Your keyboard a shield; your mouse a sword. The eSports scene is on the rise – quite frankly, it has been for years – and, with growing player bases spiralling up into the millions, top quality hardware has never been in such high demand. If you’re new to the scene, if you’re keen on climbing rank or simply want to watch the best in glistening HD, then boy oh boy, have we got just the list up for you. From prebuilt rigs to the pads around your ears, this is a close up look at pro gear across multiple price points.
1. From fan to motherboard
Gamers are at their best without lag. They’re at their best without framerate stutter, without pause, without eternal loading screens of death. Conveniently enough, that’s where your rig comes in. Your desktop, your PC, your portable slab of tech that’s technically still a laptop; it doesn’t have to be a NASA supercomputer but it does have to be competent, with at least the minimum requirements for your desired game and a notch or two above if at all possible. Anything less and your gameplay is guaranteed to suffer – hell, you might not even be able to load the game up at all.
Omen by HP’s Windows computers are a great place to start if you do happen to find yourself in need of an upgrade. These streamlined machines come ready made and up to spec, with varying power levels appropriate to their price. They’re designed for gamers. Omen are one of the primary Overwatch League sponsors, after all, so you can be sure of quality and intent. Like competitor Alienware, they boast both stationary and portable machines of the highest standard, great for any gamer in the market. If you’re only shopping for something to watch eSports on, however, a tablet or top of the range smartphone might be more in order.
2. Ears to the ground
Discord is calling! Or is it Skype? Or in game voice chat? Whatever your preferred software, communication is a big part of the multiplayer eSports experience. Even in solo games like Starcraft or certain iterations of PUBG, sound carries with it vital indicators and information that can make the difference between victory and defeat. That means a good quality headset and, by extension, a microphone, are almost mandatory when it comes to taking part in a competition. Say goodbye to your supermarket brand one-ear cheap job. Open your mind (and your ears) to the world of luxury headset technology.
Depending on your game of choice, this particular peripheral has varying priority. In FPS titles like CoD or Counterstrike, even the lightest of footsteps can be critical so a high-end headset is important. If you’re more into the MOBA genre however, a medium quality set piece is more than capable. NA LCS eSports team TSM use Logitech sponsored headsets for example, whilst CS:GO competitors and the Betway-sponsored Ninjas in Pyjamas wear HyperX Cloud IIs. It ultimately comes down to player comfort, preference and budget.
3. A mechanical future
A basic Windows keyboard will do you just fine – to begin with. But getting serious with gaming means getting serious about your equipment. Consider a mechanical keyboard – snappier, brighter and better designed, these light up rigs are available from a whole host of brands and manufacturers, be it Razer, Logitech or HP. You could be tapping W, A, S and D, arrow keys or the num pad, it doesn’t matter. Response timing and input confirmation are helpful tools when taking to the battlefield, tools that can potentially improve your chances for victory.
Not every Esport is keyboard intensive, however. Hearthstone players need not blow the bank on a top-tier wireless or mechanical keyboard just yet. Play and purchase within your needs. The extra cash could be put into peripheral gear elsewhere.
Mouse, mice and adders
A hundred actions per minute. Two hundred. A thousand. Your mouse is an extension of your will. It’s your controller, your movement, your offense and retreat. Needless to say, then, that its quality is important. How about a basic piece from Fnatic Gear then to get you started? Or a Razer Deathadder for those with an edgier aesthetic? The most significant difference between a normal and gaming mouse is the presence of additional buttons and macros – you’d be wise to add them to your armoury as soon as possible.
Small changes add up. They really do. Comfort can make the world of difference. So, purchase what you need. Enter into eSports with your head held high and have confidence in your tech. The scene and victory await.
Photographs by Xexus Designer / Tookapic / Karol D