I've always collected games with the honest intent of devoting a few hours of my life every week to escaping reality and releiving a little stress. Unfortunately, my "reality" is so time demanding that, believe it or not, I got "Doom 3" in a trade about a year ago and have yet to this day install it on my computer and play it. Wait a minute, you ask. How can you not play for even one hour on a lazy Sunday morning?

Well, I'm somewhat of an addict when it comes to electronic competition. I remember when I installed "Halo: Combat Evolved". I played it for five hours on a Friday evening, then for 19 solid hours on Saturday finally finishing the game on Sunday morning. Now, I've been bitten by the "City of Heroes" bug, a game that appeals to my inner self which is why I recently splurged on a few items to enhance my game play.

Of course, a new mouse and mouse pad was on the purchase order list but I wanted something more than a simple keyboard. USB game handheld controllers annoy me for some reason so I know that wasn't something I wanted. So, what else was there?

Enter...the CyberSnipa!



The CyberSnipa is a wired USB gamepad from the folks at Flexiglow that incorporates the industry default FPS keys into one simple standalone keypad that is designed to enhance (read: IMPROVE!) a gamer's performance. The gamepad is designed in such a way that the keys most FPS (First Person Shooter) games utilize are layed out in the close proximity that you would find them on the keyboard, eliminating the need for any major, or even minor, "retraining your trigger finger". If your FPS game allows you to modify the navigation and control settings of your gameplay, this gamepad is simply something you need to at least consider but at what cost?

Let's take a look, shall we?


Product Specs:

For what amounts to a simple product, the marketing folks at Flexiglow sure know how to provide a complete "Features" list for their product. Here's what I got from a Cut-N-Paste from their website...

- Designed to improve game control, speed and accuracy
- No learning curve for experienced FPS gamers
- USB device that will operate alongside your keyboard.
- Ergonomically designed navigation and function keys
- Optimally engineered tactile key feedback
- Can be used with any FPS game that allows programmable key mappings
- Built in volume control
- Removable non-slip palm wrest
- 1.8m (6ft) USB power cord
- US and other patents pending

Size (including hand-rest):
Length: 235mm
Width: 153mm
Height: 24mm

From what you've just read, it sounds almost like a gamer's wish list for what they would want and expect to see out of this type of product. One of the main features that impresses me and attracts the eye is the non-slip palm rest. As a victim of carpal tunnel syndrome, I quickly learned to dread the site of a keyboard until the ergonomic keyboards hit the market. Think that this product will aggrevate or alliviate my weakness? Read on and find out in the performance test later!


Shipping:

Since I ordered the product and paid for it with my personal funds, that is why you are seeing this review appear in the Member's Review section in the forums rather than the PimpRig Review section of this website. If we started the practice where we had to pay for the products that we reviewed, you would definately find a LOT less reviews out there on the Internet. However, I was anxious to try this product rather than wait for the friendly channels of PR (in this case, that means Public Relations) to take their course.



I purchased this product from everyone's favorite vendor, NewEgg.com, for the measly price of $33.99. I was on edge until the day it arrived via FedEx in a standard box, packed tightly around the styrofoam popcorn. Hum, absolutely no damage to the outside of the box. I'm beginning to suspect that all those horror stories you hear about express consignment couriers might actually be a hoax...however, I'm not going to say that too loud.





The product itself came in a nice looking blister-pack designed for retail display. Sealed at the edges to ensure that you don't lose anything during shipping and handling, the only way you're going to get this product out is by using a pair of scissors. Kids (and yes, some of you adults out there), make sure that you get someone responsible to help you open this package. I certainly don't want any of you getting hurt by the scissors opening this package.


Contents:

Once I got the blister-pack open, my initial response was...huh? I spent the next minute or two looking around on the ground, looking back inside the blister-pack, and back to the ground again. There were only two things inside the blister-pack. The CyberSnipa gamepad and a set of instructions (written in different languages for all you multilingual folks out there) was all I found. What? No driver disk? No additional parts that require an MBA in Advanced Engineering to put together?



Wow! This is getting better and better by the moment.


First Impression:

My first impression of this product once I actually had it in my hands was pretty much the same as when I first opened it...huh? The item itself is pretty lightweight, weighing in so light that I barely knew that I had a partial keyboard in my hand. After closely looking at the layout, it's extremely easy to surmise that this is just a simple keyboard (or should I say half a keyboard) in disguise. Many of the 36 keys used in a FPS game are the same ones on this gamepad, even so far as using the same letter/number/function key.






The USB cord comes out the back of the gamepad and with six feet it is easily long enough (in most cases) to reach desktop computer. Also included on the game pad (and certainly a nice touch) is a volume control button. Last but not least is a tiny little hole that appears to have an LED underneath.


Installation:

Ready? O.K., here goes. Watch real close...(plugs the USB cord into the available USB port)...(Windows XP recognizes the product)...(icon tray pop-up appears and shows that the product has been installed and ready to use).

Did you get that?

No driver disc to work with nor any "fiddling" with Windows XP to get the hardware installed. Being a USB plug, you could plug it into the desktop or your monitor. I'm pretty lucky in that my keyboard has two available ports on the back so that saved me from doing any major wire management to reach clear over to my desktop (which, ironically, sits on a two-drawer file cabinet and not my desk).


Performance:

Seeing as how this is a FPS product, the only way to properly test it is to start up a FPS game. Let's see...what kind of FPS game does anyone think that Rob has installed on his desktop. I don't know...perhaps, "City of Heroes"? Yeah, let's give that one a try.

To save myself a little grief while acclimating myself to the product, I log in with my level 50 hero and use the keyboard to take him to a level 5 and below zone (Atlas Park). I'd hate to do something stupid to penalize my hero while trying to figure out how well this gamepad will respond. O.K., so my toon is now in a safe area...let's see how this performs.



The keys on the CyberSnipa gamepad are layed out in the same exact format as the game's default. I have the "W" key for forward movement, "Q" and "E" for turn left and right respectively, "S" for reverse, and "A" and "D" for run left and run right respectively. I began with a few simple movements to get a feel for the response time, amount of pressure needed for the gamepad, and familiarization with the layout.



While the keys are layed out in the same fashion as a normal keyboard, the movement keys themselves felt slightly weird. I had purposely grown out my fingernails to the edge of my fingers to see how much of a detriment they could be for those gamers that had long fingernails. On a normal keyboard, there is a slight gap between the top row of keys and the middle row of keys where the edge of the fingernail usually sits. On the CyberSnipa gamepad, the movement keys themselves are edge to edge. I found myself quite a few times inadvertanly turning left or right, depending on which nail had depressed the "Q" or "E" key on the gamepad.

The keys themselves don't have the same type of action that I've come to expect of recently manufactured keyboards. You know, that smooth feeling all the way from the moment you depress the key until it hits bottom. No, these keys seem to have a resistance in the depression that increased in pressure slightly until about halfway depressed, then no resistance at all once you get past that "obstacle". I imagine that much of this will fade over time as the product gets "broken in" and the resistance worn down, but until then, it can be slightly annoying.

The layout, while similair to most keyboards, feels slightly different for me as I use a Microsoft Natural Keyboard (the ergonomic keyboard). Even then, the angle of my hand should have much to do with the familiar distance that my finger would normally travel to depress, say, the Tab key. While it may feel "weird" to begin with, your fingers unconciously adapt quite easily to stretching that extra millimeter or two to find that comfortable spot on your fingertip for when you normally depress that specific key.

Response time on the CyberSnipa is excellent. Even if there was a slight delay, I can't imagine anything other than a specifically designed software detecting if there even exist any additional lag. As a matter of fact, I actually found myself responding both quicker and better while playing the game as I wasn't worried about pressing the wrong key (ever hit the "E" key for forward motion because your index finger found the "F" key naturally on your keyboard?).



Let's turn the lights out and see if that little hole and the LED was anything special. The LED was activated by pressing a select button on the side of the CyberSnipa. Had not the lights been turned out, I would have seriously doubted that the LEDs were even activated. Unfortunately, Flexiglow had the opportunity to really light up a desktop with the placement of the three LEDs (one on top, two on the bottom lighting underneath) and they failed. Instead of having the surface of the LEDs slightly buffed to disperse the blue lighting, the LEDs appear to be more of a laser LED, focusing all of it's light in a single direction. The LED on the top is nominally visible from an angle and blinding from a head-on view (which I doubt anyone would ever play like that). The LEDs on the bottom, with the reduced enhancement, barely lights up the edging of the gamepad. That, in my opinion, is pretty disappointing.

Now for the biggest disappointment in the CyberSnipa gamepad. Most electronic gaming manufacturers in the market today have a strong grasp on the concept that many computer gamers like to play in the dark, much to our mother's frustrations. This is why we see so many lighted keyboards, mice, and mouse pads on the market today. Come on, with the lights out, it's hard to locate a certain key when you happen to be attempting to navigate a dark tunnel and the only light in the room is from the monitor. With a lighted keyboard, a simple glace and you're right back on track.



The CyberSnipa, believe it or not, is not a lighted gamepad. Yes, you read that right. A gamepad specifically designed for hardcore gamers and the keys are not even backlit. What startles the imagination even more is that this same company, Flexiglow, sells a huge selection of backlit keyboards and lighted mice and mousepads and even, forbid, case lighting. How on earth could this company not make that connection?


Conclusion:

Well, this is another tough review that I've had to mull over for two weeks. Should I overlook a couple of key failures (key as in feature and not as in keyboard keys) and give this product a lower rating as a result? Or should I be generous in that after all these many years of USB that Flexiglow is the first company to design a gaming keypad specifically for gamers? The difficult decisions that a product reviewer must ask themselves when faced with a delima of this nature.

Reading back over this review and after having used the CyberSnipa gamepad exclusively for two weeks, I've decided that I'll be fair and award the CyberSnipa a total of 8 out of a possible 10 but with my special "MUST HAVE Award".

Now, before you go, I have to explain how I came to this decision. Imagine that someone offers to sell you at a phenomenally fantastic price a brand new F430 Ferrari ($25,000...not stolen, totally legit); however, instead of the trademark Ferrari rims, you are forced to use an ugly set of 1980's Chevy Caprice Classic hubcabs that are non-removable. Hey, it's a Ferrari but damn, look at those rims!

So...would you buy it and drive it? That's the question that you have to ask yourself when looking at buying this product. Now you know the difficulty I had in rating this product. For more information in making your decision, you can head on over to the CyberSnipa webpage.

All and all in the end, if you like to play FPS games, you absolutely must look into buying this product for all of your gaming needs...just make sure to use a desklamp so you'll know where the keys are. Hey, look at it this way...it'll make your mom happy.

The Great!

- Finally, a product designed exclusively for gamers.
- Awesome looking
- Nice key layout
- Sure to be a hit at LAN parties
- You will see improved gaming performance with this product
- The wrist pad will save you carpal tunnel pain
- Extremely easy to install and virtually no learning curve!

The Not-So-Great...

- NO BACKLIT KEYS!
- Keys have a weird action to them
- Key layout is slightly different from a regular keyboard
- The LEDs aren't all that great at enhancing the appearance

You can purchase the Flexiglow CyberSnipa Game Pad at NewEgg.com for $33.99.

WOW! nice new toy you got there Rob! Might have to check one of those out for myself.

Great review!

Nice review, man! I've considered purchasing similar products, but i've never gotten around to it. At one point, i did buy a backlit keyboard, but it was a micro-spaced layout (almost no gap between the keys): i couldn't use it for prolonged periods without getting wrist pain (i guess i need normal key spacing for comfort) - my girlfriend has sinced claimed it as her own

3 questions about the Cybersnipa:
1) Other than having to acclimate yourself to the different key-spacing/feel, has the spacing of the keys presented you with any discomfort?
2) How difficult do you find it to switch between the console and the keyboard for typing text (chat)?
3) Have you tried keybinding any commands to the keys on the Snipa (if so, how did it work out)?

Oh, by the way, that's a pretty swanky set up you have there (love the desk)

Quote: Originally Posted by droeblek9 3 questions about the Cybersnipa: 1) Other than having to acclimate yourself to the different key-spacing/feel, has the spacing of the keys presented you with any discomfort? 2) How difficult do you find it to switch between the console and the keyboard for typing text (chat)? 3) Have you tried keybinding any commands to the keys on the Snipa (if so, how did it work out)?

1. Another issue to contend with is the different positioning of your arm. Obviously, you can't set it i the same place as your keyboard and if you notice where mine is at, it's up on the desk surface rather than the keyboard drawer. By putting my arm up there, my arm is in a slightly different position so moving my fingers put a different workout on the muscles in my arm. Not terribly uncomfortable at first but it's extremely easy to get used to in a hurry.

Also, the detachable wrist pad is a huge bonus in helping to overcome any discomfort you may experience at first. Now, I hardly notice.

2. Well, again, the CyberSnipa is up on my desk so I tend to scoot closer to the monitor. Reaching down and pulling out the keyboard, I have to lean back some just to type. Wouldn't be a problem if you don't utilize the keyboard drawer.

3. Keybinding works exactly as it does with the keyboard. As a matter of fact, if you have the text chat window activated and you press the forward key on the keypad, you'll get a series of "wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww" scrolling across. The keys on the keypad perform the same exact function as those on the keyboard. The reason behind this is so you don't have to use a driver disc to update the keyboard layout on your system, plus you won't have to fiddle around with redesigning every single FPS game controls that you play.

Rob

Excellent review, Rob. I look forward to the next time you decide to splurge on some nifty hardware.

Thanks, DE, although it might be a while. Still trying to recover from having bought a new mouse (Logitech MX518) and a new mousepad. Up until now, I had used Logitech's flagship rollerball mouse ($10.00 at your local junk store).

I'm enjoying the CyberSnipa more and more everyday now. My fingers have gotten used to the spacing and the key action that it's almost weird when I accidently use the keyboard instead of the keypad.

If you love playing FPS games, I'd highly recommend this piece of equipment. Just wish that they had decided to use backlit keys instead.

Rob

Like I said, it was a great review. I still moderate the member review forum (even when I'm notoriously absent from the rest of the forum, I don't neglect my duty) and for every good review there is about ten "reviews" that are either terrible, requests for a review, or just a post entirely off-topic. Seeing a review this good certainly was a sight for sore eyes.