CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 01/02/2007
- Released on: 05/04/2006
When it comes to PC gaming, it's hard to beat the mouse-and-keyboard combination. The keyboard handles specific commands and movements, while the mouse performs more exacting jobs, such as aiming weapons. The system has been the standard for well over a decade, and its effectiveness really hasn't been beaten yet. Ideazon's Zboard Fang Gamepad isn't the first add-on to attempt an overhaul of the typical PC-gaming input combo, and it's certainly not the worst, either. For a reasonable $30, the Fang attempts to give the typical keyboard layout some more flexibility and a more logical design. On those levels it succeeds, but the Fang could still benefit from a more polished design.
The Fang Gamepad is a bit different from what we generally think of when we say "gamepad." Rather than a two-handed dual-analog device you hold in your hand like a video game controller, the Fang is a customized control pad with keys on it that sits on your desk next to your keyboard. The idea is it will give you easier, one-handed access to special commands and actions when you're playing a game.
The key layout on the Fang is focused around the standard WASD-key design. Six large, red buttons mapped to the Q, W, E, A, S, and D keys sit directly under the fingertips for easy access. Typically, the W and S keys handle forward/backward motion, and the A and D keys handle strafing left and right. The Q and E keys lend themselves to various other commands depending on the game, but many gamers are used to having them there, so it makes sense to extend them to this design as well.
Along with the standard directional movement keys, the Fang has 41 keys in total. By default, the keys are mapped to traditional keyboard commands, with a thumb button functioning as a space bar, the number keys corresponding with the numbers on the keyboard, and a variety of other function and system keys spread around the main red buttons This is surprisingly helpful when you don't want to use the Fang's included software, as most games and programs already use the buttons for various commands. Continue reading
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