Console users argue over controllers with remap capabilities

[tgr]

I'm wondering if console gamers aren't a bit ... special.

Sorry to burst everyone's bubble, but the Onza controller will be illegal simply because of the 2 programmable buttons. We spoke to Razer about this and told them that it would be illegal if they kept the extra buttons. I guess it wasn’t worth it for them to make a version without the extra buttons.

The big issue with extra buttons is how easy it is to mod the controller without us being able to monitor it. Modders will be able to turn the extra buttons into rapid fire buttons or a macro like RRX. We cannot simply check every player’s Onza controller to make sure they have not modded it. Sure, someone could do that now with a Microsoft controller, but by doing that they are removing a default button on their controller. People pay a lot of money now for modded controllers with extra buttons that will rapid fire or macro. The Onza would make it impossible for us to monitor this on the circuit.

Just to make it clear, there is no conspiracy here. I wish Razer would have listened to us and cared enough to make a version without the extra buttons, but they didn't.

What I'm getting out of this is that someone's made a controller which doesn't work exactly like the standard ones (oh my god they can remap their buttons!), and so it must be banned. Instead of, you know, just saying that if they feel a controller gives others an "unfair advantage", then they buy it and get that same advantage themselves.

This mentality does give a bit of insight into the whole "KB+M is cheating" debacle, when even slight changes such as this can have people up in arms.

[Rendakor]

Umadbro?

Seriously though, I don't see how this is a surprise. Turbo controllers are ban-able as well, and this really isn't much different. Also, they're not even getting banned from Xbox Live, just some tournament league. People competing in a tournament need to use standard equipment, news at 11.

[Bzalthek]

What amuses me is the word choice of illegal.  And the whole expecting a company to change their product to appease some sippy-cup/special interest/ short bus crowd.

[Azazel]

Probably "illegal" in the sense of their tournament laws/rules. Of course, taking shit out of context is always more fun.

BFD

[Malakili]

I actually don't see the big deal here...if you are having a tournament it seems fair that everyone should be using equipment that follows the same guidelines, maybe it all doesn't have to be exactly the same, but it should at least be an even playing field as far as hardware goes.

[tgr]

What amuses me is the fact that this is because the two programmable buttons can be made into autofire buttons by someone modding the controller. Not that they are, but they can.

It's like someone in a PC tournament banning someone who's using a mouse with a very high refresh rate because it's "unfair", or using a special keypad designed for FPSes. Or hell, banning me for having a G15 with programmable keys.

[jakonovski]

It says right there in the article that the organizers are unable to monitor the use of programmable buttons and that's why they're banned. Makes perfect sense.

[Yegolev]

I think it's more like equipment regulations in any other sport.  Simultaneously "BFD" and "news at 11".  Your tennis racket has to be within spec to play in sanctioned tournaments, and it's no surprise a controller also needs to be this way.  It's also no surprise that these guys are OUTRAGED when someone brings three corked bats taped together to the game.  Needs less drama and more "no, you cannot ride a scooter around the bases".

[tgr]

It says right there in the article that the organizers are unable to monitor the use of programmable buttons and that's why they're banned. Makes perfect sense.

Actually, what I got out of it was that they couldn't make sure the controllers hadn't been modified physically, whereas normal controllers are fine since there's no "extra" button(s) to "waste" into making an autofire button, so they assume nobody'll bother modding them since they'd give up one (or more) button(s).

But whatever.

[Paelos]

The PGA tour standardizes what counts as legal and illegal clubs every year. They just changed the groove requirements in the last year because they believe there was an unfair advantage in that type of technology.

The NHL sets extremely stiff regulations to the exact measurements and curves that hockey players use on their sticks, and goaltenders can use on their pads.

M:tG has a list of banned/restricted cards and sets for their sanctioned tournament formats.



But yeah, fuck that controller restriction noise!

[Rasix]

HURP DERP DERP DERP. CONSOLES.  DRM. KEYBOARD MOUSE. HERP DERP DERP DERP.

Read the article next time you feel the need to post about one.

edit: word omission.

[tgr]

That's nice.

[Paelos]

He's in a good mood lately. 

[Lantyssa]

The fuck?  Do you play in any tournaments?  Why do you care?

[Yegolev]

It's the principle.  Control schemes want to be free, yo.