Gaming keypad

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A gaming keypad is a small, auxiliary keyboard designed only for gaming. It has a limited number of the original keys from a standard keyboard, and they are arranged in a more ergonomic fashion to facilitate quick and efficient gaming key presses. The commonly used keys for gaming on a computer are the 'W', 'A', 'S', 'D', and the keys close and adjacent to these keys. These keys and style of using a keyboard is referred to as WASD. A gaming keypad will not only optimize the WASD layout, but will often contain extra functionality, such as volume control, the Esc. key, and the F1–F12 keys.


The two primary, and most commonly used, devices for players to use when gaming on a computer are the mouse and the keyboard. While both are integral in the interaction of the game, their evolutionary track has not been equal.

The mouse, over the years, has had better adaptation and incorporation into gaming than the keyboard has. This could easily be attributed to the fact that the mouse is a much more simplified device. The mouse has had many advances to make it a much more adapted device for gaming. It has been upgraded from a rolling ball to an optical sensor, and the optical sensor has been upgraded to a laser. The results of these progressions have allowed players increased sensitivity and accuracy while in a game environment. The mouse has also been equipped with increasingly more buttons. Starting with two buttons, the mouse can now be found with up to seventeen buttons.[1] Buttons have also become programmable, such that the player can perform a greater variety of actions with their mouse.

The keyboard has not seen as much advancement in terms of making it a formidable gaming device. The keyboard is mostly viewed as simply a conglomeration of over a hundred keys that are placed and configured for typing efficiently, not for navigating a character through a virtual world. There have been some modifications made to keyboards to entice a gamer, such as adding macro buttons on the perimeter of the keyboard, or having keys that glow in the dark. Still today the shape and layout of a keyboard remains the same, optimised for word processing but not gaming.

Recently, certain companies have started to introduce mini-keyboards, or sub-keyboards, that are specifically designed to maximize the gaming experience. These are commonly referred to as gaming keypads.

Benefits of gaming keypads[edit]

The benefits of having a gaming keypad over a traditional keyboard are many.

  • Reduced size - Whether the player is looking to free up desktop space while they are gaming, or are looking for a keyboard that is more conducive to resting in their lap while they sit back and indulge their gaming desires, a keypad can give them the option of something much more manageable.
  • Ergonomic design – Many of the new keypads have been designed such that they are as comfortable to use as possible while gaming. This reduces the amount of fatigue that the player's hand experiences while playing. It also reduces the possibility of hand injury that could occur from prolonged use of a keyboard.
  • More available keys – While most of the keypads do not invent new buttons, they do make more of the already existing buttons more accessible to the fingertips without having to relocate or move the entire hand. Some of them can almost double the amount of buttons that could be normally reached by the hand and fingers.
  • Extras – for example; volume control, macro buttons, quick keys, USB ports, or headset ports.

Game genres[edit]

The genres of PC games that have been influenced and affected by the development of gaming keypads are first-person shooters (FPS), third-person action-adventure, and massively multiplayer online games (MMO). In each of these styles of games, there is control over the movement of one character, and this traditionalling is done by the WASD keys.

Available keypads[edit]

Supplier Product(s) Basic
(x modes)
Backlit Special features / Remarks
Wolfking Warrior (stand-alone keypad) flat 55 no no yes Identical design also sold in Germany/Europe as "Ultron G1-Clawpad" by Ultron and "Zykon K1" by Zykon
Timberwolf (keypad/keyboard combination) flat 49+104+8 no no yes
Warrior XXTREME (keypad/keyboard hybrid) flat 49+40 no no yes
Steelseries Fang (stand-alone keypad) flat 41 no no yes Symmetrical design suited for left-handers.
Identical design also sold in Germany/Europe as "Hama CruX" by Hama.
Merc (keypad/keyboard combination) flat 34+104+11 no no yes Backlight only applies to the Merc Stealth.
Zboard (keypad/keyboard hybrid) flat 27+79+17 yes no yes/no
Ergodex DX1 flat 25+ no no no Key layout freely configurable with movable keys
Sharkoon Rush Pad flat 62 no no no identical with A4Tech X7-G100, which is even older product.
Cyber Snipa Cyber Snipa Game Pad V2 flat 39 yes no yes
Revoltec Fightpad Advanced Steel Grid flat 45 yes no no
Thermaltake Flare Board flat 44 yes no no Symmetrical design suited for left-handers
Belkin Nostromo SpeedPad n52 (old)
n52te (new)
curved 14 (x3) yes yes no/yes Newer Tournament Edition includes back light.
Saitek Pro Gamer Command Unit (old)
Cyborg Command Unit (new)
curved 21 (x3) yes yes yes Adjustable wristpad
Genius Ergomedia 500 curved 11 (x3) yes yes yes
Terratec Mystify Claw (old, discontinued) curved 6 (x4) yes no no
Idizm Space Devil (old, discontinued) curved 25 yes no no
Microsoft SideWinder Strategic Commander
(old, discontinued)
curved 6 (x 3) + 4 yes no no Keypad/mouse/joystick hybrid with a stationary base and a movable top
Logitech G13
curved 25 + 4 (x3) yes yes yes create new macros during gaming. Thumb stick can be alternately programmed as 4 keys.
Razer Nostromo
curved 16 yes yes yes Unlimited macro lengths and the ability to store up to 20 different profiles. Based on the Belkin Nostromo SpeedPad n52.
curved 20 + 2 + 8 yes yes yes Uses mechanical keys. Is also available with silent mechanical keys as the Orbweaver Stealth. Thumb stick can be alternately programmed as 4 or 8 keys.
curved 15 + 2 + 8 yes yes yes Thumb stick can be alternately programmed as 4 or 8 keys.