Padlock question

[tinydbass]

Apologies if this has been asked before but I was wondering if there was a way to make the padlock a bit more limited, closer to original IL-2. What I mean by this is that the current version is a bit too much like a "magic radar" that enables you to cycle through all planes that are close by, and which isn't very realistic - I don't have VR but I'd like it if I had to search for enemy planes manually using the hat, but then to be able to use padlock when the enemy is in my field of view just to make it a bit easier to track them. But they 

Not sure if this is possible but it would be a nice "bridge" for those of us without VR.

Thanks!

[dburne]

Wait - I thought Padlock was a magic radar?

Don't worry even some VR players still want a padlock view lol.

But I jest.

 

In all seriousness have you tried Track IR? I used it for years prior to VR and loved it.

 

Edited May 31, 2022 by dburne

[Sheriff88]

Padlock feature can be realistic if you regard it as a wingman telling you of an approaching threat. Result is more realistic than scanning around with mouse and enables someone without VR or Track IR to concentrate on flying and tactics.  

[AEthelraedUnraed]

6 hours ago, dburne said:

Don't worry even some VR players still want a padlock view lol.

Don't think so; if there's one surefire way to make one motion sick, this must be it

 

Anyway, in response to the OP, there is no way to change how the padlock functions. What I did before I got VR, is only engage the padlock after I had positively ID'd an aircraft. That way, I had the advantage (and realism!) of not needing excessive mouse input, while not having the non-realistic advantage of using it as a radar. Although I admit it only depends on personal discipline; there's nothing stopping you from "abusing" the padlock.

[tinydbass]

Thanks for the replies.

I like @AEthelraedUnraed's suggestion of using it selectively to keep things more realistic - that's kind of what I've been doing. I also like @Sheriff88's idea of seeing padlock as more of a wingman.

I guess I'll need to get VR for real immersion....

[KevPBur]

Nothing wrong with using padlock but you don't have to go all the way to the bottom of very deep pockets to go for VR. Headtracking can be a very effective alternative and can require nothing more than a basic web camera or even a mobile phone. The software tracks your face and eyes so no need for hats or LED's

[tinydbass]

7 hours ago, KevPBur said:

Nothing wrong with using padlock but you don't have to go all the way to the bottom of very deep pockets to go for VR. Headtracking can be a very effective alternative and can require nothing more than a basic web camera or even a mobile phone. The software tracks your face and eyes so no need for hats or LED's

Thanks @KevPBur - any recommendations or pointers to what I might need? I found a guide somewhere on this site but there seem to be a  huge amount of options, but if there's something that doesn't require extra hardware (except possibly a webcam) then I'd be interested to hear more...

[KevPBur]

@tinydbass

 

Give that a try. I have an opentrack profile that works for me that I am happy to share once you have got things up and running. I only have a very old and basic logitech C270 camera and it works just fine, even with my wonky eyes and glasses

 

 

[AEthelraedUnraed]

I'd like to add that if you do need to buy extra hardware to get headtracking working, *and* you've got a VR-ready system, I'd skip the headtracking altogether and just go VR right away. An Oculus Quest 2 costs €350; a fraction of that if you buy it second-hand, and works just fine.

[tinydbass]

On 5/31/2022 at 6:07 PM, KevPBur said:

@tinydbass

 

Give that a try. I have an opentrack profile that works for me that I am happy to share once you have got things up and running. I only have a very old and basic logitech C270 camera and it works just fine, even with my wonky eyes and glasses

 

 

Excellent stuff - thanks @KevPBur! I've installed it and it works, but I can see that it needs some tuning - I'd love to take a look at your OpenTrack profile if you can send it on when you get a chance.

[Edit] After more playing about (especially with filter) I have it pretty usable, certainly for free flight. Not sure how it'll hold up in a fight.....
Biggest problem seems to be at the extremes of movement, especially the "diagonals" e.g. if I want to look back + high

Edited June 3, 2022 by tinydbass

[KevPBur]

On 6/3/2022 at 10:57 AM, tinydbass said:

Excellent stuff - thanks @KevPBur! I've installed it and it works, but I can see that it needs some tuning - I'd love to take a look at your OpenTrack profile if you can send it on when you get a chance.

[Edit] After more playing about (especially with filter) I have it pretty usable, certainly for free flight. Not sure how it'll hold up in a fight.....
Biggest problem seems to be at the extremes of movement, especially the "diagonals" e.g. if I want to look back + high

 

Attached is my profile. I don't have it perfect for looking straight up but I'm not sure you could in a reall plane either. I find rotating my head to the side whilst looking up does the best job when looking at targets above me. Most of all, I think it is a case of getting used to it for a couple of weeks and gradually tweaking to your liking.

IL2.zip