Games

Razer’s Pebble Choo on how the Viper V3 Pro became the mouse of champions

BBG News

Esports.gg had a chat with Pebble Choo from Razer to find out about the details that make the Viper V3 Pro, their esports-focused mouse, truly exceptional.

You might have come across our review of the Razer Viper V3 Pro mouse. This is the very mouse that propelled Zachary “zekken” Patrone to victories in Kickoff and Masters Madrid during the 2024 VALORANT Champions Tour. We’re head over heels for it, and we managed to get some insights from Razer about what makes this peripheral a contender for championships.

We reached out to Pebble Choo, a key spokesperson for all Razer mouse items in her role as Senior Product Evangelist. Unsurprisingly, she expressed great pride in the reviewed mouse and shared valuable behind-the-scenes information about its creation. This encompasses ideation sessions, trials, and other stages of development.

Let’s dive in to how one of something like this becomes reality.

Razer Viper V3 Pro – From the beginning

With Razer as their platform, Pebble unveiled the Viper V2 as their initial product. Simultaneously, they were already planning and developing the Viper V3 Pro, aiming to bring this esports-focused mouse to a wider audience.

She pointed out that the patterns of demand are continuously evolving, which is why the conceptualization for the V3 started promptly. They turned to the users of the V2 to pinpoint any issues, enabling them to enhance the Viper V3 Pro with these improvements.

Although many appreciate the Viper V2 Pro, some found its profile too low for their preference. To address this issue, we sought feedback from our extensive esports teams who actively participate in events such as CS2 and VALORANT.

At tournaments such as BLAST and IEM Sydney, Razer handed out samples of their mice, casually carrying them in a bag. Blind tests took place, during which testers chose their preferred model, as various surface treatments, designs, and mouse pads were showcased.

Based on Pebble’s statement, it seems that almost everyone prefers larger mouse feet. To gather more insights, they reached out to their professional gaming partners and solicited their thoughts about the Razer Viper V3 Pro. This is where the process began.

Building upon an established product such as the Viper V2 Pro, you leverage the input and backing of its users. In collaboration with Razer’s esports athletes, they jointly designed what is believed to be the optimal mouse for competitive gaming.

Delivering on the feedback of pro players

The primary group that uses the Razer Viper V3 Pro gaming mouse is competitive gamers. These gamers can be found either climbing up a game’s ranked system or playing in competitions with a global audience. To ensure we were meeting the needs of those aiming for world championship titles, it was crucial to gather feedback from them directly.

It came as a shock that despite numerous claims about the significance of mouse feet size, most experts testing it reported they couldn’t discern any difference. However, what truly mattered and stood out to them was the overall feel of the mouse when held in their hands.

They prioritize the weight of the mouse, so we invest considerable energy in determining the ideal weight and ensuring its balance.

For PC gaming enthusiasts, there are distinct ways to grasp a mouse, including the palm grip, fingertip grip, and claw grip. When designing the Viper V3 Pro, these various gripping styles were all carefully considered to ensure that regardless of how you hold the device, its design and weight provide a consistently comfortable experience.

The weight of the Razer Viper V3 Pro is influenced by every detail, including how it’s charged. Including wireless charging would increase the device’s weight due to the necessary internal components. However, opting for a wired charging method helps keep its weight minimal since there are no extra components required for charging.

Once all the valuable input from the professional players has been taken into account, that’s where the exciting part kicks in. They proceed to create prototypes of the mouse, using the suggestions provided, and grant them an opportunity to try out what could potentially be the final version.

How does an esports-centric mouse differ from a typical Razer mouse?

The Razer Viper V3 Pro has triumphed in both regional and international tournaments within VALORANT, showcasing its potential as an elite gaming mouse for top-tier competition. Its championship wins serve as a testament to this.

Given that this is designed for esports players, what adjustments or differences were incorporated to make it distinct from a standard Razer item?

Associating the Razer brand often brings to mind vibrant hues. Our signature green stands out particularly vividly. With RGB technology incorporated into all our products, it’s a key feature… For those items in our RGB range, we primarily refer to them as our ‘immersive’ line. This term is used because these products aim to immerse the user in an immersive gaming experience.

Due to its abundance of advanced features, this mouse offers benefits such as RGB lighting, wireless charging, a tilt-scroll wheel on the Basilisk model, and a hyper-scroll wheel on the Naga model. The unique aspect is that you can customize the scroll wheel’s tactility and number of steps it takes to move, which adds to its overall functionality. In essence, this mouse is packed with additional features that enhance its performance.

This will increase the materials and overall weight. Our goal is to cater to a wide range of consumers, from esports enthusiasts to those seeking an immersive experience. We offer various designs, including symmetrical and ergonomic options, to suit different user preferences.

While we strive to make our immersive mice more user-friendly for some individuals, it’s essential to understand that this may not result in a lighter product. This is because if you want all the features included, the device must maintain a certain weight. This is how the trend of lightweight mice for esports began.

Razer found a strong foothold in the surge of interest for RGB and feature-rich products. However, as player preferences evolved, there was an increasing demand for devices that were less flashy and more functional instead.

In the professional world, the reduction of mouse weight emerged as a significant issue. Interestingly enough, 70 grams used to be considered a lightweight option for a mouse. Today, if a mouse weighs more than 60 grams, gamers often find it feels as heavy as an anvil.

The reason the Razer Viper V3 Pro weighs 54g (Black) and 55g (White) is to strike a balance. Feedback from professional players indicated that weights below 50g were considered too light by some of them.

Executing the final version of the Razer Viper V3 Pro

Indeed, we’ve discussed the trial phase for diverse iterations of the Viper V3 Pro, during which professional gamers have an opportunity to handle them and share their insights. However, this process doesn’t end, as further testing remains essential.

At Razer, they highly regard feedback, whether it comes from outside or within their organization. It’s during the prototype phase that things really start to coalesce. As Pebble shared, they often pass the mouse along to other members of the Razer clan.

This version keeps the original meaning but is more conversational and easier to read.

Those who specialize in designing headsets or ergonomic gaming chairs may not be as intimately involved in the development of computer mice. They might not feel the same strong connection to the mouse, nor strive to customize it according to professional player standards.

Rather than being testers or professionals, they are simply Razer employees who enjoy gaming. They have the opportunity to evaluate the mouse and respond to queries, effectively serving as dedicated gamers aiding Razer in refining the Viper V3 Pro mouse to reach its optimal potential.

After we’ve gathered all the feedback, we can move on to the subsequent phase. In essence, the samples have been largely verified.

At this juncture, they begin to deploy these prototypes to their eSports athletes. During large-scale tournaments, you might observe seemingly anonymous mice on the stage. These unnamed mice represent the early versions, and their performance under competition stress is the ultimate gauge of whether they are prepared for public use.

A winning mouse is a win for Razer

The mouse Zekken triumphantly used during the VCT Americas Kickoff 2024 and VALORANT Masters Madrid was actually a preliminary model. His victories played a crucial role in finalizing the product, as his insights ensured that the Razer Viper V3 Pro possesses the qualities needed to secure wins.

“zekken winning is our testament, ‘Okay, we’ve made a perfect product.'”

The enthusiasm among the Razer team is undeniable. As soon as he was spotted getting ready on stage before a game began, the team was brimming with joy and nicknamed the mouse as “zekken” internally.

As an increasing number of esports games debut and a growing cohort of young gamers transition into professional status, Razer has become an integral part of their development. Whether refining their skills with a headset or mouse, or standing victorious on the biggest stages of their respective esports, Razer has been by their side throughout their journey.

In a way reminiscent to marketing strategies of conventional sports brands, they often associate themselves with top-tier performers. These stars are seen triumphing with their branded equipment, which in turn, inspires fans or up-and-coming pros. In the realm of esports, figures like zekkens are celebrated for their dominance using products such as the Viper V3 Pro mouse, creating a strong desire among enthusiasts to emulate them and acquire the same gear.

Creating the Viper V3 Pro was a team effort

A mouse, due to its small size, isn’t typically considered a big product in terms of physical attributes. However, this doesn’t diminish the fact that creating such a product can be an enormously challenging task, especially when designing lightweight models that are favored by professionals.

Multiple groups play crucial roles in bringing the Viper V3 Pro into focus. Firstly, it must be conceptualized and developed. Then, it transitions from a concept to reality through production. Afterward, it is distributed to testers for evaluation. Finally, it needs to be promoted, sold, and shipped to reach its intended customers.

Here is a list of all the teams Pebble said is involved:

  • Product Developer
  • Product Marketer (Pebble)
  • Engineering Teams
    • Mechanical
    • Electrical
  • Software
  • Quality Assurance
  • ID Team
  • Design Team
  • Planning Team
  • Esports Team

Crafting a mouse involves an intricate array of factors, making it far from straightforward. They examine the mouse’s surface under various light conditions. They also assess the number of clicks it can endure over its lifespan, until it eventually stops functioning.

It’s likely that there are more teams participating than she explicitly stated, as she admitted she didn’t keep track of the exact number of individuals supporting the project. However, she did commend our inquiry, considering it a thoughtful and challenging one.

First-hand experience and testimonials

In closing our chat with Pebble, she expressed a desire to gain direct insights from professional gamers. Normally, her interactions with them were via emails or online surveys, either at home or the Razer office.

In other words, since all she could do was read text from her computer screen, it wasn’t until she got to actually travel and meet the professional players with her mouse-filled bag that she could have genuine discussions about the prototypes.

“The memory I will always hold with me is hearing the feedback first-hand from the pros.”

As someone deeply involved in shaping the Viper V3 Pro, I can’t emphasize enough how crucial it is to know what gamers truly desire when it comes to using our product. There’s no substitute for hearing their thoughts straight from them, and that moment was undoubtedly the most enlightening during the entire development process.

Regardless of whether a product leak is intentional or not, as stated by Pebble, the reactions from professionals and the wider audience are valuable in generating buzz and discussion. Unintentional leaks can also be beneficial.

Occasionally, Razer allows non-contracted players to try out their products. This requires a certain level of trust, and obviously, no specific names can be disclosed, especially when they are signed with a rival company. It certainly adds an amusing twist if an unsigned pro accidentally reveals that they’re using Razer gear.

A few answers from zekken about the Viper V3 Pro

1. We’re grateful to both Pebble and Razer for giving us insights into the development of the Viper V3 Pro. We’d also like to express our thanks to zekken, who turned this mouse into a top-tier competitor, and took the time to respond to our questions as well.

2. Our appreciation goes out to Pebble and Razer for letting us in on the Viper V3 Pro’s creation process. We’re also thankful to zekken for turning it into a championship-worthy mouse and answering our queries.

3. Gratitude to Pebble and Razer for sharing their journey of making the Viper V3 Pro with us, and appreciation towards zekken for enhancing its performance to a championship level and addressing our inquiries.

4. Thanks to both Pebble and Razer for allowing us a glimpse into the creation story of the Viper V3 Pro. Our gratitude extends to zekken as well, who made it a champion’s mouse and answered our queries.

5. We’re expressing our thanks to Pebble and Razer for shedding light on the creation process of the Viper V3 Pro, and we appreciate zekken for turning it into a championship-caliber mouse and answering our questions.

One powerful endorsement comes from a champion who triumphed regionally and at Masters, and he relied on the Viper V3 Pro in his journey to lift the trophy. Simply put, there’s no stronger testament than this accomplished player’s recommendation.

  • What kind of input did you give when it came to the Viper V3 Pro’s creation/design? 

I was fortunate enough to provide feedback on the design of the Viper V3 Pro gaming mouse. Razer supplied me with some pre-release models for testing, and I shared my preferred shape with them. Additionally, they sent me a prototype version that I utilized when we won VCT Madrid, allowing me to thoroughly test it. Frankly, I can’t think of anything I would alter about this mouse. It is undoubtedly the best gaming mouse I have ever used.

  • With the Viper V3 Pro being touted as a mouse made for esports, what makes it different from your typical gaming mouse? 

The Viper V3 Pro stands out among regular gaming mice because it’s specifically engineered with esports in mind. It doesn’t excel in one particular feature over others, but its exceptional execution of every feature sets it apart as the top choice for competitive gaming.

  • Competing on LAN and in an esports title is obviously much different from simply grinding a game’s ranked mode. Is there anything about the mouse specifically that you feel it ABSOLUTELY needed for it to be viable in a LAN setting more so than just queueing up at home?

For LAN gaming, the standout feature of the Viper V3 Pro is its cloud storage capability for mouse settings, requiring only Synapse software. No matter if I’m at home, work, or an event globally, I won’t have to reconfigure my settings because they’re always accessible. This means I can focus on giving my best performance without worrying about setting up.

  • Did winning a VALORANT Masters tournament with the mouse sort of cement it as THE esports mouse for you?

From my perspective, after trying the Viper V3 Pro during the Kickoff Tournament, I instantly recognized that it was the ideal esports mouse for me. When our team clinched victory at the VALORANT Masters Madrid, I believe it became evident to everyone else as well that it truly excelled as the best choice.

In his own words, the Sentinels player highly recommends the Razer Viper V3 Pro. Based on his feedback, it seems that everyone involved in its production can take pride in this exceptional product, with Pebble playing a crucial role in bringing it to our attention.

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2025-02-11 02:12

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