Major League Gaming Bans Razer Onza Gamepad
Major League Gaming has banned Razer's Onza controller because of the remappable buttons present on the controller.
Major League Gaming has placed a ban on Razer's Onza controller for Xbox, prohibiting players from using the controller in MLG games and tournaments. However, the news was met with mixed reactions from the MLG community, and many are accusing MLG of banning it simply to appease sponsor and Razer-rival Mad Cats.
Gamers Daily News cites a thread on the MLG forums in which an administrator responds to forum members discussing the Onza controller by telling them it's not allowed because of the two extra, programmable buttons present on the controller.
"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.
Edit: The Mad Catz controller will not have programmable buttons."
Though the MLG rules do state that players are not allowed use controllers with button-mapping or turbo capabilities that allow users to perform sets of actions with just one button, forum users argue that the Onza contoller's extra buttons don't actually allow for macros. Rather, the idea behind these two extra buttons seems to be allowing users to move existing controls around for their comfort. GDN cites users who have actually played with the Onza who say it has mappable bumpers that only allow the user to re-map one key press to the extra buttons, not giving any user the ability to actually "perform a set of actions."
Despite differing opinions on how useful the Onza's remappable buttons are, MLG may have a legitimate reason to disallow the controller because of one feature it offers. When we first learned of the Onza last January, there was mention of an auto-fire function via a sliding selector switch on the bottom of the controller. Though it appears that not all versions have these, this function could fall under a 'turbo capability.' MLG has not talked about this feature specifically.
Source: MLG Forums via GDN

If your serious about competitive gaming you would never use a wireless controller due to the added latency.
..n00b
If your serious about competitive gaming you would never use a wireless controller due to the added latency.
..n00b
Having said that, if MLG is going to ban one 3rd party controller, they should ban all 3rd party controllers, just my opinion of course.
And fivewall is right, it is EXTREMELY rare to find a serious competitive gamer using a wireless controller, there just isn't any benefit to using a wireless controller over a wired one in competitive play.
Does anyone know when it will be available?
Thank for citing us as source
Christophor Rick, CEO
Gamers Daily News
It does have it's perks for the casual gamer though.
Rumors I've heard said it'll be released before the holiday season 2010, which usually means mid to late November. Although, now that MLG has placed a ban on the controller, I wouldn't be surprised if the release gets pushed farther back so Razer can fix it.
Somewhat pointless (from a press perspective anyway) for a top of the line gaming controller to not be allowed in one of the world's biggest gaming leagues.
Did anyone else read this as "You can cheat as long as you pay a LOT of money rather than something affordable"?
= /
...That's just dumb. If you were at a tournament, anyone with half a brain would stick in a fresh pair of batteries just in case.
As far as actual lag goes modern wireless stuff (such as xbox controllers) have so little it isn't even a factor. It's not humanly noticeable, so it's not going to impact your gaming, even at a professional level.
That said, wireless controllers can't be used in MLG anyway. If I recall correctly, xbox controllers are designed with a max spec of 64 controllers in a single area. If you're in a big tournament building with hundreds of xboxs, you'll end up passing this limit and controllers will interfere with each other.
On another note, the controller wasn't banned because the buttons were moved, it was because there are extra buttons. You could then modify the extra buttons to be turbo buttons, and there's really no way to tell without opening each one. To do the same on a regular controller, you'd have to either add a button (easy to spot) or replace one of the pre-existing buttons. To quote the admin's words: "Sure, someone could do that now with a Microsoft controller, but by doing that they are removing a default button on their controller."
A couple of things: I wouldn't want to fumble around with batteries in mid-match. It might even pause certain games in a tournament round because of dead batteries, and you'd piss off everyone, and probably disqualify you as well.
Secondly, I'm sorry if you can't feel wireless delay. I've tried 6+ different wireless mice and about 20+ wireless controllers (from PS1 onward), and for the most part the lag is noticeable. Sure, the MS 360 one is better than most, but as a tournament Street Fighter Alpha 1/2/3, MSH, MVC 1/2, SF3:TS and CS:S player, let me tell you that I will prefer wired 9 times out of 10.
So before you spout terms such as 'humanly noticeable', please be sure to do research on humans other than yourself.