They say that compliments will get you everything...........except any suggestion of a release date, sorry.I do this developing stuff for the fun of it and have no imaginary or real deadlines to break. I won't even say "when it's ready", because that's a kind of obvious thing anyway, even when a release date is given.However, I will say that 2010 will not be included in the release date.Thanks for the kind words though.Cool, just checking :(

when ever it is released it will be ground breaking and one of the best addons ever released, like the 727 for fs9 still is. Thanks for all your teams work, Paul!

Paul Golding, please conside releasing SDK for possible FS2Crew integration.

It sounds like a great setup. I actually don't have the yoke and pedals either, but have used both before. I always had stability issues with the yoke and pedals. Part of the issue is having the right desk to mount the yoke on. Based on your post, though, do you see much benefit in getting TrackIR without using yoke and pedals, or is it really sort of pointless (as you said "pancake w/o syrup) if I was to use trackir with a stick? I suppose that setup would run in the $500 range for all three, but if they sold the TrackIR at Fry's Electronics then I would be able try all three and return if it wasn't working for me.Cheers, Pete

Pete you can do this stuff yourself: Everything here is either purchased from the hardware store or lumber yard. The throttle/mixture/props analogue usb panel is from http://www.simkits.com/ in the uk - about $120. The yoke is mounted in a wooden box screwed to the floor, with the joystick circuit boards sitting inside. http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o83/pj_3_bucket/Controls/

It sounds like a great setup. I actually don't have the yoke and pedals either, but have used both before. I always had stability issues with the yoke and pedals. Part of the issue is having the right desk to mount the yoke on. Based on your post, though, do you see much benefit in getting TrackIR without using yoke and pedals, or is it really sort of pointless (as you said "pancake w/o syrup) if I was to use trackir with a stick? I suppose that setup would run in the $500 range for all three, but if they sold the TrackIR at Fry's Electronics then I would be able try all three and return if it wasn't working for me.Cheers, Pete

If I were you I'd get TrackIR anyway as something is better than nothing. If you can at least get the peddles and then fly Airbuses and WWII fighters like the P51. Once you get a taste of TrackIR with the appropriate controllers you'll see what all the fuss is about. Playing FS with a joystick only is just wrong (I'm sorry to say this). You absolutely no benefit as far as a simulation is concerned. The day you get the yoke/Peddles in conjunction with TrackIR is the day the light bulb will come on and you'll see what an awesome tool FS can be (especially FSX on the right rig).

No yoke in the airbusses, only joystick. Using a yoke would be wrong :(

The thread hijack continues!

You will hardly find a flight sim TrackIR user that sells his stuff because he isn't confident about his investment.

I'm one! (Probably the ONLY one, but I am!)I shipped my TrackIR setup back to the manufacturer after giving it a full month's tryout. Try as I might, I could never get down with the effect. Although it delivers on it's promise for far more flexability in the VC views, I never liked the sacrifices needed to get there.... such as the limited field of view of the sensor, having to hit a button to lock the TrackIR service so I could press something in the cockpit, having to often reset the sensor because I moved my chair (or in my chair) and the angles were now different...sensitivity which, no matter how hard I fiddled, always seemed too sensitive...plus the fact that it's only useful in the Virtual Cockpit environment!I know that TrackIR receives near-endless praise, and I am not trying to detract from that - but having tried it for a month, I can say with satisfaction that it was just not suitable for me. Even though I am turning my head and the image on the display was moving, the 22" frame of my monitor continually brought me back to reality and the effect was never natural. You'll get 99 people praising TrackIR, I'll be the 1 person not - but at least I can do so from the perspective of having used it, full well knowing that it was more of a personal preference situation rather than any product shortcomings. It worked as advertised... it turns out I just didn't like it. (shrug) I use VC's for showing off flight simulator... for all other "production" flying, it's the 2D cockpit for me. Far more functional for my needs, better field of view, and overall much more useful to me. I've avoided VC-only airplanes so far. -Greg

The thread hijack continues! I'm one! (Probably the ONLY one, but I am!)I shipped my TrackIR setup back to the manufacturer after giving it a full month's tryout. Try as I might, I could never get down with the effect. Although it delivers on it's promise for far more flexability in the VC views, I never liked the sacrifices needed to get there.... such as the limited field of view of the sensor, having to hit a button to lock the TrackIR service so I could press something in the cockpit, having to often reset the sensor because I moved my chair (or in my chair) and the angles were now different...sensitivity which, no matter how hard I fiddled, always seemed too sensitive...plus the fact that it's only useful in the Virtual Cockpit environment!I know that TrackIR receives near-endless praise, and I am not trying to detract from that - but having tried it for a month, I can say with satisfaction that it was just not suitable for me. Even though I am turning my head and the image on the display was moving, the 22" frame of my monitor continually brought me back to reality and the effect was never natural. You'll get 99 people praising TrackIR, I'll be the 1 person not - but at least I can do so from the perspective of having used it, full well knowing that it was more of a personal preference situation rather than any product shortcomings. It worked as advertised... it turns out I just didn't like it. (shrug) I use VC's for showing off flight simulator... for all other "production" flying, it's the 2D cockpit for me. Far more functional for my needs, better field of view, and overall much more useful to me. I've avoided VC-only airplanes so far. -Greg

It would not surprise me if I had the same experience as you. When I am simming, I typically recline back (sometimes with beer in hand) and just relax and have fun. If I sit like I do when I am flying for real (not as much as I would like to sad to say), I think my back would start killing me! So I guess the Track IR decision needs to consider what your habits are when you are simming. I would be the first to say that although I consider myself a moderately hard core simmer, due mainly to the massive amount of free time and money spent each month on this hobby, many of the folks I see in these forums are far more dedicated, and will stop at nothing to achieve the ultimate flight sim experience. Of course there is nothing wrong with that, and for the folks like you and I who seem to be 2D for lifers, as long as we have fun then it is all good. It is always great to see all of the different perspectives in these forums, which is why I spend so much time here as well.Cheers, Pete

Thats weird, cause it happens in all of my paywares, infact, i would swear it was an FSX feature. Whenever you turn / climb / descent the camera moves a tiny bit as well

Ahhh I know what you mean now. By default - yes - there is an effect in the cameras.cfg file. I disabled this a long time ago. In the FSX.cfg you'll see this section - which you can modify:[DynamicHeadMovement]LonAccelOnHeadLon=-0.020000LonAccelOnHeadPitch=-0.010000RollAccelOnHeadLat=0.010000YawAccelOnHeadLat=-0.100000RollAccelOnHeadRoll=0.100000MaxHeadAngle=5.000000MaxHeadOffset=0.300000HeadMoveTimeConstant=1.000000But the main thing you want to disable is:MomentumEffect=Yes (Found in the cameras.cfg)Greg - did you ever try any of the profiles found in the naturalpoint forums? I also felt the sensitivity was way too high and was quite fed up with the whole thing in general, for the first few weeks... until I found the "Seth- Flight" profile from their forums. Perfecto!

It sounds like a great setup. I actually don't have the yoke and pedals either, but have used both before. I always had stability issues with the yoke and pedals. Part of the issue is having the right desk to mount the yoke on. Based on your post, though, do you see much benefit in getting TrackIR without using yoke and pedals, or is it really sort of pointless (as you said "pancake w/o syrup) if I was to use trackir with a stick?

I use TIR with only a MS ffb2 joystick. It's a twist stick so no rudder pedals. I've tried the CH pedals a few times and hate how they feel - maybe another company will design some more realistic ones.

I shipped my TrackIR setup back to the manufacturer after giving it a full month's tryout. Try as I might, I could never get down with the effect. Although it delivers on it's promise for far more flexability in the VC views, I never liked the sacrifices needed to get there.... such as the limited field of view of the sensor, having to hit a button to lock the TrackIR service so I could press something in the cockpit, having to often reset the sensor because I moved my chair (or in my chair) and the angles were now different...sensitivity which, no matter how hard I fiddled, always seemed too sensitive...plus the fact that it's only useful in the Virtual Cockpit environment!-Greg

It's great if you know how to configure it (which is not that hard). Some have trouble where most don't. I too put it aside when I first bought it. I don't know what it was, maybe seeing the potential if it could work right. I took 30 minutes one day to nail down what I didn't liked and figured out how to configure it to my liking. The 30 minutes was my own fault in experimenting that's why I try to tell people up front some of the axis are useless and should be shut off (you don't have to have everything on). After I bought the clip that goes on my headphones for head tracking (I hate the cap option, don't like to where a cap everytime I load up FS) I was sold. I actually feel bad for those who haven't figured out how to set TrackIR up correctly which is quite easy. To each his own I guess...Seeing as this is getting a little long maybe we should start a separate thread on this...

After I bought the clip that goes on my headphones for head tracking (I hate the cap option, don't like to where a cap everytime I load up FS) I was sold.

So - you're saying that the headset clip is superior to the hat clip, Dillon? I ask because (i've used TIR for about five years) I also hate wearing a hat.

Funny to read that the topic has changed :( What about those 727 then? Didn't someone ask things about them?Hoping that everyone interested tried this fine freeware INS in the Captain Sim 727. That's the way to navigate with her.

So - you're saying that the headset clip is superior to the hat clip, Dillon? I ask because (i've used TIR for about five years) I also hate wearing a hat.

That's exactly what I'm saying. The downside is it looks a little stupid hanging off the side of your face but it beats the hat (it also catches the connection better)...

No yoke in the airbusses, only joystick. Using a yoke would be wrong :(

technically that's not true. At least for the A300s and A310s

The thread hijack continues! I use VC's for showing off flight simulator... for all other "production" flying, it's the 2D cockpit for me. Far more functional for my needs, better field of view, and overall much more useful to me. I've avoided VC-only airplanes so far. -Greg

Greg I have a question for you. Are you an FSX user and if so are you flying aircraft with 2D panels and no side views? In this day and age that's just terrible to say the least... :(

Threadjack continues!

Greg I have a question for you. Are you an FSX user and if so are you flying aircraft with 2D panels and no side views? In this day and age that's just terrible to say the least...

Is it terrible that I prefer the fixed locations and clickpoints for controls, the ability to turn the subpanels on and off on a whim when I need them, and not having to pan around looking for the item I need to adjust?Is it terrible that I prefer being able to flip to the 2D mini-panel, giving me a rich full view of what is in front of me, rather than having to adjust my seat point or zoom up and forward in the VC?Is it terrible that I prefer how most 2D panels from airplane to airplane use a relatively consistent field of view and point of reference? I dislike how many VC's are zoomed in too much, zoomed out too wide, or generally different from plane to plane. Is it terrible that I prefer to have my side views unimpeded? If I had room for 2 more monitors, I'd have side views taken care of. When I look sideways, I am not hoping to see the windowframe or steering tiller, I want to look "out the window". A non-obstructed view is far more functional for this.I've tried using virtual cockpits on several occasions. I gave TrackIR a significant and fair trial (and yes, I spent many hours tweaking and adjusting the sensitivity and axis settings, even consulting with the NaturalPoint support folks for tips), but in the end I've found it to not be my style. Returned for my money back a few days after the 30-day return policy, no harm, no foul. Like many holdouts still in the "dark ages" with FS2004, I'll need to be dragged kicking and screaming into the VC world. Sure, I lose out on the ultimate in VC+TrackIR integration, which manifests itself in the ease in which you can fly the traffic pattern and keep an eye on your visual cues, but for me to gain that functionality I would have to lose many of the other things I consider more important. Virtual Cockpits are visually appealing and some are downright gorgeous, but for me all that pretty modeling cannot make up for their shortcomings in functionality. My computer screen is 2D... the interface is 2D... it is more efficient and natural to maintain this 2D interface paradigm rather than to push the interface into a 3D realm. If all I had to do was look at the panel, then a 3D one would be fine... If I could reach into my monitor and physically flip the switch by hand, 3D would be fine! But because it needs interaction, the three dimensional nature of a VC becomes a hindrance to me instead of a benefit. The beauty of VC's aren't worth the trouble of panning, zooming, adjusting eyepoints, and fighting with view management... especially considering I disliked the experience with one of the quintessential tools for effective VC use, TrackIR.I certainly do use VC's to demonstrate flight simulation to the curious visitors to my house who wonder what that "thing" is on my desk (the yoke). The VC's are indeed VERY visually impressive. But when it comes to my "active" flying, I just haven't yet been able to embrace them. Someday I might. Someday I might have to! But until then I'll keep enjoying my clear views, easy to maneuver panels, and my style of flying. Since you asked, I have been an ardent FSX user and supporter since day one.I don't think you're personally offended that people don't like virtual cockpits, but the tone of your question makes me think you do take some pity on us for not having "seen the light"... Let me assure you that you don't worry about us too much. While you might not be able to imagine a world without the virtual cockpit, we are all quite happy with our sim setups, preferences, and play styles. Just as I would evangelize the benefits of FSX to the FS2004 crowd for all its improvements, I know there are some parts of FSX which aren't suitable to all flying styles and preferences. The same can be said for 2D vs. VC - it just isn't for everyone. I don't see what's so terrible about that!-Greg