Anybody thinking about VR....

[Hawkeye_UK]

I just just thought i would post a message for those thinking about making the jump to VR.

 

I have played flight sims on and off for over 25 years and have always relied on monitor setups (mainly Falcon & BMS, still the best large scale campaign) however stopped around 2013 due to work commitments / hardware requirements.

 

I bought a new PC in November (RTX2080 i7 SSD etc) along with an oculus rift and have to say it's been an absolute game changer. This week the lead in my rift broke (rather dog chewed through it ) so awaiting a new one and have just tried to play F18 in DCS on a monitor for the first time.

 

The difference is absolutely shocking, i can honestly say having played one mission i will not be loading it up again until the lead arrives - having only played DCS VR going back to 2D loses the entire feeling of the simulation, everything is harder having to paddle view on HOTAS, carrier landings, A2G, A2A dog fighting just becomes harder, down in the cherubs it just doesn't give the same feeling of reality. The situation awareness, offsets, ACM in visual range just becomes horrendous and so much harder to immediately assess. I'll normally fly around and only RTB on nothing on the dial but smiths however after under half an hour was back on the boat (just) after pancaking it!

 

I hear people talk about resolution and being on a monitor is better so i have just played it on a 55inch 4k screen. However, the total loss of immediate situational awareness in close is just not worth the eye candy. I rather suspect the people that go on about this have an over reliance on using the zoom function for target recognition / acquisition and intercept selection course which in reality i think is almost like a cheat mode, sure pilots have historically and do continue to use binoculars in the pit and carried sometimes as back ups however in the split second this is not possible.

 

I've wrote this for anyone thinking and is capable about making the investment into VR, if you want the most realistic feel, actual benefits in close, especially close ACM and immersion then nothing compares to VR. Sure technology will continue to get better however VR is so good now it doesn't warrant waiting if you have the budget to invest.

[dawgie79]

I agree. Never going back to 2D pancake style.

[Svsmokey]

I have a similar flightsim history , and find VR to be revolutionary . SA , in combat or out , is so much better , and being IN the cockpit is incredible . It's the best thing to ever happen regarding flightsimming .

[Tonkenna]

Concur 100%.

 

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

[dburne]

:thumbup:

 

Fully agree.

Got my Rift on Jan 15th 2017.

Last day I gamed on a monitor - Jan 14th 2017.

 

I tried once just to give it a go on monitor again, and had the same feeling - no way.

And I am still amazed today just as much as when I got it. Incredible.

[SharpeXB]

I rather suspect the people that go on about this have an over reliance on using the zoom function for target recognition / acquisition and intercept selection course which in reality i think is almost like a cheat mode, sure pilots have historically and do continue to use binoculars in the pit and carried sometimes as back ups however in the split second this is not possible.

The zoom view isn’t there to simulate binoculars. It’s used to make up for lack of resolution. And on monitors for lack of size & FOV. VR players need and use it too for the same reason as monitor users.

[Harlikwin]

I agree. Never going back to 2D pancake style.

 

Yup, I only fly in VR now.

[Hawkeye_UK]

Hi, no i didnt mean the VR zoom i meant the super zoom on the monitor....

[SharpeXB]

Hi, no i didnt mean the VR zoom i meant the super zoom on the monitor....

Well since you aren’t using a monitor it’s not a problem for you. From what I gather VR users want a bigger zoom anyways.

 

The zoom view command is not unique to DCS. All flight sims and sim games in general have this for reasons that should be obvious. You say you’ve played flight sims for 25 years so I’m sure you know that.

Edited March 2, 2019 by SharpeXB

[jross194]

Got a SO+ on sale (been waiting til the funds came in).

 

First, yes, I'm old. So a matter of perspective to some degree...

 

Started playing flight sims on a Tandy 8088, circa 1987? - everything was wireframe graphics; thought it would be a less boring way to learn instrument approach procedures, and I was right. And I was hooked. From my perspective this is what I've been waiting for for 30 years.

 

It's a little grainy, yes. Hurts my head after while, yes (getting better). But I've tweaked it such that it is 'serviceable' - and looks pretty good & runs well enough (no experience with earlier VR models). You can have my VR headset...when you pry if from my cold, dead, fingers.

 

TrackIR is gathering dust. BFM is easier. AR is easier. Landings are easier. I play 10X more now than before, doing things I never would've done before.

 

Of course I want more, we always do; about 4x the resolution, wider FOV. Hopefully we will get there.

Edited March 2, 2019 by jross194

[jross194]

Forgot to mention my specs: I7 something (32gb) with a GTX 1080 (not a Ti) with 16gb? Or is it 8gb?

 

ok, have time now...

I7-6700 4.0mhz, 32gb RAM, GTX1080 8Gb

Edited March 2, 2019 by jross194
Was lazy

[dburne]

Forgot to mention my specs: I7 something (32gb) with a GTX 1080 (not a Ti) with 16gb? Or is it 8gb?

 

Well unfortunately no one is going to know your specs cept you...

:smilewink:

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

I only use monitor for mission edition. Otherwise is VR or no way.

[Steel Jaw]

Hmm, tried it on my brothers rig and was not impressed with the poor resolution.

[DD_Crash]

VR is not for everyone, but those who like it love it :)

[Hawkeye_UK]

Yes i guess it also depends on settings, however i find with everything set to high, MSAA x4 and Anti set to x16 its perfectly readable in the F18. The immediate situational awareness with 1 to 1 head tracking and immersion is second to none.

[Svsmokey]

Yes i guess it also depends on settings, however i find with everything set to high, MSAA x4 and Anti set to x16 its perfectly readable in the F18. The immediate situational awareness with 1 to 1 head tracking and immersion is second to none.

 

Interesting....that's the first mention of MSAA×4 in VR I've heard....what GPU are you running ?

 

Edit : read first post again :) it's very encouraging to know the 2080 will support 4x MSSA . Shimmering is my personal bugbear in DCS .

Edited March 3, 2019 by Svsmokey

[Hawkeye_UK]

HI Svsmokey - I'm running on a EVGA RTX2080 ultra, ran the standard software that came with the card (Precision X1) as know nothing about overclocking manually and set the overclock to 2100mhz, think its 1915mhz without o'clock. But in fairness i had it running fine on MSAAx4 before that anyway. Also running i7- 9700k o'clocked to 5Ghz on all cores but only 16GB memory at 3200 Mhz.

 

Yea i don't get shimmering, i also set distance view to extreme, pre load distance to max,shadows flat, heat blur and lens off.

[dawgie79]

Hmm, tried it on my brothers rig and was not impressed with the poor resolution.

What about situational awareness, 1:1 head tracking, depth perception, scaling? Resolution is not a fair comparison with a 2D monitor in my opinion. :)

[Svsmokey]

HI Svsmokey - I'm running on a EVGA RTX2080 ultra, ran the standard software that came with the card (Precision X1) as know nothing about overclocking manually and set the overclock to 2100mhz, think its 1915mhz without o'clock. But in fairness i had it running fine on MSAAx4 before that anyway. Also running i7- 9700k o'clocked to 5Ghz on all cores but only 16GB memory at 3200 Mhz.

 

Yea i don't get shimmering, i also set distance view to extreme, pre load distance to max,shadows flat, heat blur and lens off.

 

Thanks for the informative reply ! Sounds like I'm gonna be very happy with a 2080 :)

[SharpeXB]

What about situational awareness, 1:1 head tracking, depth perception, scaling? Resolution is not a fair comparison with a 2D monitor in my opinion. :)

But without adequate resolution none of those things matter. I’ve tried the headsets too and arrived at the same conclusion. Until VR can deliver the equivalent of 20/20 vision it’s not going to be worthwhile for flight sims IMO

[Svsmokey]

How can someone so uninterested in VR , and posting in VR forums be not considered a troll ?

[SharpeXB]

How can someone so uninterested in VR , and posting in VR forums be not considered a troll ?

Discussions aren’t allowed here? Everyone is entitled to an opinion.

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

But without adequate resolution none of those things matter. I’ve tried the headsets too and arrived at the same conclusion. Until VR can deliver the equivalent of 20/20 vision it’s not going to be worthwhile for flight sims IMO

"worthwhile" is a strong word.

When VR gets there, what will be your next point? not seeing devices such keyboard, MFDs... ? Not being able to write down things? Missing an actual kneeboard?

[eaglecash867]

Until VR can deliver the equivalent of 20/20 vision it’s not going to be worthwhile for flight sims IMO

 

The same can be said about the lack of depth perception and lack of sense of scale on a monitor. It can also be said about the completely unrealistic head movements with track IR. I'm beginning to sense a theme here. You tried VR once, didn't play around with any of the settings, so you don't like it. I think we all get the point. :thumbup: