Pico 4: how to set it up for DCS?

[Hillman]

@crispy12

>Can I clarify the steps to starting DCS? When clicking my DCS icon (no suffixes), it loads up DCS in the VR aspect ratio but doesn't appear in VD.

I start DCS by right-clicking VD streamer and selecting «launch game» (no starting of SteamVR). In this manner you will be using the OculusVR run-time, not the SteamVR runtime. For me this works better. (Actually I have a small batch-file for this and by using VoiceAttack I just say «start sim» as soon as I have connected the Pico with VD to the PC)

[crispy12]

4 hours ago, Hillman said:

@crispy12

>Can I clarify the steps to starting DCS? When clicking my DCS icon (no suffixes), it loads up DCS in the VR aspect ratio but doesn't appear in VD.

I start DCS by right-clicking VD streamer and selecting «launch game» (no starting of SteamVR). In this manner you will be using the OculusVR run-time, not the SteamVR runtime. For me this works better. (Actually I have a small batch-file for this and by using VoiceAttack I just say «start sim» as soon as I have connected the Pico with VD to the PC)

Are you able to use VR Neck Safer or XR Neck Safer with this setup? I can't get Open XR Toolkit to work either

 

[Hillman]

16 minutes ago, crispy12 said:

Are you able to use VR Neck Safer or XR Neck Safer with this setup? I can't get Open XR Toolkit to work either

 

Not familiar with either of these, but I have used Open XR Toolkit. However then I need to start Dcs with the parameter —force_OpenXR (plenty of info about this in the thread) In this case the SteamVR runtime starts automatically (which implements the OpenXR api) and then DCS starts. I’m pretty sure if you start Dcs by right-click VD , then you will run the Oculus runtime. Not sure if that uses the OpenXR protocoll.
I’m not able to see any difference between this runtime or the Oculus runtime however, so usually I use the Oculus runtime.

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

Both XRNeckSafer and VRNeckSafer work for me.

BTW, a not-very-scientific test on the effect of Async Space Warp always on and off in SteamVR environment, could not get OpenXR working at that time. Details are in the video description:

 

Edited February 11, 2023 by VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants

[crispy12]

@VR Flight Guy in PJ Pantsok I realised i was not specific enough with my question. This thread is very confusing as it seems that different people are using different means of running DCS on the Pico 4.

I found the clarity and performance of running SteamVR quite subpar - this means by clicking "launch SteamVR" in Virtual Desktop menu (in the Pico headset itself) after seeing the black SteamVR backdrop, clicking on DCS shortcut with the openXR and forceVR suffix. I am running DCS at 150% Steam resolution and using OpenComposite with the OpenVR_api.dll

I have been running Oculus API - correct me if i'm wrong - by clicking on the Virtual Desktop system tray icon and selecting Launch Game... and selecting the DCS.exe. From my understanding of the above posts, this method doesn't allow VRNS or XRNS.  find the performance and clarity outstanding in this method.

Edited February 12, 2023 by crispy12

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

VRNeckSafer only works with SteamVR

XRNeckSafer only works with OpenXR, I am not sure OpenComposite works with the latest OB any more cause I could not make it to work.

Oculus Runtime is the most stable one afaik but no neck safer works in this launch method.

If you can get the native OpenXR working it may make SteamVR more tolerable.

[Peedee]

On 2/12/2023 at 7:41 AM, crispy12 said:

@VR Flight Guy in PJ Pantsok I realised i was not specific enough with my question. This thread is very confusing as it seems that different people are using different means of running DCS on the Pico 4.

I found the clarity and performance of running SteamVR quite subpar - this means by clicking "launch SteamVR" in Virtual Desktop menu (in the Pico headset itself) after seeing the black SteamVR backdrop, clicking on DCS shortcut with the openXR and forceVR suffix. I am running DCS at 150% Steam resolution and using OpenComposite with the OpenVR_api.dll

I have been running Oculus API - correct me if i'm wrong - by clicking on the Virtual Desktop system tray icon and selecting Launch Game... and selecting the DCS.exe. From my understanding of the above posts, this method doesn't allow VRNS or XRNS.  find the performance and clarity outstanding in this method.

 

This is what I do to launch the game in VR with the Pico. I am running the beta version of DCS. First of all, my desktop shortcut to the DCS exe file looks like this: "C:\DCS World OpenBeta\bin\DCS.exe" --force_enable_VR --force_OpenXR

Having the VD desktop application running on the Windows PC (on my PC it loads when Windows boots), I put my Pico 4 headset on, click on the Virtual Desktop app there. And then I am in Virtual Desktop. I put my Pico handcontrollers aways, and use the mouse to click the DCS shortcut on my Windows desktop. And then DCS starts in VR. Easy.  I am not using open composite. 

Maybe I misunderstand your problem .   But, just wanted to tell you and others that I am getting very good results very easy, and coming from the Reverb G2 I now don't feel I miss anything in terms of resolution and clarity. In fact, I have a clear picture in most of the field of view - which was something the G2 couldn't do. 

But, to run the Oculus API, isn't it nescessary at one point to have installed some Oculus software on the PC? I have not done that on this Windows installation, so I haven't tried that. 

Sorry If I am adding to the confusion.  I am getting a bit confused myself about this Oculus thing, which I don't understand why I would use on the Pico 4. I don't think I will install any Oculus software anyway. Things are working very good now, and I'm afraid to mess things up

Edited February 13, 2023 by Peedee

[crispy12]

51 minutes ago, Peedee said:

This is what I do to launch the game in VR with the Pico. I am running the beta version of DCS. First of all, my desktop shortcut to the DCS exe file looks like this: "C:\DCS World OpenBeta\bin\DCS.exe" --force_OpenXR

Having the VD desktop application running on the Windows PC (on my PC it loads when Windows boots), I put my Pico 4 headset on, click on the Virtual Desktop app there. And then I am in Virtual Desktop. I put my Pico handcontrollers aways, and use the mouse to click the DCS shortcut on my Windows desktop. And then DCS starts in VR. Easy.  I am not using open composite. 

Maybe I misunderstand your problem .   But, just wanted to tell you and others that I am getting very good results very easy, and coming from the Reverb G2 I now don't feel I miss anything in terms of resolution and clarity. In fact, I have a clear picture in most of the field of view - which was something the G2 couldn't do. 

But, to run the Oculus API, isn't it nescessary at one point to have installed some Oculus software on the PC? I have not done that on this Windows installation, so I haven't tried that. 

Sorry If I am adding to the confusion.  I am getting a bit confused myself about this Oculus thing, which I don't understand why I would use on the Pico 4. I don't think I will install any Oculus software anyway. Things are working very good now, and I'm afraid to mess things up

Does SteamVR start when you launch it like this? In the menu bar

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

SteamVR is launched when you are forcing the use of OpenXR as the SteanVR OpenXR runtime will be used (hope this is not very confusing).

[Peedee]

Just now, crispy12 said:

Does SteamVR start when you launch it like this? In the menu bar

Not sure what you mean by "In the menu bar". But - did a typo... my command line in my Shortcut to the DCS.exe files is : "C:\DCS World OpenBeta\bin\DCS.exe" --force_enable_VR --force_OpenXR

And yes, first DCS starts load, and then as it enters VR, SteamVR launches too. And checking SteamVR settings under Developer it says :"Current OpenXR Runtime: SteamVR". 

[Hillman]

1 hour ago, Peedee said:

Sorry If I am adding to the confusion.  I am getting a bit confused myself about this Oculus thing, which I don't understand why I would use on the Pico 4. I don't think I will install any Oculus software anyway. Things are working very good now, and I'm afraid to mess things up

I do believe it's because Pico 4 emulates a Oculus headset. I never installed anything from Oculus/Meta (AFAIK), but still Virtual Desktop sees this as a Oculus headset which you clearly see if you enable the overlay info in VD and also you see it in the DCS log.
So you don't have to install anything extra, just start DCS by right-clicking the VD in the sytem-tray and select "Launch game...". For me this gives better results than running through OpenXR or OpenVR.

Edited February 13, 2023 by Hillman

[Peedee]

2 minutes ago, Hillman said:

I do believe it's because Pico 4 emulates a Oculus headset. I never installed anything from Oculus/Meta (AFAIK), but still Virtual Desktop sees this as a Oculus headset which you clearly see if you enable the overlay info in VD and also you see it in the logs.
So you don't have to install anything extra, just start DCS by right-clicking the VD in the sytem-tray and select "Launch game...". For me this gives better results than running through OpenXR or OpenVR.

Thanks, I will check it out

[Peedee]

40 minutes ago, Hillman said:

I do believe it's because Pico 4 emulates a Oculus headset. I never installed anything from Oculus/Meta (AFAIK), but still Virtual Desktop sees this as a Oculus headset which you clearly see if you enable the overlay info in VD and also you see it in the DCS log.
So you don't have to install anything extra, just start DCS by right-clicking the VD in the sytem-tray and select "Launch game...". For me this gives better results than running through OpenXR or OpenVR.

 

I only got it to either not enter VR at all or start SteamVR as the OpenXR, so no differnce for me. Surely you must have an Oculus OpenXR runtime somewhere on your PC? 

[crispy12]

43 minutes ago, Hillman said:

I do believe it's because Pico 4 emulates a Oculus headset. I never installed anything from Oculus/Meta (AFAIK), but still Virtual Desktop sees this as a Oculus headset which you clearly see if you enable the overlay info in VD and also you see it in the DCS log.
So you don't have to install anything extra, just start DCS by right-clicking the VD in the sytem-tray and select "Launch game...". For me this gives better results than running through OpenXR or OpenVR.

 

Yes! I get best results with this method. It's very high frame rate and very clear. Downside is that I can't use all the OpenXR goodies like Open XR Toolkit, XRNS to further tweak the colour and clarity. But it works well so i'm happy

I am getting some window lag when I turn my head quickly in game. Like I can see the edges of the frame lag just very slightly behind. Any idea how to fix this? Head movement is slightly smoother in my G2

[Peedee]

1 hour ago, crispy12 said:

Yes! I get best results with this method. It's very high frame rate and very clear. Downside is that I can't use all the OpenXR goodies like Open XR Toolkit, XRNS to further tweak the colour and clarity. But it works well so i'm happy

Does this mean that Oculus runtime is not OpenXR? Because I can use OpenXR Toolkit. 

I have tried finding any Oculus services, files or anything on my PC. Nothing. So that's why I am thinking if one hasn't at anytime installed anything from Oculus on the PC ever (like me), you cannot use Oculus runtime, and therefore have to use OpenXR through SteamVR for DCS Beta. I could be wrong, I'll do some more testing. But it sure would fun to get an exact explanation on how you guys do it. Especially if it is better than OpenXR- which I would like to test myselft too. Because starting DCS by right clicking the VirtualDesktop icon in the system tray and choosing "Launch game..." does not do the trick on my PC. 

Edited February 13, 2023 by Peedee

[Hillman]

3 hours ago, Peedee said:

Because starting DCS by right clicking the VirtualDesktop icon in the system tray and choosing "Launch game..." does not do the trick on my PC. 

Strange… what does the VD overlay say for runtime? «Oculus» or «OpenVR» or something else? 

5 hours ago, crispy12 said:

I am getting some window lag when I turn my head quickly in game. Like I can see the edges of the frame lag just very slightly behind. Any idea how to fix this?

Sorry, no. I typical get 60-70 fps in a instant action mission at Caucasus and no lag once it has loaded properly. Complex missions and Marians is a different story

[RealDCSpilot]

I guess since the Oculus runtime is just emulated by VD, there is no other "handler" than SteamVR for OpenXR available on the system. That's why DCS's native OpenXR won't work. If SteamVR is installed it sets itself automatically as the OpenXR handler and VD needs to use it. Which honestly doesn't make any difference on my end. It runs perfectly here. Can't wait for the next DCS update.

[Lange_666]

So if i understand this correctly, SteamVR is mandatory?

[Hillman]

1 hour ago, Lange_666 said:

So if i understand this correctly, SteamVR is mandatory?

If you want to use OpenXR and tools that are based on this then Yes. If you use Oculus you can even uninstall SteamVR if you like. (But no need to do this as both works side by side, just not at the same time.)

[Peedee]

12 hours ago, Hillman said:

Strange… what does the VD overlay say for runtime? «Oculus» or «OpenVR» or something else? 

Hey! I got it to work!   Finally! I mean, starting DCS by right-clicking the VD in the system tray and select "Launch game..." and by that using method the Oculus runtime and not opening SteamVR at all.   I needed to remove the " --force_OpenXR" statement in the shortcut that I choose with "Launch game...", and only keep the " --force_enable_vr" statement in there. Doh! Of course having the --force_openXR would open SteamVR since that is used for OpenXR with Pico. Didn´t think of that.

My results? Using Oculus runtime? Wow - this actually worked! I did 5 test runs, on the Caucasus map, F-18 - Instant Action - Ready on the Ramp mission. I taxi to the runway, take off, fly the same pattern at about 2000 feet above ground level... There is no doubt - I gained 7-10 frames. Also the image was crisper, clearer. Not by much, but visible to even my 53 year old eyes. The reason I tested the exact same route 5 times, both with SteamVR and then without SteamVR but with Oculus runtime, was that I was so surprised. Usually when people post a method that they say it's so different and they gain fps - it's many times just a frame or two. But this -- very noticeable.

I was thinking that having SteamVR running didn't bother me - and it didn't. I thought the game ran pretty well. But, this difference is too big to ignore even for me. Every frame counts in VR At least when it´s up to ten fps.  And yeah, by using this method I for sure are using Oculus runtime. SteamVR doesn't start up, and checking the Virtual Desktop overlay by clicking both Pico thumb sticks, it says Runtime Oculus    And I have never installed anything from Oculus on this PC, so my theory was wrong (that it couldn't work without installing Oculus software). 

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

I am thinking about having another benchmark video comparing the performance of Oculus Runtime (simulation), SteamVR and SteamVR OpenXR.

[crispy12]

1 hour ago, Peedee said:

Hey! I got it to work!   Finally! I mean, starting DCS by right-clicking the VD in the system tray and select "Launch game..." and by that using method the Oculus runtime and not opening SteamVR at all.   I needed to remove the " --force_OpenXR" statement in the shortcut that I choose with "Launch game...", and only keep the " --force_enable_vr" statement in there. Doh! Of course having the --force_openXR would open SteamVR since that is used for OpenXR with Pico. Didn´t think of that.

My results? Using Oculus runtime? Wow - this actually worked! I did 5 test runs, on the Caucasus map, F-18 - Instant Action - Ready on the Ramp mission. I taxi to the runway, take off, fly the same pattern at about 2000 feet above ground level... There is no doubt - I gained 7-10 frames. Also the image was crisper, clearer. Not by much, but visible to even my 53 year old eyes. The reason I tested the exact same route 5 times, both with SteamVR and then without SteamVR but with Oculus runtime, was that I was so surprised. Usually when people post a method that they say it's so different and they gain fps - it's many times just a frame or two. But this -- very noticeable.

I was thinking that having SteamVR running didn't bother me - and it didn't. I thought the game ran pretty well. But, this difference is too big to ignore even for me. Every frame counts in VR At least when it´s up to ten fps.  And yeah, by using this method I for sure are using Oculus runtime. SteamVR doesn't start up, and checking the Virtual Desktop overlay by clicking both Pico thumb sticks, it says Runtime Oculus    And I have never installed anything from Oculus on this PC, so my theory was wrong (that it couldn't work without installing Oculus software). 

My experience mirrors yours too. It is also so much simpler to run - just right click and paste the file name in and launch. Only issue for me is lack of XRNS or VRNS.

[Peedee]

Just now, crispy12 said:

My experience mirrors yours too. It is also so much simpler to run - just right click and paste the file name in and launch. Only issue for me is lack of XRNS or VRNS.

Ok, my old method with SteamVR was actually easier because I could just double click a shortcut icon on my desktop and everything started up. SteamVR is of course booting itself up, but I don't have to do something extra for that. Now I have to move the mouse pointer all the way down and right and then right click and then... Life is tough    Anyway, using the Oculus runtime it works and gives me better results.

I don't know what XRNS or VRNS is, so no worries for me. I can't use OpenXR toolkit anymore, but... really - I get good performance by this method. Actually better. 

[Hillman]

8 hours ago, Peedee said:

Now I have to move the mouse pointer all the way down and right and then right click and then... Life is tough  

You don’t have to deal with the right-clicking (which is a pain, I agree):

Just create a short-cut to the VD streamer and double-click this instead of dcs.exe. I described this in an earlier post I think, but I can describe this better when I’m at my PC. (It’s also described in the VD FAQ or release notes I think)

If you also install VoiceAttack you can just say «start sim» and there is no mouse use at all  Can’t be much simpler!

Edited February 14, 2023 by Hillman

[Oellness]

If i use the Ocolus runtime with my Pico, can i also use Ocolus Tray Tool?

What if i want to use OpenXR Toolkit, how do i this with the Pico?

I installed the OpenXR Toolkit but i don't know how to use it. Where can i make settings?