TrackIR or rudder peddals?

[Ed Macy]

over 4 hours Flight simulator - games - experience [see maximus above]

TrackIR for sure.

I only spent a day on Black Shark and managed without pedals but it would have been a different ball game without the TrackIR.

Taking off without even holding the cyclic was possible within 5 minutes if you trim it out after rolling with the holds in properly.

Firing on-axis weapons like rockets requires a lot of attention to balance as this is paramount before releasing them - unless you want to curve them! I had no problems without pedals. If you want to fight air-to-air and get into the furball you are going to need a TrackIR.

Ed Macy – Absolute beginner

www.edmacy.com

www.harperplus.com/apache

www.twitter.com/edmacy

[rapid]

over 4 hours Flight simulator - games - experience [see maximus above]

 

TrackIR for sure.

 

I only spent a day on Black Shark and managed without pedals but it would have been a different ball game without the TrackIR.

 

Taking off without even holding the cyclic was possible within 5 minutes if you trim it out after rolling with the holds in properly.

 

Firing on-axis weapons like rockets requires a lot of attention to balance as this is paramount before releasing them - unless you want to curve them! I had no problems without pedals. If you want to fight air-to-air and get into the furball you are going to need a TrackIR.

 

Ed Macy – Absolute beginner

 

www.edmacy.com

www.harperplus.com/apache

www.twitter.com/edmacy

 

 

You and done it now man................I checked you links out:mad: now you got me wanting more and more the release of the Apache mod. (ex Longbow2 fanboy)

[HansRoaming]

Have to say for me having pedals is a must, although am still such a noob that am learning how to fly the chopper. I still get a buzz from running the voice for the engine start up tutorial and flying in the city to build my flying skills up. So for me I'm at the learning to fly the Blackshark in the weeds stage and pedals are a must.

 

However as soon as I do a combat mission I immediately find that having a HMS not moved by a hat as well as being able to look around very quickly to build up my SA would be a real advantage. So Track IR is my next purchase.

 

Am guessing the real point is that Track IR and Pedals are not an either or decision but a what do I get first. :)

[Alphamale]

You and done it now man................I checked you links out:mad: now you got me wanting more and more the release of the Apache mod. (ex Longbow2 fanboy)

 

 

Are you talking Jane's Longbow II? IMO, best sim in ANY platform for today and definitely in its own time. Of course, I just now installed BS so we'll see. But I'm making that statement with a bunch of tremendous simulations that were also current at the time. Flanker, Falcon 4, Jane's FA-18. But Apache Longbow II was the nuts. I actually still have that game and the huge manual that came with it.

[EtherealN]

I would still have had Longbow II, except a friend of mine managed to spill a pint of beer on the discs during a party and managed to scratch them to pieces in the frantic cleaning effort. :P

[KaBoom]

The hassle of looking around the cockpit and zooming to the panels is a pain in the ass real pilots never have to do. Get TrackIR and free up some brain power to controlling the aircraft and not your head movements.

[coder1024]

I'd suggest getting cachya for $15 and then using your webcam for head tracking. I've been thinking about TrackIR for awhile, but haven't wanted to spend the $ on it. With cachya, its $15 and uses your webcam. I've tested it out briefly and it appears to do everything needed. I'm sure the TrackIR performance might be better (higher res/update rate/whatever) but this seems to work and is quite a low price :)

[Dusty Rhodes]

You all are a bunch of rookies. Sheesh. Buy both and say they came bundled at a great price that you couldn't pass up. And if you have control of the check book, tell her you got them both for $130. It is a matter of semantics you are playing. They both do cost $130 but you make it sound like you got bother for $130. C'mon fellow simmers, get creative!!!!!!!!!!

[coder1024]

You all are a bunch of rookies. Sheesh. Buy both and say they came bundled at a great price that you couldn't pass up. And if you have control of the check book, tell her you got them both for $130. It is a matter of semantics you are playing. They both do cost $130 but you make it sound like you got bother for $130. C'mon fellow simmers, get creative!!!!!!!!!!

I like that one! Yea, honey, I got them both for $130! Completely accurate statement :)

[Avatar72]

Are you talking Jane's Longbow II? IMO, best sim in ANY platform for today and definitely in its own time. Of course, I just now installed BS so we'll see. But I'm making that statement with a bunch of tremendous simulations that were also current at the time. Flanker, Falcon 4, Jane's FA-18. But Apache Longbow II was the nuts. I actually still have that game and the huge manual that came with it.

 

I've been flying Sims off and on for over 20 years and Longbow II was definately the best hands down. I miss Skunk Works software company. Needless to say, I look forward to see what DCS can do with the Apache although it will be a while, and it wont even be the Longbow :(

 

I understand why they didnt do the Apache first, if they did, there'd be a lot less buyers for Ka-50 or any other chopper sim.

 

But I'll say this for sure, I miss those Hellfires missles. I cant stand the Ka-50 missles. Watching a Hellfire shoot up and come straight down on those enemy tanks hard is a sight to behold.

 

Oh BTW, +1 for TRACK IR :thumbup:. Mandatory for WWII sims.

[CE_Mikemonster]

But I'll say this for sure, I miss those Hellfires missles. I cant stand the Ka-50 missles. Watching a Hellfire shoot up and come straight down on those enemy tanks hard is a sight to behold.

 

Hehehe it was horribly satisfying to ripple fire them when I was a kid playing Commanche ;)

 

OP;

I think that TrackIR is essential in Black Shark, even more so than in a plane sim as you have the HMS to play with..

 

If you're short on budget possibly buy the TrackIR and then a steering wheel off eBay with a pair of pedals attatched (I got my set of pedals and FFB wheel for £2! And no I won't shut up about it!)

Edited April 27, 2009 by CE_Mikemonster

[192nd_Erdem]

I'd suggest getting cachya for $15 and then using your webcam for head tracking. I've been thinking about TrackIR for awhile, but haven't wanted to spend the $ on it. With cachya, its $15 and uses your webcam. I've tested it out briefly and it appears to do everything needed. I'm sure the TrackIR performance might be better (higher res/update rate/whatever) but this seems to work and is quite a low price :)

 

Why waste money on it? Freetrack does the same thing for free :)

[Safari Ken]

If you're short on budget possibly buy the TrackIR and then a steering wheel off eBay with a pair of pedals attatched (I got my set of pedals and FFB wheel for £2! And no I won't shut up about it!)

 

That's a good idea, particularly since TrackIR works great with most racing games as well. Sure is nice to be able to look into your turns...

[r-unit]

You all are a bunch of rookies. Sheesh. Buy both and say they came bundled at a great price that you couldn't pass up. And if you have control of the check book, tell her you got them both for $130. It is a matter of semantics you are playing. They both do cost $130 but you make it sound like you got bother for $130. C'mon fellow simmers, get creative!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

Honey "I NEED IT" Don't you want me to be happy ? I love you......

 

That's both a plea and a complement. When you get your combo, take her upstairs and show her how much you mean to her.... then come right back downstairs and try out your new kit.

[Alphamale]

Hehehe it was horribly satisfying to ripple fire them when I was a kid playing Commanche ;)

 

OP;

I think that TrackIR is essential in Black Shark, even more so than in a plane sim as you have the HMS to play with..

 

If you're short on budget possibly buy the TrackIR and then a steering wheel off eBay with a pair of pedals attatched (I got my set of pedals and FFB wheel for £2! And no I won't shut up about it!)

 

That Novalogic arcade game? They used some sort of new pixel shading in that IIRC. But I wouldn't mind seeing DCS do the Comanche some real justice. In fact, if DCS continues to make sims like this for a broad range of platforms, I will buy each one of them. The higher the learning curve, the better. I'm 53 and playing these games will help prevent me from getting Alzheimer's. Of course, I'll probably die from the cigarettes before that becomes a possibility. :doh:

 

Oh, btw, my TrackIR Pro 4 is on its way!!!!!

[Alphamale]

I've been flying Sims off and on for over 20 years and Longbow II was definately the best hands down. I miss Skunk Works software company. Needless to say, I look forward to see what DCS can do with the Apache although it will be a while, and it wont even be the Longbow :(

 

I understand why they didnt do the Apache first, if they did, there'd be a lot less buyers for Ka-50 or any other chopper sim.

 

But I'll say this for sure, I miss those Hellfires missles. I cant stand the Ka-50 missles. Watching a Hellfire shoot up and come straight down on those enemy tanks hard is a sight to behold.

 

Oh BTW, +1 for TRACK IR :thumbup:. Mandatory for WWII sims.

 

I've never pre-ordered a game, but for the Apache sans the radar suite, count me in. I have a ThunderSeat cockpit chair and side consoles. I got this about 10 years ago specifically for Longbow II. The chair has a 12-inch woofer in the seat and when you unleashed hell with the 30 mm chain gun, you felt every round. That was state-of-the-art back then. Can't wait for my TrackIR which is on its way. I have seen some homemade cockpits that tied into the switch you'd normally use the mouse to flip in the game. I suppose it doesn't get much closer to real than that.