Setups For Viewing/looking Around

[vizwhiz]

Okay, another question from "newbie corner".

I have a decent joystick, and have my "views" set up on the hat.  

I have it set up to look up forward, up right/left, left/right (over the wings), and back left/right (half the seat and half the window).

I have two other joystick buttons (2 & 3) set up for looking straight up and back up, so I can see above the plane, especially when in turning maneauvers, and the back/up so I can see the guy diving on my six (so I'll know when to say my prayers).

I have it set up on snap so I don't have to "turn" my head, it just snaps over to the other views.

I still lose sight of the opponent often, especially when turn-fighting, which I'm sure is one of the reasons I still get trounced all the time.

Any suggestions?

[Flit]

Try zoomimg  all of your views out- it will take some playing with, but will increase your field of view. Zoom out then f10 to save. Good luck !

[Rolex]

You can also use the "up" switch you have in combination with your hat views to have "left + up," left-back + up" type of combinations.

You might want to think about setting a "forward" view switch. That is not the default view of the cockpit, it's a view toggled with 8 on the number pad and you can slide cockpit to the right using the arrow key creating the illusion of looking down the left of the cowling.

[Blagard]

If your view hat only supports four views you may be better using the numbers keypad with the number lock on (I have never tried it with it off).

Long ago I had just a basic stick which would not support all the views I needed so I simply used the numbers pad with my left hand. This gave me the eight points of view horizontally and when used in conjuction with the "5" gave me the upper eight views with "5" on its own being straight up.

Whilst in a view you can use the page up page down keys as well as the curser keys to adjust the view to best advantage and then save it with F10

Note each plane type usually needs its own view set saving! but at leat once you have done it you don't have to do it again - (Unless one of the updates overwrites the settings and you are back to default).

In the end losing sight often means losing the fight so good views all round are quite important, more so than using a hat switch that has limited capability. A good hat switch will give eight points of view and then used with a button for " look up" you really do have a useful tool.

BTW Don't map the numbers on the top of your keyboard - Its the number pad that's used

[Schatzi]

Originally posted by vizwhiz
Okay, another question from "newbie corner".

I have a decent joystick, and have my "views" set up on the hat.  

I have it set up to look up forward, up right/left, left/right (over the wings), and back left/right (half the seat and half the window).

I have two other joystick buttons (2 & 3) set up for looking straight up and back up, so I can see above the plane, especially when in turning maneauvers, and the back/up so I can see the guy diving on my six (so I'll know when to say my prayers).

I have it set up on snap so I don't have to "turn" my head, it just snaps over to the other views.

I still lose sight of the opponent often, especially when turn-fighting, which I'm sure is one of the reasons I still get trounced all the time.

Any suggestions?

If you have an 8-way hatswitch, set it up for forward, forward/left, left, back/left, back etc.... then set up a button that you can hold down at the same time as using hatswitch for "look up". Including the center position (ie no button/hat pressed) this will give you a total of 18 views. To look back up for example look back on hatswitch and at the same time hold the look up button.

Also, do not forget to adjust your head positions for each of those 18 view directions (move your head with arrow keys and page up/down, then F10 to save) - youll have to do that for each plane separatly.



It takes some practice to track 1 (or more) opponents in a fight and at the same time not loose track of your own flight path. One little "exercise" to practice using your views is this: Take your favorite plane, climb up to about 5 K over an airfield. Then start flying maneuvers.... turns, loops, rolls, barrels.... whatever you can think of - but keep a hangar (or the radar tower) in sight at all times.
Or find a partner in the Training Arena and just maneuver against each other, trying to keep the other (now a "mocing target") in your sight. The partner can always tell you where he is when you lost track.


Hope this helps you.

[Clutz]

If your stick does not have an 8 way hat, then map the straight up view (#5) to your stick and use the key pad for all the other views. This will make you quicker and keep the finger fumbling to a minimum. It will also make it so you can scan one side of the plane , then scan the other side of the plane in just and instant. If your stick does have an 8 way hat, then map 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9 to it and map number 5 to another button.                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Many people use what is called a throttle and map their views there. http://www.provantage.com/pro-throttle-usb~22062154.htm Learning to use your views a first big step. Go to the offline arena and trying flying circles around the b-24.

[BaldEagl]

I use the num pad exclusively.  It's very easy and the most flexible option once you're used to it.  I gives you every level, up and down view (24 total) plus you can quickly get your thumb to the arrow keys to adjust any view (at least if you're left handed like me).  The only downside is this is the same hand i use to control throttle on my mouse wheel but I've gotten very good at making a quick transition between the two as needed.

[vizwhiz]

Thanks for all the help.
I have an 8-way hat switch.

I didn't realize I could set up the hat switch to work along with other input buttons...that opens up a whole new way of thinking about how to use the views and the buttons.  

Flit, why would it be good to save the views as zooms?

I'll keep reading this and trying some different setups.

[Schatzi]

Using zoom or not is a matter of personal preference. On most planes I do not use the [and ] zoom (or arrow up/down), also, i rarely use the gun zoom (Z key). I feel that when zoomed in, i loose too much "peripheral vision" - my SA (situational awareness) suffers.

[Blagard]

vizwhiz

I tried using the Zoom on views and don't understand Flit as the default view in fighters is already zoomed out. You can only zoom in which restricts field of vision.

You can move your head

Page up - Head Forward
Page dwn - Head Backward
Up arrow -  Head higher
Down arrow Head Lower
Right arrow - Head to right side
Left arrow - Head to left side

I used the word curzer keys for the arrows - not a good choice!

None of the above are a zoom that alter your field of view angle but they do allow you to see past some obstructions, they allow you to move you head so for instance, forward right with the head moved sideways right gets you to see past some of a Spitfires front frame! save that view and when ever in a Spit your forward right view will be with the saved head right position.

[Flit]

It's been so long I don't remember if the default is zoomed out  or not.
 I do remember having to play with the "Zoom" ( I'm not talking about hitting the Zoom button here) and the forward/ backward to get it close.    
 There's still some A/C that I have some blindspots in.
 
 The main thing is you have to play with it.

[Benny Moore]

Originally posted by BaldEagl
I use the num pad exclusively.  It's very easy and the most flexible option once you're used to it.

Balogna.  It suffices when there is no other option.  Even the mouse used in the left hand is many times the keypad's superior.

[humble]

Originally posted by Schatzi
Using zoom or not is a matter of personal preference. On most planes I do not use the [and ] zoom (or arrow up/down), also, i rarely use the gun zoom (Z key). I feel that when zoomed in, i loose too much "peripheral vision" - my SA (situational awareness) suffers.

I'll second Scatzi on this....I to want as much "view" as I can get. On some planes I move the default front view as far back as it will go....

[BaldEagl]

Originally posted by Benny Moore
Balogna.  It suffices when there is no other option.  Even the mouse used in the left hand is many times the keypad's superior.

Well, I've been doing it this way for 10 1/2 years.  For me it works great (also remember I'm left handed... Joystick in Left hand, keypad and mouse in right so it's probably more natural for me than for a right hander).  I've re-mapped my hat to other functions as I've never been able to get used to it as my primary view controller.

As to zoom use it manually as needed.  I agree that you lose peripheral vision and therefore some loss of SA in a multi-plane engagement.  I sometimes use about 50% zoom to help line up my shots when I'm on someones tail and not expecting hard break moves from them.  If they do break I immmediately turn zoom off.  In a multi-plane engagement I never use it.