VR absolutely transformational!

[tflash]

I moved to Oculus Rift lately and I must say it totally transforms the game. I played some of my small custom missions, first in my beloved Mustang, then in the Viggen and some FC3 planes as F-15C, SU-27 and SU-25.

 

It is tuly amazing: the cockpits really ciome to life, it is a totally different flight experience. Instead of fcussing on weapons and avionics as I mostly do I discovered I forgot all about the mission and took my Mustang for a breathtaking sightseeing tour!

 

In the F-15C it is not easy to get the right collimation for the HUD, but the SU's are simply magic!

 

But what strikes me most is that the quality of simulation improves: I can now better land, fly and fight with the plane as my situational awareness has dramatically improved. In particular for landing. You just "feel" your distance to the ground much, much better. It becomes much more easy.

 

I didn't address the A-10C yet, as I fear the cumbersome switchology will be more difficult to manage in VR. We'll see!

 

Anyway kudos ED for having developed all this!

[chembleton]

Have you previously played with a TrackIr or equivalent? I'm currently using head tracking which is a marked improvement to nothing but looking around via a joystick hat switch but I'd be interested to hear views on how much better VR is vs head tracking?

 

One thing that strikes me as being difficult with VR is needing to use the keyboard, when you can't see it. Presumably it's a case of having a decent hotas and mapping as much as possible?

[the_soupdragon]

Dont forget that the Rift has a built in microphone so voice recognition software such as VAC or voice attack can become a viable keyboard replacement for most circumstances.

 

SD

[Pikey]

Three dimensional tracking with binocular vision provides depth perception. It's the reason you can tell if a car is coming towards you fast or slow without even thinking about it when you drive. It's a primary reason predators evolved two eyes fixed straight ahead.

 

Go play rounders or some other ball game with an eye covered up and see how you get on. That's what VR does to dogfighting or manouvering. It allows you to anticipate the movement of something and predict it way better.

 

It also allows you to have two seperate views when tracking something through blocks in your canopy, something again i notice in the car when turning.

 

Vs TrackIR, you suddenly realise you have a neck and you are not an Owl. TrackIR allows very fast turning to the rear. With VR Headsets you can cause yourself injury and have to shuffle your bum on your seat, but that's realistic, if annoying.

 

It's a hassle to get it on, manipulate any buttons and it help if you can get most controls on a HOTAS. It also has the downside of consuming a lot of resources on the simulation and reducing performance.

 

The 4-5 people I've spoken to and my own feelings are that you want to keep VR despite the challenges and you will fight tooth and nail for performance, reducing anything you can to get the most out of it. It makes things harder, since once you taste it, you want to keep it, despite some detractors.

 

Some modules and cockpits are hard to discern switches. Mirage is hard on the eyes. Steam guages and warbirds are where it excels.

HTH

Have you previously played with a TrackIr or equivalent? I'm currently using head tracking which is a marked improvement to nothing but looking around via a joystick hat switch but I'd be interested to hear views on how much better VR is vs head tracking?

 

One thing that strikes me as being difficult with VR is needing to use the keyboard, when you can't see it. Presumably it's a case of having a decent hotas and mapping as much as possible?

[Captain Orso]

I have to say, when I first fired DCS up with my CV1 and got into the cockpit of the P-51D, my flying world changed drastically the first time I pushed the throttle forward. Even though I still had my old graphics card, didn't nearly have everything tuned up for the CV1, the view was far from optimal, but when the 51 started to roll, my gut jumped from missing the sensation of being pushed back into my seat, soon followed by the same lack of sensation when I pushed the brakes the first time. I was in a whole new world :thumbup: I didn't have to guess how close I was to the ground while landing, I didn't have to put an extreme amount of concentration into trying to recognize when the wheels were about to touch the ground, I could see it readily, and suddenly doing a two-point landing was a breeze! :megalol:

 

I know I can get absolutely brilliant resolution using my 27" monitor and my TrackIR, but I'm never doing to hook it up again. Non-VR now just feels like sitting in a film theater. The pictures are great, but it just doesn't feel like being there like it does with VR. There's just no comparison.

[Hawkeye60]

I have to say, when I first fired DCS up with my CV1 and got into the cockpit of the P-51D, my flying world changed drastically the first time I pushed the throttle forward. Even though I still had my old graphics card, didn't nearly have everything tuned up for the CV1, the view was far from optimal, but when the 51 started to roll, my gut jumped from missing the sensation of being pushed back into my seat, soon followed by the same lack of sensation when I pushed the brakes the first time. I was in a whole new world I didn't have to guess how close I was to the ground while landing, I didn't have to put an extreme amount of concentration into trying to recognize when the wheels were about to touch the ground, I could see it readily, and suddenly doing a two-point landing was a breeze!

 

I know I can get absolutely brilliant resolution using my 27" monitor and my TrackIR, but I'm never doing to hook it up again. Non-VR now just feels like sitting in a film theater. The pictures are great, but it just doesn't feel like being there like it does with VR. There's just no comparison.

This was the same for me!

Flying the Gazelle It was like getting 20 or 30 hours flight instruction, in minutes!

 

And I loved the feel in the pit of my stomach the first time I dived into a drastic maneuver!

 

I STILL lean into the turns.................:lol:

[Knock-Knock]

Have you previously played with a TrackIr or equivalent? I'm currently using head tracking which is a marked improvement to nothing but looking around via a joystick hat switch but I'd be interested to hear views on how much better VR is vs head tracking?

 

One thing that strikes me as being difficult with VR is needing to use the keyboard, when you can't see it. Presumably it's a case of having a decent hotas and mapping as much as possible?

 

 

You should have a sniffer in the VR forum. Plenty of threads and discussions about the VR pro and cons, vs TIR etc.

https://forums.eagle.ru/forumdisplay.php?f=497

 

The Rift CV1, depending on your face shape, nose size I guess, has a small gab at the nose, where you can see the world. In my case, I just tilt my head back, and with the keyboard (back lit) in front of me, and can then see the keyboard perfectly fine. I do have as much as I can mapped to HOTAS and some button boxes though. Finding the mouse isnt a problem either, or the button boxes. All muscle memory.

 

 

And welcome to the VR world, tflash. Its awesome isnt it :)

Edited August 11, 2017 by Knock-Knock

[rrohde]

But what strikes me most is that the quality of simulation improves: I can now better land, fly and fight with the plane as my situational awareness has dramatically improved. In particular for landing. You just "feel" your distance to the ground much, much better. It becomes much more easy.

 

That's it for me as well. It's a total game changer and - like everybody else said - I couldn't go back to a 'flat screen' with TrackIR. :thumbup:

 

Just like you, my flying greatly improved, especially in the DCS helos. I can land on a dime now, and do crazy maneuvers and still recover, etc, etc.

 

So yeah, I am in love with VR. :)

[Buckeye]

You bastards are really selling me on throwing away my plan of "Waiting until the next gen VR" to get in. Damn it.

 

...I currently have NewEgg tabs open to the Rift CV1 Summer Deal page + the MSI 1080 Ti page.

[Phantom88]

Have you tried it in The Mi-8 yet?? Or The Mig-15 bis?? or The Mig-21 bis at Night??? OMG.Amazing Immersion!!!!

[Scooternutz]

I cannot and will not go back to a 2D world for flying.

[fiddlinjim]

I have a 32" 1080P monitor and used Track IR for years and thought it was the best but my Rift

just outshines the the 2D experience. There are still some items for Oculus to improve but overall the rift is here to stay.

[Buckeye]

You bastards are really selling me on throwing away my plan of "Waiting until the next gen VR" to get in. Damn it.

 

...I currently have NewEgg tabs open to the Rift CV1 Summer Deal page + the MSI 1080 Ti page.

 

Welp, it's ordered. No turning back now! :pilotfly:

[rrohde]

The first time you're sitting inside that cockpit of your fav plane in VR, you'll be yelling out superlatives to no end... it's that much of a difference. I was in utter shock at first! :)

[Buckeye]

I have a 32" 1080P monitor and used Track IR for years and thought it was the best but my Rift

just outshines the the 2D experience. There are still some items for Oculus to improve but overall the rift is here to stay.

 

lol yup, the $1300 monitor I purchased for DCS a few years ago seems like a major waste now. Oh well!

[AMEDooley]

I've been telling people, even with the limitations of VR there's no going back. The feeling, The immersion, the depth, and the 1:1 head tracking far out paces the the resolution limitation.

[Buckeye]

There is really no use whatsoever for the Oculus Touch Controllers within DCS, correct?

[rrohde]

There is really no use whatsoever for the Oculus Touch Controllers within DCS, correct?

 

They turn into gloves when in use, but they don't function (yet?) in DCS.

[javelina1]

You bastards are really selling me on throwing away my plan of "Waiting until the next gen VR" to get in. Damn it.

 

...I currently have NewEgg tabs open to the Rift CV1 Summer Deal page + the MSI 1080 Ti page.

 

Awesome buddy! :thumbup:

[javelina1]

There is really no use whatsoever for the Oculus Touch Controllers within DCS, correct?

 

You'll love 'em for the VR games that you can play, when you're not in DCS. They are good to have, just not active with DCS.

[Buckeye]

Hmm...I'm trying to decide if I should keep them or sell them, I don't have a ton of free time so DCS is the only thing I will be using my Rift for.

 

Also, trying to decide if I should plan to use the built in headphones or use my hifi headphones instead? Any suggestions from the guys currently running VR?

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

I use a separate headset. Yes, it's yet another cable but the quality is better.

 

Also, I bought the CV1 just for DCS as well ;) Would never go back to a 2D monitor!

[NeilWillis]

I use Hi fi cordless headphones. the sound quality is better, adding to the immersion factor.

 

I'd decide about whether to keep the touch controllers once you have tried a few touch capable games. They do add an extra dimension to gaming, but it is really an individual choice. In DCS they are simply impractical, and not supported anyway. The decider will be whether you play VR games alongside DCS World. I find they were a novelty, and they now sit with the batteries removed, on my shelf.

[dburne]

Hmm...I'm trying to decide if I should keep them or sell them, I don't have a ton of free time so DCS is the only thing I will be using my Rift for.

 

Also, trying to decide if I should plan to use the built in headphones or use my hifi headphones instead? Any suggestions from the guys currently running VR?

 

I love the Touch controller myself, have a lot of fun with some Oculus Touch supported games in between all my flight simming.

 

I personally find the Rift headphones to be adequate and convenient, so I use them.

Actually I ended up ordering the Oculus Earbuds as well, as they are in ear rather than over ear. Amplifies the sound just a little better.

[John Hargreaves]

Welp, it's ordered. No turning back now! :pilotfly:

 

Welcome to the rift old boy, we are proud of you

 

 

 

Hmm...I'm trying to decide if I should keep them or sell them, I don't have a ton of free time so DCS is the only thing I will be using my Rift for.

 

For what you'll get for them I'd keep them. I'd recommend Mission:ISS for an amazing simulation of zero-G, the touch controllers do add an extra level of value to the rift.

 

 

I've had my rift over a year now and I still get a buzz every time I sit in the cockpit of the Spitfire and push the throttle forward. Let us know how you get on.