How to play Il-2 GB offline with Oculus Rift S

[puyo3]

I am a very new to both Il-2 Great Battles and Oculus, as I just purchased both here in the last few months. I presently have pretty bad internet connection, so was expecting to play offline. I did the online portion of the set up of Steam, Il-2 and Oculus at a friends place so as to load everything and have it set up without having to deal with poor connection issues.

 

I was tied up this past month or so and finally sat down to fire up the now loaded computer offline, but ran into trouble. First off, signed into Steam offline; then, as I had briefly flown one initial flight in Flying Circus during my online set up session, I saw that I was not seated in the cockpit, but just behind it up on the aircraft fuselage. From the forum info I understood that I would need to re-do my settings in Oculus. Tried to do this in my offline location, and found I could not, so apparently need to be online for Oculus changes. Then I tried to open Il-2 Great Battles, the home screen came up; it attempted to update, stated there was no internet, and we then just stared at each other. I found no way to select 'play offline' from the menu presented.

Is there not a way to play Il-2 GB offline without any internet connection? I don't need to have updates every session.  I will be getting a greatly upgraded Wi-fi card with a 4 antenna set up [I think from Asus?] so hope to attack the issue with simply improving connectivity, but I am approx. 80'+ from the internet source, so it just may not be remedied with an improved antenna. 

 

I would appreciate any inputs on how to go about playing Il-2 GB offline using Oculus and Steam offline. Or again, must I be online for Oculus if I have the settings all dialed in and only wish to play?

 

Thanks for any and all respondents.

 

 

 

[dburne]

Sorry to say I am pretty sure you got to have internet connection whilst using your Rift.

I an not aware of a work around, you might try a search for that to check out yourself though.

Edited June 14, 2020 by dburne

[firdimigdi]

17 hours ago, puyo3 said:

I would appreciate any inputs on how to go about playing Il-2 GB offline using Oculus and Steam offline. Or again, must I be online for Oculus if I have the settings all dialed in and only wish to play?

 

Good news: you do not require steam - use opencomposite instead (https://gitlab.com/znixian/OpenOVR) - download the 64bit dll, put it in the game's bin/game directory replacing the existing openvr_api.dll (keep a copy of the original if you want). Then create an opencomposite.ini file in the same directory and put these two lines in it:

 

enableAudio=false ; set to true if you want the audio to auto redirect to the oculus headphones or false if you use your own audio device
supersampleRatio=1 ;(adjust this to the amount of supersampling you want)

 

Apart from making it infinitely simpler to play the game without having to load 2 extra apps, it will also result in a performance boost (it did for me at least).

 

Now, with the oculus runtime active (this does not require an internet connection; at worst what will happen is that you'll see a blank store page in the oculus home), you can start the game either by the launcher (if you have minimal internet connection) or by  the game execurable (bin\game\IL-2.exe) if you have no internet whatsoever. After you do so at least once, IL-2 should also appear in your oculus library (as long as you have "Unknown Sources" enabled under Settings>General - then in the library make sure the filter is set to show apps from said unknown sources), if it does not you can add it manually, and then all you have to do is click on it in the library to get you going.

 

15 hours ago, dburne said:

Sorry to say I am pretty sure you got to have internet connection whilst using your Rift.

Not at all - I often play completely offline due to a spotty internet connection.

Edited June 14, 2020 by Firdimigdi

[puyo3]

7 hours ago, Firdimigdi said:

 

Good news: you do not require steam - use opencomposite instead (https://gitlab.com/znixian/OpenOVR) - download the 64bit dll, put it in the game's bin/game directory replacing the existing openvr_api.dll (keep a copy of the original if you want). Then create an opencomposite.ini file in the same directory and put these two lines in it:

 

enableAudio=false ; set to true if you want the audio to auto redirect to the oculus headphones or false if you use your own audio device
supersampleRatio=1 ;(adjust this to the amount of supersampling you want)

 

Apart from making it infinitely simpler to play the game without having to load 2 extra apps, it will also result in a performance boost (it did for me at least).

 

Now, with the oculus runtime active (this does not require an internet connection; at worst what will happen is that you'll see a blank store page in the oculus home), you can start the game either by the launcher (if you have minimal internet connection) or by  the game execurable (bin\game\IL-2.exe) if you have no internet whatsoever. After you do so at least once, IL-2 should also appear in your oculus library (as long as you have "Unknown Sources" enabled under Settings>General - then in the library make sure the filter is set to show apps from said unknown sources), if it does not you can add it manually, and then all you have to do is click on it in the library to get you going.

 

Not at all - I often play completely offline due to a spotty internet connection.

 

Thank you much for your reply, very helpful. I will get to installing as you outlined, may take me some time to get to it as I am once again awash; I may be back to ask some follow ups, hopefully I can get it all loaded as you outlined. Actually, if you would, let me ask you a few follow ups now :

 

create an opencomposite.ini file  - how is this performed, create a folder with this name and place the lines in it?

 

adjust this to the amount of supersampling you want    I have a marginal system, so need to set accordingly. What setting do you recommend? (I take it higher is more resources used)

 

with the oculus runtime active   meaning start Oculus, yes?

 

You can start the game with the launcher  what is this? (I do have minimal internet) 

 

I do need to correct my Oculus settings as I described above (presently seated on top of the fuselage); this I will need to be online to perform, correct? 

 

After installing, I won't start Oculus or Steam, or just Oculus [runtime?]

 

Thanks again, much appreciated.

[dburne]

I did the system wide install of Open Composite and just use it's switcher to switch from Steam VR to Open Composite.

https://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/9nxixe/systemwide_installation_for_opencomposite_released/

 

I use the Oculus Tray Tool to set game profiles up for my SS settings and other things like audio switcher:
https://forums.oculusvr.com/community/discussion/47247/oculus-traytool-supersampling-profiles-hmd-disconnect-fixes-hopefully

[firdimigdi]

10 hours ago, puyo3 said:

 

Thank you much for your reply, very helpful. I will get to installing as you outlined, may take me some time to get to it as I am once again awash; I may be back to ask some follow ups, hopefully I can get it all loaded as you outlined. Actually, if you would, let me ask you a few follow ups now :

 

create an opencomposite.ini file  - how is this performed, create a folder with this name and place the lines in it?

 

adjust this to the amount of supersampling you want    I have a marginal system, so need to set accordingly. What setting do you recommend? (I take it higher is more resources used)

 

with the oculus runtime active   meaning start Oculus, yes?

 

You can start the game with the launcher  what is this? (I do have minimal internet) 

 

I do need to correct my Oculus settings as I described above (presently seated on top of the fuselage); this I will need to be online to perform, correct? 

 

After installing, I won't start Oculus or Steam, or just Oculus [runtime?]

 

Thanks again, much appreciated.

 

create an opencomposite.ini file  - how is this performed, create a folder with this name and place the lines in it?

Open Notepad, paste those lines in, then save it in the game's \bin\game folder as opencomposite.ini

 

I have a marginal system, so need to set accordingly. What setting do you recommend? (I take it higher is more resources used)

Then initially leave it on 1. It is a multiplier so at 1 it renders the game in your headset's native resolution, increasing it makes the game render at a higher resolution - in my config for example I have it set to 1.1 which makes the cockpit gauges clearer to read without overly taxing the system.

 

with the oculus runtime active   meaning start Oculus, yes?

Yes.

 

You can start the game with the launcher  what is this? (I do have minimal internet) 

This is the game's launcher - if you do not have internet at all it won't show "PLAY" as far as I know, it displays some error message like "can't update" or something like that.

 

I do need to correct my Oculus settings as I described above (presently seated on top of the fuselage); this I will need to be online to perform, correct? 

No you don't need to do be online - normally all you need to do is press the "reset VR view" button in game (I don't remember the default for that, you'll have to look it up in the control config screens). If that doesn't do it then it means you accidentally saved your cockpit view with a large offset (that is usually done by pressing the F10 button and it is saved per plane), to reset that go to the game's data\LuaScripts\snapviews folder and delete the .svc file that corresponds to the airplane that exhibits this behaviour.

 

 

After installing, I won't start Oculus or Steam, or just Oculus [runtime?]

The only thing you'll need running is Oculus.

[puyo3]

On 6/14/2020 at 11:03 AM, dburne said:

I did the system wide install of Open Composite and just use it's switcher to switch from Steam VR to Open Composite.

https://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/9nxixe/systemwide_installation_for_opencomposite_released/

 

I use the Oculus Tray Tool to set game profiles up for my SS settings and other things like audio switcher:
https://forums.oculusvr.com/community/discussion/47247/oculus-traytool-supersampling-profiles-hmd-disconnect-fixes-hopefully

 

Is this a different procedure than what Firdimigdi described, as simply download and install? What is system wide vs download and install? 

 

On 6/14/2020 at 9:57 PM, Firdimigdi said:

 

You can start the game with the launcher  what is this? (I do have minimal internet) 

This is the game's launcher - if you do not have internet at all it won't show "PLAY" as far as I know, it displays some error message like "can't update" or something like that.

 

I did install a USB Alfa antenna I use with my laptop, so now have better internet; I updated Oculus and Steam, and reset my view in Oculus settings. With both running, I then opened IL-2 GB; the home screen came up, and within a few moments, rather than the play option, it began to download. It stated "downloading game client", and the file size was 21.28 GB (!!) My download speed is a paltry 1.4 MB/S, so a simple update would take forever [which is why I downloaded all the software at a friends place with excellent internet] 

 

I will be following your instructions and installing Open Composite, but while I'm in the Oculus/Steam/Il-2 GB with weak internet mode, would I need to download and install such a formidable file size every time I start the game? Is there no way to say 'no thanks' and just play the current load I have in this mode?

 

 

On 6/14/2020 at 9:57 PM, Firdimigdi said:

I do need to correct my Oculus settings as I described above (presently seated on top of the fuselage); this I will need to be online to perform, correct? 

No you don't need to do be online - normally all you need to do is press the "reset VR view" button in game (I don't remember the default for that, you'll have to look it up in the control config screens). If that doesn't do it then it means you accidentally saved your cockpit view with a large offset (that is usually done by pressing the F10 button and it is saved per plane), to reset that go to the game's data\LuaScripts\snapviews folder and delete the .svc file that corresponds to the airplane that exhibits this behaviour.

 

I was in the game very briefly, just long enough to verify the game opened and I could at least start a simple flight; just a straight line flight as I had no controllers at the location. I don't recall any adjustments, but if my Oculus reset mentioned above didn't solve the problem, I will use this advise. 

 

thanks much!

 

[puyo3]

Just after posting the above follow ups replies, I attempted to start Il-2 GB with wi-fi turned off. Again, same problem, the opening flash screen appeared, and in the lower red strip stated, 'Failed to update', and that's it. No options to play offline, no PLAY as in your screen shot. I had Steam VR running, I believe it started Oculus, again, all offline, but just the 'Failed to update' message. Please let me know what I might be missing or doing wrong, perhaps the order of starting Steam, Oculus, or what ever is causing this problem.

Thanks for any inputs.

 

[firdimigdi]

It's all in my first post to this thread. Just follow those instructions and you're good to go. I can't think of a simpler way to write it up, sorry.

[puyo3]

54 minutes ago, Firdimigdi said:

It's all in my first post to this thread. Just follow those instructions and you're good to go. I can't think of a simpler way to write it up, sorry.

 

I appreciate your taking the time, and it turns out I somehow messed up downloading the program; I checked the game folder and it's only got bin, data, update folders, and some an uninstall link! So it was attempting to update by loading the whole game, and when I was offline, nothing to start!

 

I loaded DCS the same session successfully, but got Il-2 wrong somehow. You've been very generous in helping me out, if you would please give me a simple outline as to how to install the game onto a drive rather than whatever it did that allowed me to open the game and perform a flight without the full game actually being installed. I would want to install it onto a flash drive via my laptop so to be able to transfer it to my desktop at home [have to use my friends wi-fi as mentioned before]

I did look on the forum under FAQ, but didn't see a quick outline as to downloading. If you or anyone can give me 1-2-3 guide here, it would be greatly appreciated. Or of course, a link to a forum posting with this info.

 

Much thanks

 

I think I got it, see my Oh GEEEEZE post below. thanks again, 

p3

Edited June 16, 2020 by puyo3

[puyo3]

Oh GEEEEZZZZ!!

Went on YouTube, watched a short how to install, and there it was..... you don't use the icon that installs during the install, rather you go into bin, and down to IL-2 'application, create an icon on the desktop, and open the game using this. Oculus and Steam VR both start up, The Play offline option is presented in the hangar intro screen.

 

I think this needs to be spelled out better, but perhaps it's already posted somewhere on the forum. I will make a request/suggestion to the moderators re this to hopefully make it easier for other newbees to get started smoother.

 

[puyo3]

Let me correct my errors above (at least the ones I'm aware of)

 

Using the IL-2 application icon does begin the entire process of opening Steam, Oculus, and the game; However, when you select OFFLINE, it will bring up a error notice to the effect that you must update before proceeding, so this is not a fix as I suggested. And I DID have the game loaded, so also not the problem. It comes down to you must update before playing whichever way you initiate the game; as I had been inactive for some months, I had quite a large update deficit.  It took me hours to download the update due to my fair connection, but then all is well, started right up [of course], all is well. One question is why have the 2 game opening icons options, but I'm sure it will become clear to me.

 

Thanks again to all who helped; I will be installing the Open Composite option here soon, but want to see how the game performs on my rig and get the feel of Steam before I proceed.

 

Good flying, thanks again.