Full disclaimer: I don't work for WarMouse or are being compensated in any way. I just think they have a great potential product and are supportive of open source philosophy, compatible with Linux, and Vendetta players will enjoy using this new mouse.

A new company called WarMouse is creating a mouse unlike any seen before. Named the "Meta", this mouse has 18 buttons an "Xbox360-like" analog thumbstick, a 5600DPI latest generation laser, 512k onboard memory for macros, and other excellent hardware features. The best part however, is that its software, MetaModeware, is open source and compatible with Linux and Mac in addition to windows! Right now the Meta is available for preorder (at 20% off the launch price of $75) and the first units should ship by the end of April.

Before it ships, WarMouse set a goal to have 100 pre-loaded keymaps sent in by users for their favorite games and applications. They're at 83 of 100 at current, and Vendetta isn't on their games list yet! For complex tasks and macros or a quick space battle, the Meta seems to be an excellent tool for MMOs just like Vendetta. While anyone is free to create or import a keymap at any time for their own personal use or to share (The maps themselves are stored and accessed exclusively in open-source formats), it would be a free way to get Vendetta some publicity to have it listed on the Meta's game list.

Here are a few links worth checking out...

www.warmouse.com - The homepage. The picture is of the latest Mark IV prototype, at current.
www.warmouse.com/blog - The manufacturer's blog. They constantly update progress and there are several examples of modeware keymaps within.
http://warmouse.com/game_list.html - The list of current games. Click on some of them to see the keymaps. You can also find templates near the bottom of the list.
http://warmouse.com/pr121509.html - The overview press release. It contains lots of info about the mouse. Please note the picture is of an older prototype.
http://warmouse.com/about.html - The about page shows how it stacks up to other gaming mice and has general information as well as links to other resources.

I plan to PreOrder a Meta and look forward to using it for Vendetta and other games, but since I haven't played for such a long time and haven't gotten into the later points of grayspace combat, I don't feel comfortable making the "primary" keymap as compared to a veteran player or a developer. Lets use this opportunity to give Vendetta some exposure!

hrmm, i think i am going to build somehting like this our of an old mouse an an elchepo dual shock controller and some micro switches from an old vcr i found a few years ago

This sounds almost too good to be true... a HID developer/manufacturer who cares about Linux and OSX? If this takes off, Logitech et al. will have a hard time winning back those buyers.

It's too bad it looks so ugly (to me). I'd still probably pre-order one.

I think the latest MKIV variant is actually pretty good looking, with the matte textured black/charcoal? Look at the one on the home page, as that's probably the best example. There are lots of other versions all over the place. The final version will probably look even more polished, but similar.

You really think it looks ugly? I asked them to create a little more contrast, like make the L1 and R1 buttons another color like silver, red, or blue, but I think they are staying with the basic color scheme for now because they don't want to alienate non-gamers. It certainly isn't as "XTREEM" as Razer products for instance, but that isn't what they're targeting with this first mouse. If it does well, they said they would have other models to follow.

If it at all interests you for the function and you can afford it, I say buy. The aesthetics seem to have class and I don't mind if its a little plain because I, like you, have been waiting for a company to make something like this for a long time. Razer and to a lesser degree Logitech have crappy support for non-Windows devices, and I'd like to support WarMouse with open source software and firmware simply out of principle!

i dont really care what it looks like function matters much more than form to me

how is your average overweight mmo player going to click the tiny buttons with his sausage fingers?

I don't see anyone being able to press those buttons.

lol. Isn't that the piece of crap that was being called the OpenOffice.org mouse until the OOo people told them to stop doing that?

If I remember correctly they had the blessing of the Open Office crew, but they decided to make HUGE changes to appeal to non-office users and thus, a wider base. Admittedly the White+Purple color scheme was staggeringly different from other mice and most people reacted badly to it. Aside from the button positions on the top, nearly everything about the mouse has changed since those days. The black chassis, laser optics, joystick version etc...are all new to the Meta. Some people thought it was a joke. Others were impressed.

And some people still think it's a joke.

there is a thing called a keyboard and most people have two hands, and most keyboards don't have impossibly small buttons

I'm going to go ahead and agree with peytros here. That thing is an RSI waiting to happen. I'm not altogether sure we want to have VO associated with that...

http://warmouse.com/reviews.html

Here are a handful of the reviews of the pre-release prototypes, and they have the integrity to include some negative reviews as well. Those who have used it seem to find it useful, but some of those reviews are simply impressions (for good and bad) on the announcements and drawings/pictures thus far, not actual use. There's also one very balanced review that was written in a Northern Europe hardware site, but I can't seem to find it at the moment.

Many people seem to think its way overboard and for some use it might be, but remember that WarMouse isn't the first one to create something like this. The Razer Naga places the buttons in what I'd consider a less accessible area and putting more stress on your hand actually moving the mouse and is incompatible for left-handed mouse users to boot. This is to say nothing for the software which is more or less Windows only and Razer is well known for making some admitted good hardware in general, but so much of it relies entirely on the drivers to get most of the functionality out of it. Unless someone truly has "sausage fingers", I don't think it will be a problem hitting these buttons, and there is a clear market for a mouse with a ton of buttons as Razer's Naga sales have proven. WarMouse just takes the concept one step further and gives you more freedom to do so.

I just figured that Vendetta players, who are more likely to use Linux and/or select their entertainment and peripherals by substance instead of name or marketing, could appreciate what WarMouse is trying to do. Open source hardware and firmware, tons of customization, a "little guy" taking on the established giants of the competition etc... The mouse might not be for everyone, but I certainly don't think having an available profile/keymap created for it, officially or unofficially can have anything but positive consequences for Vendetta. Its not like Vendetta has to endorse the item somehow and wager its reputation upon it. The most that will happen is everyone who buys a WarMouse will see "Vendetta Online" listed on the prefab game support list and maybe some of them that never heard of the game, will come check it out

kill the mutant before it breeds
: )

but i use a mouse i "borrowed" from my schools computing commons, and it works great.

Ugh, what a piece of crap.

The mouse might not be for anyone

Fixed that for ya.

I have some questions about the mouse buttons.

How much force do they take?
Do they have a tactile and audible click to them?
How easy is it to feel the gap between two adjacent buttons?
Do the buttons have any kind of touch typing nubs on them?

Wait, you mean the OOMouse isn't a joke?

Nono, it's a joke, even in it's current incarnation :P