Link to my VR G2 thoughts

[ryanbatc 10,017]

I sometimes forget about the avsim subforums - so I wanted to point people to a somewhat lengthy review of my experience with the G2 while using MSFS.  I am a new VR owner.  I had tried a little in the past though at friends' homes.

Give it a read if you're curious

 

[regis9 3,103]

My experience was roughly the same.  It was a cool feeling but at this point really just something I would use for casual flying.  I also just didn’t really like having the headset on for long periods of time.  I actually haven’t used it in months.

Even with my 2080ti I couldn’t turn graphic settings up high enough so I was happy.  Particularly having to run the terrain graphic settings really low was a problem for me because a big part of MSFS is how beautiful the world is outside.

Having said that when my 4080 arrives I’m going to give it another shot but I still can’t see myself becoming a full time VR simmer.

Edited November 27, 2022 by regis9

[Ianrivaldosmith 4,378]

Same here, until there is a headset with a wide FOV and it is like looking at a 4K monitor, I’m out. 

[ryanbatc 10,017]

3 hours ago, Ianrivaldosmith said:

Same here, until there is a headset with a wide FOV and it is like looking at a 4K monitor, I’m out. 

That will be years but just to have a 1080P in each eye with high settings would be acceptable to me.  Your trading off resolution for the feeling of flight.

[MarcG 1,754]

Technically the 4k HMDs already exist and Pimax have long had a wide FOV HMD so they're already out there, essentially though for those that demand the very best then they'll always be waiting. Getting a low res one back in 2016 was the best game changing moment of my life when it comes to simulations, as above the immersion far outweighs the loss in resolution and IMO with my Reverb G2 it's only slightly behind anyway so I don't see the difference.

[Ianrivaldosmith 4,378]

For me the low resolution Is headache inducing. Couple that with a sweaty mess after wearing the thing, I’ll stick to 4K monitor for now 🙂 

[Cpt_Piett 3,284]

I had an Oculus Rift headset around the time the first ones got introduced. The immersion was fantastic, but it felt both sweaty and claustrophobic having the thing on my head for extended periods of time. Also I tended to get some motion sickness when fps was too low. So I ended up selling it back in 2018. 

[Booms 18]

Opposite experience for me. I have a G2 and have never gone back to pancake (2D) flying since I've had it. VR combined with VATSIM is just peak immersion - IFR and VFR. The freedom of looking around and just seeing "depth" can't be beat. I think the key to enjoying VR is having a good resolution headset and running it at 100% resolution. Huge VR user here. Also, great for sim racing as well and DCS.

Edited November 27, 2022 by Booms

[FlyIce 274]

I have been flying exclusively with HP G2 in VR since last year or so. I got my private pilot license two months ago and I can say that flying in VR is incredibly close the real flight. It also helped a lot for my training. 

I haven't began instrument training yet, but I do find having to fumble for knobs and buttons while flying VR is not very satisfying, and I can't see Foreflight on my iPad at all, let alone looking at the real charts or taking notes. For this I'm considering to do a hybrid VR/2D approach. MSFS switches between VR and 2D very fast and smoothly, not a problem at all. The major problem is that taking off/taking on the G2 is quite a chore. I'm replacing the G2 head trap (it's broken anyway) with the Halo strap and hopefully the process will be smoother. 

[ryanbatc 10,017]

28 minutes ago, FlyIce said:

I have been flying exclusively with HP G2 in VR since last year or so. I got my private pilot license two months ago and I can say that flying in VR is incredibly close the real flight. It also helped a lot for my training. 

I haven't began instrument training yet, but I do find having to fumble for knobs and buttons while flying VR is not very satisfying, and I can't see Foreflight on my iPad at all, let alone looking at the real charts or taking notes. For this I'm considering to do a hybrid VR/2D approach. MSFS switches between VR and 2D very fast and smoothly, not a problem at all. The major problem is that taking off/taking on the G2 is quite a chore. I'm replacing the G2 head trap (it's broken anyway) with the Halo strap and hopefully the process will be smoother. 

I realize I'm kinda responding to dual threads here.  I use aircraft with TDS GTN Xi support - that way I have charts (USA flying) and metar weather when using live weather.  It's a little rough because I'm running 70% resolution in VR but it's acceptable to read the charts and metar string if I get close to the instruments (need to bind those VR zoom keys!)

[Shack95 2,457]

My initial experience was very similar. I enjoyed the effect but it I didn‘t enjoy flying airliners in VR  (which is what I’m most interested in) because I couldn‘t find the right performance/visual clarity balance. It took me 1-2 months or so until I finally embraced VR. I don‘t know why exactly, I think it was a mix of being bored with pancake mode and accepting a bit of stuttering and lower graphic settings, but somehow it clicked and I never got back to 2d. That was 1.5 years ago. 

[turbomax 1,693]

On 11/27/2022 at 7:05 PM, ryanbatc said:

That will be years

it's actually here already and called Pimax Crystal: better than Varjo aero at a lower price:

https://vr-compare.com/compare?h1=INGl_L_43&h2=eI13V4rx1

https://pimax.com/de/crystal/

Sony Reveals 4K OLED Microdisplay VR Prototype

https://uploadvr.com/sony-4k-oled-microdisplay/

Display manufacturer Emagin broke records at Display Week. A detail of the first OLED microdisplay with 4K resolution could hint at Valve’s VR plans.

 

https://mixed-news.com/en/display-maker-reveals-4k-oled-microdisplay-for-valves-new-headset/

 

 

 

Edited December 1, 2022 by turbomax

[ryanbatc 10,017]

28 minutes ago, turbomax said:

it's actually here already and called Pimax Crystal: better than Varjo aero at a lower price:

https://vr-compare.com/compare?h1=INGl_L_43&h2=eI13V4rx1

https://pimax.com/de/crystal/

Sony Reveals 4K OLED Microdisplay VR Prototype

https://uploadvr.com/sony-4k-oled-microdisplay/

Display manufacturer Emagin broke records at Display Week. A detail of the first OLED microdisplay with 4K resolution could hint at Valve’s VR plans.

 

https://mixed-news.com/en/display-maker-reveals-4k-oled-microdisplay-for-valves-new-headset/

 

 

 

No one can run MSFS with it though.  Maybe 4090s in SLI?

[turbomax 1,693]

1 hour ago, ryanbatc said:

No one can run MSFS with it though

people are doing it already and are impressed: "Microsoft Flight Simulator and Project Cars ran absolutely smooth". check out the Pimax Crystal demo youtube above from MRTV. also check out "foveated rendering" through eye tracking which is very different from looking at a conventional full 2D-display giving you maximum resolution but only around a small spot your eye is currently looking at, as in Varjo aero, Sonys upcoming PSVR2 headset, Pimax Crystal, HP Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition, Quest Pro 2 etc:

"PSVR 2 Features Include Eye Tracking, Foveated Rendering And More

Beyond the PSVR 2 specs, the headset will have some big new features. The kit will be able to track the direction of your eyes, for example, to use a technique called foveated rendering. This is when an experience only fully renders the area of a screen you’re looking at; the rest isn’t fully rendered but this should "NOT" be noticeable in your peripheral vision. This should help dramatically improve performance on PS5."

https://vr-expert.com/what-is-foveated-rendering-and-what-does-it-mean-for-vr/

https://uploadvr.com/quest-pro-foveated-rendering-performance/

https://mbucchia.github.io/OpenXR-Toolkit/fr.html

https://www.gamesradar.com/what-is-foveated-rendering/

 

 

Edited December 1, 2022 by turbomax

[odourboy 1,026]

For those with more experience with VR hardware than me, should I reserve a Pimax Crystal as my first step into VR (assume I have the latest and greatest PC to drive it) or should I be looking at something else?