Belkin Nostromo Game Devices

Setting up the n30.

The n30 can only be connected using a USB port... I think that this is because of the power requirement of the vibrator.



After plugging the mouse in, installation was as simple as putting the supplied CD in my drive - though this was only to install the immersion software; the mouse needs no special driver for anything else.

With the software installation done, a visit to the mouse properties in the Control Panel reveals the normal mouse setup panels and a new panel for the Immersion software:



A pretty blank page; selecting 'Immersion desktop settings' allows you to set up some mouse vibrations in Windows:



The theme settings demonstrate how clever Immersion's software is: it sets the vibrator to respond differently as you move your cursor over various items on your screen. For example, you can set the mouse to feel as though it's moving over a 'squeaky clean' surface when you move over text. Once we've finished playing with the settings, the application stays running on the task bar to liven up your desktop:



Making the n30 vibrate in games is a little more hit and miss, and normally involves downloading a game patch from here.

The fact that the n30 differs from a normal mouse only very slightly is reflected in the minimal amount of setup required, so it's time to find out how the mouse performs.


The n30 in use.

Having just plugged in and set a new mouse on the loose, the first thing I did was plonk my hand on it, and I was disappointed in the n30 from that moment on. I'm a fairly tall person with large hands, and to be able to use all three buttons I was forced to hold the mouse in a very strange position. Despite my hand size, I doubt that much would be different for the smaller user. This doesn't necessarily mean that the n30 is bad: if we removed all the hard plastic chairs from schools and replaced them with big, leather, 'Friends' style ones would the productivity of the nation's children increase? I don't think so. So it's possible that a comfy, ergonomic mouse isn't the best choice for the gamer who wants to win.

However, after firing up a couple of games - the excellent Max Payne and MOHAA - and playing them for a long time, I was left with poor scores and a strong desire to have my old mouse back. I persisted for quite a while, and I never changed my opinion about the poor ergonomics of this mouse.

On a brighter note, I found the buttons to be very responsive and I liked the large scroll wheel a lot. The mouse did track very well
too - though I'd expect this from any new ball mouse; the true test will come with its performance over time. Using the Mouse Rate Checker program this mouse got the expected 124Hz average for a USB mouse.

Now on to the vibrating aspect of this mouse. I'm no stranger to an Immersion enhanced mouse; I've owned and used Logitech's
I Feel MouseMan for about a year now. Because the MouseMan has far superior ergonomics to the n30, a lot more of your hand is in contact with the mouse, and hence the vibrations are felt better. This said, I've never considered the vibrations to be any more than a gimmick; after ten minutes' use in Windows you stop noticing it and I've yet to find a game for which I could say the vibrations actually enhance the experience. Disappointing again, then.

My work with the n30 is now done. Bring on the n50...