If you’re left-handed, chances are you have encountered problems when shopping for gaming mice.
This is because left-handed people are evil, unclean and… oh wait this is the year 2011; the negative stigma surrounding left handed people has since fallen away.
The real reason why left handed peripherals are so rare is simple: with such a small target market manufacturers won’t sell many units, which means lower profits.
Now some left-handed people are ambidextrous enough to game perfectly well with their right hand (I’m fortunate enough to be a part of this group), but for those who can’t or don’t want to use their right hand, the following devices are available.
Razer DeathAdder Left-hand edition
The closest thing to a high-end gaming mouse for lefty gamers, the DeathAdder left-hand edition sports and ergonomic design that fits snugly into the left palm.
It has side mouse buttons placed on the right hand side for easy access with the left hand thumb, and modest gaming specifications.
While it’s nice to see that the DeathAdder left-hand edition retails for the same price as its right-hand orientated brother, little to no stock is brought into South Africa.
With importing the only option, getting a lefty DeathAdder is an expensive exercise.
Logitech MX610
While not a dedicated gaming device, the Logitech MX610 does come in a left-hand version.
Being a consumer-grade cordless laser mouse, it might not compete with dedicated gaming mouses on the technical front, but the comfort is an important factor to consider.
The other factor to consider is the lack of local availability, and the extremely high price tag even before shipping costs are added to the equation.
Orientation neutral mice
Filling the rest of the market are orientation neutral mouses. These devices offer reduced ergonomic comfort as the left- and right-hand side are identical in size and shape, but are commonly available and in the same price bracket as right-handed mouses.
The Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer and multiple Razer products such as the Diamondback are popular among local lefty gamers.
Left-handed people make up around 10 percent of the world’s population and one would assume the percentage of gamers is similar. The reasoning behind companies’ lack of interest in developing products for such a small market is understandable if not a bit disappointing.
At the end of the day left-handed gamers are people too, and will find a way to game regardless. They might not be as comfortable as their right-handed fellow gamers, but hopefully they enjoy the gaming experience regardless; I know I do.
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