VR Shaders mod for better VR experience

[imacken]

This is pretty disappointing. I have a rocket ship of a gaming PC (Ryzen 3900X, 32GB 3600MHz memory, EVGA 2080 Ti Black, 2x Sabrent Rocket PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives, etc.) and I still get frame drops like nobody's business with this game. It is an incredibly inefficient engine. But with the comments I've seen about the improvements these shaders can bring, I would definitely like to see if that gets me where I want to be in VR.

 

Just let me add that not everyone sees improvements with this mod, myself included. It works for some, but not others. I think it's a hardware thing.

[speed-of-heat]

the sit back and wait is kinda complicated because sometimes it takes about 10-15 minutes to load up...does for me on an M.2 NVme drive.

 

yep the first load into DCS is pretty rough, and the first few in scenario when you are flying or fighting a new plane or scenery can be rough as well

[speed-of-heat]

Just let me add that not everyone sees improvements with this mod, myself included. It works for some, but not others. I think it's a hardware thing.

 

Also this.

[Taz1004]

@speed-of-heat Help me out, my man! Are their common mistakes that people make that maybe I'm overlooking? I haven't tried your version of the shaders yet. But not too antsy to try again either. To make sure I eliminated possible variables/mistakes, I just copied all of the folders and saved them as ".old", copied all of the new shader files into the "shaders" folder, replaced existing files with new (kegetys), deleted metacache and fxo data from my saved games directly, and then started up DCS. Just not working.

 

I have the NON-Steam, standalone version of DCS World.

 

I think you need to be very specific on what you're doing in order for us to see what you're doing wrong.

 

I just copied all of the folders and saved them as ".old"

Copied all of the folders from where to where? DCS World OpenBeta folder or Bazar?

 

copied all of the new shader files into the "shaders" folder

New shader "files"? Not the entire Bazar folder?

 

It's a bit confusing because a post prior, you said you used JSGME but the next post you say you are copying stuff. You don't actually have to do all the backing up with JSGME. That's what it's for. And if you still mess up, there's also repair option and worst case, reinstall. Triple safety so I wouldn't bother with backing them up with .old extension.

Edited June 9, 2020 by Taz1004

[texas_moto_maniac]

Just the readme file - which you say is very vague.

 

All you do is

1) copy the bazar folder files from the mod to your DCS install.

2) delete fxo and metashaders2 (not metashaders) folder contents in your Saved Games. (Even this may no longer be necessary.)

3) launch DCS, sit back and wait.

 

It's really not complicated.

 

This is precisely what I am doing. But I am copying the subfolders of the Bazar file from the shaders mod (kegetys) into the Bazar folder and overwriting/replacing the existing files. Should I instead be just copying the entire Bazar file and overwriting/renaming the old one entirely?

 

I have also deleted the fxo and metashaders2 folder contents each time.

[texas_moto_maniac]

I think you need to be very specific on what you're doing in order for us to see what you're doing wrong.

 

 

Copied all of the folders from where to where? DCS World OpenBeta folder or Bazar?

 

 

New shader "files"? Not the entire Bazar folder?

 

It's a bit confusing because a post prior, you said you used JSGME but the next post you say you are copying stuff. You don't actually have to do all the backing up with JSGME. That's what it's for. And if you still mess up, there's also repair option and worst case, reinstall. Triple safety so I wouldn't bother with backing them up with .old extension.

 

Howdy, Taz. See my reply immediately above this one. I am copying the subfolders and files within the shaders mod Bazar folder into the install directory folder and overwriting/replacing those older files. Then deleting the cached files in the folders I listed in my reply above. Is this correct or should I be just replacing the Bazar folder with the mod version altogether? I believe I also tried that the first time around and had issues. So that is why I tried the procedure above.

 

For JSGME, I literally just downloaded it and began attempting to use it last night. I have a "_MODS" folder in the install directory. I create a new folder for each mod and then create the exact folder/file path as the install directory location and place the mod files there. Is this correct? I installed the shader mod this way as my final attempt but I did not see that any of the new files were actually copied in those folders. Or does JSGME not actually overwrite/replace anything?

[texas_moto_maniac]

I have 2 JSGMEs for DCS...one for the Saved Games folder which holds sounds, labels, cockpit and aircraft. The second folder is in the DCS install directory...this is specifically for shaders. So in that MODS folder, you would have Kegetys Shaders Mod..or SpeedOfHeat's - which when enabled should write to your bazaar directory in the game install folder. Also, I would delete the contents of your fxo and metashaders2 folder in the saved games directory (not sure if this is still relevant, some say this is no longer required).

The above works for me at any rate.

 

That is actually a great idea. I just created the other JSGME instance for the saved games folder as well. That makes it much more simple to undo one versus the other. Thank you for that idea.

 

Do you use the snapshot feature? I read that it is kind of useless with how big these terrain files are.

[speed-of-heat]

from the readme txt file:

 

Install:

- Backup your Bazar/shaders directory (but keep the files in place)

- Extract files from this zip, overwriting the existing files

- Run DCS World. The shaders will be compiled as they are used

for the first time, so first startup and loading of mission will

take a while (can be 10 minutes or more). While playing you can

also see some stutters when new shaders are compiling for the

first time. These will stop after everything has been compiled.

[texas_moto_maniac]

Also this.

 

Yeah I have seen that stated both in this thread and elsewhere several times. To be fair, the game performance is not horrible right now by any means. But if I could just get a tad bit smoother framerate without crappy textures and jagged edges while also maintaining a great visibility distance, I'm happy. I absolutely love DCS either way. I'm kind of addicted. It appears I'm not alone...

[texas_moto_maniac]

from the readme txt file:

 

Yeah I used that procedure. When I said it was vague, I meant that it no longer states anything about deleting the metashaders2 or fxo folder contents. I was under the impression that this was a requirement. But according to someone a couple of replies above, maybe it is not.

 

I'll pose the same question to you: Do I completely replace the old Bazar folder with the entire new Bazar folder from the zip archive I download from you or kegetys? Or do you do like I stated above where you just copy the contents/subfolders from within the new Bazar folder over into the contents of the game installed Bazar folder then overwrite/replace items with the same name? Jesus, I hope that made sense.

[texas_moto_maniac]

I forgot to add that this is the JSGME setup/install procedure I used: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=98607

[texas_moto_maniac]

Hold off for now, I think I got speed-of-heat's Bazar folder successfully installed with JSGME. It took about 9 minutes with the loading bar being stuck right under the sidewinder of the F-16_Block50 loading image. I'll play a bit and see what I see.

[LucShep]

The butcher is in session ...

 

Clearwater version and IC Pass with Clear Water of @Kegteys awesome mod

Any chance you can prepare and share both versions of those two, for those using latest stable release 2.5.6.49798 ?

 

I suppose it would be based on Kegety's 2.5.6.49314 mod version, as it's the only one I can get working with latest stable release.

[speed-of-heat]

Hold off for now, I think I got speed-of-heat's Bazar folder successfully installed with JSGME. It took about 9 minutes with the loading bar being stuck right under the sidewinder of the F-16_Block50 loading image. I'll play a bit and see what I see.

 

also when you say its not working what do you mean?

[speed-of-heat]

Any chance you can prepare and share both versions of those two, for those using latest stable release 2.5.6.49798 ?

 

I suppose it would be based on Kegety's 2.5.6.49314 mod version, as it's the only one I can get working with latest stable release.

 

Here you go , i haven't actually tested the IC Pass variant but it should work YMMV

DCS VR Shaders mod for 2.5.6.49314 (Clear Water).zip

DCS VR Shaders mod for 2.5.6.49314 (Clear Water, IC Pass).zip

[LucShep]

Any chance you can prepare and share both versions of those two, for those using latest stable release 2.5.6.49798 ?

I suppose it would be based on Kegety's 2.5.6.49314 mod version, as it's the only one I can get working with latest stable release.

Here you go , i haven't actually tested the IC Pass variant but it should work YMMV

WOW ...you're quick! :) Many thanks mate, you're a star.

 

Both versions seem to work flawlessly with latest stable release 2.5.6.49798. That's it!

I'm sticking with the non-IC version (as I don't do DCS online).

 

If I'm allowed the suggestion, please also add those to your signature, it'll help those using latest stable release. :smilewink:

[texas_moto_maniac]

also when you say its not working what do you mean?

 

I was able to get your version of the shaders going via JSGME. It turns out my problems were all down to me over-complicating things. This time around, I just loaded via JSGME, did not touch a single metashaders2, fxo, or any other cache folders, and started DCS and waited. Voila! Totally good to go now.

 

To add to that, once I knew that I had JSGME working correctly, I loaded up a couple of other mods, performed the registry edit that keeps the Windows game recording service from running, F-16C MFD/HUD clarity mod, and the terrain flat shadows mod package. That along with your DCS and NVIDIA control panel settings did the trick. It isn't like a night and day difference necessarily. But I'd say it's anywhere from 50-100% framerate improvement for sure. In Caucaus, it's a very big FR improvement. In the Persian Gulf in Dubai, not quite as huge. But definitely better. The key thing though is that I'm able to have MSAA and other settings turned up much higher. The cockpit and terrains are WAY better looking.

 

The ONLY thing I did not end up keeping of your settings was setting the shadows to high. I dropped them down to Medium to keep it just a tad smoother in Dubai. I could likely turn it up elsewhere but I figured this is as close as it gets to a "set it and forget it" DCS global VR setting.

 

Thanks for all the work you and Kegetys do to make VR DCS more enjoyable for all!

[Taz1004]

I was able to get your version of the shaders going via JSGME. It turns out my problems were all down to me over-complicating things. This time around, I just loaded via JSGME, did not touch a single metashaders2, fxo, or any other cache folders, and started DCS and waited. Voila! Totally good to go now.

 

To add to that, once I knew that I had JSGME working correctly, I loaded up a couple of other mods, performed the registry edit that keeps the Windows game recording service from running, F-16C MFD/HUD clarity mod, and the terrain flat shadows mod package. That along with your DCS and NVIDIA control panel settings did the trick. It isn't like a night and day difference necessarily. But I'd say it's anywhere from 50-100% framerate improvement for sure. In Caucaus, it's a very big FR improvement. In the Persian Gulf in Dubai, not quite as huge. But definitely better. The key thing though is that I'm able to have MSAA and other settings turned up much higher. The cockpit and terrains are WAY better looking.

 

The ONLY thing I did not end up keeping of your settings was setting the shadows to high. I dropped them down to Medium to keep it just a tad smoother in Dubai. I could likely turn it up elsewhere but I figured this is as close as it gets to a "set it and forget it" DCS global VR setting.

 

Thanks for all the work you and Kegetys do to make VR DCS more enjoyable for all!

 

You may just had incorrect folder structure inside JSGME's _MOD folder. All mod makers don't do it same. Some just put the Bazar folder directly in the zip, some put them inside a folder with the name of their mod first, some don't even put them in folder structure if it's some simple .lua file. You usually have to make sure the folder structure follows the mod manager specification.

[texas_moto_maniac]

You may just had incorrect folder structure inside JSGME's _MOD folder. All mod makers don't do it same. Some just put the Bazar folder directly in the zip, some put them inside a folder with the name of their mod first, some don't even put them in folder structure if it's some simple .lua file. You usually have to make sure the folder structure follows the mod manager specification.

 

The truth is that I tried out JSGME when I was already frustrated and just assumed something in the process was broken. I was doing it all manually. But yeah, I used speed-of-heat's file with the tool and it worked perfectly. So I'm honestly not sure what I was doing wrong when I was doing it manually. But yeah, this is significantly easier. Duh. Lol

[speed-of-heat]

Thanks for all the work you and Kegetys do to make VR DCS more enjoyable for all!

Thank you for sticking with it. I’m glad it’s working, Kegetys really does all the Hardwork, I’m just the butcher, but, I’m glad you are working better than before!

[speed-of-heat]

WOW ...you're quick! :) Many thanks mate, you're a star.

 

Both versions seem to work flawlessly with latest stable release 2.5.6.49798. That's it!

I'm sticking with the non-IC version (as I don't do DCS online).

 

If I'm allowed the suggestion, please also add those to your signature, it'll help those using latest stable release. :smilewink:

 

Thank you and done.

[texas_moto_maniac]

Thank you for sticking with it. I’m glad it’s working, Kegetys really does all the Hardwork, I’m just the butcher, but, I’m glad you are working better than before!

 

Yeah it's definitely much smoother and nicer to look at. I do have one question you probably can answer somewhat easily:

 

Do you happy to know why my HUD is a little harder to read during the day? Everything also has kind of a haziness to it that gets thicker the further you get from my viewpoint. It seems to make night flying almost impossible. Sound familiar?

[speed-of-heat]

Alas no, it doesn’t ,sorry, there is a thread about fixing fuzzy fonts in the hornet DdI, that might help The hud as well https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3555460&postcount=117, which I already use hence me not noticing the problem you are seeing. Or it could be a delta between the reverb and your Oculus?

[=Pedro=]

Everything also has kind of a haziness to it that gets thicker the further you get from my viewpoint.

 

It has been there since Lockon times. Reshade got rid of that by one of its effects but since it wont work with VR there is no alternative atm I'm afraid. Lowering Gamma is not really a good solution/workaround.

[TomcatFly]

Any news/suggestion about the not very visible F-16 HUD green data (and I guess all other jet HUD's)? I've the feeling that with previous shaders all was much more readable, more contrast, brighter green color (of course brightness is at max)..