It’s been more than 5 years since we developed our very first mouse pad for professional gaming. Back then most people laughed when they heard we made “specialized mouse pad” (in all fairness, it wasn’t very cool to make “ordinary mouse pads” either). Why put so much effort into something as simple as mouse pads? Why spend months and months researching surfaces that were responsive, accurate and offered consistent glide? Who would ever need (or even spend money on) such a product? Any piece of cloth, rubber or plastic “even a table” would do the job equally well. During the past few years professional gaming has grown ever larger, and as mouse technologies developed from ball mice to optical and even laser, more and people have realized just how much difference an accurate and responsive mousing surface offers. Not just to the gamer demanding perfection and extreme accuracy, but for everyone who communicates with their computers by using a mouse.
We have since then released 11 mouse pads using different surface materials like aluminum, plastic and cloth, and our mouse pads have been used by teams winning international tournaments. They do make a difference. :-)

2 years ago “gaming headsets” were laughable and (often) just cheap OEM headphones with a microphone - their only connection to gaming were usually large letters saying “GAMING”, printed on the retail box. We began looking at headsets, because we wanted to create a gaming headset that would enhance in-game performance, the same ambition we had with our mouse pads.
After talking to literally hundreds of gamers, we isolated some very basic requirements that everyone wanted:

1. “Awesome” sound (duh..)
2. A microphone (which could be tugged away)
3. Comfortable full-size ear cups (at the time practically all headsets featured small ear cups that pressed on the ear, which would often become uncomfortable after extended use)
4. A headset that was easy to transport

It took us 9 months to create our first gaming headset, named SteelSound 5H (we released v2 a couple of days ago). It was a product that would have been impossible to create without help from professional gamers. During product development we talked to more than 20 professional sound-engineers, who could all create a product that could make great sound for music. But none of them could help with a gaming headset, as in-game sound frequencies and the ability to pinpoint an opponent’s location was something completely new to them. The final sound optimization was done with a number of championship gamers, especially with HeatoN from Ninjas in Pyjamas, to make sure the headset boosted the right sound frequencies to make sounds like footsteps, gunfire and alerts as clear as possible.
SteelSound 5H has since then been used by a number of teams who’ve won major international tournaments, just like our mouse pads. Our mission to create a headset that could enhance in-game performance succeeded.

Whats the point with all this? SteelSeries is all about creating professional gaming gear, our focus is “sports gear for gamers”. If we can create quality gear that enhances the gaming experience, we consider the product a success.

SteelKeys 6G, overview

Enter SteelKeys 6G, a keyboard we are releasing now. We began work on the keyboard more than 13 months ago, at the request of gamers in Asia. At the time the game o2 Jam was attracting a huge audience in that territory, a game that raised the bar for detailed and advanced key combinations. To master the game players needed to press up to 8 different keys simultaneously.

The first step in the development of the keyboard was (once again) to consult some of the many gamers we work with. What keyboard did they use? Why did they use it? What did they like about it? What didn’t they like about it? What were their requests for a keyboard? We started mapping the feedback we got from our network of gamers, and the results were interesting.

A good keyboard should:

1. Support 4-8 simultaneous key presses
2. Have keys that “felt good”
3. Be really durable (so it could be transported safely)
4. Should be “plug and play” (using custom drivers at LAN-events can be a pain)

We noticed something really interesting in the feedback, not a single gamer had asked for a more responsive keyboard. When we asked the gamers “why?!”, the response went along the lines of “aren’t they all the same?”. And with that in mind we started the actual development of the keyboard.

We wanted to create a product that could make a difference for a gamer, otherwise there simply would be no point in creating a keyboard to begin with. We quickly came to the conclusion that our keyboard should be about gaming and durability, without a lot of needless “nice-to-have” fluff. No media center controls, no Internet buttons, no “porn” backlighting, no nothing. Our keyboard should be built strong to last long, which goes against the very idea of adding fluff. The more fluff, the more stuff that can break. We also wanted to create a product that would be an integral part of a serious gamers gear, so the product had to communicate “seriousness” as well (iPod connectors and media controls are cool and nifty, but they have nothing to do with gaming).
The result speaks for it self. SteelKeys 6G looks plain and somewhat boring, just like many of our other products do (look at a SteelPad S&S, our best selling mouse pad).

SteelKeys 6G, WASD grey.

The ability to press and use a large number of keys simultaneously was our next goal for the product. To allow players to use up to 8 keys at the same time, we decided to go with PS/2 - which contains more dedicated bandwidth than USB. Using PS/2 had one more benefit: we freed up a valuable USB port. A real life-saver if you’re at a tournament with your USB headset and USB mouse only to discover that the computer you’re supposed to play on only has two USB ports (it still happens).

SteelKeys 6G, USB and PS/2.

No one at SteelSeries was under the illusion that we could invent the best switches in the world, but we were fairly confident that we could find them. After extensive testing of numerous switches, we decided to go with switches/mechanical tactiles from Cherry. Mechanical tactiles operate differently than a “standard keyboard”. The switches respond faster, since they connect and register as the key is being pressed down, as opposed to when the key is pressed to the bottom of keyboard. Using mechanical tactiles also meant a lot more durability for our switches. Standard keyboards usually boast a lifecycle of 1 to 10 million keystrokes. We built SteelKeys 6G to withstand 60 million keystrokes (for each key).

SteelKeys 6G, key disassembled.

Another important factor in our decision about switches, was the fact we could get switches plated with 18K gold. Gold is one of the most electrically conductive metals known to man. Electricity can be described as “the flow of charged particles in a current”. The more conductive a metal is the more current can flow through the metal without being slowed or delayed. Gold is able to convey electrical current even at extreme temperatures, varying from -55° to +200° centigrade. Using gold for SteelKeys 6G was an obvious decision, since we wanted to create an ultra responsive keyboard.

SteelKeys 6G, 18K gold-plated connector.

To give our keyboard extreme durability, we decided to mount all keys on a metal plate within the keyboard. The thermoplastic used to create the casing is the strongest plastic material we have ever used in a SteelSeries product. More durability was added by using a metal mesh over the wire for both the keyboard and the included PS/2 to USB converter. The wire itself was also beefed up considerably, by adding an extra thick layer of copper (this boosts bandwidth as well as wire strength).

SteelKeys 6G, close up of metal mesh.

And finally, we included a key changer and an extra keyset for all standard-sized keys. The extra keyset can give the user easier/faster visual navigation while playing. The extra keyset is neutral grey, and is really easy to switch. We also added a carrying bag, to make transportation of the keyboard easier and safer.

SteelKeys 6G, WASD close up.

SteelKeys 6G is “a mans keyboard”. It registers keystrokes faster than any of the keyboards we tested it against, it’s more durable than anything we have found on the market and it’s simple and basic to look at.
But it’s also one of the most expensive products we have ever created. We used the best components we could find on the market, which makes it more expensive than most other keyboards in the world. We expect that the heavy price tag will limit sales a lot, but we really wanted to create a hardcore product for the hardcore gamer. If that description doesn’t fit you, you would probably be better off by spending your money on something else.

SteelKeys 6G, it’s a wrap (in a bag-like).

Tomorrow we will officially announce SteelSound 5H v2, an updated version of SteelSound 5H, the first headset from SteelSeries. Truth be told, SteelSound 5H was a learning experience for everyone at SteelSeries. In the beginning of 2006, we issued a press release recalling two production batches – almost 4% of the units from those two batches suffered from technical problems with microphones and ear cups. Since we had no way of pinpointing the problems (some of them would only become apparent after several months), we initiated a full return program.
We beefed up our internal quality control, went back to the drawing board and had a thorough look at the construction of SteelSound 5H. Work on an updated/improved version began in February 2006.

As a company we lost a lot of credibility when we had to recall close to 20.000 headsets. Even though we tried to make it up to our affected customers by offering them a free mouse pad, it was the most humbling experience in our history. Shamed by the problems we experienced with SteelSound 5H, it was important to us that we got it “just right” this time.
We figure there is some chance that gamers might forgive us for screwing up once, but we hold no illusions that we will be forgiven a second time.

Looking at the SteelSound 5H, it was pretty obvious that we could improve the product in a number of ways.

Changes on SteelSound 5H v2.

Most importantly we wanted to make sure that technical glitches with wiring and microphones wouldn’t happen again. We completely changed the microphone. The new version boasts better quality and improved circuitry. At the same time we decided to increase the length of the retractable microphone boom by 20mm (0.79”).

We decided to use a new braided cord to protect the wiring between the headset and the computer. We were surprised to discover just how many of our customers who broke their headsets, when they ran the wheels of their office chair over the cord (we naively assumed that people took greater care of an expensive electronic product). The new braided cord offers way more protection for the wiring, and is further boosted by a longer protective rubber base.

The first version of SteelSound 5H has been reviewed by various gaming/hardware/electronics publications 249 times, according to our review database (it might not be 100% complete, the world is a pretty large place to monitor). In average the headset scored 8,6 out of 10, an average score we’re really proud of. Out of the 249 reviews, 36 reviews mentioned that the headset could become uncomfortable after extended use. We decided to add bigger ear cushions to the headset to help remedy this. The new ear cushions are almost 50% thicker, while the base of the cushion is almost 40% smaller. This means the headset is more comfortable to use, even for extended periods of time (even for people with like REALLY big ears).

Comparison of new and old model.

The last thing we did was to change the retail box. The box itself was (like all other retail boxes) created to present the product in an appealing manner, but we made the “head shape” a bit too big. The headsets would slowly loose frame pressure in the box (especially noticeable after 12+ months), so we made the shape smaller.

We have some Alien-esque wallpapers to celebrate the upcomming release of our new headset - check this page to see them.

/Kim

Every time we release a new product, there is one thing we always look forward to.. Well, we look forward to it, and we fear it at the same time: the first reviews.

29 days. That’s the average time from when we send a mouse pad to a reviewer, till the final review hits the net. 29 days is a long time to wonder. Did we do everything right? What will the reviewer focus on? Will he focus on the product features that we feel is important, or will he focus on something entirely different? 29 days. Then we know if we f*cked up, or if we did alright.
Reviewers don’t give a sh** about the man hours we put into a product, they only care about the performance of the product. Which is cool, our customers feel the exact same way. 29 days, the moment of truth.

The first reviews for SteelPad QcK heavy are in and so far they seem positive. There is nothing revolutionary about the heavy, it’s really just a thick (and heavy) addition to our QcK-line. We still think it’s a great mouse pad tho, and everyone at the office is really happy that we aren’t the only ones who feels that way. :)

Excerpts, reviews;

“The SteelPad QcK heavy is a giant, both in terms of size as in terms of quality. If you are looking for a mouse pad that offers comfort and robustness at the same time, you certainly have to consider the QcK heavy. Its size not only makes it a perfect mouse pad for gamers who love to play on low sensitivity settings, it is also an excellent solution for users who are simply looking for a reliable mouse pad.” - Telenet Games

“After extensive use, I was just as happy with the QcK Heavy as I was when I first set my mouse on it. It’s surface is excellent no matter what I was doing. It’s response on my mouse was also very good, sometimes using cloth pads I feel like I have slower movement, but that was not an issue for the QcK heavy. The SteelPad QcK Heavy is yet another great mouse surface in the SteelSeries line. It offers size, comfort and great performance at a price easily willing to be paid by any heavy computer user.” - Dreamware Computers

“Among all cloth pads, the QcK heavy is hands down the best in quality and feel.” - ESAI.cn

“Det er en oplevelse helt for sig selv at kunne sidde i flere timer med sit arbejde eller spil uden at skulle slås med smerter i håndled eller det nogle oplever, et koldt håndled som resultat af at man ligger på en kold og hård overflade.” - TweakUp.dk

/Kim

Last month we organized a shootout event at Fort Lewis, where American servicemen had the chance to go head to head against one of the SteelSeries pro-gamers. You can see the pictures here – and see how Carter stands up for himself in a 6on1. ;-)

A camera crew from CNN / Pulse on America was present, to do interviews and footage. This should be airing on CNN soon.

/Kim

Welcome to the unofficial official SteelSeries blog. It’s a page where you can learn about everything SteelSeries, from the products we create to the people who use them. We won’t be making any big official announcements on this page – we have an official site for that – but we will offer you an inside insight into what we are thinking, what we are working on, and what we think about .. stuff.

Updates on this might happen several times a day – and they might happen just a few times a month. It all depends on what we are doing, how busy we are, and if we have something on our mind. We recommend our RSS feed, if you want to make sure you never miss an update.

Welcome. ;-)

/Kim