TrackIR (head tracking)... essential hardware!

[-MadTommy 367]

Hello,

I'm gonna guess many here are unfamiliar with head-tracking hardware/software. From a few randoms I've met in-game had never heard of it. So i thought I'd make a post to discuss it's awesomeness!

Dayz fully supports TrackIR.. TrackIR consists of a small 'receiver' that is placed either above or below your monitor and a clip that attaches to your headset that has 3 small lights.

              

 

This links your actual movement in three-dimensional space to your in-game view.  Look around and lean just with your natural head movement.

 

Watch this video to get a great demo. 

 

The reason I'm making this post is my track clip pro has finally totally died, and I simply can't play Dayz without it.. it is that essential to me.  I've been using TrackIR for 5 years in Arma & Flight Sims and even some racing games.. it is quite expensive.. but worth every penny!

 

If you can afford it.. buy it.  You won't regret it.  There are other free options... I cant comment on theses as i have never used them, but i do know they can be troublesome to set up and game support a bit hit or miss, but they are free!

 

For me its an essential tool. :)

 

 

 

[kichilron 8550]

For me its an essential tool. :)

 

 

Oh, yes - it is. Now, obviously you don't get to fly as much in Standalone as you did in the mod or ARMA. ;) But that is the main reason I love having hardcoreservers now - because I can finally play using my TrackIR and don't have to have the feeling like someone's got an unfair advantage over me.

 

And TrackIR is far superior over the normal "hold-down ALT"-technique. It feels so immersive and makes so much more fun. :)

 

 

EDIT: Make sure to check this guide out to get your hands on a free alternative, if you just want to check it out.

 

http://fragtrack.weebly.com/

 

Guide put together by our lovelies Fraggle and Hetstaine.

Edited February 4, 2014 by kichilron

[Whistler2k4 8]

^{I'm waiting for Oculus Rift.}

[sQubanny 13]

never heard of , but will check that!

Edited February 4, 2014 by sQubanny

[LaughingJack (DayZ) 767]

track clip died? Did you consider oculus rift as alternative/upgrade?

I don't go into detail here, just link two DayZ-SA-OR-videos and say that there are already dozens of threads in this forum regarding the OR, so I dont want to discuss it, just add it here for you if you didn't know about it ;)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVWNbQNvSrc

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuO157AZoNA

 

 

Edit: whistler2k4 is a ninja :P

Edited February 4, 2014 by LaughingJack

[-MadTommy 367]

^{I'm waiting for Oculus Rift.}

 

Fair enough, when it becomes HD it has great potential.  

 

I still can't get my head around not being able to see my keyboard & HOTAS etc when using a Rift.  But it will be very interesting to see what comes of the Rift.

[Dchil 829]

Have you ever heard of Free track? Basically a free version of this.

Website made by our own fraggle

http://fragtrack.weebly.com/

[-MadTommy 367]

track clip died? Did you consider oculus rift as alternative/upgrade?

I don't go into detail here, just link two DayZ-SA-OR-videos and say that there are already dozens of threads in this forum regarding the OR, so I dont want to discuss it, just add it here for you if you didn't know about it ;)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVWNbQNvSrc

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuO157AZoNA

 

 

Edit: whistler2k4 is a ninja :P

 

A new clip is about $30 so i'll be sticking to TrackIR for some time.  The one crap thing about TrackIR is the clip.. it's very easy to break.. mine has been held together with Sugru & Gaffa for ages!

[ImageCtrl 719]

I bought it.

I don`t use it.

Mous + keyboard feels accurate. TrackIR feels fun... + drunk. :P

[beelzebossi@hotmail.com 28]

Its ok for infantry, i only use it for flying in Arma and games like War Thunder, DCS simulator, Star Citizen later on.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Bezzi

[kichilron 8550]

Have you ever heard of Free track? Basically a free version of this.

Website made by our own fraggle

http://fragtrack.weebly.com/

 

 

You're late. :P :D

[-MadTommy 367]

I bought it.

I don`t use it.

Mous + keyboard feels accurate. TrackIR feels fun... + drunk. :P

 

How long did you try it for?

 

A lot of people say it feels odd at 1st and often for the 1st few hours find it a hindrance rather than a help.. But for my experience, once you've used it for some time it becomes second nature and an must have.

 

Its advantages in regards to situational awareness and function, free up all the look/view keys, can't really be disputed imo.

[meshcarver 154]

I bought it.

I don`t use it.

Mous + keyboard feels accurate. TrackIR feels fun... + drunk. :P

This sadly...

I got one about 1 or 2 years ago for ARMA2 in general, but even after tweaking it and refining it to my own movements it still lets me down in intense firefights etc.

I know all about the centre area where you can tell it to snap back onto the middle, but you have to be almost frozen into the same exact spot for the duration of your game for this to work.

When I play, I'm constantly shifting about in my chair, leaning this way and that, and all of this is picked up by the Track IR which then puts your view out of whack.

It's very unnatural feeling to have to stay so bloody still while e en just sitting down, let alone playing a game.

Look at that (excellent btw) video by Dsylecxsi, and then notice how uncomfotable he looks all the way through- it's just not conducive to a natural posture over time.

Sometimes I like to sit back in my chair, so times I lean forwards. Now, with Track IR that means the screen will zoom in and out etc...

Anyway, I really did give it a go, but it's ALT to headlook for me- it just feels so much more accurate.

I'd really love for the Track IR to be workable for me and might try to get into it again, but it got me killed so many times as my head was looking one way and is slightly zoomed and the gun is completely out of whack with it...

Edited February 4, 2014 by meshcarver

[Hethwill_Khan 233]

As a flight simmer, it is used into Infantry combat sims as well.

 

Curves are so customized that the "drunkness" feeling is no more. Just takes time to adjust it.

 

( if you guys wish I could share the presets )

 

2 settings, one for flight, one for ground. Couldn't really get back to click look.

 

 

P.S.- FaceTracknoIR works as well, and I think Freetrack as well so no REAL need to acquire the more expensive solution. A webcam is enough ( and patience to set all stuff up )

Edited February 4, 2014 by Hethwill_Khan

[kichilron 8550]

This sadly...

I got one about 1 or 2 years ago for ARMA2 in general, but even after tweaking it and refining it to my own movements it still lets me down in intense firefights etc.

I know all about the centre area where you can tell it to snap back onto the middle, but you have to be almost frozen into the same exact spot for the duration of your game for this to work.

When I play, I'm constantly shifting about in my chair, leaning this way and that, and all of this is picked up by the Track IR which then puts your view out of whack.

It's very unnatural feeling to have to stay so bloody still while e en just sitting down, let alone playing a game.

 

 

That's a thing of setting it up properly. I had the same issue and a massive deadzone helped me. Now it feels much better for me and I know exactly what you mean - the deadzone has helped me quite a bit with that.

[ImageCtrl 719]

How long did you try it for?

I have it tries really long. Even in the Helicopter it fails with me.

I can not fly with TrackIR and zoom in to a barn without it feels laggy. Without TrackIR I could go to the left part of the door Aim all time in a chopper, with TrackIR and Zoom I can Aim only the whole house wall. :P

[irl-calibre 744]

I bought it.

I don`t use it.

Mous + keyboard feels accurate. TrackIR feels fun... + drunk. :P

 

yeah i'm the same, mine has gathered dust for years...

[-MadTommy 367]

As already said, how you set it up makes a massive difference.  Different profiles, curves etc make it act very differently, and should suit most if not all needs & play style.

 

Have a look at this vid.. it designed for DCS flight sim but its principles apply.  If you are struggling with TrackIR watch this before you give up on it :)

 

[irl-calibre 744]

nah, I don't struggle with it tommy, I just can't be arsed using it I spent £140 to learn I prefer the alt key..

[-MadTommy 367]

nah, I don't struggle with it tommy, I just can't be arsed using it I spent £140 to learn I prefer the alt key..

 

Fair enough.. the world would be very dull if we were all the same :)

[TwinSpire 49]

... But that is the main reason I love having hardcoreservers now - because I can finally play using my TrackIR and don't have to have the feeling like someone's got an unfair advantage over me....

 

I find it interesting that you feel 3rd person view is an unfair advantage, yet at the same time have no issues nor view using add-on hardware/software as an unfair advantage.

 

At least with regular servers/3rd person view everyone can use it without 3rd party hardware/software to install and setup.

 

Don't get me wrong, my opinion is that track ir just gives a different interface for functionality already there (Aka same as if I got a 10 button mouse vs 2 button) and isn't wrong per se.  Not acknowledging advantage when you technically have one is imo mis-leading yourself and what I found interesting in your comment.

 

 

[kichilron 8550]

I find it interesting that you feel 3rd person view is an unfair advantage, yet at the same time have no issues nor view using add-on hardware/software as an unfair advantage.

 

At least with regular servers/3rd person view everyone can use it without 3rd party hardware/software to install and setup.

 

Don't get me wrong, my opinion is that track ir just gives a different interface for functionality already there (Aka same as if I got a 10 button mouse vs 2 button) and isn't wrong per se.  Not acknowledging advantage when you technically have one is imo mis-leading yourself and what I found interesting in your comment.

 

 

It is simply a fact that there are walls in DayZ you shoulnd't be able to peek over. And because a lot of people do that I always have to be under the impression that others do that when I am playing on a server where 3d Person is enabled. Same thing with going prone on a roof and peek over. All that is not possible in 1st eprson only.

 

I am only playing in first person because of TrackIR and because I am only first person others would have an unfair advantage over me, because they can peek over the wall I stood next to and see me, even though they should not be able to. TrackIR doesn't give me the ability to do that, thus not giving me an advantage at all.

 

It is a fact, that many people (even a lot of (semi-)famous YouTubers) abuse that when they can and say: "Well, others would be able to as well!"

 

I don't do that, which puts me in a position where others have an advantage over me. That's why hardcore is the way to go.

Edited February 4, 2014 by kichilron

[P3Nn 53]

I've used this before and it does add a sense of immerse you in the game more ... 

The only issue i found is that turning your head the full way means you have to look away from the screen even if it is calibrated correctly.

Also is that not a legacy product this can be achieved using a camera without a thing you have to strap to your headset...

[weedmasta 784]

Or just use the Alt button and save yourself the expenses. Other than flying a chopper, I don't see it being any more useful than just using the Alt button tbh.

[robophant 102]

guys try "facetracknoir" which allows you to do headtracking even without ir-equipment

 

i rather wait for occulus rift cause i hate to have the eyes on the monitor while moving my head...it's awkward