TrackIR - new (to me) gaming interface

http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/

Lets you freelook without using your mouse, or turning your character/car/plane in-game.

Pretty expensive for what it gives, but it it dropped to $100, or I hit the lottery, I'd consider it.

Demo Youtube clip, so you can see it without DL-ing the clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AO0F5sLdVM

I LOVE how you can lean in, lean to side, etc in Flight Simulator. Also love the head movement on your character in Armed Assault for nonverbal communication.

Long-ass video of the TrackIR being used in Armed Assault: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNPiByHTUp8...ted&search=

Shorter video of TrackIR and Armed Assault:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haCfLdFvJ8M...ted&search=

That is some great stuff.

Bubbaspanky wrote:
That is some great stuff.

On the Quake wars forums, there are a couple people who use it and like it. Most folks are saying, "I don't see the use for it.", "A mouse is easier", "You look away from where your weapon is pointing, you will get pwnzoredd!!!!1!1"

If it works reliably, and isn't fussy or jittery, I could see a use for it. I like the leaning and such, and I do see the use to look left or right without moving the entire character.

That is really cool. It certainly beats any of the VR headsets by a mile.

We use it in IL-2 and it is great! In a combat Flt-Sim it gives you a big advantage. Person using TrackIR can become almost impossible to shake off. Also have 1 person (Bayonet) who uses it in Armed Assualt and he says it is great! You can look all around while not turning you body (as you know current games move you in the direction your mouse moves). He says its great in city combat where you can tilt your head causing the computer soldier to lean around a corner. The game even shows you moving only your head --- cool!

I suppose you're familiar with this software than, Varg:

http://www.dwvac.com/

I bought it for use in BF2, to help with some seldom-used functions. I loved it, but after reinstalling XP, the recognition failed more often, so I gave it up. It was made for flight sims though, and it would be very helpful in those games.

I should work on it some, train it again or something. Previously, I'd done about 20 minutes training "Microsoft English Recognizer v5.1" and it was highly accurate. I tried to transfer the old profile to the new install, but it wasn't as effective.

I still use Game Commander at times. I bought that software years ago and it still work great for me.
I am still on the older version but the newer one adds stuff that I do not care about anyway.
I am surprised of how damn useful it is. I played a few single player games all the way through with it. It is cool. I have not fired it up in some time though. Maybe it is time to dust it off again 😉

I like that it does NOT need training. 😉

Lets see I have voice recognition. I have 3D glasses, which does work in BF2, I will buy the TrackIR.
Now all I will need is all force feed back input devices, which I have some and some HUD display or goggles that display the game like it is a 50" monitor 😉

The TrackIR is cool, I seen that a few years ago. I like the new version. I may have to pick up one of these just because I can 🙂

BTW that game looked interesting. How come we are not playing a lot of these other FPS games guys????

Paladin wrote:
I still use Game Commander at times. I bought that software years ago and it still work great for me.
I am still on the older version but the newer one adds stuff that I do not care about anyway.
I am surprised of how damn useful it is. I played a few single player games all the way through with it. It is cool. I have not fired it up in some time though. Maybe it is time to dust it off again 😉

I like that it does NOT need training. 😉

Lets see I have voice recognition. I have 3D glasses, which does work in BF2, I will buy the TrackIR.
Now all I will need is all force feed back input devices, which I have some and some HUD display or goggles that display the game like it is a 50" monitor 😉

The TrackIR is cool, I seen that a few years ago. I like the new version. I may have to pick up one of these just because I can 🙂

BTW that game looked interesting. How come we are not playing a lot of these other FPS games guys????

I like VAC because it's $9.99, and I can talk to the programmer, who has made changes I've requested. It doesn't NEED training, technically, but it helps. Actually, it uses teh Microsoft Speech recognition, so that's what I train in. An added bonus is, if you use other programs that also use it, you don't have to train each program, you just train once. Everything has pluses and minuses, and for the cost, I highly recommend VAC. If it doesn't work, you're out the cost of 2 beers at a restaurant.

I think that game is a descendant of the Ghost Recon games. A bit too slow, too realistic, and too much time waiting for the round to end when you die. Looked interesting tho.

If you get the TrackIR, be sure to give us a review.

DocJon wrote:
I like VAC because it's $9.99, and I can talk to the programmer, who I can talk to, and who has made changes I've requested. It doesn't NEED training, technically, but it helps. Actually, it uses teh Microsoft Speech recognition, so that's what I train in. An added bonus is, if you use other programs that also use it, you don't have to train each program, you just train once. Everything has pluses and minuses, and for the cost, I highly recommend VAC. If it doesn't work, you're out the cost of 2 beers at a restaurant.

Yes I forgot about that. Your program is cool man, I was not saying otherwise. Also it is almost free. 😉 I was going to play with it remember.

I am really into voice recognition. I have always loved it. You guys remember my home automation software I have running at home that I can use my voice to turn lights on/off etc...and how I put the MP3 playing software in my car in a laptop that I can control what songs play etc.. all by voice. 😉

I was just putting some good props for Game Commander as well. It was the first really good program like it and has always worked reliably for me. 😉

DocJon wrote:
I suppose you're familiar with this software than, Varg:

http://www.dwvac.com/

I bought it for use in BF2, to help with some seldom-used functions. I loved it, but after reinstalling XP, the recognition failed more often, so I gave it up. It was made for flight sims though, and it would be very helpful in those games.

I should work on it some, train it again or something. Previously, I'd done about 20 minutes training "Microsoft English Recognizer v5.1" and it was highly accurate. I tried to transfer the old profile to the new install, but it wasn't as effective.

Thanks Doc! Yes, I have heard about this. I have only talked to a few IL-2 players who use it and they like it. Might consider it as IL-2 uses almost all the keys! Will let you know, but are you a Flt Sim Fan?

Varg wrote:
Thanks Doc! Yes, I have heard about this. I have only talked to a few IL-2 players who use it and they like it. Might consider it as IL-2 uses almost all the keys! Will let you know, but are you a Flt Sim Fan?

Nah, I haven't done any flying since I played "Wings" on my old Amiga computer. I have to say though, that if YOU are into Flight Sims, I am simultaneously not surprised AND greatly amused. Talk about taking your work home with you! 😀

I miss playing a fun dogfighting game, but everything is too realistic for me any more. I haven't been into them since analog joysticks became the big thing. . .I can't fly straight, and spend all my time constantly adjusting left, right, left until I plow into the ground!

The VAC software is pretty good. It has a good long test period (30 or 60 days, I forget which) and it's only ~$10 US. I've tweaked it a bit, and now I'm running it in BF2 again. It's nice to do some ancillary things without moving your hands from WASD.

Nah, I haven't done any flying since I played "Wings" on my old Amiga computer. I have to say though, that if YOU are into Flight Sims, I am simultaneously not surprised AND greatly amused. Talk about taking your work home with you! 😀

Well, I can have FUN with a Flt. Sim and here is a video of ArmA+TrackIR


edit: correct ArmA video

Man talk about bringing your work home with you 😉