VTOL VR 1.0 launched

[Jade_Monkey]

I've enjoyed it for a long time but today it exited early access and is now fully released. I'm surprised I have barely seen this sim mentioned here among combat flight sim enthusiasts.

 

Things I like:

• It requires no HOTAS of any kind, just a VR headset and the controllers. It suppports pedals but you definitely don't need them.
• It's a no-nonsense type of sim that retains complexity while getting rid of all those steps that don't add anything to gameplay. It hits the sweet spot of clickpits without the annoying steps that don't add any value such as the million switches you need in DCS to start up the plane.
• Three fully modeled planes (fictional equivalents of F-15 and F-35 + a futuristic VTOL plane)
• Full mission editor with Steam Workshop integration (easy to add other people's missions and campaigns).
• Excellent performance due to simplified visuals.
• Plenty of weapon systems modeled (guided and unguided bombs, rockets, A2A missiles, etc).
• Carrier takeoff and landings with Rearm, refuel, and repair.

 

For those who like VR and flight sims, I consider IL2 and VTOL VR absolute must-haves.

Don't let the cartoonish looks decieve you, those looking for VR immersion in modern (sometimes futuristic) planes I highly recommend it over DCS.

 

PS: i have no affiliation to the game, just thought I would share.

 

 

 

[Trooper117]

2 hours ago, Jade_Monkey said:

I've enjoyed it for a long time but today it exited early access and is now fully released. I'm surprised I have barely seen this sim mentioned here among combat flight sim enthusiasts.

 

It's probably because the vast majority of players here don't have VR.

It looks pretty good though!

[Redwo1f]

I play Vox Machinae (a multiplayer(and single player possible) mech simulator) from time to time - and it gets next to nobody playing as it is touted and pushed as true VR immersion (though it can be played just fine without it) - yet thousands are playing MWO (Mech Warrior Online)). It is a niche within a niche - steam hardware stats don't lie - VR ownership right now is still incredibly tiny.

 

Here is the game I am speaking of in case it may also be of interest to some as well - it actually is pretty fun (and may be of interest to VR users as well):

 

 

That sim you posted does look pretty cool though

Edited August 3, 2020 by Redwo1f

[dburne]

4 hours ago, Jade_Monkey said:

I've enjoyed it for a long time but today it exited early access and is now fully released. I'm surprised I have barely seen this sim mentioned here among combat flight sim enthusiasts.

 

Things I like:

• It requires no HOTAS of any kind, just a VR headset and the controllers. It suppports pedals but you definitely don't need them.
• It's a no-nonsense type of sim that retains complexity while getting rid of all those steps that don't add anything to gameplay. It hits the sweet spot of clickpits without the annoying steps that don't add any value such as the million switches you need in DCS to start up the plane.
• Three fully modeled planes (fictional equivalents of F-15 and F-35 + a futuristic VTOL plane)
• Full mission editor with Steam Workshop integration (easy to add other people's missions and campaigns).
• Excellent performance due to simplified visuals.
• Plenty of weapon systems modeled (guided and unguided bombs, rockets, A2A missiles, etc).
• Carrier takeoff and landings with Rearm, refuel, and repair.

 

For those who like VR and flight sims, I consider IL2 and VTOL VR absolute must-haves.

Don't let the cartoonish looks decieve you, those looking for VR immersion in modern (sometimes futuristic) planes I highly recommend it over DCS.

 

PS: i have no affiliation to the game, just thought I would share.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the heads up. I had heard about it some time ago but never really checked into it.

Might have to do that.

[unlikely_spider]

4 hours ago, Jade_Monkey said:

• ...I highly recommend it over DCS.

Why? Honest question. I have DCS but not this.

[Jade_Monkey]

38 minutes ago, unlikely_spider said:

Why? Honest question. I have DCS but not this.

 

The reasons why I recommend it over DCS:

• It's 29$ ($24 right now at a discount) for the FULL GAME.
• The learning curve is much smaller, you can probably figure out a plane in 5-10 hrs without reading a 150 page manual.
• It just performs well, unlike DCS.
• All the controls make sense and you dont waste time with things you don't need.
• It has all the fun aspects of modern DCS without all the boring stuff.
• There is something about it being a natively VR game. Unlike IL2 and DCS, which were originally designed for monitors. The way it's designed makes it very comfortable for long sessions and for me the immersion factor is higher (the feeling of being there). It might have to do with how the cockpit is designed and also using your hands to do everything.

[unlikely_spider]

Thanks. Can you use hotas if you want? Also how is the single-player content?

[[DBS]Browning]

I immensely enjoy this game.

[Tyberan]

Having just got Vr I've been looking for some other vr games. I tried out blade sorcery but the act of moving around in the game nearly made me vomit. So I'll stick to sit down vr for now.

 

I'll have to check out vox as well

[Stoopy]

Thanks for the mention and endorsement - that means a lot, as I've been eyeing this and hovering over the "purchase" button.   Mind made up now!

?

[Stoopy]

On 8/3/2020 at 9:04 PM, unlikely_spider said:

Thanks. Can you use hotas if you want? Also how is the single-player content?

 

I don't know about HOTAS but I can tell you it recognized my rudder pedals.  I'm just starting to go through the tutorials but from what I can see it really is set up to use VR controllers since the cockpits are designed to be easily clickable/grippable.  It's a mind bender (in a good, challenging way) to adjust to that style of flying.   Pretty cool.

[Lusekofte]

I do not like the idea flying with VR controllers. I spent a lot in the hardware I have to get the right feel. VR is to me second step in immersion. In fact I prefer flying without VR sometimes. 
I do not like latest gen planes either. This is why DCS is more my thing. 
But it looks like a well made game

[Stoopy]

As I work through this and start mastering the tutorials, this is really growing on me.  The VTOL flying is very similar to helicopters, which I miss, and between learning the weapons systems, practicing regular carrier ops, airborne refueling from the tanker, and even zipping through the tunnels with the onboard MP3 player turned up with some cool tunes added, there's just a lot of good flying to look forward to at the end of each day.  The fact that it's so smoooth doesn't hurt, either.  Definitely getting my $24 worth!

 

And that's all before I have even tried any of the operational missions, or night flying, etc.!

 

Edited August 12, 2020 by Stoopy

[Tyberan]

Bought this on the weekend, it's good. The fact it's made for VR shows , I thought I would hate the controller  aspect of it but works well. 

 

Some cool features is the augmented reality  used with visor down on your helmet, allows you to see through the aircraft for Vtol work. I wonder if this how the RL F35 works.

 

Although graphics are basic, the gameplay is not, it's very well done. Just figured out last night how to slave the helmet to the gimballed cannon. 

 

 Steam workshop has a bunch of missions available already. 

 

Must buy if you love flight sims and have vr

[dburne]

Dang guess I am going to have to try this one.

[[DBS]Browning]

A multiplayer mod now works very well (although no server browser or dedicated servers yet)

https://www.reddit.com/r/vtolvr/comments/ierpn5/mutiplayer_mod_is_out/

 

[Lusekofte]

You say it is ok to fly with the controllers. 
how do you do it?

I try to be open minded, but I simply can not see how it feel right. Can someone explain how it works
 

[Stoopy]

4 hours ago, 216th_LuseKofte said:

You say it is ok to fly with the controllers. 
how do you do it?

I try to be open minded, but I simply can not see how it feel right. Can someone explain how it works
 

 

Sorry for the long answer, but you asked a really good question.

 

The way the virtual controllers work is that you see your virtual hands floating in front of you, and they move as you move the controllers.  Based on the controller type, you have either basic functions which in the case of my HP Reverb would be a trigger, two menu buttons, one grip button, a touchpad and a controller stick, per grip - which doesn't sound very "basic" except that apparently some controller types have finger movement as an added menu option, so you an wiggle your fingers for whatever good that does.

 

When you are in the cockpit your hands by default have the index finger pointing out a little bit, so to flip a switch or turn a knob you just put your virtual finger on the switch or knob and squeeze the controller trigger to grab the switch or knob, then move or rotate your virtual hand to flip or twist, then let go of the trigger to let go of the knob or switch.  Easy enough.

 

When it comes to the virtual throttle and stick controls, you will see them on either side of you in the cockpit, and to use them it's a simple matter of putting your virtual hand near them and pressing the grip button on the side of your controller, which then makes your virtual hand hold or "bind" onto the virtual control, which then moves as you move the controller.  The location of the virtual throttle and flight stick pretty much aligns to the front of the armrests of a typical computer or office chair, and if needed the location of the virtual controls can be adjusted to a degree by pressing little virtual adjustment buttons on a panel next to them. To let go of either virtual control, you just press the grip button again and your virtual hand is free to move around again to press buttons in the cockpit as needed, or to flip people off out the window if you have the fancy controls that have individual finger movement.

 

The throttle moves fore and aft like a typical throttle, by moving your VR controller forward or back when it is gripping the throttle.  You can also rotate the VR controller forward and back for some degree of throttle control.  The range of fore-aft motion is about 10 inches or so which allows for plenty of fine-tuning of the throttle setting, as you might need when hovering or doing a normal fixed-wing approach for landing on a runway or carrier.  

 

Over on the right, when you are gripping the virtual flight stick, it binds your hand to the stick in the location and orientation it is in when you press the controller's grip button, so getting your hand in a comfortable position prior to pressing the grip button means the virtual stick will be in a natural, neutral location as much as possible.  Moving the stick is a simple manner of rotating your hand forward and back for pitch and rotating side to side for roll.  Haptic feedback is provided so your VR controller buzzes a little bit to let you know you are moving it, which helps (you may be able to turn this off if you don't like it).  As for rudder control, it supports my CH rudder pedals and I use those, which works out great, but if you don't have any then I believe that rotating your hand like you would with a twist-joystick will control rudder.

 

This may sound complicated but it's actually pretty natural and easy to get used to.  The virtual throttle and stick also have buttons on them for "virtual HOTAS" control, which map to the switches and stuff on your VR controllers, so you can select weapons, targets, etc. without taking your virtual hands off the virtual controls.  There are some good tutorials that introduce these functions to you, and in a few days you'll have it down.  An experienced sim pilot should have no problems taking off, controlling and landing the plane on a runway in the beginning (second, I believe) tutorial, because there is plenty of information showing throttle position and flight direction on the HUD, so you don't feel like you're guessing about the control inputs. 

 

In practice I find that I have my right hand "gripped" on the virtual flight stick most of the time, but leave my left hand free to work buttons in the cockpit and MFD as needed, and only grip the throttle when I need to adjust power, pretty much like in any other sim or real life aircraft.  The virtual flight stick controls are not overly sensitive at all and I have found that I have a very fine level of control that allows for very precise flying.  It's quite rewarding to shoot carrier landings when you get the hang of this, for instance, and airborne refueling from a tanker is not that difficult (which is not to say it's easy though, since it shouldn't be).

 

The more I use it, the more I become convinced that the approach used in this sim  would make a great standard practice for any future VR flight sims.  I spent most of last week mapping the buttons on my (unrecognized) controller hardware to the new Fight Simulator, tearing my hair out discovering the nuances of how the mapping menus work.  If I could just start off in the VR cockpit with some visible hands and push, twist, grab or click on stuff in the cockpit I'd be in the air much quicker and not cussing trying to remember what button I mapped to what.  Flying a helicopter like this with collective, throttle, cyclic etc. would be absolutely fantastic.

 

Edited August 24, 2020 by Stoopy

[Lusekofte]

Well I have a collective and floor mounted stick. And get all this in DCS but with authentic hardware. 
But I see your  point   Many thanks for reply. 

[dbzero]

I bought this due to the great reviews on Steam, but haven’t gotten around to trying it out. The fact it was designed out of the box to be a VR sim has advantages.

 

I have a VR setup and it’s amazing in IL2 and DCS, but oddly I play in non VR mode in both.

 

Im considered if getting TrackIR as a compromise.