VR movement to mimic TrackIR movement

[CIA_Matabo]

I've tried BoX in VR and I really like it.  The only problem that I have is not being able to look behind me.  VR movement is 1:1 and because I'm 67 years old I can't twist my body around to check my six.  Is there any way to have VR movement be adjustable so that we old timers can check our six.  Until this happens I can not fly in VR.

[GrendelsDad]

Metabo not the exact answer...I too have a hard time looking around. I have a swivel chair that works wonderfully

[Bearfoot]

I think adjusting VR so you lose 1-to-1 with physical movement throws away a lot of the situational awareness gains of VR. I am a little younger, but I, too, have a lot of difficulty checking six. I find that a slight roll and pitch up, with bending my head back as far as it can go (like I am trying to look up at the stars) covers that sector well in conjunction with the usual twisting. Basically, for better or worse, flying habits have to be modified from the unrealistic indulgence of the Owl-vision TrackIR gives you ...

Edited April 30, 2017 by Bearfoot

[HagarTheHorrible]

The best way, with the least effort is to look one way, left or right, hit recenter key then look around over the opposite shoulder.  When you get board with that side, still looking over your shoulder hit recenter again then look around over the opposite shoulder.  Pain free checking six.  It's not wonderfully useful in a knife fight but with 1:1 tracking and VR you should have an advantage about building a mental picture of the airspace around you and Bandit vectors.  A little bit of practice to get used to it and make the actions second nature help considerably.  I prefer it to the swivel chair, letting go of the joystick option, i find that far more awkward.

Edited April 30, 2017 by HagarTheHorrible

[GrendelsDad]

The best way, with the least effort is to look one way, left or right, hit recenter key then look around over the opposite shoulder.  When you get board with that side, still looking over your shoulder hit recenter again then look around over the opposite shoulder.  Pain free checking six.  It's not wonderfully useful in a knife fight but with 1:1 tracking and VR you should have an advantage about building a mental picture of the airspace around you and Bandit vectors.  A little bit of practice to get used to it and make the actions second nature help considerably.  I prefer it to the swivel chair, letting go of the joystick option, i find that far more awkward.

Hagar I agree...I attached my stick and throttle to the chair.

[HagarTheHorrible]

If there is an issue with the re-centering trick, it's trying to remember to first look the opposite way to the direction you're wanting to arc around, before re-centering, so that you can check six towards the inside of your turn.  Again it's just a question of practice to help with muscle memory.

 

I have my stick floor and centrally mounted with an extension.  I feel having the controls as close to where they are in the Vcockpit helps with immersion.  Occasionally I've tried to grab the Virtual stick by mistake.

Edited April 30, 2017 by HagarTheHorrible

[Bearfoot]

Occasionally I've tried to grab the Virtual stick by mistake.

 

Ha, ha! Yep. The number of times I have tried to flip a switch or grab a lever or just rest my arm on the cockpit edge ... I still get taken by surprise when I grab or otherwise strike air. However, part of the reason for me always falling for it is my throttle and center-mounted stick are actually more less in "correct" position, so when I reach for them in the virtual cockpit I actually manage to grab them in this physical world, thus keeping the illusion going ...

[dburne]

Ha, ha! Yep. The number of times I have tried to flip a switch or grab a lever or just rest my arm on the cockpit edge ... I still get taken by surprise when I grab or otherwise strike air. However, part of the reason for me always falling for it is my throttle and center-mounted stick are actually more less in "correct" position, so when I reach for them in the virtual cockpit I actually manage to grab them in this physical world, thus keeping the illusion going ...

 

Yep same here as well, it helps for sure.

[CIA_Matabo]

Metabo not the exact answer...I too have a hard time looking around. I have a swivel chair that works wonderfully

I started building control shelves on each arm of a swivel chair so letting go of the sticks is not necessary.  You will lose control of the rudders but only for the time to look back.  I have not tried this as I have not completed the build.

 

CIA_Metabo 

[TG-55Panthercules]

I also have some neck issues from time to time, so whipping my Rift around to check 6 can be an issue.  I can generally do OK in my swivel chair without completely losing the other controls, but it takes some doing.

 

One suggestion I'd have for you, that I've found very helpful - you might want to try flying some of the twin engine/2-seaters (like the Bf-110, one of my personal favorites anyway, but there are several other interesting choices, like the Peshka, or Ju-88).  You can't see squat out the back of most of those anyway, and you generally have a gunner back there to help alert you to enemies in the rear, so the downside of VR 6-checking doesn't seem to be as pronounced as in some of the single-seaters.

 

Certainly worth a try before giving up on flying BoX in VR altogether.

[SCG_Fenris_Wolf]

The real pilots used to keep the chin on their chest when turning around to look over their shoulder. Works surprisingly well tbh, I do the same in VR and in the car as well.

 

In a Bf109, you'd sit straight up anyway.

[CIA_Matabo]

How would you get the developers to look into the 'VR check 6' problem. I think it would be great if we could set up a toggle to toggle front view or rear view. Once in rear view head movement would be 1:1. Toggling from front view to rear view would have to be instantaneous, this would eliminate any sickness due to non 1:1 movement.  What do you other VR flyers think about the TOGGLE  'VR check 6' idea?  To be competitive with the guys that use TrackIR we really need this, not to mention that i"m 70 years old and I just don't have full motion in my neck to look over my shoulder. So let's see if we can get the developers interested in adding a 'toggle 6' feature for VR.  I do love flying in VR.

 

[Talisman]

11 hours ago, CIA_Metabo said:

How would you get the developers to look into the 'VR check 6' problem. I think it would be great if we could set up a toggle to toggle front view or rear view. Once in rear view head movement would be 1:1. Toggling from front view to rear view would have to be instantaneous, this would eliminate any sickness due to non 1:1 movement.  What do you other VR flyers think about the TOGGLE  'VR check 6' idea?  To be competitive with the guys that use TrackIR we really need this, not to mention that i"m 70 years old and I just don't have full motion in my neck to look over my shoulder. So let's see if we can get the developers interested in adding a 'toggle 6' feature for VR.  I do love flying in VR.

 

 

Hello Metabo,

 

Perhaps this will help:

 

Example:  You want to check behind to the right.  Step one, quickly hit centre VR view once, step two, quickly look behind your left wing and hit centre VR view once, now immediately look behind to the right over your shoulder and your in-game head will be turned to the right much more than your real life head and you can check six easy (just like TIR)!

With practise this becomes second nature and quick.  I keep my neck warm with a silk scarf, or my old motor cycle head-over, when flying with VR because I am getting on in years too and the scarf helps keep my neck muscles nice and warm for quick movement, LOL.

 

P.S.  I have my 'centre VR view' input button in a very quick and easy place to use, as I use it a lot.

 

Happy landings,

 

56RAF_Talisman

[haltux]

Why don't you just invest in a rotating chair?

[CIA_Matabo]

On 1/15/2020 at 8:58 AM, haltux said:

Why don't you just invest in a rotating chair?

I did but by the time you rotate to see 6 your feet are off the rudder pedals and hands off the joystick. I chair is not the answer. There are some third party apps out there now, open vr advanced settings used with driver4VR that will allow snap views to 45,90 or 180 degrees while in VR. I'm now trying to get that set up but having a hard time finding step by step instructions.

Edited September 6, 2020 by CIA_Metabo

[dburne]

Snap views in VR, ugh.

But to each their own.

[C6_lefuneste]

14 hours ago, CIA_Metabo said:

I did but by the time you rotate to see 6 your feet are off the rudder pedals and hands off the joystick. I chair is not the answer. There are some third party apps out there now, open vr advanced settings used with driver4VR that will allow snap views to 45,90 or 180 degrees while in VR. I'm now trying to get that set up but having a hard time finding step by step instructions.

It's working well, even if you'll have to recenter your view after releasing key.

Where are you stuck ? I though my documentation was clear anough...

[HR_Zunzun]

18 hours ago, dburne said:

Snap views in VR, ugh.

But to each their own.

 

In MP if you want to remain competitive you need it.

As ugly as it is, it let you overcome the limitations of the current VR headsets (limited total FOV and lack of clarity at the edges).

 

[ACG_Macro]

I use rotating chair.

 

I agree, having used trackir for years and now VR more recently, in a knife fight, Trackir have a big advantage.  Getting bounced and a lot of other situations are irrelevant to this but in a furball and turn fights the "owl neck" definitely has advantage.    I think limiting the view for both systems equally, and increasing (or something else entirely) the G force effects when pulling high g maneuvers while looking backwards would be good imo.  I would like a real pilots opinion on this if there are any:  can you pull high g maneuvers whilst looking behind and/or does it affect your tolerance to the amount of  G's you can stand?  could real pilots see behind their own planes like we do in game?  the seating position would also play a part in this? i.e the reclined seat in a 109 compared to sat up in a spit?

 

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by 71st_AH_Macro

[CIA_Matabo]

21 hours ago, c6_lefuneste said:

It's working well, even if you'll have to recenter your view after releasing key.

Where are you stuck ? I though my documentation was clear anough...

Well first off my OVR Advanced Settings does not look like the ones you have posted and also don't have all the options that your snapshots show. Also I use Oculus Rift and the touch controllers are different than the Vive controllers (no hat switch)(Mini Joystick). Maybe the OVR Advanced settings windows have changed sense you made your instructions. I sure would like to get this set up on my VR for use in IL-2 BoS. I have downloaded driver4VR but have not started to use it yet.

 

Thanks 

[C6_lefuneste]

8 hours ago, CIA_Metabo said:

Well first off my OVR Advanced Settings does not look like the ones you have posted and also don't have all the options that your snapshots show. Also I use Oculus Rift and the touch controllers are different than the Vive controllers (no hat switch)(Mini Joystick). Maybe the OVR Advanced settings windows have changed sense you made your instructions. I sure would like to get this set up on my VR for use in IL-2 BoS. I have downloaded driver4VR but have not started to use it yet.

 

Thanks 

I'll have a look on ovr adv. settings.

[CIA_Matabo]

I no longer have the checking my 6 problem in VR. I went blind in my right eye so no more VR for me. Silver lining.....no more problem checking 6 lol