Official FFR Keyboard Review/Discussion Thread

[[TeRa]]

I feel like the kengington slim blows also but I can't really say that considering the scores others have gotten on it.

[Plan_Bsk81127]

Going to be getting a keyboard with brown switches sometime soon, blue switches are getting annoying to play with. Does the CM Quickfire Rapid hold up well or should I just fork out the few extra bucks and get the Das Keyboard with brown switches?

[Spoiled_Milk]

Originally Posted by TC_Halogen

Logitech stuff

I use both a K120 and a wireless K520. Both work great in my opinion. Response time with the wireless is immaculate, never any problems with it. Though I have only been playing on it since a little before Christmas but it still seems pretty promising. If it starts to piss me off, I still have the K120 to fall back on which I've no problem with, I've been playing on that for a while now.

I wanted to test the "wireless kbs suck for ffr", which is why I got the K520 if you were wondering "the fuck you get that for?" aha. Like I said, great kb for FFR though in my opinion.

Anyone else been experimenting with wireless kbs? What's your opinion on them as far as FFR goes?

[xNiX]

I don't have a quickfire rapid, so I can't really tell you much about it...but I do own this keyboard.

Cooler Master CM Storm Quick Fire Pro SGK-4010-GKCM1-US Mechanical Keyboard with CHERRY MX Brown Switch
Price: 99.99 USD Link to buy:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823129003



I've owned this keyboard for about 3-4 months about now and I will say that this keyboard works phenomenal in regards of durability and being comfortable. When I first got the package from NewEgg, I thought the keyboard was doa...but what I found out is that these keyboards are known to have an issue with connecting the micro usb cable into the back of the keyboard. It has to be be pushed in all the way (may require a bit of force) or otherwise this keyboard will not work.

Features:
The LED functions on the keyboard are pretty neat too...it has a standard mode, breathing mode, and I forgot what the last mode was; the whole keyboard does not fully illuminate...so if you're anal about your precious keyboard not fully lighting up all the keys, then this keyboard is not for you. It also comes with a window start lock button key that I find incredibly useful.

You can change the response timings too...1ms,2ms,4ms, and 8ms. This feature is pretty neat.

Pros: My speed didn't get better overnight with this thing, but I did skill boost pretty fast over time playing with this in my Stepmania sessions. It made patterns I had difficulty with a lot easier, and helped me preserve my energy while playing. My MA took a toll at first, but that was easily fixed after a few weeks of playing with this.

Cons: I've owned about 3 mechs, and I will say this keyboard does sit the highest than any other board I have bought in my life. I guess this keyboard is a bit bulkier because of all the extra functions that are on it...or maybe because CoolMaster felt the need to do this. This is the only thing that bugs me really about this keyboard....I had to buy a wrist wrest just so my hands are comfortable while typing on it. It took me quite awhile to get used to this board lol. I believe when I tried playing FFR in it right when I got it, I couldn't even AAA a 7 on the old scale with it.

If you are a serious arrow smasher and love Stepmania, this keyboard is not a bad buy at all. It has done me wonders in my arrow smashing career and helped me get scores that I could not obtain before. +1 vouch for this keyboard.

[TC_Halogen]

Hey guys. One month bump, but I'm hoping that it brings attention back to this thread to answer a question that I have. Since playing any sort of keyboard rhythm game (SM, FFR, BMS/IIDX simulators, etc)I've only used membrane keyboards, and I've done pretty well with them. I've been wondering about why mechanical keyboards are more preferred for rhythm games.

From what I have seen in this thread and the SM scores thread on occasion, it seems like there are "colored" switches that give a difference in feel and performance -- does anyone know how these switches work and what kind of player they benefit? I like to consider myself someone who has a really good amount of speed that has great accuracy, but I don't know what kind of mechanical keyboard I would ever consider if I were to get one.

[igotrhythm]

The OP has a link that explains that the essential difference--with most stock keyboards, you have to press all the way down for the press to register. With mechanical keyboards, this is not the case.

As for "colored" switches, I think they're probably talking about the various Cherry MX color switches. Black, brown, blue, clear and red are all somewhat different from each other, as you can see in the third post. Black and red in particular are mentioned as good for gaming because of their responsiveness to double-tapping, or jacking in our parlance.

[TC_Halogen]

Fair enough. Thanks for the detailed explanation, Andrew.

[Kibblre]

I have blacks for gaming, but they're bad for FFR/SM. You'll want either blue or brown switches for rhythm gaming. Staiain uses blues iirc and they seem to be good for speed.

[FissionMailed1]

http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/me...keyboard-guide This link should be added to the OP.

Originally Posted by TC_Halogen

Does anyone know how these switches work and what kind of player they benefit?

Cherry MX Blue switches are good for MA since they are clicky, but they require more force to actuate than Cherry MX Brown switches. Brown switches don't click like blue switches do though. Red switches are essentially the same as brown switches, except they don't have a tactile "bump", so it is more difficult to feel when they have been actuated. Refer to the link above this quote for more information regarding switch types.

The advantage of mechanical keyboards is that they are much more durable than membrane and scissor switch keyboards and because of that, the keys will consistently feel the same throughout their lifetime (there is no rubber dome that will get worn out).

[TC_Halogen]

Fission, thank you -so- much for that forum link -- that is an absolutely incredible resource. By the looks of it, it seems like I want a red switch due to the lack of tactility + lack of force necessary to trigger. I'm heavily limited on speed when using my K120 because it requires a ton of force to trigger, but my wireless keyboard has almost no tactile bump and requires next to no force to trigger.

Greatly appreciated post -- it will be a very helpful one for others too and most definitely should be in the initial post of this thread.

[Plan_Bsk81127]

Originally Posted by FissionMailed1

http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/me...keyboard-guide This link should be added to the OP.

OP, already there lol

Originally Posted by Plan_Bsk81127

Mechanical Keyboards

** For those who are not familiar with mechanical keyboards, here is a great guide to go by and get an understanding.**
http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/me...keyboard-guide

[FissionMailed1]

Ah, sorry about that. Not sure how I missed that xD

[TC_Halogen]

Oh wow, I had no idea that it was even there. Sorry about asking, haha. At least I bumped a good thread back up? oops

[Plan_Bsk81127]

lol not that big of a deal, put it in red so it stands out a little more when scrolling through the keyboards. If anything its still ok to ask about mechanical keyboards even with that link provided, users may have a better approach at explaining it or something.

[igotrhythm]

Originally Posted by Kibblre

Staiain uses blues iirc and they seem to be good for speed.

The logical conclusion to this post: Endorsements.

"Hi, I'm Stian Kristensen, and I want to talk to you about Cherry MX mechanical keyboard switches. They helped me get this Perpetuum Mobile FC, and they can help you achieve your rhythm gaming goals as well!"

[sticklydude]

Originally Posted by Kibblre

Staiain uses blues iirc and they seem to be good for speed.

I'm pretty positive he has browns now. But he has had blues in the past.

[EzExZeRo7497]

Originally Posted by Kibblre

I have blacks for gaming, but they're bad for FFR/SM. You'll want either blue or brown switches for rhythm gaming. Staiain uses blues iirc and they seem to be good for speed.

Stian has browns now. Though, Isaac has blues (used Brown switches in the past though). I use blues as well. Can't say anything about brown switches, but I got pretty fast by switching from a scissor switch to blue switches.

[Mollocephalus]

I absolutely fucking hate any mechanical keyboard i've played on. i've tried different membrane keyboards, and even had a couple of the ones listed up there, but in my opinion the best one i've ever had and the one i'll stick with is the alluminium apple keyboard. It's just impossible to break, has ultraflat keys, clicks pretty nicely, and has never let me down. And no, i'm not an applefag, i bought this keyboard like 6 years ago and it's still doing fucking great. It's not even THAT expensive.

[AlexDest]

Originally Posted by Xx{Midnight}xX

Razer Lycosa Mirror Edition

Overall: When I first got it, it felt really nice and clean. Things went well after adjusting my setup due to ghosting issues. But after 6 months of dealing with the drivers cause it to randomly stop working, I had it replaced (as my p key had become indented into the keyboard, but still usable for standard typing purposes) and much didn't change. The drivers still raped the use of the keyboard so I just uninstalled them. The o key indented even earlier than 6 months into having a replacement. This keyboard is very lacking in the durability department. But it does look nice. So it's like getting an apple product. Fucking thing sucks, but it looks nice.

Gameplay: Plays really nicely without the drivers and assuming you keep your nails cut to a point of OCD. Feels very nice on the fingers and takes a lot less effort than you'd expect it to take to push the keys in. The issue with that is when you're typing you'll press a key lightly and it won't register. This is an issue on FFR though because you'll hit a key lighter to hit it faster and it will miss. Though I will say there's no noticeable delay in hitting a note.

Score: 2/10

I give it that score due to an extreme lack in durability and the fact the drivers that come with it directly are trash. That's a key thing if you're dropping the kind of money on such a keyboard. I do have to say their customer response team is really helpful and quick about getting back to you so if you ever needed to contact them, it's a good experience in that regard.

Edit: Here's an example of what I'm talking about when I say it indented into the keyboard.



As you can see the o and ; keys look like they're pressed (amusingly enough they're not and you can still type on them.)

wow you blow at taking care of your keyboard rofl (fucking clean it)

no wonder it lasted as long as it did, mine is still going for 2 years now

[ilikexd]

Originally Posted by kommisar

that rosewill keyboard is a piece of shit


I've broken two already.


Qpad mech kb rulz

I hope mine doesn't break.

But it's going two months strong.

Will buy a qpad without a doubt if I ever buy another kb.