Who has gotten used to Blues for gaming?

[Phastor]

New here, and trying to dive into the world of mechanicals.  After reading many descriptions and reviews of various keyboards and switch types, I'm still having a hard time deciding what's best for me.  Nothing I read or see seems consistent.  For example: My girlfriend just got a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate, which uses Blues.  However, this seems contradictory to what I have read considering that this keyboard is touted as a gaming keyboard and I read that Blues are not good for gaming.  Other sources tell me that browns are the best non-linear switch for gaming.

I would say that I do an equal amount of typing and gaming.  So far, the Blues look attractive to me for having both audible and tactile feedback.  I've typed a little on my girlfriend's Blackwidow and do find it enjoyable despite the keys being a little inconsistent with each other.  The F(letter) has no bump or click to it.  I imagine I won't run into this with a board that has better QC such as a Filco.  I haven't had much of a chance to game on it, but I can see how it might take some getting used to seeing as a key has to be almost fully released before another press from the same key can be fully registered.  I have not had a chance to try any other switches since the Blackwidow is the only mechanical that has been available to try in my area.

Even though the Blues seem less desirable by others for gaming, they seem to be my top choice at the moment since I think I value typing experience over gaming experience.  However, I would like to hear from anyone who happens to use Blues for gaming.  What are your thoughts on them?  Is the release point really a game breaker?  Have you gotten to the point where you can play on them just as well as you would have with browns or even a rubber dome?

As far as the keyboard I currently have my sights set on, I'm looking at a Filco Majestouch 2 Ninja with Blues.  Still can't decide over the TK or the TKL version.

[hcry4]

Blues are probably fine if the sound doesn't bother you. The only issue may be if you need to communicate with teammates while playing. They might find it annoying when all they can hear from you is awesome clicking sounds.

[FKSSR]

Yeah, I could personally never use a keyboard for gaming with that much clicking.  It would just distract me plus the issue with the mic.

[Rumudiez]

for awhile i've wanted browns, but now i actually think i do prefer blues even while gaming (mostly RTS, some 3rd person RPG). i like the stronger tactile feedback for my purposes

hcry4 is right about needing to talk over your keyboard, but if you have a nicer headset that wouldn't matter.

[Phastor]

The clicking wouldn't be an issue for gaming with me.  I'm more worried about the feeling of the keyboard.

Thanks!  Keep 'em coming if you got things to share!

[lootbag]

I don't use blues for two reasons:

1) The clicking bothers me.
2) They do not feel smooth enough for me; they give off this scratchy vibe.

Maybe I am just picky...

[keyboardlover]

I love blues for gaming.

[Bertross]

Ive used blues/reds/browns/blacks. blues are my fav for gaming and to me its the best mech exp to start on. the noise can be distracting in a quiet house with kids bit my little ones dont ever wake from them and im in the next room.

Blacks are nice for gaming if you have or use a heavy hand. they are plain **** to type on abd are my least fav switch out of the 4 main ones. they have a stronger spring and made my fingers tired. these dont have a tactile feel either.

Reds are very nive to type on.as they are much lighter blacks and no tactile feedback. i use reds are at work and love the feel.

Im yet to have a decent run on the browns but they are like blues without the noise with a reduced tactile feel but its still their and i might replace my reds with them next week.

Its a very personal exp though. im very light with my hand thus why i hated blacks and made way to many mistakes when typing. reds have been the most fluid typinh exp closley following by black alps and or blues. alps are something different and to me make blues sound quiet lol.

Id suggest trying the reds/browns/blues. your misses will put that razer pos in the trash when she experiences your filco. i owned one and hated everything about it. filco and razer are worlds apart. excuse my spelling im on my sgs2... Cbf editing my post.

[Lolcakes]

I got used to blues for playing SC2. I found it to be tons of fun and cool. However I eventually switched to reds, because the noise from my keyboard was freaking out every single person around me. Now that I am used to reds i seem to like them more for both typing and gaming. However I remember being rather happy with my board with blues before.

[Bertross]

Put landing pads or o-rung dampeners on them makes a massive difference for noise when bottoming out.

[daerid]

I recently realized that I don't like blues for gaming. I've found myself recently not letting go of certain keys due to the bump on the upswing of the switch.

For gaming, you can't beat reds, personally.

[stingrae]

I think it truely is a personal issue. If you like blues so far perhaps that is a safe choice, if however you are unsure I don't think you can go wrong getting browns (tactile point is softer and theres no click but a wiki article does say there really isn't much difference in audible noise rather pitch changes).

It's very easy for personal preferences to form opinions which may or may not be founded on much worth. To some red switches might be a 'cloud of boobs' but is this compared to a brown switch or a membrane? What is the reference point? Some may experience a psuedo double tap issue I can't prove it exists but maybe for them it occurs. Then there are some that prefer typing on linear switches etc etc. I think the best thing to do is go with what you like so far and be happy about it. I don't game much atm just don't seem to have too much time for it but I haven't had an issue with blues but if I had the money i'd probably be on browns overall but that's my preference.

And for your girlfriend's widow I have read that a shot of compressed air can free up what ever is preventing the clicking on the switch.

[CeeSA]

i love blues for all (gaming incl.).

[Phastor]

Thanks for all of the feedback.  I think I'll stick with the Blues.  As I said I was going to get a Filco Majestouch 2 Ninja.  Now I just have to decide on TK or TKL.  I find myself using my keypad a lot.  However, habits can be changed and I would love to have the extra desk space.

Just in case anyone was wondering, I'm running a cheap, old Microsoft Ergonomic at the moment.

[LennyRhys]

At first I didn't like the blues for gaming but now I simply can't get enough of them; so precise and stable, and LOVE the click feel (can't hear it because I game with headset).

I'd probably like the browns too but I much prefer the blues for actual typing.

[Culinia]

I just love blues for everything. Look I've got two of them!

[pitashen]

plenty of people game with blues, especially if you are talking about RTS. plenty of high level web caster use blue switch based keyboard.

[Kamikaze K]

Never had an issue with gaming on blues... I think the majority of people who don't like the switch for gaming tend to be the people who don't like the audible click that comes with the switch.  For me, I don't have my rig in the bedroom and I don't have any flatmates bother with my clicking... It has to be one of my favourite switches I must add.

[bazemk1979]

meh.... blues,blacks I'm still a monster when it comes to FPS games and the blue switch click and tactile bump does not bother me at all what bothers me is that there is barelly any force required to press a key.... but I'm not typist and have strong hands due to my work being physically hard.... I somewhat liked the black but the buckling spring was the best, so since every body says Cherry MX clears are more demanding than blacks to press down + it gives you tactile feedback + somewhat soundless I think clears would be heaven for me.

so here I hope either WASD tenkeyless (when comes out) with clears or Deck Legend with clears.... or both if I have money to waste lol

[Creizai]

I personally love blues for gaming, I went from Brown to Blues for gaming.  I think what sold me was when I was playing CSS and had so much fun strafing and feeling the blue's "bump".  I wouldn't mind trying some others out but I'm sick of buying selling boards.

[bazemk1979]

FYI blues,reds,buckilings or whatever... your   still pressing as key one way or the other, I think more preferences are needed for typist since thats where a lot skill lays within the typist comfort level .... never mattered to me but if I had to choose I preffer buckling or blacks or clears that I have never tried....

As for gaming you can game on anything,but blacks and reds are praised, I game on blues too and really all same to me....

[Supertoaster]

I have not tried any other switch type yet but Blues have been absolutely fine for gaming. Maybe this is just because I'm just coming from Rubber Domes. I barely notice the click when I'm gaming because I'm too concentrated (and used to it by now)

[Disposable Hero]

These threads get so old!!!....the type of switch one chooses is so subjective an totally personal...there's no real way to say  "The best gaming switch is.." unless you had some kind of a poll that a person might be able to see what "most" people prefer and just take an educated guess. Me myself I prefer cherry reds/w #40 o-ring mod....PERFECT! And I game all the time...but I'm and oddball..... For example, I love MKB's but hate the "clicky/clacky noise of them"..to me it's like buying a Ferrari but wanting it sound like a Model T....why??

[Aerilith]

I did use my blues for gaming before I switched to Reds.
They did bother the people I played with at first - but they kinda got used to filtering it out.
I do prefer the reds for gaming, but I'm still getting used to them.

All in all, if the clicking doesn't annoy you (if you are fine with typing on them) the biggest problem will be adjusting your mates to them

[furry_angina]

I found that it depends on your light/heavy handedness and type of game.  

I can see how reds/blues are good for FPS and people who are light-handed.  And I personally use blacks for RTS/MMO games, it lets me keymash so much better as I am heavy handed.  The heavier springs just feel so much better to me than browns (more mistakes) and reds (that I can't type with at all).  I don't care so much for 'tactile feedback' when it comes to games, although I really would like to play on cherry clears one of these days.

[marvin737]

The most concise answer:
They are good for gaming too.

Longer answer:
Many pro gamers (many sponsored by razer, mind you using blackwidows...) use blues. they seem to like them and many of these players are at the highest level in their respective game. Personally I've used browns, blues, and membranes extensively and can say that blues are enjoyable to use while gaming.

[Hydroid]

I love blues and I do a ton of gaming. I honestly have no interest in using any other switches for daily use. I also love the noise and well, when my friends are blasting music on their speakers while on skype, I think they can tolerate/deserve a bit of keyboard clicking.

[Disposable Hero]

Maybe one day there will be a keyboard that has "selectable" key tensions..that would be so great....

[NamelessPFG]

I can adapt to MX Blues for gaming. It helps that I naturally tend to release the key all the way before depressing it again, thus getting around the actuation/release point incongruency. However, it is an issue that still bugs a lot of people.

MX Clears would be the ideal out of the whole Cherry switch family, but they're not exactly easy to find.

I don't like linear switches at all, even for gaming, and Browns might as well be linear with that pathetic excuse for a tactile bump. I want to know by feel that the switch did exactly what I wanted, and that's something I only tend to get out of Blues, Clears...and buckling springs.

[keyboardlover]

More info about what switch you should use for gaming is here in my subforum.