SCSimulation's Helios

[hassata]

Can anyone from SCS indicate whether Helios will allow resizing and movement to a second monitor of (e.g.) just the MFD (as in MFD Extractor for Falcon), then to a third monitor of just (e.g.) the Basic Six. Opening multiple instances and movement to separate monitors can be done in TouchBuddy, if that is any help.

 

Thanks

[Flim]

Yes, we have Gadroc testing 6 monitors right now. We are not doing the in game extracting(falcon mfd's), but providing the gauges and virtual cockpit parts, such as bezels and panels, A-10 FMS/bezels etc...

 

I'm testing 3 touchscreens with a full F-16 cockpit layout, but with a click I can easily switch to the black shark cockpit which populates across my 3 touchscreens.

 

We are in testing and will post more info/videos soon showing what HELIOS can do.

Edited September 4, 2010 by Flim

[Gadroc]

Switches and gauges can be re-sized and placed on any monitor, but in game displays (like the mfd contents, shkval and abris) are limited by all the same restrictions that they have in game today.

 

Helios is a hybrid of your joystick mappings software, touchpal and virtual panel all with a WYSIWYG editor. I hope to get time this week to do some preliminary write up and screenshots, but my day job has been really crazy the last few months so no promises.

[hassata]

"in game displays (like the mfd contents, shkval and abris) are limited by all the same restrictions that they have in game today."

 

I guess that means we can (through the sim's cfg files) have mfd content display on a 2nd monitor attached the pc running the simulation (I believe thats possible with BS)?

 

Also, just to clarify, will we be able to run gauges on a second pc on the network (as I believe is possible with LOVP)?

 

Many thanks for the info and the hard work

Edited September 3, 2010 by hassata

[Flim]

The in game extracted data (mfd data) --- we do not control with Helios.

 

We can move the virtual gauges ( hsi, adi, rmi, etc...) to different screens on the same and networked computers.

[hassata]

Clear-looking forward to it.

[power5]

"We can"

 

How easy is this accomplished? I remember when BS was young people were experimenting with multi setups and I got mine to work with a second monitor showing the Abris/Shkval. Setting it up was a pain in the butt, and would have never been possible without much smarter people than me figuring it out. Is there going to be some sort of GUI or will it all be in text editor?

[hassata]

As I understand it, Helios will not address MFD output (similar to ABRIS/SHKVAL). That can only be done through A-10C and its associated files and options. I take that to mean that you will only be able to output to monitors connected to the PC running the simulation. In terms of difficulty, I have read that the process of exporting output has been streamlined and made more accessible. Don't think you will get many answers though, because it appears that aspect is covered by the NDA.

 

EDit: I expect that the movement of gauges etc. through HELIOS will be extremely straight forward (possibly click and drag to place and click and drag to resize).

[Gadroc]

Spot on hassata.

[Flim]

hey guys, here is a little vid showing Helios in action.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYwmz8vASec&feature=player_embedded

[Callsign.Vega]

Look's kinda cool. Can I ask what is the real appeal to this touchscreen setup versus just making real switches etc? Is it a lot cheaper?

[trigen]

Perhaps not so much cheaper to begin with but in return you will get more than one cockpit. in the long run it will pay off.

 

That being said and if you are a one aircraft guy who loves it more than your wife i would prefer having the touch of a real knob and toggles , nothing will beat that

 

Your preference, i'l stick with TB for now

 

but whops lets have Sc sim's answer that one aswell

[Flim]

Cost is big , and touchscreens are getting cheaper. A physical cockpit with real switches will cost much more then a touch setup. Helios will allow a user to build his favorite aircraft cockpit (Virtual), program it in the any sim, and then use it. I say Falcon, DCS BS, and A-10 will be mostly used and we are currently designing full virtual cockpits that will fit one screen or multiple monitors. It is a very versatile way of being able to use one setup and please yourself with more then one sim. Me personally, I have had a f-16 cockpit with switches, cool yes, but sometimes I like to jump in the KA50 and take a spin. My f-16 pit was useless for the KA50. Now, I can rotate my lcd's to the position desired, load my aircraft profile, and watch the screens populate with a functional cockpit of the particular sim I'm flying. The software is awesome and is the most fun I have had in pit building.

Edited September 13, 2010 by Flim

[Callsign.Vega]

Interesting! What are the cost of those large touch-screens? Since you aren't going for super realism without real switches and gauges, does using the touch-screens save you any time over say, looking down on your regular displays(s) with track IR and just clicking what you need with the mouse? Either way you would be removing your hand(s) from the HOTAS.

[Flim]

Interesting! What are the cost of those large touch-screens? Since you aren't going for super realism without real switches and gauges, does using the touch-screens save you any time over say, looking down on your regular displays(s) with track IR and just clicking what you need with the mouse? Either way you would be removing your hand(s) from the HOTAS.

 

 

The ones I use is the HP2105tm and the Acer 23 incher, they cost any where from $250 each to $320. The touchscreens do help with interaction, basically it is like your in the plane with very close layouts of panels. I say it is much faster typing on the ICP in falcon then if I used the mouse. I would also say the same for the mfd's. The big thing is using track IR and trying to nail a switch with the mouse, you have to keep your head still. It works ok, but the touch eliminates that issue totally. So, I would say yes to it is faster and easier with fixed instruments.

 

One thing is we are going for realism, just in a new way. The cockpits will have the same function as the one in sim.

[Gadroc]

Look's kinda cool. Can I ask what is the real appeal to this touchscreen setup versus just making real switches etc? Is it a lot cheaper?

 

There are a few advantages to a touch screen setup. Fist as everyone else has pointed out is versatility. Being able to just pull up a cockpit out of a menu is great! It is not the same as having all the switches, but pretty close once you have a decent set of screens surrounding you.

 

Second is nice with DCS based sims is the switches follow the in-game cockpit. So you don't have to worry about resetting everything for the next mission. For Falcon and others where you are just interfacing via keyboard commands you still have to worry about sync.

 

Perhaps not so much cheaper to begin with but in return you will get more than one cockpit. in the long run it will pay off.

 

That being said and if you are a one aircraft guy who loves it more than your wife i would prefer having the touch of a real knob and toggles , nothing will beat that

 

Your preference, i'l stick with TB for now

 

but whops lets have Sc sim's answer that one aswell

 

It can be a LOT cheaper to start off with. You can really get started with just a $340 touch screen and get a long way. But it all depends on what your goals are for your simulation pit.

 

I'd tend to agree that there is a great feeling of all the proper switches, but it is locked down to just one pit. I personally tend to jump around a lot.

 

Interesting! What are the cost of those large touch-screens? Since you aren't going for super realism without real switches and gauges, does using the touch-screens save you any time over say, looking down on your regular displays(s) with track IR and just clicking what you need with the mouse? Either way you would be removing your hand(s) from the HOTAS.

 

Yes it does save time. It's MUCH easier than trying to hold your head steady with Track IR and then use the mouse. Helios also has the capability to render gauges (as seen in the A10 pit we did for the HOTAS Wartog launch). We'll have much more on that shortly as we are getting close to a feature complete panel editor, so I can switch gears back to drawing out all the gauges.

[hassata]

In the youtube video, I noticed the F4 radar screen was extracted to the Helios MFD. Is this something that may be possible with the A10 (moving map vs. sniper)?

 

Thanks

[Flim]

DCS a-10 will do the same, but the extraction is behind the Helios mfd, not part of our software.

[Cowboy10uk]

Love the Vid, The more I see of this project, The more I love it. The idea of having cockpit sets for A10, BS And F4 is just stunning, all my fav sims in one place, Now I just have to figure a way to swap over the Screen covers, so each cockpit, has the holes in the right place. Thinking, 3 cut Mfd boards, with quick release clips on sides. OK the TM Warthog stick, will be the first purchase, with This software being a very close second, Just hope I wont be shocked by the price, although It Will be worth it. :)

 

Great Job Guys.

[Flim]

It is exciting, and a fun project to be part of.

 

The cost of the software will be affordable, we want to make it available to anyone.

[Cowboy10uk]

It is exciting, and a fun project to be part of.

 

The cost of the software will be affordable, we want to make it available to anyone.

 

 

I knew we could count on you guys. Looking forward to it.

[Oscar]

Great video! Answered a lot of my initial questions. Looking forward to more. I could definitely be persuaded to pick up your frame, seat and software as I do both F4 and soon DCS:WH - I'm just a short distance away, and this setup would be a good replacement for my current haphazard/kludgy setup! Will be watching for more videos.

 

Postscript: Can panel/gauge designs be exchanged amoung Helios users?

Edited September 13, 2010 by Oscar

[trigen]

Guess i know what i'l be getting for Christmas this year.

 

Visuals Check

 

Buttons to come

[hassata]

Is IPad functionality a possiblity down the line?

[PeterP]

Is IPad functionality a possiblity down the line?

check this post - http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=978157#post978157

there are tools that mirror the desktop on iphone/ipod. and it's free

Edited September 15, 2010 by PeterP