VR

[Hiddenxreaper]

I was thinking of VR in the future, and had a few questions. I currently run dcs at 4k max around 40 frames online. How does vr compare,more less taxing? Also can you read gauges and DDI screens? And I’m worried about the IFLOS for the stennis. Is it worth the investment? Thanks for any replies.

[wormeaten]

It is a .completly different approach from the 4K large screen.

In 4K you are going into the clarity of the picture but VR is opposite.

Completely different experience immersive as hell. You are seating inside your plane, have a real 3D sense for all around you but you have to pay this price in clarity.

[sirrah]

Considering you are able to run DCS properly at max settings in 4k, I asume your hardware shouldn't be too much of a problem. So why not just go for a 2nd hand Rift and try it out? They become more and more available at low costs. If you don't like it, just re-sell it. Or maybe you can try and hire a headset somewhere (I know there are several places in the neighborhood where I live, where you can hire a Rift).

 

In the end it's all very personal, but I think 90% of the people, who check this sub-forum, will choose VR immersion over a 2D "eye-candy" screen. I know I do :smilewink: (no way back to 2D for me now)

[Max_Factor]

Agreed. Bought a 4k Monitor for DCS which now used for boring spreadsheets instead. Once you go VR...

[etherbattx]

VR is pretty cool.

i just wish the resolution was better and i could see more details.

[majapahit]

Here too,

 

first time I put on my VR I thought 'oh my god what the hell is this'

out of focus, blurry, washed colors, cross eyed, its like looking through the bottom of milk bottles, horrible.

 

After a couple of hours adjusting, and figuring out what pixel upgrading is, you start to see the 3D advantages, the 3D situational awareness of VR.

 

Then, when you actually figured out how to create somewhat of a sharpish 3D picture, you find out how much easier and 'real' your CASE I II III carrier landings are (and helicopter flight), for now you actually know where you are and can glance quickly 'everywhere' to anticipate your next moves.

 

Then, never mind the 'blurry' view, you never go back to 2D.

 

P.S. (I removed the foam rim and holder of my Oculus Rift, getting my eyes closer to the screen - with some spacing foam, for my eye lashes were now hitting the lenses - great improvement, if your eyes are towards or over 7 cm separation)

 

N.B. DCS, the IL-2 recent VR versions and Car racing sims are the ONLY software games that make VR worthwhile, and very much so, which is why there are problems scaling the user base, me thinks.

Edited December 10, 2018 by majapahit

[Tinkickef]

I was thinking of VR in the future, and had a few questions. I currently run dcs at 4k max around 40 frames online. How does vr compare,more less taxing? Also can you read gauges and DDI screens? And I’m worried about the IFLOS for the stennis. Is it worth the investment? Thanks for any replies.

 

There is nothing in the Hornet cockpit that cannot be read clearly while seated normally. However, to avoid squinting at the small time and distance to waypoint numbers when the HSI is put on the colour map display you need to learn forward just a little. You can see and read them sat back in the seat, but they are not clear enough to take in at a glance (PD at 2.2).

 

It is difficult to see the ball on the carrier until you are close in, so you develop the ways And means to do without it.

 

 

VR.... Best thing since sliced bread. I can never go 2D again. The cockpits look so boring.

Edited December 10, 2018 by Tinkickef

[dburne]

snip

 

VR.... Best thing since sliced bread. I can never go 2D again. The cockpits look so boring.

 

Not too mention sooo tiny.

:smilewink:

[crab]

I've read it was "adult" content that was primarily the business case in developing VR and that at this time it is it's largest revenue stream. Not sure of the truth of that because I saw no evidence put forth in the oped and it sounded a lot like someone reasoning it through and outing their conclusions as fact. In any event assuming it is true we have porn to thank for our freshly minted 3D cockpits so if you haven't already thanked porn enough... ;)

 

Irregardless of that I have to concede that despite my dislike of the low res 3D cockpit the feeling of being there and being able to look around instantly made the old school 2D flight a non starter for me. It is so much more compelling to me and words really fail to describe it; or at least words available to this pathetic old man.

[captflyby]

I was thinking of VR in the future, and had a few questions. I currently run dcs at 4k max around 40 frames online. How does vr compare,more less taxing? Also can you read gauges and DDI screens? And I’m worried about the IFLOS for the stennis. Is it worth the investment? Thanks for any replies.

 

VR is the only way to fly.

 

Situational awareness and depth perception are your BIG advantages.

You are not watching a monitor, you are IN the monitor looking all around.

 

Drawbacks are clarity and peripheral vision.

 

DCS has a zoom feature in the setup, that will enable you to get up and close for gauges you cannot read at a distance.

 

Taxiing / ground handling is very realistic and straight forward.

 

Air handling is equally realistic and easy to use.

 

10k RL hours.

760 DCS sim hours this year, 600 of which is in the hornet.

 

I have trapped on the STENNIS with the FA-18C Hornet in almost 0/0 with no TACAN and no ICLS.

I have trapped while the STENNIS was doing a 180 deg turn.

I have trapped with one engine and 1/2 a vertical elevator - sluggish - but landed safely.

 

All in VR. I believe it was due to the depth perception afforded in VR, and some to do with RL experience.

 

I believe the current VR drawbacks may be be address by a new company called PIMAX. (Two other companies exist if you want a VR set for the $5,000 range.) Me, I'll wait for the PIMAX.

 

PIMAX is due out in 2019.

 

PIMAX has four models: 4K, 5K, 8K and 8kx.

 

4k is like the other 2 existing now: occulus rift and htc vive. No real benefit.

 

The others all claim to have high res and 200 deg peripheral vision. In reality peripheral is about 170 deg and is adjustable.

 

5k pushed 2k per eye, and all that have tested it say it is their VR of choice right now.

 

8k is really 4k (2k per eye) achieved by super sampling. All agree, problems exist.

 

8kx is the future. True 4k per eye - no super sampling needed.

Drawback is that there is no card right now that can push this headset - which does not yet exist.

 

5k will work with a 1080Ti. Those who have tried the 2080Ti's have found problems. I'll wait for the 3000 series, where true performance boosts can hopefully be achieved.

 

Also there are rumors that DCS has been working with PIMAX to do "something" to make VR more realistic and usable.

 

There is a lot of good VR threads in this forum. Read much before you decide.

 

This is my mileage. Yours may vary.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited December 11, 2018 by captflyby

[DeltaMike]

I've been flying sims since F16 first came out on the black and white mac, and have about 50 hours of real flight training. Flying a computer doesn't feel like flying. This does.

 

Tuning image quality in VR is a different kettle of fish, the whole supersampling thing makes it feel like you're looking at the world through a screen door. That the resolution is there behind the screen.

 

It's kinda weird but you habituate to it pretty quickly. Looking around outside is fine. In the cockpit, it is possible to set it to where the gauges look quite clear but after a point it really starts to hammer your framerate. So you give up some detail and roll with it. Lean forward or hit the zoom if you really need to read the fine print. Thing is, stutter breaks immersion. Do what you have to do to keep f/s at 45 or better and your brain will do the rest.

 

Look, the whole reason you're going for the resolution on your monitor is to make it seem real. You're looking in the wrong place, brother. It's not that it's easier to see the runway in 4k than at 800x600. It's that you can look over your shoulder and *know* where it is.

[hansangb]

I've been flying sims since F16 first came out on the black and white mac, and have about 50 hours of real flight training. Flying a computer doesn't feel like flying. This does.

 

Tuning image quality in VR is a different kettle of fish, the whole supersampling thing makes it feel like you're looking at the world through a screen door. That the resolution is there behind the screen.

 

It's kinda weird but you habituate to it pretty quickly. Looking around outside is fine. In the cockpit, it is possible to set it to where the gauges look quite clear but after a point it really starts to hammer your framerate. So you give up some detail and roll with it. Lean forward or hit the zoom if you really need to read the fine print. Thing is, stutter breaks immersion. Do what you have to do to keep f/s at 45 or better and your brain will do the rest.

 

Look, the whole reason you're going for the resolution on your monitor is to make it seem real. You're looking in the wrong place, brother. It's not that it's easier to see the runway in 4k than at 800x600. It's that you can look over your shoulder and *know* where it is.

 

 

 

 

THIS is what every naysayer of VR don't understand. The spatial situational awareness is the "killer app" :thumbup::pilotfly:

[javelina1]

THIS is what every naysayer of VR don't understand. The spatial situational awareness is the "killer app" :thumbup::pilotfly:

 

 

^^THIS

 

 

 

Amen Bro! :thumbup::pilotfly:

[milkojohns]

I fly VR mostly but love practicing off a 4k screen, both have their benefits.

 

Vr immersion is epic and cant be beat, but learning the ropes elsewhere is good too.

 

Spend of a good few days tuning VR and you wont notice the difference after a week or two.

[Woody01]

I tried VR for the first time today and I am blown away, if I owned one I would convert to it completely I think. The depth perception and spatial awareness was what really got me, how in a dogfight I needed speed so dropped the nose at about 2000ft and those power pylons looked awfully close and it gave me a real sense of 'Not too low!!!' The 3D cockpit was amazing, yea the resolution could improve but the other benefits far outweighed that. I had no problem in a dogfight with the resolution and having been in a real P51D the feeling was uncannily identical to that flight, the sense of speed, the physical strain of having to look behind you, felt like the most natural thing I have ever done.

Colour me impressed!