Recommend a good gaming keyboard & mouse

Tetsugen

As title states, budget is around $200. Mostly playing FPS.

The LandoStander

It's not a keyboard per se but have you considered the Nostromo N50 or N52?

It would essentially be replacing your keyboard in the equation. I used to just use the num pad for my directional stuff in an FPS but it required putting the keyboard at a weird angle and I never did quite feel comfortable for long sessions. The N52 took a little getting used to as far as how to rest my fingers without actively gripping it and pressing buttons in the process but now I prefer it. The software is useful too, loading a given set of key configurations based on the game you're starting up.

I still just use a standard Microsoft wireless laser mouse, but I'm not as serious as others.

Nocturne

I always liked the Logitech G15 myself. But for an FPS you probably wouldn't need those extra keys, though I use them a lot in WoW.

For an FPS keyboard I'd say just go with the most comfortable. Hardcore gamers swear by wired mouse/keyboard. Personally I like wired keyboard and wireless mouse. My mouse always warns me long before the batteries ever die, and I don't have a problem with the signal screwing up or the like.

Really, though, it's all about feel. Go into a store that carries a number of different kinds of mice, and find the one that feels the best and has some easily accessable extra buttons. I could suggest you my favorite mouse and it might feel awful to you.

Dog

I was lucky enough to win a Microsoft GFWL Launch Pack thanks to Endgadget's recession antidotes, which included a Sidewinder x6 keyboard. Its fucking fantastic.

Funguy McAids

MY favourite mouse for years has been the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical. It isn't expensive or super fancy but it has enough buttons in the right places that you can easily map to anything you want. I've used the buttons for FPS games to usually switch to specific weapons, but macros are also doable. The size and shape are perfect for me.

Keyboard-wise I've never felt a need for anything other than a basic qwerty set. My hands don't stray far from aswd and I don't have a need for excess junk to shoot people.

Xaquin

I use a G15 and a Nostromo N52 and some random 5 button mouse.

Works great for me

TechBoy

Gaming keyboards are a joke. You don't need one, they don't improve your gameplay.

Gaming mice on the other hand are rather important. The top companies in this arena are Logitech and Razor. Don't worry about trying to find the mouse with the most DPI, it's not actually that big of deal. The important thing is how the mouse feels in your hand, so the exact mouse you will want to get sort of depends on what your mousing style is. If you don't know what yours is, the Logitech MX518 is often recommended as it is a good all around mouse for many different mousing styles.

I would also recommend you spend the extra money you didn't spend on a keyboard to get a gaming mousepad. Having a large and consistent mouse pad makes a difference. Not sure what the best is, but SteelSeries makes a bunch of different kinds of mousepads.

Dog

The benefits of "gaming" keyboards are not to improve your gameplay, but the plethora of hotkeys and automated macros you can set up via their software. When I had a G15 and spent most of my computer time playing MMOs, having an extra set of keys to bind my lesser used abilities to was a godsend.

Nostregar

I use an MX Revolution for my mouse (Link) because I have rather large hands and this one is extremely comfortable. If you have small hands I know it can actually be rather difficult to use, but I dunno, I like it a lot. Never had any tracking issues with it and the battery lasts about a week for me (sometimes higher if it's a slow week), so never had it die on me either. Regardless of what anyone here says, you might be best served by going to an electronics store (Best Buy, wherever) and actually holding some to find ones that are comfortable. After that you could ask what people think of the ones you like. That's what I'd do, anyway.

Gamepads like the Nostromo ones are nice, but can be something of a pain in the ass if you have limited space. I used to use my Nostromo N50 a lot, but once I started moving back and forth to college it became more hassle than it's worth. However, I also own a Wolfking Warrior Gamepad (Link) and because it's flatter it's easier to pack and store. Additionally, I like it somewhat more than the N50 because of the key arrangement - my hand used to cramp after using the N50 for a while, but the Wolfking keeps your hand more spread out and prevents that. I can't speak for the N52.

So on the gamepad front, if you like it to feel more like a keyboard I'd go with the Wolfking Warrior. If you want a sweet molded thing with less keys but some different options and layouts (I believe they have d-pads on them and some other stuff), go with the N50 or N52.

rfalias

I'm in love with my Logitech G9 mouse.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/3053&cl=US,EN

Laser, changeable grip body, weights, etc...
It's great if you use the claw! grip

A Dabble Of Thelonius

I have this, and I'm quite pleased with. As the esteemed robot has stated, the advantage to gaming keyboards is the ease of use and extra buttons and this has that in spades.

TychoCelchuuu

MX518 and a $10 Logitech keyboard off of Newegg.

TK-42-1

I like my g9 mouse and g15 keyboard. i like the keyboard more for the backlit keys and good keypresses. i can barely see the lcd screen and i only really use it to either check the time or my system load if the game is starting to stutter.

i recently switched from an older 1 thumb button g5 and while it's not a huge jump in quality im finding myself much more accurate when im playing tf2

Dr. Gero

I still love my 4+ year old Logitech MX518. Awesome mouse.

Kivutar

Another vote for MX518.

Keyboard, I have some basic ergonomic from ~8 years ago, never done me wrong, though a lot of the keys are starting to wear blank.

Steev

Don't know about keyboards, but ever since I got the MX518 mouse, I've never bothered with any other kind. I've bought three of them and they all still work (three separate PCs).

Bartholamue

I have the Logitech G5 with two buttons and it works really well with games like Call Of Duty, where you can have a side key be the melee attack and another for reload if you so choose.

Xaquin

I will mention that my nostromo will work nicely with any game I've ever played EXCEPT: Warcraft III

I have no idea why.

Everything from old DOS games now sunk into abandonware to Bioshock and WoW have been fine and dandy on my Nostromo. No WC3 though.

Dr. Gero

Does the Nostromo require special software to function properly? I was thinking of picking one of those up for Neotokyo; it's so irritating to lean in that game.

Captain Vash

g15
&
g5

'nuf said

Xaquin

Dr. Gero wrote: »

Does the Nostromo require special software to function properly? I was thinking of picking one of those up for Neotokyo; it's so irritating to lean in that game.

Just the CD that comes with it as far as I know

that's all I used at any rate

It was very simple to set up and once I got used to it, I found most every game to be way easier.

aside from the aforementioned WC3 problem, I've yet to find a game it doesn't work with.