Cool Things Collection | Collthings.co.uk

Tag: Gamer

  • Mouse Pad Buying Guide — Everything You Should Know

    Mouse Pad Buying Guide — Everything You Should Know

    A mouse pad might seem like a small accessory, but it plays an important role in your overall computer experience. The right mouse pad helps with precision, speed, comfort, and even ergonomics — whether you’re gaming, designing, or working long hours. Here’s how to pick one that’s right for you.

    1. Surface Material — Speed vs Control

    The surface material determines how your mouse sensor tracks movement and how much friction you feel:

    • Cloth / Fabric – Offers a comfortable feel and better control. Great for most users, designers, and gamers who need accuracy.

    • Smooth Polyester Cloth (Speed) – Lower friction for quick glides — ideal for FPS gaming and fast cursor movements.

    • Hard Plastic / Resin – Very smooth and fast surface, but sometimes noisier and less cushioned.

    • Glass or Metal – Ultra-smooth but pricier; less common.

    Tip: Gamers often prefer faster surfaces for quick flicks, while creatives and office users like textured surfaces for stability.

    2. Size and Desk Fit

    Mouse pads come in a range of sizes:

    • Small / Standard (≈250×210 mm) – Portable and ideal for limited desk space.

    • Medium / Extended – More room for broader mouse movements and arm sweeps.

    • Large / Desk Mats – Wide coverage that can fit both your keyboard and mouse, giving a cohesive workspace feel.

    How to choose:
    Measure your desk and assess how much space you use when navigating your screen. Low-sensitivity gamers or artists often benefit from larger surfaces.

    3. Thickness and Comfort

    Mouse pads range from ultra-thin (≈1–3 mm) to thick and cushioned:

    • Thin (1–3 mm) – Sits close to the desk, feels firm, and is easy to transport.

    • Medium (3–5 mm) – Balanced comfort and responsiveness.

    • Thick (>5 mm) – More padding and wrist support for long sessions.

    If you face wrist strain or use your mouse for many hours, consider a thicker pad for added comfort.

    4. Base Grip & Stability

    A good mouse pad should stay put:

    • Rubber non-slip bases are most common and effective for preventing movement.

    • Avoid pads with weak or adhesive bases, as these can lose grip over time.

    5. Stitching and Durability

    Look for stitched or reinforced edges to prevent fraying — this significantly extends a pad’s lifespan.

    6. Aesthetics & Customization

    If looks matter — whether for your personal setup or as a gift — custom designs are a great choice. Custom pads can feature artwork, branding, or photos. If you’re after something more personalized and visually striking, KNM Mouse Pads offers custom and themed mouse pads — especially catering to anime fans and gamers. With HD custom prints, vibrant colors, and a smooth tracking surface suitable for both gaming and everyday use. You can upload your favorite artwork — from personal photos to themed graphics — and have it printed edge-to-edge on a high-quality surface.

    Why they’re worth considering:

    • Custom artwork tailored to your style (anime scenes, originals, logos).

    • Smooth tracking fabric that balances control and glide.

    • Vibrant, fade-resistant colors that stay sharp even with frequent use.

    • Non-slip base to keep the pad stable during quick movements.

    Final Tips Before You Buy

    1. Match the mouse pad size to your desk and usage style.
    2. Prioritize surface texture based on whether you want control or speed.
    3. Ensure the base grips well and edges are reinforced.
    4. If customization matters — go for a print quality and design you love!

  • How Are Esports Athletes Different From Everyday Gamers?

    How Are Esports Athletes Different From Everyday Gamers?

    No matter what you’re playing, online multiplayer games are a huge step up compared to competing in single-player modes against the software’s AI characters. Humans, particularly ones who are well-versed in a game’s maps and mechanics can develop better strategies and think on their feet to adapt to events in the game as they play out.

    Online players who have got hundreds of hours of practice under their belts will nearly always beat someone who is just starting out in an online game for the first time. But there’s an entire category of player above these dedicated hobbyists who have even more skill through which they’d eat you for lunch before you’d fired your first shot.

    Esports players are a cut above the rest when it comes to video game skills, but what is it that sets them apart?

     

    Esports Players Have Great Focus and Discipline

    No matter your game, having focus and discipline ensures you cannel all of your brain’s power on succeeding and consistently apply it.

    Professional esports athletes don’t just rock up to an event with their controller and start playing, they undergo rigorous and intensive training and development regimes that involve practising and practising over and over again.

    Practising in esports doesn’t just mean playing the game. It means repeating the same drills over and over again, rehearsing manoeuvres and set pieces, and transferring specific moves into your muscle memory. It’s also about ensuring you communicate and work well with your teammates, preventing misunderstandings when you’re in competition.

    Maintaining focus can be quite a challenge, particularly when you’re embarking on an hours-long competition or tournament. This doesn’t mean just stocking up on coffee or energy drinks, it’s about preparing, looking after your body, and making the most of your time.

    For example, in poker tournaments, both offline and online, a critical part of staying focused is making the most of breaks. Tournaments are long but there are plenty of scheduled breaks that give players the opportunity to get up, stretch their legs, eat, drink, and take care of any other needs they might have. This means they can come back feeling refreshed, alert, and ready to take on the table again.

     

    Esports Players Know Their Games Inside Out

    Every character, weapon, vehicle, upgrade, and tool in a video game comes with attributes. One car might accelerate faster but another handles better around corners, requiring you to compromise on which one to choose.

    If you’re playing a racing game like Forza or Gran Turismo, you might just pick your dream car or even one that you know is fast in real life. But real-life performance doesn’t necessarily translate to video game equivalency. Due to a quirk of coding, a limitation in a game’s mechanics, or a developer oversight, a slower real-world car might actually be the fastest car in the game or a particular vehicle modification may provide a disproportionate benefit. .

    Esports players study this. Not only do they experiment with different options but they follow discussions online to see what other players have discovered.

    They also know glitches, shortcuts, and tricks that may seem counterintuitive at first. For example, in first-person shooters, players will often jump around when they encounter another person. This is a tactic that makes it harder for the opponent to land a shot on them since their movements are erratic. It’s so powerful that some developers have removed this feature from their games.

     

    Esports Players Have Honed Their Tactics

    When you play for fun, you’re doing exactly that. Unless wracking your brain to achieve maximum efficiency on a Call of Duty map is your idea of a good time, then you’re likely to just run around and shoot things.

    Esports players, on the other hand, will be much more deliberate in their movements. In team games, they’ll often traverse a map in formation, providing cover to each other, much like you’d expect to see in the real world.

    You’ll very quickly spot these players if you ever come up against them. They’re hard to beat when they work as a team as, even if you manage to take out one, the rest of them are there to provide backup and they’ll quickly avenge their fallen comrade.