INTRODUCTION

   Lately whenever i hear people talking about gaming peripherals mechanical keyboards seem to always steal the show and that's somewhat justifiable in a way since they do offer impressive MTBF times and tactile feedback compared to regular membrane keyboards. Of course not all is black and white in the market and so we've seen quite a few membrane keyboards during these past 2 years that share equally good MTBF times and offer a good amount of feedback as well like the S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 and S.T.R.I.K.E. 5 by Mad Catz and the APEX and APEX [RAW] by SteelSeries all of which we have reviewed in the past. Well it seems that Mad Catz is not ready to halt their S.T.R.I.K.E line of gaming keyboards and so just recently they announced the S.T.R.I.K.E. 3 gaming keyboard which is basically a cut-down version of its more expensive brothers featuring just basic functionality without sacrificing key precision and MTBF.

   Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (NYSE MKT: MCZ) is a global provider of innovative interactive entertainment products marketed under its Mad Catz® (gaming), Tritton® (audio), and Saitek® (simulation) brands. Mad Catz also develops flight simulation software through its internal ThunderHawk Studios™; operates flight simulation centers under its Saitek brand; publishes games under its Mad Catz brand; and distributes games and videogame products for third parties. Mad Catz distributes its products through most leading retailers offering interactive entertainment products and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. For additional information please go to www.madcatz.com.

   Although the S.T.R.I.K.E. 3 is far less eye-catching and comes with very limited features compared to the S.T.R.I.K.E.5 and S.T.R.I.K.E.7 models that's not necessarily a bad thing since that means it's also smaller and weighs less so for consumers who may also want to use it in LAN events it's much easier to carry. Mad Catz has used their custom-crafted P.U.L.S.E. membrane technology for the keys which provides precise tactile feedback (require 60g of actuation force), anti-ghosting capabilities for up to seven simultaneous keystrokes and up to five times longer MTBF compared to regular membrane keyboards. That's not all however and so the S.T.R.I.K.E.3 also features RBG backlighting with 16 million color variants in 3 different brightness modes, 12 programmable macro buttons and a very convenient windows key lock switch. Of course the S.T.R.I.K.E. 3 lacks any kind of screen like its far more expensive brothers but as we already mentioned that's not necessarily a bad thing. So time to see what Mad Catz has dished out this time.