In what seems to be a sudden attack of common sense, Ideazon has just created what amounts to the perfect gaming keyboard.

Previously, Ideazon, the clever little custom keyboard company that could, has had a pretty good niche market product with the zBoard, a customizable keyboard chassis that houses removable, game-specific inserts (sold separately). Each inserted keyset groups and optimizes frequently-used key strokes into ergonomic, clearly-labeled buttons to actuate things like walk, run, lean left, lean right, switch weapons, jump, reload, drop item, etc. Essentially, it clusters keys normally spread across a conventional keyboard into a single left-hand bunch while condensing everything else into a marginally functional mini qwerty on the right (there's also a productivity line of zBoards that do something similar for the likes of Photoshop or Excel or what have you).

There are two problems with this otherwise crafty zBoard swapper. First, it requires the user to be seriously hardcore if they're going to justify a new $50 keyboard chassis, another $20 per customized, title-specific or generic keyboarding insert (bundles offer small savings, but still...). Two, any game-specific enhancement offered is offset by the clunky abbreviation of the remaining keys, so a zBoard never gets around to knocking your socks off by the end of the day.

Enter Ideazon's brand new MERC, a persistently superior gamer keyboard and full functioning QWERTY all in one, no insert swapping required, just plug and frag.

MERC's elongated form factor places and otherwise duplicates several keys (W, S, A and D, F1, F1, F3, spacebar, shift, alt, etc., for example) into the familiar zBoard custom-button array on the far left. Meanwhile, there's a full sized QWERTY in the center and a double-upping of the remaining page and numeric keys on the right into a tight little cluster, much like you'd find on a laptop. As such, MERC is wider than normal, but not ridiculously so.

MERC software comes with a bunch of preset configurations for the most popular PC shooter games but can also be programmed so suit individual needs and play styles (or parts of it, at least). What's more, there are several blanks buttons, all within easy reach of a thumb or finger, that you can bind to anything, from tells like "wassup, I'm Doug" or "five guys on D, me on assault" or actions like crouch-lean and the ubiquitous "dance all day" bunny hop.

You still need to be pretty serious about your gaming to justify buying a MERC as the advantage it gives you over regular keyboard gaming is slight. Then again, a slight advantage can make a world of difference in the "l33t" scene, and at least you don't have to sacrifice your big fat space-bar anymore.