I use an mx1000 for gaming, works well the mx 3100 combo was a good buy for me, but from what I have heard optical is all you need for gaming, but laser is what just about all the companies are switching too. As for skipping its all a matter of what you are using it on, I used to have a cheap mouse pad that had the plastic cover on top and it started to skip, just used it on the desktop with no pad worked fine, then started to skip, now I use it on one of those really cheap cloth ones works great. Laser mice definately do pick up better all the time, not matter what surface for the most part. But the mx518 is an excellent mouse if you are still thinking about getting it, in fact I have almost bought it a few times cause I always forget to charge my mx1000 batteries when it runs low, even though its like every couple of weeks.