelSeries Engine) but that is where the similarities end. This mouse shaves off a few of the features of the Sensei and adds its own unique flair and features.
Unlike the Sensei, this mouse has only one LED color; blood red. The only thing that you can change about the LEDs is the rate at which they illuminate, whether pulsing, blinking, or always-on. Another one of the features the Diablo 3 mouse drops is the LCD screen on the bottom. Leaving off the LCD and extra LEDs has helped this mouse shed a few ounces, but it still maintains a good weight.
There are 4 additional buttons on this mouse over a standard one. These buttons take the form of 2 thumb and 2 pinkie buttons no matter which hand you are holding it with. The thumb buttons seem to have the perfect placement to maximize comfort, but the pinkie buttons may take some getting used to, but isn’t something that you can’t learn with a little practice. From factory, these additional buttons are pre-programmed to correspond to your main commands that you will use in Diablo 3.
The overall shell of the mouse is fantastic. It still retains the comfortable design that make the SteelSeries Sensei an award winning mouse, but instead of the slick faux metal plastic cover, the Diablo 3 mouse is coated in a soft, comfortable rubber. I’m not sure what kind of rubber coating it is, but it is substantially more comfortable than comparable textures on other mice. Painted onto this coating are some gothic tribal accents. These accents are incredibly beautiful and really tie the Diablo theme into the mouse.
The final two changes that SteelSeries made to the Diablo 3 mouse are a different scroll wheel and an accented wire braiding. Instead of a standard smooth or grooved scroll wheel, this one has an angular pattern on it. The angular designs are considerably higher than the mouse giving it deep grooves and a very tactile feel as you roll it up and down. As for the cable, a standard braided cable would have been acceptable. However, SteelSeries has woven a few small red threads into the sleeving. This two tone red and black cables is identical to the one on the Diablo 3 headset that SteelSeries makes and allows you to coordinate the designs of you peripherals if you like it.
