Track IR...worth it?

[Commissar]

I recently bought TrackIR5. If smooth and quick ability to get and keep situational awareness is important to you then yeah, it's worth it. However, I can certainly understand anyone's hesitation due to the cost. I've been playing sims since the days of the original Gunship by Microprose. Not having to fumble with an 8-way hat while in any kind of dogfight is truly freeing and allows you to perform a lot better.

 

I've gone back and reinstalled IL2 now that I have TrackIR. Just amazing. Half my battle was just keeping my eye on a fast moving enemy and now I can focus on other things than trying to use a hat to do that. At some point I will reinstall old MS Flight Simulator so I can use TrackIR to fly the Mi-24 over San Fransicso.

[Jack McCoy]

I want my (TrackIR) SDK!

 

I don't think they're too snobby about who gets it, I got one and I only had a very hazy product description. If you've got an actual working example, they'll help you out.

 

I got the opposite impression. I was asked to provide a description of the project, which I promptly did, including vision/concept and screen shots. They did not ask for a demo. I never heard back from them.

 

What's the harm in giving me full enjoyability (including getting data) from my TrackIR? I guess they're afraid I'll sell their sensitive data to the Russians! (I'm a Cold War child ;))

 

I vowed never to encourage people to buy TrackIR, but that would be unfair to my fellow simmers - it's just too good a peripheral to pass on.

[wickedpenguin]

Is there any lag with TrackIR?

 

I bought Cachya recently, which works quite well (and costs only $15). The only issue is a lag delay of about 1/2 to a full second. Under patrol and standoff engagement flight conditions it's not bad, but if you're in the thick of combat it can get quite disorienting.

 

"SAM launch, 2 o'clock." I whip my head to the right (naturally) to spot it. The lag means I've got to wait until my view catches up. Great, there's the SAM. As I'm maneuvering and dumping flares, I swing my head to face forward again. More lag. I overshoot my head turn, and now I'm looking out the left side. It takes it time to catch up as I try to face forward again. By this point I'm freaking dizzy and I'm literally fighting my view.

 

Like I said, it works great most of the time. However, when I demand rapid response, it falls short. It'd be perfect for a non-combat sim like X-Plane or Microsoft FSX, but it's too laggy for the "knife fighting" we do in DCS:BS.

 

What's TrackIR's response time?

[Kuky]

I love flight sims and have been toying around with the ideas for years. I know people swear by the track ir but, is it really worth it? Are there enough game THAT IT ACTUALLY REALLY IMPROVES to make the purchase worthwhile? Thanks

 

 

YES

[Jack McCoy]

What's TrackIR's response time?

 

I never tried Cachya, but TIR4 is VERY responsive.

[Moreno]

 

I bought Cachya recently, which works quite well (and costs only $15). The only issue is a lag delay of about 1/2 to a full second. Under patrol and standoff engagement flight conditions it's not bad, but if you're in the thick of combat it can get quite disorienting.

 

 

Looks like you should have saved those 15 bucks for a TrackIR !!! No lag there... ;)

[Sarge55]

I have TIR4 and it's smooth as silk, no lag.

[wickedpenguin]

Looks like you should have saved those 15 bucks for a TrackIR !!! No lag there... ;)

 

Just loan me the remaining $144.95 + tax/shipping for the TIR 5 + Track Clip and we'll call it squared. :music_whistling:

 

At the very least, Cachya has shown me the possibilities a head-tracker offers. And, for my non-combat simming, it works wonderfully. I look at it this way: you gotta drive the sub-compact before upgrading to the luxury sports car to appreciate the difference.

 

I'll definitely be upgrading to TIR at somepoint. By the time I can afford it, though, it'll be TIR 17.5 and we'll be viewing our games via optical nerve implants. :)

Edited May 24, 2009 by wickedpenguin

[coder1024]

there are really 2 questions. 1) head tracking? 2) which head tracking product?

 

Head tracking no longer necessarily means TrackIR. There's FreeTrack (you have to build your own target with LEDs) and then Cachya (you just print out a target and tape it to a hat) which both use your webcam and are low cost alternatives to TrackIR.

 

You'll find a range of opinions on which head tracking product is best and whether or not its worth paying for TrackIR or getting one of the alternatives.

 

However, I think most will agree, going with a head tracking product greatly improves the game. Regardless of which one you go with, you'll find it to be a whole different experience.

 

So, yea, I'd say definitely go with some sort of head tracking product as its definitely a game changer.

[PoleCat]

TrackIR is the original, is natively supported by our sims, and works the best out of the three available options IMHO. Check each of the web sites for these products read and dig deep and I am fairly certain you will come to this conclusion. If you can afford it the TIR 4/5 is second to none. If not then take your pick of the two lesser alternatives. They are not as good as TIR but they are clearly decent free/low cost alternatives. If nothing else these will help you decide whether or not to invest in a TIR unit down the road if the alternatives do not meet with your expectations but the head tracking concept does.

 

I think you will like it very much.

 

Out

Edited May 24, 2009 by PoleCat

[Mugenjin]

pff, the question is not if TrackIR is worth it, but which one is worth it ^^

 

Either TIR4 or TIR5. I'm still not convinced yet, that an upgrade from 4 to 5 will have noticeable, drastic improvements. I'm happy to be proven wrong though ^^

[Dusty Rhodes]

I have TIR 3 with 6DOF and do not see a reason to upgrade to 4 or 5.

[Safari Ken]

Seems like the main advantage the TIR 5 over 4 would be for people who sit close to the camera. The wider field of view will make it so you can move further from side to side, without losing the tracking. That's probably not a reason to upgrade if you already have a 4, but it's still a nice improvement.

[speed-of-heat]

I love flight sims and have been toying around with the ideas for years. I know people swear by the track ir but, is it really worth it? Are there enough game THAT IT ACTUALLY REALLY IMPROVES to make the purchase worthwhile? Thanks

 

oh yes:thumbup:

[Giantsfan24]

I see I've spawned quite a discussion. We, rest well friends. I just made a deal with a member on these boards and won his TIR4 on ebay. Will let you know when it arrives and how I adjust to it. To be perfectly honest, the vid of the guy playing with ARMA 2 put me over the top since I am a HUGE OFP fan and think ARMA 2 will erase the bitter taste ARMA left in our mouths.

 

Also, I am looking forward to not having to pause every time time I want to use the click-able cockpit in the DCS series. Thanks for the advice and keep 'em coming.

[Coax]

TrackIR is the original, is natively supported by our sims, and works the best out of the three available options IMHO. Check each of the web sites for these products read and dig deep and I am fairly certain you will come to this conclusion. If you can afford it the TIR 4/5 is second to none. If not then take your pick of the two lesser alternatives. They are not as good as TIR but they are clearly decent free/low cost alternatives. If nothing else these will help you decide whether or not to invest in a TIR unit down the road if the alternatives do not meet with your expectations but the head tracking concept does.

 

I think you will like it very much.

 

Out

 

coder1024 got it 100% correct but ED will never agree because they are in contract with TIR. Polecat's argument is like saying you need to have a Ferrari to drive to work and anything else is only good for testing the concept of having a car to drive to work, before purchasing the Ferrari. :rolleyes:

[EtherealN]

Well Coax, there's more to it than just being "in contract".

 

DCS:BS supports TrackIR natively.

 

From my understanding Cachya will work through emulating a more traditional control that the view gets linked to. This introduces a potential problem. From the discussions I've seen and taken part in here, it does not seem like that should be anything that should scare people that are thinking about getting Cachya instead, but they do need to know that there is a small element of DIY to it. (Emphasis on small.)

 

And PoleCat's argument actually says "clearly decent". I'd say you are exhaggerating his words through the Ferrari example. I'd say it's more akin to either getting yourself a new Volvo S70 - best guarantee of function - or getting a used Volvo 850, which will definitely do the job of getting you to work but there are a few caveats. (Caveats that are probably not that bad considering that you'll get that 850 at 10% the purchase price of the new S70.)

 

IMO, that's a good way to look at the TrackIR vs Cachya/Freetrack debate. For most people the S70 will be nice but not completely necessary, and the 850 will do the job. So people with extra money on the books will get the S70, people that are more careful with their cash will get the 850.

[Jagged]

Currently testing Free-Track, if I got extra buck surely I go for TrackIR..

[Bulletstop]

I have used trackir for the past 3 years and to be honest I can no longer fly any flight sim with out it.

So I have to say it is worth it and once you have it and get used to it you will never know how you flew with out it.

Bullet

[LastRifleRound]

I will say if you're thinking about getting Cachya know that it requires a significant investment of time compared to TrackIR to get it working right, but it DOES work.

 

I still plan on getting TrackIR, as with certain light conditions or times of day it is very difficult to get cachya to track efficiently.

 

I will say that I was quite functional without it with my X52 because i had the mini-mouse, and could map many of the functions to my buttons instead of mouse clicking them. SO......I think a good HOTAS is #1. After that, yeah head tracking is pretty sweet

[Jack McCoy]

I still plan on getting TrackIR, as with certain light conditions or times of day it is very difficult to get cachya to track efficiently.

 

TrackIR is also somewhat sensitive to lights in front of the camera such as 60W+ lightbulbs or indirect sunlight bouncing off a window frame.

[PoleCat]

TrackIR is also somewhat sensitive to lights in front of the camera such as 60W+ lightbulbs or indirect sunlight bouncing off a window frame.

 

This has been dealt with to some degree in the TIR 5 software which also works for TIR 4 and soon 3 w/vector. It allows you to hone in on extreneous lights sources with in the camreas view and configure the camera to ignore them.

 

Out

[LastRifleRound]

True, but Cachya also has trouble with aspect, camera positioning, etc. if they are chagned you must change all the settings. Probably not a big issue for most people, but I use a laptop for Black Shark, so it's a big deal for me.

[Count Sessine]

In RL I work with digital marketing and communications. Are any of you guys familiar with the notion of 'seeding'?

 

It's a fairly lame marketing ploy that has a bunch of people, who are paid by a commercial entity, travel the web and remind forum denizens, such as us, that a given product exists and maybe invite to praise of said product. I'm not saying that the OP works as a seeder, and please note that I do myself own a TIR (and like it), but my admittedly somewhat old blasée eyes seem to keep noticing the same kind of TIR posts all around the part of the web which concerns itself with sims and wargames.

 

Oh well, probably just a coincidence. I'm sure Naturalpoint wouldn't bore us, its core clients, with seeding, instead of paying for regular advertising like everyone else does when they have products to sell.

[PoleCat]

pff, the question is not if TrackIR is worth it, but which one is worth it ^^

 

Either TIR4 or TIR5. I'm still not convinced yet, that an upgrade from 4 to 5 will have noticeable, drastic improvements. I'm happy to be proven wrong though ^^

 

In the NP forums users who have upgraded have reported having noticed perceptible improvements in stability and tracking of the 5 over the 4. I can say from first hand knowledge having had every TIR ever made that each and every one of them improves perceptibly on the hardware and tracking. I would think that the TIR 5 will be no exception.

 

In regards to statements about my views on the other alternatives, as with most things in life I feel you get what you pay for. You can make decisions for yourselves of course but for me the old rules hold tried & true. I will call them decent free/low cost alternatives as I have but IMHO they are not on a par with TIR in terms of hardware/software.

 

Of course there is no "need" to upgrade if you are happy with what you have. What is wrong with every one having the option to buy a new TIR 5 if they so desire without being told how "unnecessary" or "overpriced" it is by all those that don't want one/can't afford one/don't think its worth it/?

 

Why the need to prove that TIR5 is improved? It is clearly improved in hardware and concept and all the older ones that "work fine" for so many of us now cost even less and will be supported by newer improved software. Benefits none of us would have without TIR5. All you need to be able to do is read to figure that out.

 

In a few months when the price of the TIR5 settles to the average selling price of the TIR 4 there will be no more need to question it. Those that are buying new will likely opt for the better hardware for the same price they would have paid for the TIR4 only the year before, I know I would.

 

I like seeing the products we use being improved upon, supported, and upgraded. I see no reason not to whole heartedly support such an outstanding product and company.

 

Out

Edited May 25, 2009 by PoleCat