PS3: What is the "Open Standard"?

[TuRDMaN]

All things in this thread pertain to the PS3 version.


If your controller or peripheral doesn't work with Rock Band, it is because the manufacturer doesn't support the standard controller configuration. In other words, if a peripheral or controller doesn't work with Rock Band, then the manufacturer has done something to prevent it from working with Rock Band by changing how the device "talks" to either a PS3 or Xbox 360.

That sounds all well and good, but in this case it's a load of crap. It's essentially the same as me saying, "I accept standard currency at my store. Did I mention that the 'standard' currency is one I just invented now, and it's different than all other existing currencies? Yeah...." The fact is, the infamous "open standard" to identify guitar controllers is different than what was used in Guitar Hero I and II (both by Harmonix), hence why the old GHI & II guitars for PS2 don't work on Rock Band with a USB adapter. They are detected just fine by the system, and can be used to navigate menus, but Rock Band won't let them be used as guitars. When you can't even use the official Sony PS3 controller to play the game, the whole "If your controller or peripheral doesn't work with Rock Band, it is because the manufacturer doesn't support the standard controller configuration." argument goes right out the window. Sony doesn't support the standard controller configuration with their own official controller they made for use on their system? Oh wise Harmonix, please enlighten the world as to this mysterious standard controller configuration so that we may also revel in its Rock Band compatible glory!

[AdamWill]

Yep, exactly the point I made in the thread on the announcements forum. If you read the quote carefully, what they're actaully *saying* is that there is an 'open standard' for controllers, not for guitar controllers - they just write it in a confusing way to try and sound as much as possible like there's an 'open standard' for guitar controllers.

as you and I both wrote, there *is* no open standard for guitar controllers, which is the operative issue. The fact that there's an 'open standard' - i.e. what the first-party controller does - for controllers in general is a non-issue, because guitar controllers are a special case that use special conventions, and if these special conventions are not standardized, then there's no standard.

[TuRDMaN]

Here's a response someone in another thread got from Rock Band support when he asked why PS3 users can't use the standard, official Sony PS3 controller to play Rock Band


-----------------------------
Greetings,

Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts. At the risk of repeating myself, please take a look at the statement below:

"If your controller or peripheral doesn’t work with Rock Band, it is because the manufacturer doesn’t support the standard controller configuration. In other words, if a peripheral or controller doesn’t work with Rock Band, then the manufacturer has done something to prevent it from working with Rock Band by changing how the device “talks” to either a PS3 or Xbox 360."

I honestly don't know what else to tell you. We have no control over what other manufacturers, including Sony, choose to do with and to their products.
-----------------------------

So apparently, Harmonix has now set a new standard for controllers on Sony's system, that only they use. Sounds right to me....

[MF-PO'd]

Hey, I actually got another reply from EA again about that. They stand by their claim that it's Sony's fault:

--------------------------------
Greetings,

Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts. I stand by what I said. If Sony is providing equipment that is not standard (in other words, other items cannot use them on Sony's own console), then perhaps that is something you may want to take up with them.

If you have any further questions or concerns please reply to this email or visit our extensive knowledge base online at http://support.ea.com.

Thank you,
EA Online Support
--------------------------------

Unbelievable. The Sixaxis controller is apparently not "standard" on Sony's own console. That makes sense. :rolleyes:

It's no wonder nothing else works but Rock Band's own peripherals. That "open standard" claim pisses me off. It's a total crock.

[King_Nuthin]

I think "open standard" means that anyone who wants to design a compatible controller can do so and that they won't be locked out of future titles. Its unfortunate what has happened with the GH controllers but Red Octane has always adopted the stance that only their hardware should work correctly with their games and has taken measures in each subsequent game to lock out controllers that may have worked with the prior release.

[bmore007]

This whole thing is crazy. I will not buy this game until Harmonix fixes the issues they created. This isn't Sony's fault at all. I'm sure other people like me aren't buying the game because of the same reasons. So there ya go Harmonx, losing customers over the dumb way you decided to code the controllers, so the STANDARD Sixaxis on the ps3 wont even work with your game.

You see, the STANDARD is what the maker of the console says it is, not what you want to pretend it is, and in this case the official standard is the Sixaxis, don't try to spin it any other way.

[Quinarvy]

I think "open standard" means that anyone who wants to design a compatible controller can do so and that they won't be locked out of future titles. Its unfortunate what has happened with the GH controllers but Red Octane has always adopted the stance that only their hardware should work correctly with their games and has taken measures in each subsequent game to lock out controllers that may have worked with the prior release.

Thats what I'm thinking too.

[AdamWill]

I think "open standard" means that anyone who wants to design a compatible controller can do so and that they won't be locked out of future titles. Its unfortunate what has happened with the GH controllers but Red Octane has always adopted the stance that only their hardware should work correctly with their games and has taken measures in each subsequent game to lock out controllers that may have worked with the prior release.

That's not what they're saying at all. Read the quote again:

"We’ve stated many times that Rock Band supports an open standard. What does that mean? It means that Rock Band supports the same system that drives a basic PS3 or Xbox 360 controller or peripheral."

The 'open standard' they're talking about is the way the first party controller interacts with the console. It's *true* that the RB controllers use this protocol, but it's also incomplete. They use arbitrary controller actions to identify which device is which, and there's no standard for what actions are used to identify a guitar. There is also no standard for which buttons should be the frets, which should be the strum, etc.