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Gaming mouse: I blink, therefore I am

R2 Gaming Mouse Mark II has flashing lights, and customizable buttons.

Leslie Katz Former Culture Editor
Leslie Katz led a team that explored the intersection of tech and culture, plus all manner of awe-inspiring science, from space to AI and archaeology. When she's not smithing words, she's probably playing online word games, tending to her garden or referring to herself in the third person.
Credentials
  • Third place film critic, 2021 LA Press Club National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards
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Leslie Katz

I guess I could call the R2 Gaming Mouse Mark II a flashy device, but I would never go with such an obvious pun. Ever.

R2 Gaming Mouse Mark II
ThinkGeek

Still, the blinking LEDs were the first thing that caught my eye when I spotted this gadget for $59.99 on ThinkGeek. And they're programmable, so you can make them pulse to the unique beat of your own first-person shooting.

The apparent appeal of this mouse, besides its disco aura, is that it's customizable beyond the lights--a definite plus for gamers. Using the PAL 2.0 programming language, players can assign different functions to each of the seven buttons, including a function for tap, double tap and tap-and-hold. Plus, the round shape promises more precise fingertip control, which anyone out to kill the bad guys in Call of Duty 3 will surely appreciate.