+1000000000

 

I actually tried it twice and HATED it.... The way you stare at your screen and turn your head is so blatantly unrealistic that it is just disgusting.

 

It's more realistic then using a hat switch and panning your screen like you're wearing a neck brace.

Combined with ezdok or the opus cameras, trackir really shines.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone...typing errors imminent

+1000000000

 

I actually tried it twice and HATED it.... The way you stare at your screen and turn your head is so blatantly unrealistic that it is just disgusting.

 

Are you... are you serious? I honestly can't tell, because that sounds like a joke. Because pressing a button on your keyboard or joystick to swivel your virtual eyeballs is, you know, so very realistic as well.

 

Relax mate, we're just saying that we doesn't feel comfortable with that system "rotate head, stare at one point". Pressing buttons for views is lame, but you must find a quick and good solution.

It's a bit ridiculous to call the TrackIR experience "disgusting" though.... :lol:

 

You are right that keeping your eyeline straight ahead is not realistic when turning your head to look around in the real world. But as has been said, it is certainly closer to realism than using a little hat switch button to look around, and keeping your head completely still! ....... and again a lot more realistic than just pressing a button to access a preset view.

 

But it clearly is not for everyone,

 

It is funny that some people complain that TrackIR makes them feel sick ........ perhaps this is just virtual air sickness and quite realistic! :lol:

Just take a Dramamine 1/2 hour before your virtual flight, and you should be good.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone...typing errors imminent

I've been a TrackIR user for a long time, and it revolutionized simming for me. Recently, I also got into DCS, and I haven't played a combat sim in years and years (last one being IL2). Within the last week I experienced what the TrackIR was like for the first time in a visual combat simulation where it completely supersedes the need to artificially "padlock" an enemy plane. Absolutely mind blowing! I can't imagine a flight simulator without it.

Your poll doesn't have enough options!

 

What about people who use it just sometimes? You've only given us "all or most of the time" vs "never," basically.

 

I've had it for probably a year and a half but didn't really use it much until recently because I didn't really understand how to set it up properly and was too busy to do the digging required to learn how to set it up. (Setting the FSX view to WideScreen in the cfg made a huge difference!)

 

I also hate having to wear some kind of headgear to be able to use it -- starts itching and just feels annoying.

 

However, it can make simming more interesting, when in the right mood.

Also, to dispel a misconception that non-users may have (or those that didn't get it tuned correctly)...

 

With TrackIR properly tuned, you never, or very very rarely, turn your head away from your screen and look back with your eyes. And you never keep your eyes stationary at the center of the screen and just turn your head. That would feel awful.

 

Just as in real life, to see something that is off to your side (eg right side), you turn your eyes to the right and your head to the right. Your eye tracking and your head turning reflexively work together with no effort. With the camera rotation gain set high enough, what happens is the object comes into view on the right edge of the screen mostly because of your head motion, but your eyes are still drawn to the right side of the screen in anticipation of the view entering in from off screen. With proper curve tuning, this is all very natural in TrackIR. It is just like real life, except that the internal biological feedback between your eye muscles and your neck muscles dynamically adjusts to a new ratio, but they still work in the same direction.

 

For those that have TrackIR and have not found this sweet spot, here is a point of reference. Set your yaw curve to ramp up quickly enough that by the time your nose/ball cap is pointed to the edge of your screen, your in game view should have rotated almost 90 degrees. Your wingtip should be visible just inside the edge of your monitor. If your view isn't turning that much given that much head input, you probably will feel like you are working too hard to "control" the camera.

 

Then, use a non-linear curve with a very soft zero zone, so the default forward view is easier to retain.

 

Cheers

Clark

The path to happiness with Track IR might be a pair of single vision glasses, with the focal length set to monitor distance. I just haven't bought them yet.

Interesting that you should point that out, Ernie. I wear progressives, too, and I experienced exactly the same problem. In fact, when I first bought my TrackIR unit a few years ago, I was just about ready to take it back: I was starting to get a sore neck from tilting my head up so that I could see through the bottom part of my lenses--something I hadn't expected when I bought the thing. :biggrin:

 

Fortunately, I had an old pair of single vision glasses which I started using ... and in fact, they did clear up the peripheral vision problem you accurately identified. I even bought a new pair of lenses this summer, since my eyesight had degraded a little in the last few years.

I have used single vision glasses that I only ware for the computer screen for many years. I sometimes forget to take them off when I leave the computer room and soon start to wonder why I can't focus clearly on anything. So, when I got TrackIR I never noticed a problem. Once in a while I try with my bi-focals again but no go. Won't fly witout TrackIR.

Just as in real life, to see something that is off to your side (eg right side), you turn your eyes to the right and your head to the right.

 

I was just noticing that on the flight I just landed. I was going to come here and comment, but your post is better than anything I could have written on the subject. Thanks.

 

Ever notice that when you have TrackIR paused and you turn your head, your eyes have problems tracking the unmoving screen?

 

And for those who have some motion sickness, I was once accused of "extreme scaremongering" for suggesting that some people might have that problem. I had a mild case for a short time the first time I used TrackIR, and never again.

 

Hook

Your poll doesn't have enough options!

 

What about people who use it just sometimes? You've only given us "all or most of the time" vs "never," basically.

 

I've had it for probably a year and a half but didn't really use it much until recently because I didn't really understand how to set it up properly and was too busy to do the digging required to learn how to set it up. (Setting the FSX view to WideScreen in the cfg made a huge difference!)

 

I also hate having to wear some kind of headgear to be able to use it -- starts itching and just feels annoying.

 

However, it can make simming more interesting, when in the right mood.

 

You're right.

 

But the poll aspect has proved futile anyway because the poll has drawn a massive bias from users of TrackIR :smile: (If we were to believe the poll, more flight simmers use TIR than do not lol!).

 

So don't worry about the poll - I think the narratives in the threads are the most interesting thing. Most people on the thread love it (I'm in that category) but some hate it, and some are seemingly not convinced or are not using it as an essential part of their experience.

A side effect of prolonged TIR use is that when watching a video taken from a VC, you find it irritating that you cannot change the view by turning your head. I know I'm not the only one whose experienced this.

 

I find it interesting on how polarizing TIR seems to be in the flight sim community. I bet if it sold for only $40 it'd be a way different situation.

A side effect of prolonged TIR use is that when watching a video taken from a VC, you find it irritating that you cannot change the view by turning your head. I know I'm not the only one whose experienced this.

 

LOL!! This is SO true!

 

Hook

Use TrackIr5 all the time. It's simple to use and makes FSX a real sim, even compared to the $70,000 Redbird sim we have at the flight school. In conjunction with EZdok, it's quite impressive... when it works.