General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Max on May 26, 2020, 04:06:09 PM
Title: VR gaming gear
Post by: Max on May 26, 2020, 04:06:09 PM
Several months ago I upgrade my card to a GTX1660 Ti 8GB EVGA. I belive it can handle a VR device, no? I'm tempted to give VR a try but don't know a lot about the mechanics of them or how they interface with AH3. I'm thinking to get a used Oculus or ___ on Ebay and giving it a tryu before spending $500 +
What do I need exactly? What don't I need? I gather I still would use my CH HOTAS as I do now except for the 8-way7 HAT...right? I only ask as I've seen some of Hitech's vids where virtual hands are making cockpit adjustments. Are the hand controllers in the Oculus Rift poackage used? If so, for what? Sorry to be a VR nincumpoop but I just haven't paid much attention to VR until now.
Just realized I should have probably posted this in All Things VR. Hope Skuzzy doesn't get mad :devil
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Shuffler on May 26, 2020, 04:45:45 PM
Most of us are VR noobs.... :D
Skuzzy took his permanent vacation some time back. Hope he is enjoying life in the free world.
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Mister Fork on May 26, 2020, 04:59:22 PM
Hi Max,
No worries - Skuzzy did retire a while ago so I'll probably stay here for a bit.
Personally, purchase something like mine that is Windows VR compatible, ACER VR 101. Probably can get one used for a couple hundred bucks. Or, you can do what my son purchased, he got himself an Oculus Quest. Also works on his PC. He has flown with me online as well.
You "can" use the hand controllers but I still use my HOTAS and Voice Attack for the keyboard commands.
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: FLS on May 26, 2020, 07:41:30 PM
Max VR with Oculus is plug and play but you need USB 3.1. You can buy an add-in card for that if you need one. If you can find a used Rift in good condition it's a good introduction to VR. You can still use your 8 way hat and normal controls but forget about using the keyboard, you can peek at it but it's best to ignore it. The VR controllers are not required for AH. Just be aware it's not going to look as good as a monitor, but you will be inside the cockpit.
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: The Fugitive on May 26, 2020, 09:35:02 PM
MAX you can go here
https://support.oculus.com/248749509016567/
Download and run their program and it will test your system to see if it is VR ready.
You can use the hand controllers to play, but they are not as "positive" as you hotass. The biggest issue with VR is the lack of ability to type out on the radio. Many use "voice Attack" I think its called but I have issues with it recognizing my voice. I am in NE and so have a "Boston" accent which may contribute to the problem. :)
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Eagler on May 27, 2020, 07:23:54 AM
You will still use hat views with VR
Just as with trackir, hat views improve the experience and is what makes AH3 superior to IL2 and DCS in VR
<S>
Eagler
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Max on May 27, 2020, 12:19:42 PM
Just be aware it's not going to look as good as a monitor, but you will be inside the cockpit.
I have a nice 31.5" curved quad 1440. So if that provides beeter viewing vs VR, what advantage does "being inside the cockpit" offer? Better SA?
I gave TrackIR a shot several years ago and after the initial getting used to period, I enjoyed the (IMHO) better SA it offered, but always having to constantly recenter the view, prior to gun solution, comprimised my already poor gun hit %. Would that be the case with Rift too?
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Easyscor on May 27, 2020, 01:38:36 PM
Since you mentioned Riff, the Riff is 1st Gen VR and its' screen is out of date. VR has gotten better and continues to improve. Several threads and posts talk about newer, better devices.
A monitor can't compare with VR situational awareness, but in the Rift, a plane's dot can't be seen at 3,000 feet, never mind beyond that. You'll need icons in the Rift for anything beyond something like 2,000 feet, but it's great for close quarter battle.
As for re-centering VR in AH, I used to do that a lot with my forward hat button. Somehow my ability to move my forward facing head position was lost recently. The inadvertent advantage is that the gunsight is always centered. I'll be looking to find out how to change it back when I have some time.
Save your money and choose one of the new VR models.
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: FLS on May 27, 2020, 01:53:52 PM
I have a nice 31.5" curved quad 1440. So if that provides beeter viewing vs VR, what advantage does "being inside the cockpit" offer? Better SA?
I gave TrackIR a shot several years ago and after the initial getting used to period, I enjoyed the (IMHO) better SA it offered, but always having to constantly recenter the view, prior to gun solution, comprimised my already poor gun hit %. Would that be the case with Rift too?
The advantage to VR is that instead of looking at a picture of the cockpit it looks like you are sitting inside a full size cartoon aircraft. It also gives you depth perception because you have a slightly different view for each eye. You don't need to recenter the view often but I never did with TIR either. If you are looking for a quick fix to improve your game performance VR isn't it. It's just more fun than a monitor.
The trade off is video resolution. If you were going from a 17" monitor to VR you'd be very happy. If you want a better view than the relatively cheap used Rift you can spend a grand for an Valve Index but I think you'd need to upgrade your PC to take advantage of it. For your current system a used Rift is a good match but you may prefer your 31" monitor. Personally I'd rather fly with my original Rift than my 4K 50" screen.
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Drano on May 27, 2020, 02:21:47 PM
I'm using a RiftS for almost a year now. I'd used TIR for years prior. I can easily say there's no going back to TIR and a monitor after going to VR. It's just a far better experience insofar as being put literally into the cockpit. To where you'll want to reach out and touch things. Depth perception is many factors better than on a flat screen. Centering is a product of you moving your head. You'll never get EXACTLY back to where you were. It's precise. So map a button. Problem solved. It becomes natural soon enough.
Resolution isn't what a high end monitor will give. And you're gonna need some extra GPU horsepower to even run VR. USB 3.1 is a given for the RiftS. You'll almost certainly need an add on powered PCI-E card. It's finicky that way.
That said right now stock is an issue with all of these and they might be coming out with something else soon. Might be worth it to wait a while to see how that shakes out.
Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Max on May 27, 2020, 02:38:01 PM
Thanks for the replies and great info! Much appreciated. :salute
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Vulcan on May 27, 2020, 04:59:48 PM
Yeah, but come on, 640 resolution? Might as well spent your money on Viewfinder. :rofl
LOL 640? My first headset (VFX-1) was 263 × 230 per eye (mid 90s).
That said there were some very good games (Flight Unlimited 1 and 2, EF2000, Commanche 3, Armored Fist 2, Terminator Skynet 1 & 2, System Shock 1 & 2, Star Wars Dark Forces) that were surprisingly playable on the VFX. My last couple of headsets before Oculus were 800x600 panels per eye (late 2000s).
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Drano on May 28, 2020, 04:03:22 PM
LOL 640? My first headset (VFX-1) was 263 × 230 per eye (mid 90s).
That said there were some very good games (Flight Unlimited 1 and 2, EF2000, Commanche 3, Armored Fist 2, Terminator Skynet 1 & 2, System Shock 1 & 2, Star Wars Dark Forces) that were surprisingly playable on the VFX. My last couple of headsets before Oculus were 800x600 panels per eye (late 2000s).
Dude, I can't imagine the crazy steam punk lookin stuff you were using. You've been a VR guy since before there was VR!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Vulcan on May 28, 2020, 04:51:19 PM
Here ya go Drano. This was one my favourites, EF2000 - an Early Eurofighter Typhoon simulator.
This was mid-90s, and remember not Windows but MS-DOS:
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Easyscor on May 28, 2020, 11:51:42 PM
That rig must be older then the Ark! LOL
Or Luke's helmet anyway.
Ya know what, except for the probable weight, that ain't a bad design either.
:cheers:
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Drano on May 29, 2020, 12:13:08 PM
Here ya go Drano. This was one my favourites, EF2000 - an Early Eurofighter Typhoon simulator.
This was mid-90s, and remember not Windows but MS-DOS:
Yeah and I had that old TM stick too! I had visions of some Jules Verne 20,000 leagues under the sea kinda setup tho! Kind of a disappointment in that respect! :neener:
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Vulcan on May 29, 2020, 04:18:53 PM
Ya know what, except for the probable weight, that ain't a bad design either.
:cheers:
It was very comfortable to wear very well balanced, and the headphones were Koss iirc - they were really really good.
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Max on May 29, 2020, 05:31:07 PM
Are VR headsets compatible with folks who wear eyeglasses?
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Drano on May 29, 2020, 08:04:13 PM
I CAN wear my glasses with the Rift S but I was afraid to scratch the lenses on it so I got prescription inserts for it. That won't happen now but popping off the headset to type something is not happening for me!
Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: FLS on May 29, 2020, 09:52:25 PM
Are VR headsets compatible with folks who wear eyeglasses?
If you wear glasses chances are you will scratch the lenses.
VR is weird about focusing because objects in the virtual world are at different distances in regards to binocular vision but the Fresnel lens focuses the screen(s) at a fixed distance.
I believe you need to focus about 6 ft away for VR, at least for the Oculus versions. If you need glasses for that you should get the prescription inserts.
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Eagler on May 30, 2020, 06:52:31 AM
I am legally blind - worse than 20/200 vision and have a serve astigmatism in the right eye
I have bifocals for reading and distance and a set pair for just computer work.
I wear my computer glasses when I use my vive pro
I tried perscription lenses but the right eye is too far gone for them to get that right on the web.
The vive pro is supposed to be large enough for smaller frame glasses but I have scratched several lenses on both my eyeglasses and the vive.
I use the mod where you use clear leneses in place of the fresnel lense that comes with it so I can replace them without to much hassle.
Glasses are not ideal for vr but they work
<S>
Eagler
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Drano on May 30, 2020, 07:00:11 AM
I'm blind as a bat generally too! There's only a couple of manufacturers of these inserts that make them with extreme scripts. I can't remember offhand who I got mine from but I'll dig it up and post here. German company I remember. They work great. Not cheap but not like buying a whole pair of glasses you'd wear either. And certainly cheaper than ruining the lenses on your headset. Or your own glasses!
Edit: There is a cheaper way to do it and I tried this first. They sell plastic lens protectors that aren't unlike a phone screen protector. Just kinda sticks on. Problem with those are the lenses are convex and it's hard to get them to stay stuck all over. I had a hard time with them. YMMV of course.
Edit: I got my inserts from VR Optician.
Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk
Title: Re: VR gaming gear
Post by: Vulcan on May 31, 2020, 07:04:18 PM
I got prescription lenses from that Polish crowd. I actually find viewing in the rift more relaxing on my eyes than the real world.