I would love to see a function to toggle the pilot's view between "face forward" and "follow the selected target". Could something be implemented similar to the functionality in X-Wing Alliance, for example? As soon as I remembered this, I started craving it. I think this would be an ideal feature for dogfighting as well as docking, navigating, checking planets and stations out during fly-bys...not to mention making the cockpit feel less "static" for non VR / IR players.
I used it with the pointtrack plugin for a cap with some IR leds on that i put together for better tracking until i picked up a dk2 back in 2015.
Another option is to use your smartphone and link it to your computer and get the rotational data off it.
Or depending on how you are controlling the game, use a hat switch or something like that to look around.
The X-Wing feature wouldnt work for docking currently because you cant target landing pads and if you could, it would be useless for ships where you cant see "down".
Sounds like you want the old Padlock View first seen in the Falcon F-16 series. I don’t think it’s needed what with the idiot proof targeting and gunnery in ED.
I don't think it should be a priority and I'd rarely use it, but it's probably less about need and more about preference/options. Could still be useful in cases of sensor malfunction as well.
"in cases of sensor malfunction"
That would not be a good idea, having the VR viewpoint move without the movements being matched by the users head is slightly uncomfortable in the best case and vomit inducing in the worst, depending on the particular user.
"in cases of sensor malfunction"
That would not be a good idea, having the VR viewpoint move without the movements being matched by the users head is slightly uncomfortable in the best case and vomit inducing in the worst, depending on the particular user.
Headtracker noir is buggy as all hell.
And quite CPU intensive since it relies on a fast, preferably 60hz or up camera and face recognition.
Suddenly something would glitch and your head would be stuck at odd angles and usually at the worst of times.
And bare five minutes into a session.
I also have a Tobii eye tracker, but this can get a little odd since in game headlook will follow along as you read, you can easily toggle this though and the unit itself is easily $100 new.
Nothing is as good as full vr though, but my recommendation is the edtracker.
I used it with the pointtrack plugin for a cap with some IR leds on that i put together for better tracking until i picked up a dk2 back in 2015.
Another option is to use your smartphone and link it to your computer and get the rotational data off it.
Or depending on how you are controlling the game, use a hat switch or something like that to look around.
The X-Wing feature wouldnt work for docking currently because you cant target landing pads and if you could, it would be useless for ships where you cant see "down".
Good point about not being able to target the landing pad -- but they DO exist as navigational markers, as once you cross the threshold of the station's main bay, the nav marker will snap to your landing pad's specific location. That should be all it needs to lock the view onto the target at turn the camera.
I play with a HOTAS setup, but the hatswitch is a very clunky and frustrating method of looking around -- even during casual flight. As it stands, I rely on the radar. Which is perfectly functional, and that leads me to:
Sounds like you want the old Padlock View first seen in the Falcon F-16 series. I don’t think it’s needed what with the idiot proof targeting and gunnery in ED.
It's not so much about function as it is feel. This game has such a sense of size, weight, and space, but it only really comes through in VR. Naturally, that's part of what VR is for. But a.) it's still extremely expensive and out-of-reach for a lot of gamers, and b.) there are a lot of gamers that don't like it. Like me. [smile]
You don't like VR!? What!?!?
Firstly, I don't like "having things on me" -- watches, jewelry, hats, etc. It's a constant distraction.
Secondly, I find not being able to see my hands to be very annoying when I'm trying to play. Ironically, this is because I'm used to working in pitch-black conditions. In that regard, I can easily work in the light, and I can easily work without my eyes...
...but if the real-world environment around me is telling me one thing, and my eyes are telling me something completely different, I can't begin to explain how overwhelmingly frustrating that is. My brain can't focus.
Together, those two things mean that I find most VR to be very "cool"...but not "fun" at all.
Headtracker noir is buggy as all hell.
And quite CPU intensive since it relies on a fast, preferably 60hz or up camera and face recognition.
Suddenly something would glitch and your head would be stuck at odd angles and usually at the worst of times.
And bare five minutes into a session.
I also have a Tobii eye tracker, but this can get a little odd since in game headlook will follow along as you read, you can easily toggle this though and the unit itself is easily $100 new.
Nothing is as good as full vr though, but my recommendation is the edtracker.
Unfortunately, I don't have a smartphone either. Didn't ever feel the need to walk around with a workstation in my pocket...still don't. It's really cool to know that stuff like this exists, tough!
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So, in conclusion, the existence of something like a padlock view that just refocuses the in-game camera is a wonderful solution. I don't know how difficult it would be to implement, but I'm guessing not that crazy, since it was fully functional back in the late '90s and early 2000s. It would be cool to have the option. It would also make the cockpit environment feel much more organic for all players, with or without IR tracking or full VR.
Edtracker is simply a box with gyros etc to connect to a USB dongle, or the wired version straight to usb.
Strap it to a truckers hat or a headset.
Calibrate and go.
There is something that would let you use a smartphone as Well, but that was also a bit more dodgy and of course it burns battery like a mother.
And it doesn't cost much more than buying a ps3 eye and drivers that was recommend for facetrack noir.
I know people who have played with these for years and had very little issue with them.
Compared to all the other diy rigs out there, which in general need to be reset and recalibrated every five minutes.
All a matter of preference. You may feel that wearing something like a VR headset is just a little thing to get used to. I don't. I find it constantly annoying.
I could turn the temperature up to 51°C in your room when you play a game that's set in the desert, because that's more realistic, too. If you can't stand hot weather, good bye enjoyment. Same with having a headset on and not being able to see my hands for me.
Plus, I've used VR on about 5 different occasions over time. I can only enjoy it for 15-20 minutes before it starts becoming tiring and frustrating. Just not really my thing.
All a matter of preference. You may feel that wearing something like a VR headset is just a little thing to get used to. I don't. I find it constantly annoying.
I could turn the temperature up to 51°C in your room when you play a game that's set in the desert, because that's more realistic, too. If you can't stand hot weather, good bye enjoyment. Same with having a headset on and not being able to see my hands for me.
Plus, I've used VR on about 5 different occasions over time. I can only enjoy it for 15-20 minutes before it starts becoming tiring and frustrating. Just not really my thing.
It's still a you problem, not mine.
As for your original question that has been answered fully in just the few first posts.
As for a solution that doesn't involve wearing anything, all IR based options involve mounting either reflectors or IR emitters to your head, most often using a trucker\baseball hat, so naturally those are out along with the tracker or VR.
Next possible would be Facetrack Noir, which honestly doesn't work at all.
Only functional option I can think of then is the Tobii eye trackers, but they only work with screens under a certain size, 27", and the tracker must be mounted to it and must be no less than an arms length away from your eyes.
Less if you where glasses., then again I assume you can't where those anyways.
All a matter of preference. You may feel that wearing something like a VR headset is just a little thing to get used to. I don't. I find it constantly annoying.
I could turn the temperature up to 51°C in your room when you play a game that's set in the desert, because that's more realistic, too. If you can't stand hot weather, good bye enjoyment. Same with having a headset on and not being able to see my hands for me.
Plus, I've used VR on about 5 different occasions over time. I can only enjoy it for 15-20 minutes before it starts becoming tiring and frustrating. Just not really my thing.
