So unlike the other entrants, I actually bought an off the shelf item right here from OCuk to try and suit my needs. You see, I didn't have a living room... that belongs to the misses! And after my office got took over my stock after starting my own business there was only one place left for me. My "living room", my throne room.
My bathroom.
So knowing this, I had to get something rather special. I had considered some "home made" options, but after searching high and low I just couldn't think of what I needed to make. Sure, I could just get a controller and be done with it, but you played an RTS with an xbox controller? There is a reason HALO wars was crap. I needed an off the shelf item that was from a very reputable and well respected company. That is where OCuk came in with the Gradiant BAF-TYME MK!
Immediately, I knew I had found what I was looking for and it ticked every single box.Sure, it was quite pricey but knowing OCuks brilliant customer service it wasn't a mistake laying down £159.95 in the name of gaming!
It arrive the very day after I ordered it, nicely packaged complete with haribo. In fact, I opened the door to the DPD driver, bath ready with towel tightly wrapped around me. By god, I was excited. I just had to try this out IMMEDIATELY!
I unwrapped the item and was amazed at the quality, what an absolute steal! So I turned the taps on, got my favourite bubble bath, slipped out of my towel and delicately lowered myself into the warm embrace of the bath tub to treat myself to some much needed "Grady Time".
Whilst no instructions where given with the use of the BAF-TYME MK, I knew what to do, these things are obvious. I propped up my laptop near the head of the bath with a TOYLET RLL 3000 (this was from a different online store, one with clearly less quality control to OCuk as only after 5 uses its almost all gone, single ply nonsense). I plugged in my headset along with the keyboard and mouse and mounted the BAF-TYME MK over the edge of the bath. Todays game of choice? Battlefield 1.
The result? OH MY GOD. This has changed my life.
Quite possibly NSFW...!
So 30 minutes later, after topping the bath up twice, my short session with the BAF-TYME MK was done with. I figured that everyone needs to know how well it went in case you are also looking for one of these so I'll give you a quick summary.
Comfort - Now considering that I am a large fellow, bath time can be quite the science trip with archimedes and the like. This thing handles me with ease, sitting over the top of the bath. If the tub was to overflow, all your items sitting on top would simply float on the surface of the water. Honestly, I hardly noticed that this thing was there.
Style - There can be no denying that this thing has CLASS. Its sleek white foam-core body is matched only by the minimal design. It goes perfectly with the bath and matches the tiles as well. The only bathroom I can see this not working 100% with is maybe that old avocado coloured stuff you used to get, but I have heard they releasing a special version at some point in peach and green, the BAF-TYME O.L.D. Version. Something to do with organic light-emitting diode's I think.
Product Promises - Now this thing claims to be water resistant to a depth of minus 0.5 metres. I wasn't able to find a tape measure that had negative measurements onto it, so I guess we just need to take this as their word. As for the Radox promise, 100% YES! Finally, a lapboard that I can use with both my favourite Apple and Cherry showgel flavours! It also seems to be working with herbal essences as well, absolute innovation!
Downsides - Okay, so this thing is awesome and I encourage everyone to get one if you can BUT there is a downside that if fixed could perhaps make the BAF-TYME MK2 a 10/10 product.
Game Rage ... this thing does not cope well, not at all. After capping B flag and getting 4 more kills with a well placed AT grenade on an approaching landtank I was shot in the head from some camping SOB 300 metres away. This lead me to slam down my fists on my keyboard... well the BAF-TYME snapped in two, sending my keyboard, mouse and treasured NIK photo frame into the depths of the bath. The partial saving grace was my fat belly, which managed to save part of the keyboard but the mouse was lost to whatever creatures inhabit below.
Now I want to stress, this was USER ERROR and is not indicative of the quality of the item I bought. I just think if perhaps the manufactures are listening, they might be able to strengthen it slightly perhaps in a few key spots. Perhaps they can do this over the air with the things built in WiFi (I assume for £160 it has built in WiFi, although it never said on the product page).
I am now on the look out for an alternative product whilst the BAF-TYME gets an update, hopefully I can get something like a Roccat SOVA or similar and I'd be happy to post a review of that up for everyone
/Grady
