Do you dogfight in VR?

[Flit]

I fly an MI8 in VR with my Rift strapped on. I didn't fly DCS before VR (I was a prop man) and the MI8 purchase was a careful choice. I was aware of the issues with viewing distant objects (specks).

 

After six months in the Mi8, I've been itching to get in a jet and fight other air targets. I have noticed one or two people in servers have mentioned they fight air to air with VR.

 

So, who does fight air to air with VR? How does that go for you? Does everyone get the bounce on you or do you have some success?

[Verde]

If you don,t increase pixel density and leave it 1.0 -1.2 it is barely ok. Barely right on the edge of not beening good. I think it is very personal taste here.

[Los]

We dog fight in vr quite a lot (modern not ww2) and its quite awesome.

[dolfo]

It is great fun, but comes with restrictions. PD 1.2 helps a lot. Can't go back to 2D flying even if it gives an "advantage" regarding image sharpness.

[dburne]

I have been dogfighting in the Spit's single player and having a blast.

[Phantom88]

If you have the Mig-15 and DCS World Nevada,Try the "Intercept" F-86 instant action mission,lots of Fun in VR

[NeilWillis]

I can pick out aircraft at a range of over 10 miles in VR with the Pixel density set to 1.6.

 

Dog fighting is far easier when you can keep your eyes on your prey too.

 

So yes, it is possible, it is practical, and it is not a handicap at all in VR. Quite the contrary when it comes to spacial awareness.

[razgriz33]

I have the opposite view to the respectable chaps here.

 

I find it a challenge, although it must be said I'm using a 970GTX.

 

I think then you need a smooth FPS count to notice a small dot moving on the screen in order to dogfight effectively. I can't prove this but this is why I think I'm struggling when compared to these guys.

 

Or maybe I just suck ;P

 

p.s. and in multiplayer don't forget that the guys on screens have SUPERZOOM abilities so they'll most likely spot you before you spot them

[dolfo]

I have the opposite view to the respectable chaps here.

 

I find it a challenge, although it must be said I'm using a 970GTX.

 

I think then you need a smooth FPS count to notice a small dot moving on the screen in order to dogfight effectively. I can't prove this but this is why I think I'm struggling when compared to these guys.

 

Or maybe I just suck ;P

 

p.s. and in multiplayer don't forget that the guys on screens have SUPERZOOM abilities so they'll most likely spot you before you spot them

 

It sure is a challenge! There is no advantage other than the immersion. But it is fun. :)

[some1]

Spotting a target far away is actually easier in VR than on a high res monitor due to the way DCS engine works: pixels are bigger. There are also less bind spots in the cockpit thanks to stereoscopic vision. However, tracking a target at medium/low distances is harder than on a monitor. It's easier to loose it against ground clutter, and much harder to identify, determine orientation and closure rate unless you get really close and the target transforms from a blurry blob to something that resembles an airplane.

 

And of course you have to really move your head to check what's out there at your 6 o'clock. Which is even harder than in real life as you can't use peripheral vision due to low field of view of VR devices.

 

To sum it up, it's possible (barely) and sometimes fun, but you're at disadvantage against a human with a monitor and headtracker, and definitely at disadvantage against DCS all-seeing AI.

[adrianstealth]

Yes it's the experience ever !!!! ,

 

I'd fall a sleep if I tried it on a monitor setup again lol

[metzger]

Spotting a target far away is actually easier in VR than on a high res monitor due to the way DCS engine works: pixels are bigger. There are also less bind spots in the cockpit thanks to stereoscopic vision. However, tracking a target at medium/low distances is harder than on a monitor. It's easier to loose it against ground clutter, and much harder to identify, determine orientation and closure rate unless you get really close and the target transforms from a blurry blob to something that resembles an airplane.

 

And of course you have to really move your head to check what's out there at your 6 o'clock. Which is even harder than in real life as you can't use peripheral vision due to low field of view of VR devices.

 

To sum it up, it's possible (barely) and sometimes fun, but you're at disadvantage against a human with a monitor and headtracker, and definitely at disadvantage against DCS all-seeing AI.

It is not harder than the real life. I bet it much harder to check 6 with 8g, helmet and oxygen mask etc..

 

As far as people with monitors, it depends. You will definitely spot better with the rift than someone with small 20 inch screen where everything is tiny but harder than someone with 60inch 4k ultrwide and trackir.

 

But anyway trackir is far from beeing realistic, superzoom and not 1:1 headtracking is not less arcady than edited labels or any other gamey feature.

 

Sent from my Redmi 4 using Tapatalk

Edited March 17, 2017 by metzger

[ickey50]

No, it certain is not, but I know what Some1 meant. :smilewink:

There is that Horse-Blind effect with VR headsets. I can turn my head and shoulders around only so far to see my 5:30/6:30, but not directly 6 o'clock which real pilots (or anyone) would rely on their peripheral vision to see.

Don't have that problem with TrackIR's 180º swing around tweaking.

[metzger]

No, it certain is not, but I know what Some1 meant. :smilewink:

There is that Horse-Blind effect with VR headsets. I can turn my head and shoulders around only so far to see my 5:30/6:30, but not directly 6 o'clock which real pilots (or anyone) would rely on their peripheral vision to see.

Don't have that problem with TrackIR's 180º swing around tweaking.

The helmet and visors still obstruct the peripheral vision to some degree and it is much harder to rotate your head and body,as you are strapped to the seat with belts and you have much more physical load.

And again turning your head 10 degrees to look 180 degrees backwards is the same as going to f2 view and look around with the mouse. I would treat trackir like labels, outside views, model enlargement or other gamey features and VR only servers are good idea.

 

Sent from my Redmi 4 using Tapatalk

[dolfo]

... and VR only servers are good idea.

 

 

Very true.

 

Also, real world skies are not always clear. Visibility, lighting, contrast can make an airplane pop against the background and easy to see at 30 miles out, or impossible to spot very close in. I tend to justify the VR visual limitations to myself as chalking it up to a bad sky day. Would be interesting if that could be imposed to all players (VR only server).

[Shabi]

I've done a lot of dogfighting online in the F-15c, and it's difficult in more ways than it's easy. If the FPS isn't above 30 for ATW/ASW to work well then you will lose the other plane in judder. Also, I often rely more on instruments than my eyes when possible, as they do a better job at that res/fps.

 

I also had to visit the doctor more than once with a wry/stiff neck, I never knew gaming to have that kind of hazard. It was kind of hard explaining that I was checking my 6 in a VR turn fight...

[Los]

Guess you'll have to hit the gym like actual fighter pilots

[cichlidfan]

Would be interesting if that could be imposed to all players (VR only server).

 

I find this comment rather fascinating given the 'uproar' raised about ED doing things that could fracture the MP community. Perhaps a 4k only server along with one for people that fly with an Xbox controller would also be a good idea. :smartass:

[dolfo]

I find this comment rather fascinating given the 'uproar' raised about ED doing things that could fracture the MP community. Perhaps a 4k only server along with one for people that fly with an Xbox controller would also be a good idea. :smartass:

 

Why not? Should not be difficult to implement, and if people do not like it, they will not use it. As for "fracturing the community", I prefer to think of it as a meeting place for like-minded people. Sure many could prefer mixed settings servers, just as some people like or dislike labels, map options etc.

[Delta99]

Why not? Should not be difficult to implement, and if people do not like it, they will not use it. As for "fracturing the community", I prefer to think of it as a meeting place for like-minded people. Sure many could prefer mixed settings servers, just as some people like or dislike labels, map options etc.

 

Yeah I don't see why not either. There are servers with particular options set so why not one only for VR players.

[Sandman1330]

I've been dogfighting in single player for awhile, haven't had many issues with that.

 

 

Just tried out Burning Skies today, and for the life of me, I can't ID aircraft. I can spot them far out, no problem (even without their modified labels), but telling who is friend or foe is extremely difficult. Anyone have any tips for visual settings that improve identification? I'm thinking higher AA and PD, as it should sharpen up the image when close enough or using zoom, at the expense of distance spotting (not so much an issue with the labels in Burning Skies).

 

 

Thoughts?