Aces High - Virtual Reality setup - the ultimate AH accessory

[Vulcan]

You guys might have seen me talking about this occasionally ingame and wondered "WTF is he smoking?". So I finally got down to work wrote some stuff, and captured some vids...

Many years ago I owned a device called a VFX1, it was a VR headset. Unfortunately it had limited technology that mean't it couldn't keep up with video cards of the day. Games I played on it included Flight Unlimited 1 & 2, System Shock 1 & 2, Terminator:Skynet, TerraNova, EF2000, Commanche 3, and Mechwarrior (3 I think).

Since that time I've been on the lookup for something similar to satisfy my VR 'needs'. Unfortunately most products out there have been too expensive or vapourware.

Then one day along comes Emagin and the Z-800 3Dvisor ( http://www.3dvisor.com ) at initially $899, then they dropped the price to $549 at which point I jumped. Unfortunately in the last couple of months the management at Emagin changed and the price is now up to $1599, comparable with other devices like it on the market. Still, there may be deals around and they may drop the price again.

So what is the Z-800. Well, its a Virtual Reality Headset of course! It has 2 OLED panels (one for each eye) with 800x600 resolution each, and a built in tracker that monitors your head movements in X (left right), Y (up down), and Z (tilt left tilt right) axis. It connects to a standard VGA connector and USB connector. Included on the headset are a pair for fairly low quality earbuds.

The visor is mounted to straps that fit around and over the top of your head, it has a flip up hinge. The hinger is a dual purpose hinge that also slides in/out to bring the visor closer or further from your eyes. Each eyepiece can be slid left or right to adjust for whether your eyes are to far apart or not



The resolution is the first question people ask me about. Is 800x600 enough? Well, yes. It would be nice if it was 1024x768, but there is a cost limiting factor. The OLED displays are very sharp, very clear. If you want to get an idea of what the experience is like positon your head about 50cm from 19" LCD, pop a game up at 800x600 and thats what you get.

Some points I would note that actually favour 800x600 - fps - when you use a VR Headset fps is important. Because you are so immersed with the picture 'in your face' any drops into low fps is clearly noticeable, annoying, and can give some people nausia. Also worth keeping in mind is that if you play games in Stereoscopic 3D the effective render resolution is 1600x600. If there were a 1024x768 res version released the effective rendering resolution would be 2048x768 - which would put a strain on most systems, drop fps, and make for an unpleasant experience.

Next question - what is stereoscopic 3D. Because the Z-800 has a display for each eye it is capable of displaying a different image for each eye. Some games support this, and render an image slightly offset for each eye, mimicking real life and tricking the brain into applying depth to what you are looking at ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereoscopic ). The end result is you have depth perception in games, all of a sudden that revi gunsight is really in your face, or you get a real sense of depth as you look down the long nose of the F4U, or the power of those big props each side of you on the mosquito. You can even find Stereoscopic photos on the net which are sometimes quite interesting.

So would you turn stereoscopic on? Yes, a very definitive yes. The biggest difference noticeable is in close knife fights. As distance increases the depth perception drops. In AH2 anything past about 1000m becomes 'background'.

Inside of 1000m you get a real sense of the depth and motion relative to yourself that you don't get on a 2D monitor. You are much better able to judge energy states, judge snapshots etc. A definite advantage in a knifefight. Quite often I turn icons off in close fights as iconless cons are far easier to track without their billboards.

cont'd...

[Vulcan]

Tracking, drivers, and game support are good. Unfortunately emagin themselves wrote a pretty basic driver that emulates mouse movement only (and thus only supports two axis). This is actually quite useful for games that don't support joysticks for view input axis (like fps or rpg games), but sucks considerably for flight sims. Thankfully a Z800 user wrote a program called ppjoyz800 which gives us a 'proper' driver to work with. It maps the Z800s 3 axis as a 3 axis joystick. So in games like AH2 you simply map the X axis to the x-axis-view (left right), and the y-axis to the the y-axis-view (up down). It needs a little centering to get things right but then you're done.



One of the nice things you can do with the ppjoyz800 driver is tweak the scaling. So you don't have to turn around completely to get a 6 view. For my setup it works at about 180:120 ratio. IE I look 120 degrees to the left or right and I am looking pack. 60 degrees gives me a left/right look. Sounds a bit wierd but it works well, and you don't end up with a sore neck (its amazing the amount of time I spend looking at my 6).

Tracking is very very smooth. It does tend to 'drift' a little, this is very common as between the headset, driver, and game things get off center a little. For this there is a configurable hotkey combo in ppjoyz800 to reset to centre. I have this mapped to a button on my joystick (if it gets off, I look to my real world forward, tap the button and everything is perfectly aligned again).

The 3 games I primarily use are Aces High 2, World War II Online (aka Battleground Europe), and Microsoft Flight Simulator X. All of these track smoothly.

OK, so we have the stereo 3D nailed, the 3 axis tracking explained, and the drivers what else do you need to know?

...HOTAS. You need a good HOTAS setup. And a backlit keyboard helps, with adjustable lighting. When you play with the visor its best experienced in a dark room. The less external distractions the more immersive it becomes. It also becomes easier for your eyes to focus/adjust to the headset itself. One of the biggest causes of VR sickness (which is nausea, and I've seen it happy to quite a few people) is flicking between looking into the visor then out the sides to the world around you. Dark environment = good.

But then dark environment + monitor off = where the **** is my keyboard. So a good HOTAS setup will make a world of difference. The less you need to reach for the keyboard the better. I'd also point out that this is one of the reasons I love trackballs, no groping for the mouse in the dark (no bestiality jokes please). The more stuff you can throw on the HOTAS the better. Its worth noting that the Z800 also means you can free up primary HAT from views to other functions.

I use a Saitek X45. Some examples of stuff I have mapped that are useful that you might normally map are (AH2) : zoom toggle ; zoom mapped to a rotory ; clipboard toggle ; icon cycle; autolevel; autoclimb (fixed angle); map zoom in/out.

Recently I added (thanks to some tips in the AH Hardware forum) mapping the Saiteks rudder/rocker to map to left right head movement (I don't use it as I have CH Pro Pedals). Wow, what a difference this made. One thing I did find annoying in AH is if you set your own view presets (eg, offset the 6 view to left or right) was the movement to the offset view the head took. You'd look back then your head would slide into position. With this new setting I could use the raw default head positions and use the rocker to look left right around the nose or back behind the seat.

Now, I can only imagine how awesome this would be with the 6DoF of a trackir adding x/y/z positional information so you could lean back forward, left right, up and down inside the cockpit.

Then theres the keyboard, I use a Saitek G15. It has backlit keys (blue) that have 3 settings, off, half bright, full bright. I usually play with the key light off, and switch to half if I need to type or chat. It is still difficult with the headset on, you can peer down through the gap at the bottom of the visor but I still end up with the odd mistake (I have a squaddie in WW2OL called thefsg, occasionally I hit the A instead of the S key... and call him, well you figure it out, I'm sure wonders about me sometimes).

With AH2 the headset makes the game a total experience, extremely immersive and loads of fun. Because AH2 has been written well with regards to head movements and 3D depth it makes setting up really really easy. Strapped into my headset with my HOTAS setup, I'm totally immersed in AH2. I'm seeing a true 3D world, able to glance to my left, right, up and down, with the views tracking to my every nuance. It is nothing short of awesome. I would spend more than half of my headset 'time' playing AH, I especially love the Squad Ops events and fighting in AvA where you get a more immersive experience. But there are other games too worth mentioning...

WW2Online:
Tracking is good in the aircraft. Not good for infantry, tanks etc (infantry view seems to be heavily limited in headmovement). Doesn't support stereoscopic or head movement.

Flight Simulator X:
Good tracking, supports stereoscopic and head movement.

Armed Assault:
Had a quick try. Was able to map the controller to view axis. Worked in stereoscopic, need to have a better play.

Oblivion The Elder Scrolls:
Doesn't support joystick for views so had to use the mouse driver. Supports Stereoscopic... and it was OMG experience. With the bumpmapping in 3D you get double the eyecandy experience.

Falcon 4:AF:
Doesn't support joystick for views so had to use the mouse driver. Didn't support stereoscopic (corrupted rendering). Found looking around with the mouseview difficult, constantly needed recentering.


Given the joystick and mouse emulation drivers there are many many other games out there (I understand theres a few driving nuts that use Z800s and love the Sterescopic 3D).

Real world video clips/demos of the Z800 (recorded with camcorder):
Aces High  http://renaissance.xtreme.net.nz/ms/ah-cockpit.swf

Flight Sim X   http://renaissance.xtreme.net.nz/ms/fsx.swf

WW2Online   http://renaissance.xtreme.net.nz/ms/ww2ol.swf

cont'd...

[Vulcan]

Ingame clips of the Z800 in action(recorded with fraps):
Aces High (these were taken at a MA furball with a CV near a base. My more enjoyable VR fights have been in the AvA arena with less of the 'furball' mentality, notice the zoom in/out - mapped to a throttle rotory, and when my rear view slides/left right - thats the throttle rocker mapped to left/right head movement):
http://renaissance.xtreme.net.nz/ms/ah1.swf
http://renaissance.xtreme.net.nz/ms/ah2.swf
http://renaissance.xtreme.net.nz/ms/ah3.swf
http://renaissance.xtreme.net.nz/ms/ah4.swf
http://renaissance.xtreme.net.nz/ms/ah5.swf
http://renaissance.xtreme.net.nz/ms/ah6.swf

WW2Online (aka Battleground Europe):
http://renaissance.xtreme.net.nz/ms/fight.swf
http://renaissance.xtreme.net.nz/ms/ah7.swf
http://renaissance.xtreme.net.nz/ms/ah8.swf

Unfortunately none of these clips show off the coolness of the stereoscopic 3D mode, which is impossible to record.

Finally the last question I usually get asked about... eye strain, fatigue, and motion sickness. Yes I do get tired, but so would anyone playing AH for 2 hours with their head swivelling around. One thing you do need to know, VR headsets take a little getting used too. You cannot simply slip one on and you're off. Your eyes need to adjust, its like people who shoot with both eyes open, it takes practise. People tend to fight to focus, when what they need to do is relax their eyes. So if you try and headset, and find it hard to look at don't be suprised.

People do get motion sickness from VR headsets. If you have a tendancy to this, then yes theres a good chance you will throw up. I've seen it on many occasions.

And no, I don't get a 'sore neck'.

If you do decide to get a Z800, or can lay your hands on one cheap - some advice. Use it privacy, do not demonstrate it to friends or family. You will be laughed at, because lets face it, when your looking around the room with this thing strapped to your face thumping away on a joystick you do look kind of crazy.

[WOZ30BAT]

So in AH do you get the view for each eye?

[Vulcan]

Originally posted by WOZ30BAT
Can't get the pics to pull up but from what you say, I say WOW!!!!!!!

They may take a while., they're shockwave flash videos, most are ~4Mb each.

[WOZ30BAT]

That  is awesome...I hope as tech gets better, the pricetags will go down. I'm surprised with as many flight sim/racing sims out there that some company hasn't jumped into the VR headset production  that the average person could afford.

[WOZ30BAT]

Let me get this straight, when using the headset, you  don't need to look @ the monitor, the images are projected to the lenses?

[Dichotomy]

very nice writeup Vulcan...

Now I want one

[Vulcan]

Originally posted by WOZ30BAT
Let me get this straight, when using the headset, you  don't need to look @ the monitor, the images are projected to the lenses?

Correct. In fact I turn the monitor off to keep the room nice and dark. In the camcorder videos its turned on simply to show how the tracking works.

[Ack-Ack]

Since the VR lenses are basically two seperate monitors, those with video cards that have a two monitor connection can easily use these glasses as dual monitors, correct?


ack-ack

[Vulcan]

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Since the VR lenses are basically two seperate monitors, those with video cards that have a two monitor connection can easily use these glasses as dual monitors, correct?

ack-ack

No, the Headset connects to a box which has audio in/out, vga in/passthrough, and the USB connector. They appear as a single monitor. For stereo3d you download the nvidia stereoscopic driver and select frame-sequential mode. The box in the middle knows to alternate frames between each panel.

[brucerer]

I'd totally buy one if only they were cheaper or i were richer. Also if i were a geek. Which i am.

[Ghastly]

In counterpoint to the above post, I've been pretty disappointed with mine for flight simming, at least so far.  

I can't actually see well enough with them to even read a pdf onscreen, and no matter how much I've "played" with the adjustment of them, only about a third of the screen is really in focus at best - and usually not even that - and the slightest change in position relative to my face changes the focus dramatically.  The loss of resolution isn't noticably a problem - 800x600 is quite playable on a monitor. But the inability to get the entire screen area in focus at the same time is a real "deal killer".   The information from Emagin technical support wasn't horribly useful, as it seemed to point toward the fact that I wear glasses as being "a factor".  Great, but without glasses I can't see shinola, and give that the focal distance of the device is something around 10 feet using it without them isn't really an option.

They are pretty cool in GTA SA where a lot of the action takes place at arms length, though, even though for me they are still at the novelty stage - I just can't see well enough to actually want to use them for playing anything (yet).

I'll try again though, hopefully this weekend.  Maybe the new lenses will make a difference.

And thanks for the write up, especially the information about the driver. If I am ever able to solve the focus issue, I'd have been disappointed by the positioning issues, I'm sure.

A quick question though - what version of the NVidia stereoscopic driver have you found to be best for use with AH?

[Vulcan]

ghastly one trick is too adjust each eye with the other closed. Trying to adjust seperatiion with both eyes open is a recipe for disaster. Also try a little alcohol for yourself - I'm dead serious - it helps you relax.

I would add that in my old VFX-1 each eyepiece had independent focus adjustments (like binoculars), and that made a huge difference in usability. I do miss it as a feature on the Z-800 as I have a dominant left eye.

I use the 91.31 drivers.

The tracker driver you seek is here: http://www.codepuppet.com/ppjoyz800.html

And here: http://www.geocities.com/deonvdw/PPJoy.htm

(ppjoyz is a plugin to ppjoy)

[llama]

Thought I would add a data point to all this.

Generally, my "VR" setup is far and away superior to anything I see in Las Vegas, or the Midway Musuem's Flight Sims (in San Diego)  or other environments where the general public has access. Though not cheap, I don't think it costs any more than what's been mentioned thus far, but is far more flexible for other games, and even non-gaming environments.

I'll break it down to Display, Sound, Head Tracking, Keyboard, and HOTAS

Display: Digital Projector.
I use a projector that has 1024x768 resolution, throwing up an image on a wall that's close to 10 feet across. Modern video cards can employ AntiAliasing and Ansiotropic Filtering that make this resolution (as well as 800x600, in most cases) look amazingly good. Though not exactly 3d, it has a lot of advantages over a VR headset, including ease of focus for your eyeballs, the ability to let others see how you're playing, and the ability to use your eyes for other things, like looking across the room at a clock, or looking at your keyboard. Plus, you can use it to play DVD movies big-screen style. You can get a decent projector for $800, or less if you don't care about refurbs, fan noise, or portability.

Sound: Medusa 5.1 Surround Sound Headphones or equiv.
There are a few different models of surround-sound headphones out there. I like Medusa's, which are available in either USB or 5.1 Sound Card versions (I have the latter with an Audigy 2 LS card). Though AH doesn't have 3-d visuals, it DOES have 3D sounds, and the 4-speakers per ear of the Medusa lets you hear bullets whizzing past, enemy aircraft sneaking up in your blind spot, and all sorts of ear-candy. About $120.

Head Tracking: TrackIR 3, 3Pro, or 4
We've all heard how these things work, so I will just add that when, in response to turning your head, you see a 10-foot wide image matching your movements exactly, AND you hear your engine noise "rotate" from the front of you, to your side, and then behind you, the immersive feeling is simply incredible. They're about $110 these days, right?

Keyboard: Anything you want
Since you have full control over your eyes, use whatever keyboard you want.

HOTAS: Anything you want
Since you have full control over your keyboard, you don't necessarily need a full-blown HOTAS setup to work purely by touch. Having one increases the immersion, of course, (I still use ancient Thrustmaster gameport hardware), but you can stay flexible.

No doubt the VR Headstuff is cool, but I think most folks will be more pleased with a setup described above, and it is more flexible.

One disadvantage to the projector though: you need to set up your room with a desk somewhere in the middle. The headset is rather self-contained...

-Llama