22 replies to this topic

[DrXitomatl]

First: What is TrackIR? It's a device that uses infrared beams to track your head position and relay that information to a game or simulator. You have to either wear a baseball cap to which you attach a little reflector thingamajig, or you buy the Track Clip Pro, which you clip onto a headset. The Track Clip Pro has active LEDs that shine IR light at the detector on your monitor, whereas the reflectors that come standard reflect IR light emitted from the detector. Both methods work equally well, so it really comes down to whether or not you want to wear a hat while you game.

Second: How is it in MWO? I like it a lot. It is a lot like the current "free-look" ability that you can do by pressing down the left control button and moving the mouse, except that this way you can still use the mouse to control your arms and torso while looking around.

This is quite helpful if you are using a single monitor to play MWO, especially when you are in a mech with side windows, because you can quickly look to your left and right to see what is going on around you -- faster than you can spin your torso, and without taking your aim away from where you want it. For example, when you are running forward while aiming your torso sharply to the left or right to strafe enemies, you can quickly glance out the side window in the direction you are traveling to make sure you aren't about to run into a rock or something -- provided, of course, that your mech has side windows.

If you play on a triple monitor setup, this is not quite as useful of a feature since you can already see out the side windows pretty well, but in addition to a small tactical benefit, the TrackIR system enhances your immersion in the game by adding an element of virtual reality. If you think it would make you grin to be able to look around in your cockpit by turning your head, you will like this.

It does make things a little more complicated because now I have 3 directional elements to control -- legs, torso, and pilot's head, so it can get a little confusing at first. I'm not great with it yet, but I think once I'm used to it I wont want to go back.

Here is a video I posted on YouTube of me demonstrating the TrackIR. It's only 30 seconds because I just used the trial FRAPS.

[Product9]

Yeah, TrackIR is great! But you may not want to operate it under the influence of Cool Shots...



Remember people, 'mech responsibly

[Kaor]

The nagative point is: onscreen information moves with your eyes and closes target marks.

Playing with: Legs - pedals, Torso - mouse, Pilots head - my head, Thrust - throttle HOTAS. It's comfortable.)

Edited by Kaor, 04 June 2014 - 12:14 AM.

[DrXitomatl]

Kaor, on 04 June 2014 - 12:13 AM, said:

The nagative point is: onscreen information moves with your eyes and closes target marks.

That can be a problem, and it shouldn't be the situation. Perhaps we can ask for a fix on this.

[Bigbacon]

Kaor, on 04 June 2014 - 12:13 AM, said:

The nagative point is: onscreen information moves with your eyes and closes target marks.

Playing with: Legs - pedals, Torso - mouse, Pilots head - my head, Thrust - throttle HOTAS. It's comfortable.)

can you please post a pick of this setup?

and watchinfg the IR videos....I am pretty sure I'd get sick playing like that..but it looks awesome.

[Burner]

How do you enable TIR? I turned mine on and the game didn't seem to notice it and there is not reference to TIR in settings.

[Scendore]

The TIR has been around for quite a while and it's very mature. It's a must if you play Combat Flight Sims and Racing Sims. It does add tons of immersion. That said I did a few drops with it last night and it does add some SA and immersion but it's not as dramatic like a Flight Sim.

If you do decide to get one go for the TIR5 as it does offer the best positional tracking bar none. If you are into Flight Sims and or Racing sims be prepared to have your life changed. It's supported by tons of games now.

To enable it you simply run the TIR software and then run the game. If the game supports it... It will run when you get into the game.

[Rick Rawlings]

Anyone have this working with FaceTrackNoIR yet?

[Superslicks]

To enable it you have to make sure you update the games list in trackir, once you have done this it will show in the list of game profiles.
Also [WM Xitomatl any chance you can list what settings your using, I'm struggling to keep mine stable.

Edited by Superslicks, 04 June 2014 - 08:17 AM.

[DrXitomatl]

Superslicks, on 04 June 2014 - 08:17 AM, said:

To enable it you have to make sure you update the games list in trackir, once you have done this it will show in the list of game profiles.
Also [WM Xitomatl any chance you can list what settings your using, I'm struggling to keep mine stable.

I'm not sure what you mean by stable. If you mean your point-of-view is jittery or sometimes gets messed up, it's a lighting issue. You must use TrackIR in a room with very little natural light entering through windows. Another way to combat extraneous IR light is turn up the "Light Filter Threshold" and also turn up the "IR Brightness."

The speed and smoothness settings are more a matter of personal preference. You can see my settings here:

Burner, on 04 June 2014 - 07:05 AM, said:

How do you enable TIR? I turned mine on and the game didn't seem to notice it and there is not reference to TIR in settings.

The game will not recognize it if you turn on the Track IR when MWO is already running. Turn on TrackIR, then open MWO and it should work fine.

[Ghost-Wolf]

Thanks PGI and especially Karl Berg and the guys from TIR for making this happen! I´m loving it!!!

[IronChef]

TY PGI 4 TiR!

[Kaor]

Bigbacon, on 04 June 2014 - 06:06 AM, said:

can you please post a pick of this setup?

and watchinfg the IR videos....I am pretty sure I'd get sick playing like that..but it looks awesome.

Explain what setup do you want? Hardwares are Thrustmaster Throttle HOTAS Warthog, Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals, TrackIR 5 + Clip, Logitech G700.

[Burner]

Kaor, on 04 June 2014 - 12:13 AM, said:

Playing with: Legs - pedals, Torso - mouse, Pilots head - my head, Thrust - throttle HOTAS. It's comfortable.)

I was running this setup but found that turning with the peddles was not as effective as turning with the keyboard. What is your impression? It was just difficult to add my legs into the mix for controlling the mech and I tended to keep turning while shooting and ended up having to constantly adjust with my torso.

[Kaor]

I have a big experience in flightsims, and I have no problem to coordinate my brain, legs and arms.)))

[IronChef]

After playing with this for a day, I found that differentiating between torso/arm convergence (i.e. when you move your arm reticle with the mouse your torso reticle takes a second to catch up) and slight head movements is difficult due to the 6 weapon group indicators and the rest of the HUD moving with your head. Often times in an intense brawl I find myself with my head at a weird angle unconciously, which I think has something to do with the mental conflict of the quick-moving nature of the mouse/reticle and my head all at once. Instead of my peripheral vision tracking all of the HUD staying in place as I move my head, all the monitors and instruments move with my head - except for the reticle.

To help, I put a huge dead zone on the track IR profile for MWO, so I have to make an exaggerated (approx 28 deg) head movement to look left and right, otherwise I find myself devoting mental concentration to keeping my head properly positioned instead of moving and shooting.

My recommendation - affix the HUD to the cockpit - or have an option to (like a flight sim), so that it doesn't move with your head, or allow the game to display information on the (as yet) unused monitors in the cockpit. Having to scan your instruments while brawling would be sweet!

Regardless, I think that the fact that TrackiR is in the game now is awesome, cheers PGI. I am also using throttle and pedals to control my chassis.

[Burner]

Kaor, on 06 June 2014 - 05:50 AM, said:

I have a big experience in flightsims, and I have no problem to coordinate my brain, legs and arms.)))

We do not use the rudders enough in the SuperHornet I guess:)

[Kaor]

Burner, on 06 June 2014 - 12:48 PM, said:

We do not use the rudders enough in the SuperHornet I guess:)

WWI, WWII, sport planes use it very enought.)))

[Zerberus]

Kaor, on 04 June 2014 - 12:13 AM, said:

The nagative point is: onscreen information moves with your eyes and closes target marks.
...

I`d actually consider that positive. The HUD is obviously being displayed on teh inside of the helmet visor just as they do in modern vehicles, and as would make sense in a mech with a helmet directly linked to your brain.

After all, the whole point is to increase immersion and situational awareness, and if you remove most or all of that information by locking it to only one view then you`ve absolutely failed at implementing the latter .. the only thing I would move out is teh weapon group indicators, to stay aligned with the crosshairs, and i`m not even so sure about that...

Edited by Zerberus, 07 June 2014 - 04:53 AM.

[Xeno Phalcon]

Yeah no i'd rather not play like this.

(if you didnt chuckle, you have no soul)

Edited by Xeno Phalcon, 07 June 2014 - 06:29 AM.