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Topic: PCs

Razer's crazy new Artemis concept PC game controller

Summary: Razer likes pushing the envelope when it comes to peripherals for PC gamers, but it may have outdone itself with its latest idea.

Sean Portnoy

By for Laptops & Desktops |

Razer likes pushing the envelope when it comes to peripherals for PC gamers -- and yes, plenty of them still exist -- but it may have outdone itself with its latest idea.

The Artemis concept controller was unveiled at E3 this week, and as you can see from the image above, it's about as complicated as a controller can get. Razer took the challenge of designing a controller fit for the forthcoming MechWarrior Online and ran with it, joining together a force-feedback flightstick, a keypad with a dozen mechanical keys, and an integrated 8-inch display panel.

Because it's a concept, we know few details about Artemis, like whether it will even officially launch and just how much it would cost if it did launch. According to Engadget, it took 5 months just to build the prototype, and since the game it's built around is still in beta, the controller won't be available for some time.

But the Artemis is just the latest in a string of ever-more-complicated controllers for PC games, from mice with multiple programmable buttons to motion control systems, proving that consoles, iPads, and smartphones haven't completely wiped out PC gaming just yet. What do you think of the Artemis concept controller? Let us know in the Comments section below.

Topic: PCs

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4 comments
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  • I've seen more complicated ones

    Look up Steel Battalion for the Xbox. It's similar, even down to the genre of game it was designed for, with a lot more complexity to boot.
    Aerowind
    Reply Vote

  • Needs Changes

    The keypad on the left needs to be an integrated Nostromo Keypad (another Razer product) with thumbstick and triple keymap.

    The stick has too many thumb buttons. It's to hard to find those different buttons with your thumb while moving the stick around. A 4 or 8 axis rocker switch would be much better. Your thumb would just slide a little bit in one of the 4 or 8 directions while never searching for a different button.

    I can't tell if the upper part of the stick is adjustable or not but it needs to be. 1 size does not fit all when it comes to joysticks.

    I assume it also has a twist funtion. I sure hope they designed that part industrial strength heavy duty. People will exert too much force on the twist in the heat of combat. It's always the 1st thing to stop working on a stick.
    Sqrly
    Reply Vote

    • Err, there are only three thumb buttons

      Two of which look like D-pads. Honestly, it has less thumb inputs than most flight sticks do. Given as such, it doesn't really need a thumbstick...not to mention the thumbstick on the Nostromo is just atrocious (seeing as how it's not a true thumbstick, but rather a D-pad with a stick glued to the top of it).
      Aerowind
      Reply Vote

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    laeses
    Reply Vote
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