LAS VEGAS - It's been a tough few years for Mudcats, which in the 1990s and early 2000s had a somewhat dubious reputation for producing console controllers that were almost identical to the real thing Later, they tried their hand at higher-end products, including gaming mice and the ill-fated $300 Android controller After nearly going out of business and then coming back from the brink of bankruptcy, Mad Catz has returned with a product lineup very similar to the one that initially caused the problems

At CES 2020, we were able to touch and feel Mad Catz's latest peripherals, including headsets, mechanical keyboards, fighting sticks, console controllers, and no less than four different gaming mice We won't go into details about any of the products, but they all look quite similar to previous Mad Catz models Also, in general, they are not as expensive as top-brand gaming peripherals

While Mad Catz will not redefine the PC gaming world, some fans will be relieved to know that they are still around Just keep in mind that we don't yet have exact release dates or prices for many of these peripherals The following will be available for purchase next year: [RAT Pro X3 Supreme, RAT 8+ Adv, RAT DWS, and RAT Air S

The first is simply a re-release of the Rat Pro X3, a high-end mouse with various interchangeable parts However, with the Year of the Rat in China fast approaching, Mad Catz thought it appropriate to re-release the mouse with some additional bells and whistles as well as a more luxurious package

The RAT 8+ Adv is one of the prettier mice in the Mad Catz lineup, with its glossy red design and signature RAT angle The mouse offers an impressive 20,000 DPI thanks to the powerful PWM3389 Pro optical sensor Otherwise, it is very similar to previous RAT's

The best mouse Mad Catz showed off was undoubtedly the RAT DWS While this mouse does not have the customizability of the X3 Supreme or the pretty colors of the 8+ Adv, it has two important features that other mice lack: 24 Ghz and Bluetooth connectivity This wireless mouse can be used for up to 80 hours on a single charge, as it does not use RGB lighting, which tends to drain batteries in other manufacturers' mice Its sleek black casing makes it an ideal addition to almost any gaming setup, and its $100 price means you can save somewhat over similar models from Logitech, Razer, and others

Finally, a charging mouse so that the Air S can always be powered There is the RAT AIR S that pairs with the pad; the Air S is a fairly modest black mouse with a maximum of 12,000 DPI, but not having to charge it via USB could be a big selling point The mouse pad itself is also soft, so it can be rolled up and carried around, unlike most hard charging pads

The other most exciting peripheral Mad Catz brought to CES 2020 was the EGO Arcade Fight Stick Mad Catz fight sticks have always stood out from other peripherals, combining tasteful design with durable buttons and joysticks; the EGO features an eight-way joystick, eight buttons, and interchangeable faceplates After a brief touch, the EGO felt solid and the buttons had a pleasantly responsive click

We also took a quick look at the FREQ 4 gaming headset, the STRIKE 13 mechanical keyboard (with real Cherry MX Red switches), the CAT 7 controller and the CAT 3 controller All of these function as advertised The big attraction is that you can buy them for a little less than true high-end gaming gear

I don't think any of the Mad Catz gadgets I've seen will redefine the gaming world, but that has never been the brand's goal Mad Catz is a brand you can trust when you want good enough gear at a good enough price, and the company's new gear seems to continue that trend All of the mice and other accessories mentioned in this article will be available in late 2020, and Tom's Guide will be posting reviews of everything that looks like it can compete with the Razers, Logitechs, SteelSeries, and Roccats of the world

Be sure to visit our CES 2020 hub for the latest news and hands-on impressions from Las Vegas