VR and fully clickable cockpits

[TheWarsimmer]

So the topic that's been brought up a million times, the one that's beating a dead horse, it's back. Fully clickable cockpits will be coming to flight sims eventually, and just like playing in VR, we won't go back once we reach the point. Vox Machinae is doing it right, and it's being praised. Flight sims are way more complex, but it's still coming when we get gloves. Preferably, I would like to use the actual joystick for tactile response, but have a button or a sensor to tell when you release the stick to operate other sections of the cockpit. The majority of players (steam reviews etc) are praising the immersion it brings. The haters can come if they want, but it's going to be awesome when we finally get this in legit flight sims. 

 

Edited October 19, 2018 by baylor703

[=SqSq=switch201]

They have full VR cockpits for a couple of civilian flight sims now at this point. It is really the next level of immersion for sure, and I would love if they offered it in this sim at some point in the future. 

 

That being said, I find it pretty difficult to control the plane with a virtual stick. I mean it's doable just fine, but I would be curious to see how it goes in a combat scenario, without any type of feedback.

 

Also the Devs have already stated many many many many many many many many many many MANY times that they won't be doing fully clickable cockpits. so if VR hands were implemented, you would only be controlling the stick and whatever else you need for engine management. And if that's the case I'm not so sure it's worth doing honestly. the VR hands really shine when you are able to interact with every little switch and knob which this sim won't be doing any time soon.

 

But yeah if you haven't already I would look on Steam for some of the other civilian flight sims that are VR compatible (x-plane 11 is one, but there are others) and try out some of their fully clickable with VR hands cockpits. its really awsome 

[TheWarsimmer]

Are you saying x-plane has clickable cockpits that you can operate with VR hand controls? That's incredible if they're already there, thanks for the info. I'll check it out.

 

I agree that a virtual stick would be difficult. Ideally, you should have a real joystick to play on like we do now, and then once you take your hands off the stick the game should somehow sense it, or you should be able to press a button on the stick, and put you in to "free-hand" mode to do do CEM. If that makes sense.

 

 

[=SqSq=switch201]

It does make sense. In my opinion though its not worth doing unless everything (or close to everything) is interactable and clickable (think full start up procedure), and since that's not going to happen any time soon, I am not sure how much value adding in VR hands to this game would bring. The only thing I can think is that it would help people who had VR but didn't already have a joystick.

 

But yeah X-plane 11, P3D, and microsoft flight sim X (with flyinside plugin), all have fully clickable VR cockpits, and there might be more I am unaware of. the only one from that list I haven't tried is P3D, and I prefer x-plane to Flyinside, because you don't have to deal with installing a seperate application on top of the Sim. If you are interested I would say give it a try for sure.

Edited October 19, 2018 by =SqSq=switch201

[=EXPEND=Tripwire]

Only way I see click pits really working in VR, is hand/finger tracking with gloves. 

The stick and its forces cant be replaced for input without a lot of loss of feeling.

 

DCS has clickpits. Wait for the hand/glove tracking hardware to mature and be tested there before fussing over pushing developers for click pits here.

Also...  wow the guy in that video was rather difficult to watch. Cringe-worthy some of it, but yes, it shows that the future will be cockpit interaction.

[dburne]

Whenever I go through a startup routine in DCS, I use my Oculus Touch Controllers.

I also have the mouse functions assigned to my HOTAS, have used that also.

 

I will say though, it is not often I do that.

Edited October 19, 2018 by dburne

[OrLoK]

I use a clicky pit in VR and just use my mouse to operate buttons etc.

 

Xplane.

[TheWarsimmer]

Gloves will definitely be where it's at. I wasn't aware xplane and DCS already had this tech integrated. And yeah tripwire the dude was for sure a bit cringey?

Edited October 19, 2018 by baylor703

[dburne]

I think Oculus has been working on glove tech for a while now...

 

 

[WIS-Redcoat]

I just tried x-plane a few days ago and I can say that I am quite impressed with clickable cockpits.  I also thought it wouldn’t work well but it’s quite amazing.  I generally just fly with one hand on the stick and keep one of the controllers in my lap when I need to click something.  Try it out.

 

pro:  almost no key mapping (it’s all there)

 

con:  you have to know what your doing

[dburne]

25 minutes ago, WIS-Redcoat said:

I just tried x-plane a few days ago and I can say that I am quite impressed with clickable cockpits.  I also thought it wouldn’t work well but it’s quite amazing.  I generally just fly with one hand on the stick and keep one of the controllers in my lap when I need to click something.  Try it out.

 

 

Umm ok, now that is a little TMI !

 

[[CPT]Crunch]

https://vrgineers.com/xtal/

Gloves aren't necessary, these guys are using hands only.

[ironk79]

On 10/19/2018 at 4:14 PM, baylor703 said:

Are you saying x-plane has clickable cockpits that you can operate with VR hand controls? That's incredible if they're already there, thanks for the info. I'll check it out.

 

I agree that a virtual stick would be difficult. Ideally, you should have a real joystick to play on like we do now, and then once you take your hands off the stick the game should somehow sense it, or you should be able to press a button on the stick, and put you in to "free-hand" mode to do do CEM. If that makes sense.

 

 

I would be happy with a solution that tracks your head movement with a little dot (activated with button on your joystick) when you look around in your cockpit, highlighting buttons or lever/ wheels. i find it difficult to set that many buttons including exotic ones (like radiator settings). All my aircombat relevant actions are on  my joystick(s), but other aircraft specific function i dont use very often beg fog a solution like this, since the actual button in the cockpit is alraedy there. This together with voice command for wingman and you are set for VR, without braeking immersion an gameflow.

[TWHYata_PL]

so.... enjoy this vid : 

 

[TheWarsimmer]

Ok, so I just tried DCS with touch controls, and wow. It adds so much to the experience, and it simplifies having to put everything on a hotas or joystick. I just used a stick and pedals, and mapped only a few buttons like trim, and did away with the Hotas completely. It is so much more intuitive and immersive. I will be trying xplane soon. Thank you for all of the suggestions everyone. Il2 has to consider this in the future. It is hard to go back.

4 hours ago, TWHYata_PL said:

so.... enjoy this vid : 

 

What is this?

Edited October 22, 2018 by baylor703

[THERION]

On 10/20/2018 at 3:27 AM, [CPT]Crunch said:

https://vrgineers.com/xtal/

Gloves aren't necessary, these guys are using hands only.

 

Uhm - did you see the price tag? 4900 EUR - not very cheap if you ask me...

[TP_Silk]

My wish list for VR doesn't even come close to incorporating haptic gloves and clickpits at present. I would much rather that things like resolution, field of view and even making the headset cooler to wear were addressed before even thinking of things like clickpits. Yes, I know some love them, but personally I would probably not use that functionality anyway as I really couldn't be bothered.

[dburne]

Higher resolution, little larger FOV while maintaining current performance levels somehow would definitely get my interest.

[BlackMambaMowTin]

9 hours ago, dburne said:

Higher resolution, little larger FOV while maintaining current performance levels somehow would definitely get my interest.

 

 

[A_radek]

Raising or lowering I-16 gear was intense in the old il2 series. That compared to a virtual hand crank located by the floor needing a minute of love each landing and take off, and I will remember mashing shift-G fondly.