Setting up VR?
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Ok, so I see a handful of threads about VR but I’m looking for a how-to guide on how to get it working. I’ve seen a few videos up on youtube, but they are difficult to follow. Is there a decent guide on how to get it working with an Occulus out there? Not interested in starting some sort of flame war or discussion on the merits of VR.
-Thanks
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I don’t know, BMS not being done for it, you set it up but it upsets you. It’s still 2D and the HUD is not at the right place. Up to you…
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Here is a post I wrote back in 10/17. You can use Virtual Desktop instead of VRToolbox now. Opentrack has also improved. I’m not sure if there are other better tools now. I’m hopeful 4.34 may include options to make VR more viable.
I was just able to finish a campaign mission in my Rift. I took a hit over the last AAA as my GBU-12 was coming off and had to fly home and land on steam gauges at night. Intense!
I installed the most recent Opentrack from Github and used VR Toolbox (available on Steam). This new version of Opentrack doesn’t start the Oculus app when it runs, which makes this all easier. In Opentrack you can configure your tracking volume. It defaults to 30x30x30 cm which isn’t large enough. I increased it to 1x1x1m and that works well. Without using any filters and a 1:1 setup, there is minimal lag between head movement and changing your view. It’s not quite the same as native VR, but it’s very close. VR Toolbox has a “FPS” mode that mirrors the monitor to your headset directly without any 3D effect. You can adjust the screen size (I had to bump it up 2-3 notches from default) and you can get it to fill your view. VR Toolbox had the ability to hook DX9 games to allow them to display at 90Hz, but this is disabled for now, meaning you’re stuck at 60 Hz. I have BMS running at 4K resolution which provides supersampling when it is downscaled to the Rift. VR Toolbox also has FXAA you can enable to smooth the jaggies.
This setup has the advantage of keeping the 2D UI on your monitor, so you can do the mission brief as normal, and then just put on your headset when it’s time to fly. You do need to adjust the FOV once in-pit. If I set it to what seems realistic, the displays are too small to read, so I settled on a slightly zoomed-in view (like you get in DCS) where it’s like your sitting on the edge of the seat rather than leaning back. With this you’ll need some option to zoom in to read the caution panel and to visually ID aircraft. When I use the default Look Closer option in BMS it snaps back to an incorrect FOV. I created a Saitek profile that zooms in by using the mousewheel, but that’s spotty. You can use the Rift’s nosegap to access the keyboard for the coms menu etc.
Overall I think it’s about 70% of the way there. Being able to add 3D would be great, but as you know the compromises right now are too large. I think you’re also a bit less combat-effective due to the lower resolution, but you have much better spatial awareness as everything is anchored 1:1 to your pit (e.g. to look at 5:00 you turn your head exactly that far). This is definitely not a good way to learn BMS - it’s hard to read the labels on the switches & you have to take of your headset to follow the tutorial text. It’s also not a good option unless you have a robust HOTAS, because peeking through the nosegap is a pain. I’ve also relocated my Comms menu to the center of the screen so if you’re using a less-common option you can be reminded of the key combo.-Rabbit
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When I use the default Look Closer option in BMS it snaps back to an incorrect FOV.
Use “set g_fDefaultFOV xx” in falcon_bms.cfg to set the FOV, Look Closer will snap back to.
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Here is a post I wrote back in 10/17. You can use Virtual Desktop instead of VRToolbox now. Opentrack has also improved. I’m not sure if there are other better tools now. I’m hopeful 4.34 may include options to make VR more viable.
I was just able to finish a campaign mission in my Rift. I took a hit over the last AAA as my GBU-12 was coming off and had to fly home and land on steam gauges at night. Intense!
I installed the most recent Opentrack from Github and used VR Toolbox (available on Steam). This new version of Opentrack doesn’t start the Oculus app when it runs, which makes this all easier. In Opentrack you can configure your tracking volume. It defaults to 30x30x30 cm which isn’t large enough. I increased it to 1x1x1m and that works well. Without using any filters and a 1:1 setup, there is minimal lag between head movement and changing your view. It’s not quite the same as native VR, but it’s very close. VR Toolbox has a “FPS” mode that mirrors the monitor to your headset directly without any 3D effect. You can adjust the screen size (I had to bump it up 2-3 notches from default) and you can get it to fill your view. VR Toolbox had the ability to hook DX9 games to allow them to display at 90Hz, but this is disabled for now, meaning you’re stuck at 60 Hz. I have BMS running at 4K resolution which provides supersampling when it is downscaled to the Rift. VR Toolbox also has FXAA you can enable to smooth the jaggies.
This setup has the advantage of keeping the 2D UI on your monitor, so you can do the mission brief as normal, and then just put on your headset when it’s time to fly. You do need to adjust the FOV once in-pit. If I set it to what seems realistic, the displays are too small to read, so I settled on a slightly zoomed-in view (like you get in DCS) where it’s like your sitting on the edge of the seat rather than leaning back. With this you’ll need some option to zoom in to read the caution panel and to visually ID aircraft. When I use the default Look Closer option in BMS it snaps back to an incorrect FOV. I created a Saitek profile that zooms in by using the mousewheel, but that’s spotty. You can use the Rift’s nosegap to access the keyboard for the coms menu etc.
Overall I think it’s about 70% of the way there. Being able to add 3D would be great, but as you know the compromises right now are too large. I think you’re also a bit less combat-effective due to the lower resolution, but you have much better spatial awareness as everything is anchored 1:1 to your pit (e.g. to look at 5:00 you turn your head exactly that far). This is definitely not a good way to learn BMS - it’s hard to read the labels on the switches & you have to take of your headset to follow the tutorial text. It’s also not a good option unless you have a robust HOTAS, because peeking through the nosegap is a pain. I’ve also relocated my Comms menu to the center of the screen so if you’re using a less-common option you can be reminded of the key combo.-Rabbit
I have some difficulties setting up Opentrack and Falcon so I would like to ask for help. Have you changed something else in Opentrack beside tracking volume? I have these problems:
1. If I look left 9 o’clock (or right 3 o’clock) and try to look up/down “roll” in Opentrack changes although I don’t rotate my head.
2. If I look straight forward and look up/down Z changes. (Fixed X change when looking left/right with Neck displacement set to -6 cm).
3. I can’t look straight down when in Cockpit. It seems that it’s unable to look directly to the pilots seat. Is it possible to look around totally freely in cockpit?And what FOV is most natural for you?
I would be grateful if someone will take time to answer these questions. -
I have some difficulties setting up Opentrack and Falcon so I would like to ask for help. AttackRabbit, have you changed something else in Opentrack beside tracking volume? I have these problems:
1. If I look left 9 o’clock (or right 3 o’clock) and try to look up/down “roll” in Opentrack changes although I don’t rotate my head.
2. If I look straight forward and look up/down Z changes. (Fixed X change when looking left/right with Neck displacement set to -6 cm).
3. I can’t look straight down when in Cockpit. It seems that it’s unable to look directly to the pilots seat. Is it possible to look around totally freely in cockpit?And what FOV is most natural for you?
I would be grateful if someone will take time to answer these questions. -
And what FOV is most natural for you?
I would be grateful if someone will take time to answer these questions.There are many answers to this, but our own search is the best. Take a few hours for it and your success is ready. It took me 5 hours, including making a clip from the hanger:drink::yo: