The horror that is VR with the Galaxy Map

[Dr. Anomaly]

One for the Devs. I know I have ranted on and on about this, and yes I have an HOTAS, but it doesn't really help it feels more like a sticky plaster. Please could you sort out the Galaxy Map for VR users, we really need proper mouse control - curved input screens would go some way, just as per the mission and loadout screens. A virtual keyboard or some other way of typing in a system name without going cross-eyed through the gap in the nosepiece. This is my bugbear and has been since the early days of ED, it's just really frustrating - if any Dev's are looking, please, please, please make this one of the areas for a bit of code love!

Sorry other commanders, HOTAS doesn't really cut it for me.

 

[CylonSurfer]

An onscreen keyboard for VR would be nice as would some of the screens being updated to cruved ones, but other than that the Galmap works fine.

 

[DaggerSnake]

I had a thought while playing this morning.

I don't know if it's do-able, but I would like it if when I lift up my VR headset (or take it off) the game would auto switch to Normal non HMD, and vise versa.

Just the same as switching the option in the graphics setting, but automatic. Like when a game instantly recognizes a controller when you move a stick and then switches back to mouse when you start using that...

It would be great for typing and Galaxy map route planning. Or using the comms panel. Or using the STV if you get a little queezy there.

Could solve many VR woes....

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

One for the Devs. I know I have ranted on and on about this, and yes I have an HOTAS, but it doesn't really help it feels more like a sticky plaster. Please could you sort out the Galaxy Map for VR users, we really need proper mouse control - curved input screens would go some way, just as per the mission and loadout screens. A virtual keyboard or some other way of typing in a system name without going cross-eyed through the gap in the nosepiece. This is my bugbear and has been since the early days of ED, it's just really frustrating - if any Dev's are looking, please, please, please make this one of the areas for a bit of code love!

Sorry other commanders, HOTAS doesn't really cut it for me.

Use your controller of choice (hotas/controller) on the galaxy map (do not use the mouse, it will and never work for VR properly).

Keyboard is not coming, that is up to oculus or htc vive to sort out.

This is how I set the galaxy map up on my Hotas the X52 pro:-

If you don't use the mouse there will be a grid and a reticule which can be controlled. On the back of the throttle there is a finger controller that I use for my thrusters in normal use, but in the galaxy map, I use this to control the reticule. This goes forward, backward, right and left. I also have a shift button which is marked as the D button on the throttle which will turn the forward and backward into up and down. I use the joystick to tilt the angle.

Around the Big E button is a swivel circular moving thing which I have set up to zoom in and out. When you zoom out you can then move the reticule much larger distances in a much quicker time.

Hope this helps. Experiment with the controls and I am sure you will get it. As t typing, you will have to learn to tough type.

 

[Orvidius]

I don't know if it's do-able, but I would like it if when I lift up my VR headset (or take it off) the game would auto switch to Normal non HMD, and vise versa.

Just the same as switching the option in the graphics setting, but automatic. Like when a game instantly recognizes a controller when you move a stick and then switches back to mouse when you start using that...

That's actually a really good idea. They're already detecting that you have removed the HMD, since they lock out the HOTAS and other controls when you do that. Switching to 2D mode would be awesome. It might be very challenging for them to do though, depending on how they've designed things.

 

[Chromezero]

I repeatedly see complaints about the map in VR. I guess I don't see what the issue is, as it seems to work great for me. Not having a keyboard could be an issue for non touch-typers but other than that, I think the map works fine. I'm with Max Factor on this one, stop trying to use your mouse. Use your HOTAS or game controller to navigate the map and you might find it's easier than using the mouse.

 

[CylonSurfer]

I repeatedly see complaints about the map in VR. I guess I don't see what the issue is, as it seems to work great for me. Not having a keyboard could be an issue for non touch-typers but other than that, I think the map works fine. I'm with Max Factor on this one, stop trying to use your mouse. Use your HOTAS or game controller to navigate the map and you might find it's easier than using the mouse.

I think the best thing they could do is disable the mouse entirely for VR play and enforce the Galmaps grid mode. It would stop a lot of ths nonsense.

 

[HeavyGroovez]

Its actually super awesome when you have your mappings sorted.

i will admit that it took me a while to get said bindings sorted and was a source of much frustration up until that point.

 

[Chromezero]

i will admit that it took me a while to get said bindings sorted and was a source of much frustration up until that point.

It took me a bit to get my bindings "just right", due to some conflicts with my controller, but now it's great. I was originally using a DS4 controller for my map and SRV controls but have since switched to using my HOTAS for the map and only use the DS4 for driving the SRV.

 

[aussi]

I tried VR for a bit with a borrowed headset, and the one thing that I thought would massively improve the gal map was 'look to highlight' - i.e. look at a star and it gets a highlight, then a button press would confirm and select it "properly".

 

[Ulysses_W]

I tried VR for a bit with a borrowed headset, and the one thing that I thought would massively improve the gal map was 'look to highlight' - i.e. look at a star and it gets a highlight, then a button press would confirm and select it "properly".

I thought of this too. If works for OH, it should work for the Galmap too.

Have a rep.

O7

 

[Dibiase]

Its actually super awesome when you have your mappings sorted.

i will admit that it took me a while to get said bindings sorted and was a source of much frustration up until that point.

Same here. It took a little bit to get my bindings sorted out at first. I was getting frustrated trying to use the galaxy map but I watched a few you tube videos about using the galaxy map with HOTAS and I was able to tweak my bindings. Once I got it figured out using the Map with a HOTAS is easy. And if I'm looking for a particular system I know how to touch type so no issues there.

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Same here. It took a little bit to get my bindings sorted out at first. I was getting frustrated trying to use the galaxy map but I watched a few you tube videos about using the galaxy map with HOTAS and I was able to tweak my bindings. Once I got it figured out using the Map with a HOTAS is easy. And if I'm looking for a particular system I know how to touch type so no issues there.

I am have just finished doing the Alien Ruins and had to play in dreaded 2D so I could follow a guide and still used the hotas in the galmap as I find it more natural to use now. Using the mouse just felt odd.

What would be nice though would be using the touch controllers to control the galaxy map using gestures etc

 

[DaggerSnake]

I repeatedly see complaints about the map in VR. I guess I don't see what the issue is, as it seems to work great for me. Not having a keyboard could be an issue for non touch-typers but other than that, I think the map works fine. I'm with Max Factor on this one, stop trying to use your mouse. Use your HOTAS or game controller to navigate the map and you might find it's easier than using the mouse.

I think there are two discussions about the galmap. Input and Execution.

Input complaints are around navigation of the Galaxy. This is something that settings and getting used to bindings to Hotas or controllers can overcome. Even the mouse is fine. I have a mouse next to my Hotas that I use and it works fine.

Execution is the design of the galmap as a VR space. This can use some work. Right now we have a UI designed for monitors in VR.

Think of looking out of a window at a tree. You can write Tree on the glass with a marker and then draw a line to the tree and where you are standing, it will look like the line is touching the tree, even though it's back in the distance. The window is like a monitor and the line is like the lines connecting the system labels to the stars. When you move the Galaxy map the line expands and contracts, but it's always just a drawing on a fixed 2D plane.

In VR, we are not longer fixed to a 2D plane. If you select a system, the line connecting it to the label will appear right if your head is in just the right place, but since VR now has a Third dimension, Z a small shift will clearly show the labels and lines all floating in space between you and the Galaxy with no way of seeing what's selected, they've just stuck the 2D monitor as a plane floating in VR. You can stick your head through it.

It just needs a development visit. That's all. It's not like the map is unusable.

 

[Avago Earo]

A virtual keyboard or some other way of typing

Well, they've already done is for the PS4 (and XBox, I assume), so they could just code that to PC I guess.

 

[shadragon]

I don't know if it's do-able, but I would like it if when I lift up my VR headset (or take it off) the game would auto switch to Normal non HMD, and vise versa.

The easiest solution would be to activate the nose camera when Gal or System maps are selected so you can see the KB.

 

[Chromezero]

....If you select a system, the line connecting it to the label will appear right if your head is in just the right place, but since VR now has a Third dimension, Z a small shift will clearly show the labels and lines all floating in space between you and the Galaxy with no way of seeing what's selected, they've just stuck the 2D monitor as a plane floating in VR. You can stick your head through it.

It just needs a development visit. That's all. It's not like the map is unusable.

I fully understand this complaint and agree with you. If that little pointer/line to the planet or station were attached instead of free-floating, it would be a LOT better.

 

[Darkfyre99]

Well, they've already done is for the PS4 (and XBox, I assume), so they could just code that to PC I guess.

I suspect that any virtual keyboard on the PS4 or XBox is the result of the game platform, not an addition by Frontier. Frontier has stated that any virtual keyboard in VR will have to come from SteamVR or Oculus.

...

It occurs to me that SteamVR does include a virtual keyboard that you can use to hunt and peck with, assuming you have the Vive wands active. Has anyone tried using the SteamVR desktop and type using the virtual keyboard? I ask because I'm at work at the moment, and I've never tried it, since I learned how to touch type in high school.

Speaking of which, the obligatory link: https://www.typingclub.com/

 

[DaggerSnake]

I fully understand this complaint and agree with you. If that little pointer/line to the planet or station were attached instead of free-floating, it would be a LOT better.

It may be quite a bit of work to do, I have no programming background, but it seems like the line and the Galaxy map menu would need to be actual 3D vectors to ancor one end to the star and the other to the label.

One thing that VR really brought out for me though was the system maps are actually 3D models! I never realized that because the monitor is stuck looking straight on. This seems like it really is a place holder for more orrary concept!

 

[jamieboo]

I gather it's not really supported at the moment, but could the Oculus Touch controllers be potentially useful in a Galaxy Map context?
Do you know if there are any plans to make these controllers useable?