Patriot Introduces Viper Series LED RGB Gaming Mouse Pad
PC customization really took a colorful turn over the past couple of years, with customizable RGB lighting being integrated into various peripherals by manufacturers at a rapid rate. What started as basic, single color lighting has evolved into fully programmable RGB, with software suites to control various effects so that users can customize their systems to a style that best suits them.
When I started tinkering with computers as a teenager, cutting the side panels off of cases to install a Plexiglas window and some added cold cathode lighting was the norm. Since, PC lighting has evolved to using programmable RGB LED lighting strips and fans with integrated RGB lighting for case illumination. The trend didn’t just stop inside of the case, though. Within the past couple of years, I have tested out various peripherals featuring RGB LED lighting, including gaming headsets, keyboards, mice and even a sound bar. It’s safe to say that RGB is in like Flynn and isn’t leaving the PC peripheral scene anytime soon.
I’ve always maintained that competition in the industry is a great thing, as it pushes manufacturers to outdo each other in an effort to get the most traction with consumers and I wanted to share with our readers the latest product in the wild world of RGB: the Viper LED Gaming Mouse Pad.
Patriot announced their entry into the RGB mouse pad market with the Viper Series LED Gaming Mouse Pad. With industry mainstays like Corsair, Razer and SteelSeries having released RGB mouse pads in the past year, it was only a matter of time before we saw even more competition in the market, which is funny to see myself type. If you would have told me a few years ago that RGB mouse pads would not only be a thing, but that it would be major peripheral manufacturers producing them to work in conjunction with software suites, I would have asked you to get help.
Designed to complement the Viper V570 Blackout Gaming Mouse, the Viper LED Gaming Mouse Pad is capable of producing six colors of LED illumination from underneath the pad, along with six different effects, such as RGB rainbow mode. To adjust the different lighting effects, the Viper LED Gaming Mouse Pad has a control box on the USB cable, there is no software to control effects or colors like we’ve seen with the products from the competition. The lack of software to control the mouse pads effects can be both good and bad. The lack of software means users can plug in the mouse pad and go without installing potentially bloated control software. On the flip side, not having control software means options are limited to what Viper ships the mouse pad with and exacting control of the LED groups like you get on the MM800 from Cosair isn’t possible.
The Viper LED Gaming Mouse Pad features polymer construction and is 13.9″ from side to side and 9.5″ from top to bottom, so there is a decent amount of surface here. Polymer will allow for fast movement on the rigid pad, but I do wish that Viper would make a cloth pad available to put on top, as hard surface mouse pads have never suited me. Right now, the MSRP on the Viper LED Gaming Mouse Pad is $59.99, which is the same MSRP that the Corsair Gaming MM800 or Razer Firefly Chroma Custom have, but both are selling on Amazon for about $45. We expect the Viper LED Gaming Mouse Pad to be around the same street price once it comes out.
What do you think of the Viper LED Gaming Mouse Pad? I think it has a unique style, but as a brand, Viper is going to have to do a lot to stand out against the likes of Corsair and Razer, which really have a stranglehold on the RGB peripheral market.
Patriot Viper LED Gaming Mouse Pad Features
- Continuous LED Backlighting beneath
- Six colors LED illumination
- Six different sets of LED lighting effects
- High-quality rigid polymer surface
- Non-slip rubber backing design
- Micro USB connector with braided cord
- Warranty: Two-year limited warranty
- Unit Dimension: 35.35cm(L) x 24.27cm(W) x 4.6cm(H) / 13.9(L) x 9.5(W) x 1.1(H)