ROCCAT TALK FX & TALK Overview

By Greg Schepers

From what they have shown us recently, the people at ROCCAT have a clear vision; to develop well-built, innovative, and high-quality gaming peripherals. What is truly impressive is that ROCCAT has been able to produce several devices in a relatively short amount of time without sacrificing anything from a quality standpoint. In addition, ROCCAT developed a new feature, called ROCCAT TALK, to accompany these devices, which provides gamers with an unmatched level of functional customization. Having had the opportunity to review ROCCAT devices and test the ROCCAT TALK feature, Benchmark Reviews is able to provide you with a first-hand account of this revolutionary feature.

In order to take advantage of ROCCAT TALK, it is necessary to have both a ROCCAT keyboard and mouse compatible with the ROCCAT TALK feature. The compatible devices include the Kone[+], Kone XTD, Kone XTD Optical, Kone Pure, Kone Pure Optical, Kone Pure Military, Tyon, Isku, Isku FX, Ryos MK, Ryos MK Glow, Ryos MK Pro, and Ryos TKL. Once a compatible ROCCAT keyboard and mouse have been acquired, these ROCCAT devices will work together seamlessly, providing an endless array of key combinations between the two devices, maximizing the potential for in-game domination.

 

At the forefront of the conversation is ROCCAT TALK’s Easy-Shift[+] technology, which provides the user with the ability to assign a key or button that, once actuated, doubles the number of functions available on each device. For example, if the caps lock key is assigned as the Easy-Shift[+] key on the ISKU FX keyboard (and it serves in this capacity as the default), all of the keys on the keyboard can have a secondary function.

While testing ROCCAT TALK, I employed the Ryos MK Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard and the Kone XTD Max Customization Gaming Mouse. The results were beyond my expectations. The experience I had with ROCCAT Talk was centered around Battlefield 4 game play, and I am looking forward to setting up profiles and employing ROCCAT Talk for not only future gaming ventures, but for also work-related tasks. Again, the options for customizing the functionality of your ROCCAT devices are endless.

For Battlefield 4, I decided to utilize the default Easy-Shift[+] key on the Ryos MK Pro keyboard, which is the caps lock key, for both the keyboard and for the Kone XTD. The Kone XTD also comes with a default Easy-Shift[+] button, but I assigned to use that button for another task. Again, these two devices work together, so actuating the Easy-Shift[+] key on the Ryos MK Pro doubles the functionality of the keys on the keyboard AND the buttons on the mouse. For example, when I press the caps lock key and then press the left-click button on the Kone XTD, I am able to throw a grenade. Of course, I set up this task as a secondary function of the left-click button. As as result of ROCCAT TALK, I have as many functions available to me on my nice clean Kone XTD as some of those MMO mice on the market that look like armadillos.

Setting up a profile to perform the desired ROCCAT TALK functionality is quite simple; go to the GUI for each of your devices and set it up. Considering that I have already covered the GUI interfaces for both the ROCCAT Kone XTD and the ROCCAT Ryos MK Pro in recent reviews, I encourage you to go and read those sections in order to become more familiar with what these programs can do for you.

ROCCAT TALK FX

Another feature that owners of ROCCAT gaming peripherals have the ability to put into action is the ROCCAT TALK FX feature. As is the case with ROCCAT TALK, a compatible ROCCAT keyboard and mouse are required. These devices include the Kone[+], Kone XTD, Kone XTD Optical, Kone Pure, Kone Pure Optical, Kone Pure Military, Tyon, Isku FX, Ryos MK Pro, and Ryos TKL.

According to the ROCCAT website, ROCCAT TALK FX, “translates on-screen game action into exciting sensory effects on your gaming hardware.” In other words, you have the ability to set up your devices to keep you informed, with with lighting effects, as to your in-game status. For example, it is possible to have your keyboard show the amount of ammunition in a magazine, which is represented by lights on your keyboard. As you pull the trigger, you can watch the lights on your keyboard go out, keeping you apprised of when you may want to consider reloading.

The only negative regarding either feature is that it is difficult and very time-consuming to set up ROCCAT TALK FX. Compounding the frustration is that ROCCAT does not provide any type of guide or instructions for the feature, so owners of ROCCAT gaming peripherals are on their own in terms of figuring out this feature. Hopefully, ROCCAT will come out with a guide in the near future and/or provide drivers that can be loaded with preset lighting effects for popular games.

Considering how much I have enjoyed using the ROCCAT TALK and ROCCAT TALK FX features over the past several weeks, I must commend ROCCAT for going the extra mile. On their own, ROCCAT devices are outstanding; combined with the functionality of these features, they are in a category of their own.