Playing Askutron with Playstation "BUZZ!" controllers (Windows/Mac)

Askutron Quiz Show supports the original buzzer controllers that were used for the "BUZZ!" game series on Playstation 2 and 3. This guide shows you how to use them on Windows and Mac, which both offer compatible drivers out-of-the-box.

The buzzers should work on Linux as well if you get your system to recognize the buzzers as a 20-button joystick/gamepad or USB input device (HID).

Setup

Simply connect your cable-based or wireless buzzers to your PC via USB. Your operating system needs to supply drivers for the controllers.

Mac OS

In my tests connecting the buzzers to the Mac just worked™. No custom installation or driver changes were necessary in order for the game to recognize and use them.

Windows

Most Buzz! controllers should work with Windows out-of-the box. Once connected they will be listed in your Windows 10 settings under "Bluetooth & other devices" as "Logitech Buzz(tm) Controller V1", "BUZZ" or similar:




Some models are initially recognized by Windows as USB hubs. In that case open the Windows device manager and check for a device an unknown device (with the yellow warning triangle). Open the properties by rightclicking the device and then switch the driver:

1. Go the "Driver" tab
2. Click "Update Driver"
3. Select "Browse my computer for driver software"
4. Select "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer"
5. Select "USB input device (HID)" and click 'Next' to configure the new driver

After this your Buzz! controller should be listed in the device list as mentioned above.

Linux

Getting the buzzers to work on Linux is not as simple, and in fact I haven't figured out how to yet (tested on Ubuntu 16). Hypothetically, if you can get the controllers configured as a USB input device (HID) or a joystick/gamepad with 20 buttons, it should work with the game. However, Linux does not seem to use an appropriate driver for the buzzers by default. This may require some more advanced steps. To all the pro Linux users, please let me know if you get it working!

Usage

In Lobby

Within the game's lobby, when properly setup and connected, the buzzers will automatically be recognized by the game. Press any button on a buzzer to join the game using the device. The key mapping will be shown in front of your character during the profile selection:

Blue = Select (Up)
Orange = Select (Down)
Green = Confirm
Yellow = Back
Buzzer = Confirm

In Game

During the game, the buzzer's buttons are mapped in-order of the answers displayed on screen:

Blue = A (First answer)
Orange = B (Second Answer)
Green = X (Third Answer)
Yellow = Y (Fourth Answer)

And that's it! I have tested two different Buzz! controller models on Windows 10 and Mac OS X. Please let me know if it works for you! Especially if you manage to get it working on Linux!

[scottish_shaun]

I managed to get one of the wireless buzz remotes recognised for like 1 minute in hidwriter then nothing. the dongle connects to my remotes but does not show any pushed buttons :(

[Ed, Edd, and E.D.]

@Junklord Just glad to help ^^

[Junklord]

Oh, yes. Thanks to you as well, supersmo. Of course you also deserve a special thanks!

[supersmo]

@Junklord You’re welcome ;-)

[Junklord]

Hot damn Ed, you did it! I just got the wireless buzzers working in Askutron!! Sending something to the buzzers first did the trick, and our existing buzzer code takes care of the rest. Expect a patch tonight or tomorrow which officially adds support for the wireless buzzers! B)

Thanks a lot Ed! When we add a credits screen to the game at some point I'll make sure to include you! :D

[Ed, Edd, and E.D.]

Literally, you just need to send anything, but if you don't want random Buzzer lights on, I suggest sending (00 00 00 00 00 00 00) to the device

[supersmo]

If you want to have a look at some code this looks like an open source clone of simplehidwrite: https://github.com/Robmaister/SimplerHidWrite
(Don’t know if it has command line arguments.)

[Junklord]

Oh that's very interesting, Ed! What byte exactly do you need to send? Just any?

[Ed, Edd, and E.D.]

I actually have tried, and that surprisingly works: It seems like the Wireless receiver just needs a simple byte sent to it (probably to let the dongle know it's connected). From there, the buzzers that are turned on will flash briefly and will operate as a single controller with 20 buttons. Now figuring out which set of five buttons corresponds to which buzzer might be a bit trickier, but at the very least it works.

The only minor annoyance at this point is that it isn't automated: because simpleHIDwriter is not meant for use in a batch program or something similar, a whole separate driver would need to be written for it. But on the plus side, this does let the buzzers be used, for as long as the dongle is connected.

[supersmo]

Has anyone tried getting the wireless controllers to work using “simplehidwriter”? https://github.com/real-squid-kid/WbuzzScoreboard