Mad Catz reveals crazy new PC mouse

By Robert Purchese Published 7 January, 2010

Cyborg R.A.T. due out in spring.

No one can apparently pimp a PC mouse like Mad Catz can - not even Tim Westwood.

Revealed at CES 2010, Mad Catz' Cyborg R.A.T. Gaming Mouse can be "customised for any grip preference" and looks like something from an underground army base.

Due this spring, prices range from £35/€50 for the minimum spec model (3200dpi laser, USB powered) up to £100/€130 for the top-spec build (wireless, fully adjustable, 5600dpi laser, programmable, weight system).

The question remains: how much would you spend on a gaming mouse?

'Mad Catz reveals crazy new PC mouse' Screenshot mouse

Weird.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (32) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #1 2 years ago

    I can't even abide those ones that come with two extra buttons on the sides.

  • bad09 #2 2 years ago

    That looks insane but who would pay 100 notes for a mouse? I'm happy with the MS controller TBH.

  • S.J.Rogers #3 2 years ago

    Looks cool but would be a massive pain in the ass..!

  • JohnnyWashnGo #4 2 years ago

    Madcatz have been pushing out some good arcade sticks recently. I wonder if the mouse is of similar quality?

  • Eraysor #5 2 years ago

    This serves me nicely.

  • crwoody #6 2 years ago

    Still using one of these here.

  • mkreku #7 2 years ago

    What IS that??

  • ignatiusjreilly #8 2 years ago

    My Logitech MX510 is the only thing left from my first PC in 2002ish.

    Have to say I don't think £35 is a terrible price to pay for a good mouse (though £100 is another matter), but it's easy to get attached to your mouse and not want to change. I think my hand is now MX510-shaped, rather than the other way around.

    @Mentalist - I seriously could not manage without at least a back and forward button on the side. Losing those would be like losing a scroll-wheel. Those buttons are great for games too - forward thumb is unsually grenade, while back works nicely for melee or reload :)
    Edited by 1 at 07/01/10 @ 10:58

  • PearOfAnguish #9 2 years ago

    What an ugly, overpriced piece of crap. Surprised it's not 'Fatal1ty' branded.

    Still not found anything to beat the Logitech G5.
    Edited by 1 at 07/01/10 @ 10:57

  • BillMurray #10 2 years ago

    I've been using a dirty biege-looking Logitech 3 button mouse for the past few years.

  • jaywalker3010 Verified Mastering Manager, Square Enix #11 2 years ago

    Franken-Rat.. tis butt ugly
    Edited by 1 at 07/01/10 @ 11:10

  • Tricky #12 2 years ago

    It's far from ugly - I think it falls into "so mad, it's cool" territory.

    More pictures over at Engadget which give you a better idea of its proportions.

  • Dr.Mott #13 2 years ago

    I might get this, I've been looking for a way to waste £100.

  • Hantheman #14 2 years ago

    MX518 is mine. It's very good.

  • AtomicBanana #15 2 years ago

    I replace them so infrequently that 100 quid wouldn't be a big deal if the features are there. Mad Catz is not a brand I'd associate that kind of cash with.

  • swissorc #16 2 years ago

    bloodkult not sure I would buy and controllers off them but the mad catz wii component cable is actually better than the nintendo one!

  • Tricky #17 2 years ago

    Well it's Cyborg so it will probably have been designed by the Saitek guys (Mad Catz bought them a couple of years ago). My experience with their stuff has always been good so it could be interesting. Wouldn't go for the £100 one though - either the £50 or £70 one would be enough for me.

  • loopy #18 2 years ago

    Think I'll stick to my Logitech G9, thank you very much.

  • Saxo #19 2 years ago

    im quite happy with my MX518 so i think ill skip, 130 Euros is also waaay to much.

  • Crembo #20 2 years ago

    What the...

  • chiz #21 2 years ago

    Give that to a mac user and watch them scratch their head for days.
    Edited by 1 at 07/01/10 @ 12:29

  • Ranger101 #22 2 years ago

    @retrend, @ AtomicBanana

    I think you'll find the twice sold-out MadCatz Street Fighter 4 TE Arcade Sticks had buyers aplenty.

  • dirk_aircool #23 2 years ago

    good luck cleaning that after 6 months use.

  • sneetch #24 2 years ago

    Mine cost me about €90, I've had it for years, Logitech MX something-or-another.

  • Murton #25 2 years ago

    The mouse is probably the longest lasting part of your pc along with the keyboard, everything else tends to get replaced every couple of years. I've had my MX1000 for a good five years now and it's still going strong, I simply have no need for another mouse. Plus I find a brand new mouse a little tricky to use at first until your hand gets used to the shape of it, something that will take a while with this particular model, plus it'll be a bastard to clean.

  • Sunyavadin #26 2 years ago

    I still hate the lack of responsiveness on optic ones. You can't feel how far the ball's moved, or lift it at just the right moment or the correct angle to get a slight bit more motion from the momentum.

    And those ones with buttons on the sides you keep hitting by accident when simply trying to move left and right, eeeeuuugh.

  • karstux #27 2 years ago

    That mouse reminds me very much of the old Saitek Cyborg joysticks. I still have a gameport(!) model lying around somewhere - awesome design, and speaking as someone with rather big hands, the ability to adjust the fit was welcome, too. I'll definitely get this one.

  • VMerken #28 2 years ago

    I have toyed around with quite a few mouses and while I do like the Razers out there, I finally settled on a Logitech G9 in combination with a SteelSeries SX mouse "mat". The SX metallic mat feels cold to the touch and the G9 (apart from its other advantages) glides extremely well over the SX mat's surface. This allows for fast, silky smooth precision movements and extended gaming sessions without noticeable chafing or transpiration issues.

    On topic - never let appearances fool you. The RAT can be a very powerful tool in the right hands. Personally, for example, I think the G9 has a subpar design, but it more than makes up for it by actually being a damn good mouse (I initially thought my hands weren't going to like the G9's grip, but it snugly fit straight away anyhow). So if you're still on the lookout for a gaming mouse, why not just take that RAT in your hands and find out if it's your kind of gaming nirvana?
    Edited by 2 at 07/01/10 @ 20:46

  • YourMessageHere #29 2 years ago

    I have a Logitech MX 510 that is still just about barely functional. The underneath is dotted with glidy bits off other mice since the originals started falling off ages back, and the buttons fail to work occasionally. As someone who uses the same mouse for games and everything else, I love its cruise scroll buttons and superb ergonomics - it has 8 in total, and for me the more buttons the better, as long as they're sited well. You can keep the wireless and the DPI adjustment, the MX510 has been a great buy and I'd get another if I could find one. But in the absence of that, this might be a really good proposition, it looks amazing and more importantly it seems to have lots of buttons and is probably adjustable for super comfort.

    Did Mad Catz buy Saitek and I didn't notice? This seems to have the Saitek Cyborg logo on it.

  • KayTannee #30 2 years ago

    No way would buy that.

    I've got a Logitech Trackman, used tracker balls for years. I'd be happy shelling out 100quid on a very well made wireless trackball. As is the current ones out are rubbish. Shoddy build quality and crap range. Shame they're so much better in every way once used to them, just need to find one that doesn't break now.

  • neonxaos #31 2 years ago

    I really like this - obviously an evolution of the Saitek Cyborg mouse.

  • KillerMonkey #32 2 years ago

    That looks like it could rip your head off. I definitely want one.