RF2 and Track IR = AWESOME RACING

max attack · 22 June 12, 12:22

We tested RF2 with my track IR today. It was awesome from lap one. RF2 handles track IR better than any other sim. I urge you all to give it a go.

This is me showing a mate how it works.

max attack · 22 June 12, 12:24

Sorry about the bad lighting, that camera man of mine is in trouble..

kamikaze666 · 22 June 12, 13:34

Nice setup, fov seems very high though.

tjc · 22 June 12, 13:40

Yeh... looks good.

Know nothing about Track IR though so will investigate...

A lovely setup like that and your using paddles in the BT20!? And your changing up on the left paddle!!!

Tut tut!

gears · 22 June 12, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjc

A lovely setup like that and your using paddles in the BT20!? And your changing up on the left paddle!!!

Tut tut!

Indeed!

tjc · 22 June 12, 14:35

Mmm... just had a very quick search and it ranges from £70 odd - £150 odd...

I reckon I won`t be experiencing it for a while then as I`ve to upgrade the pc first as it needs a wee bit more grunt me thinks.

You tried it gears?

gears · 22 June 12, 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjc

Mmm... just had a very quick search and it ranges from £70 odd - £150 odd...

I reckon I won`t be experiencing it for a while then as I`ve to upgrade the pc first as it needs a wee bit more grunt me thinks.

You tried it gears?

I've tried FreeTrackNoIR. Works pretty well. All you need is a webcam.

http://facetracknoir.sourceforge.net/home/default.htm

tjc · 22 June 12, 15:15

Interesting...

Damn! I don`t have a web cam either lol.

max attack · 22 June 12, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjc

Mmm... just had a very quick search and it ranges from £70 odd - £150 odd...

I reckon I won`t be experiencing it for a while then as I`ve to upgrade the pc first as it needs a wee bit more grunt me thinks.

You tried it gears?

I hope you come across some extra money to make that happen real soon.

Very observant there. I do use the opposite paddles, My mum says I'm special like that

I can't use the shifter, the plastic click noise brings us all down.

Waiting for a Frex shifter. I just hope I can put it right next to the wheel and move the handbrake right next to that.

tjc · 23 June 12, 00:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by max attack

I hope you come across some extra money to make that happen real soon.

Very observant there. I do use the opposite paddles, My mum says I'm special like that

I can't use the shifter, the plastic click noise brings us all down.

Waiting for a Frex shifter. I just hope I can put it right next to the wheel and move the handbrake right next to that.

If I do come across any extra cash I`ll certainly keep Track IR in mind as it does look pretty damn good. Although I`d heard of it before I`d never seen it action so cheers for posting that up.

Was only messing when commenting on your setup, each to their own whatever that may be... hope you like the Frex.

dartguy · 23 June 12, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjc

Interesting...

Damn! I don`t have a web cam either lol.

I got a PS3 webcam at the local Gamestop used for $20, and it worked great! Only trouble is it gave me an instant headache. I just couldn't get used to it. So I returned the webcam.

Maybe give that a try before spending 3-5 times that for something you may not be able to use.

max attack · 23 June 12, 01:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by dartguy

I got a PS3 webcam at the local Gamestop used for $20, and it worked great! Only trouble is it gave me an instant headache. .

That happened to a mate, but he had the duct tape to tight

He was as bad as MY camera man

max attack · 23 June 12, 01:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by dartguy

I got a PS3 webcam at the local Gamestop used for $20, and it worked great! Only trouble is it gave me an instant headache. I just couldn't get used to it. So I returned the webcam.

Maybe give that a try before spending 3-5 times that for something you may not be able to use.

That is good advise, my personal one doesn't get used except for a once a month Arma2 killfest

.

tjc · 23 June 12, 01:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by dartguy

I got a PS3 webcam at the local Gamestop used for $20, and it worked great! Only trouble is it gave me an instant headache. I just couldn't get used to it. So I returned the webcam.

Maybe give that a try before spending 3-5 times that for something you may not be able to use.

Yeh this is definitely something I`d do before spending a lot of cash out for something that might not work for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by max attack

That is good advise, my personal one doesn't get used except for a once a month Arma2 killfest

.

Again I can see it`s something that might only get used every now and then but it does look good I have to say.

I`ll see how things go. As I said, the pc is the first thing I`ll be spending on and I`ll take it from there.

dartguy · 23 June 12, 02:06

Yeah, I have never been motion sick, sea sick, or uneasy with speed, heights, etc, but that thing was just plain weird. Hell, I even met up with several of my league mates at Indy last year and used a Cruden simulator for a whole day and never felt bad at all. BTW, it made one of us puke!

I would have kept it if I used flight sims more than a time or 2 per year, because it would be perfect for those.

I just thought I would let you know they are not great for everyone. I think if I had one when I first started racing, I might have gotten used to it.

AeroMechanical · 23 June 12, 05:57

I've been using TrackIR in flight sims for a while now, where it is absolutely indispensable. I've never gotten on with it for racing sims though. I just don't think it's worth the trade offs--mainly having to keep your head in the same position in order to maintain the same view, which can be a little tiring. In flight sims, where you need to be constantly looking all around, it's well worth it (I don't think I could go without it anymore), but just having a 'look left' and 'look right' button pretty well has you covered in racing sims.

That said, a TrackIR can be pretty good for immersion. Once you're accustomed to it, it really becomes perfectly natural, not at all like what you'd think it was like by watching someone else use one. Your brain compensates for the oddity of it, and you don't have to think about how it works, you just look where you want to look much as you would in the real world. It's very difficult to describe, but it's kind of spooky how immersing it can be and how natural using it becomes.

Some people do use them though, and when I've tried it, being able to look into corners was very helpful and pretty cool, but I could just never get comfortable with it overall.

tjc · 23 June 12, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by dartguy

Yeah, I have never been motion sick, sea sick, or uneasy with speed, heights, etc, but that thing was just plain weird. Hell, I even met up with several of my league mates at Indy last year and used a Cruden simulator for a whole day and never felt bad at all. BTW, it made one of us puke!

I would have kept it if I used flight sims more than a time or 2 per year, because it would be perfect for those.

I just thought I would let you know they are not great for everyone. I think if I had one when I first started racing, I might have gotten used to it.

Actually making you sick or queasy is something I thought it might do to some people.

I too am a good sailor, don`t get car sick or have a problem with heights etc but I could see this might be a bit strange to get used too.

It`ll be some time before I try it out anyway I think but thanks for making a good point dartguy.

tjc · 23 June 12, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by AeroMechanical

I've been using TrackIR in flight sims for a while now, where it is absolutely indispensable. I've never gotten on with it for racing sims though. I just don't think it's worth the trade offs--mainly having to keep your head in the same position in order to maintain the same view, which can be a little tiring. In flight sims, where you need to be constantly looking all around, it's well worth it (I don't think I could go without it anymore), but just having a 'look left' and 'look right' button pretty well has you covered in racing sims.

That said, a TrackIR can be pretty good for immersion. Once you're accustomed to it, it really becomes perfectly natural, not at all like what you'd think it was like by watching someone else use one. Your brain compensates for the oddity of it, and you don't have to think about how it works, you just look where you want to look much as you would in the real world. It's very difficult to describe, but it's kind of spooky how immersing it can be and how natural using it becomes.

Some people do use them though, and when I've tried it, being able to look into corners was very helpful and pretty cool, but I could just never get comfortable with it overall.

I can see it would be pretty good in flight sims too. Been fancying a flight sim for ages actually but don`t know where I`d find the time to fly as all my sim time just now is taken up driving...

lopsided · 2 July 12, 11:07

I'm wondering how they operate in low light situations. Was going to buy a cheap webcam to try it out until I realized I have a PS3 cam doing nothing.

max attack · 6 August 12, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by lopsided

I'm wondering how they operate in low light situations. Was going to buy a cheap webcam to try it out until I realized I have a PS3 cam doing nothing.

It works better in low light than in bright light. There is a range of light that is likes, low seems to be better than high light levels.

It hates reflections/shadows from moving things like trees out side moving in the wind, I can tell you that much.

dbigers · 18 August 12, 03:01

I was curious about the technology. Is there some type of dead zone setting? It was mentioned that you have to keep your head exactly on one spot. Is there a way to set a dead zone so that a limited amount of movement would be acceptable?

Chronus · 18 August 12, 09:05

I know a lot of simracers like TrackIR but...maybe it is the 20th century part of me or something, it doesn't feel "right" with 3 monitors for me.

Nice setup, btw.

redi · 18 August 12, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronus

I know a lot of simracers like TrackIR but...maybe it is the 20th century part of me or something, it doesn't feel "right" with 3 monitors for me.

Nice setup, btw.

I would think that TIR isn't necessary anymore with 3 (big) screens

Chronus · 18 August 12, 20:45

That is how I see it too. I may be missing on something terrific and all in the future, but one would think 3 monitors would provide for a very good perspective, close enough to a 3D effect of a whole cockpit.

Butch Nackley · 22 August 12, 00:04

Great!
Appears to be working as good as in rF1. I used TIR 1 in F1C. Wrote Gjon a few times about it while F1C was in development. A misunderstanding of exactly what 'hardware' TIR was, F1C wound up supporting a device that was discontinued before F1C's release. TIR was added via 3rd party. I had no doubts that rF2 would support it. Nice to see it confirmed though

I should go ahead and buy the beta.

I also use 3-26" monitors. Played for years on a single 19" with TIR1 in LFS and F1C, rF (and any flight sim I played). Then got TIR4 and use 6DoF still on a single screen (26"). I got two more monitors and still use TIR always. I won't play a race sim without it. Having 3 monitors actually makes using TIR even more immersive. The FOV is more natural and TIR only adds to that by trasmitting your head movement into something more life like with the 3 screen over the experience with a single. It is hard to explain, only 'using' it can really allow one to see what I mean. Even videos can not give you the 'real' experience. Keep in mind though, for many people it can take hours to get used to. Some (like myself) take to it straight off. At any rate, nearly everyone that spends some time using it, sill forever demand it be working before they play (well some of us anyway, lol).

I tested TDU2 with 3 montiors. I was lost without TIR. I wouldn't buy the game because the devs would not add it and they broke a 3rd party attempt to add it. Everytime I would enter a turn or a intersection, I would turn my head and when nothing would happen, I felt like closing the game. It really does bring that much to the 'in the zone' feel one gets when playing a 'simulation' type game (in cockpit view). Heck, I even used TIR1 in Morrowind.

TIR is one of the best gaming pruchases I have ever made. As important as a wheel/joystick.
3 panels are great, but if I could have only one choice, 3 panels or TIR,,,, well I wouldn't need as big a desk.

NWRAP_Golly · 23 August 12, 04:10

How would TIR go with a 42inch about 1.5ft away from the G25 ?

Worth investing ?

rogue22 · 8 September 12, 16:38

That thing looks nice. I may take the plung and get one myself.

BTW, looks like you got some controller lag there. Didn't seem that bad but I could notice it. You runing Vsync?

Butch Nackley · 30 September 12, 16:38

I got the demo a couple weeks ago. I'm NOT using TIR in it at the moment and boy do I miss it. I am constantly wanting to look around, raise the view, tilt my head towards the apex, etc and can't.
I recently moved and my TIR is in a box that is in storage way back in the back and it is impossible to get to it (there is even a 1984 Trans Am in there). Hell, I have a G25 in perfect shape in there too and had to go out and buy a G27 so I can play. And now I don't want to play because I don't have TIR. Guess I could buy a new one of them too (this hobby is getting expensive).

Seriously, I have become that dependant on it in rFactor. Oh well, hopefully soon I can get all my junk out of storage and enjoy my TIR again, lol.

analogkid66 · 7 December 12, 18:12

Track IR and rF2 is Amazing!!...anyone who plays a race sim or likes flight sims should have one, and it really fills in the gaps from not having a three monitor setup, ive had mine six years, still works great!...oh and try it in ARMA, amazing helicopter views with it!

timothyddx · 22 December 12, 01:37

I just pulled the trigger on the TrackIR5 this week and installed it. WOW, I had installed (then uninstalled) FreeTrackNoIR with a PS3 cam, and the motion made me sick (think it was latency issues).

The TrackIR5 is awesome, really sweet transitions looking around corners (especially in open cockpit cars like the skippy or F2). The immersion factor and clean implementation (no jerkiness in the video) in RF2 is great.

The only stipulation I would make is to turn the setting in controls for head motion WAYYY down. I have mine set at 10% as you are already turning your head so it feels very un-natural.

Butch Nackley · 22 December 12, 03:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by timothyddx

The only stipulation I would make is to turn the setting in controls for head motion WAYYY down. I have mine set at 10% as you are already turning your head so it feels very un-natural.

Welcome to the club

You'll find with different games you will need different settings, probably. Easy enough to make profiles though.
In rF2 you can play around with the settings in the .plr to adjust how far the travel limits are, including lean.
Since I use a triscreen system, I have mine set a good bit higher than 10% in rF2 and even more so in FSX and other flight sims.
With triscreen, it does feel more natural, since there is 3 times the horizonal viewing area. Where with one screen you are looking more 'sideways' to keep your eyes on the screen. In triscreen your eyes don't have to look sideways near as much, since they can be looking at the outer panels too when you pan the view. At any rate, single or triscreen, TrackIR really improves the immersion.

kopyville · 28 December 12, 01:55

thought I'd borrow this thread..

how much of punch does the pc take fps-wise when it comes to the face tracking.. does it drop down a lot?

my specs: GTX 680 TOP version.. 16GB ram 1600mhz. i3770 at 3.8GHZ and H80 watercooling.. what are other people experiencing while driving? does it start lagging when using the facetrack?

Butch Nackley · 28 December 12, 03:04

TrackIR doesn't reduce the games fps at all, that I have noticed. I have checked years ago. They wouldn't change at all.
I don't know about any of the alternatives, but doubt they do either.
I suspect your system will handle whichever one you choose just fine.

MickeyMouse · 28 December 12, 05:36

FreeTrack or FaceTrackNoIR use the CPU for image processing, so will lower FPS a bit in CPU bound games, TrackIR uses hardware processing, so it doesn't. It shouldn't be a big hit, maybe 5-10% with the first two.

kopyville · 28 December 12, 16:58

thanks for the reply

22 June 12, 12:22	#1
max attack Donated Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Melbourne Age: 47	RF2 and Track IR = AWESOME RACING We tested RF2 with my track IR today. It was awesome from lap one. RF2 handles track IR better than any other sim. I urge you all to give it a go. This is me showing a mate how it works.

22 August 12, 00:04	#25
Butch Nackley Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Clearwater, Florida Age: 51	Great! Appears to be working as good as in rF1. I used TIR 1 in F1C. Wrote Gjon a few times about it while F1C was in development. A misunderstanding of exactly what 'hardware' TIR was, F1C wound up supporting a device that was discontinued before F1C's release. TIR was added via 3rd party. I had no doubts that rF2 would support it. Nice to see it confirmed though I should go ahead and buy the beta. I also use 3-26" monitors. Played for years on a single 19" with TIR1 in LFS and F1C, rF (and any flight sim I played). Then got TIR4 and use 6DoF still on a single screen (26"). I got two more monitors and still use TIR always. I won't play a race sim without it. Having 3 monitors actually makes using TIR even more immersive. The FOV is more natural and TIR only adds to that by trasmitting your head movement into something more life like with the 3 screen over the experience with a single. It is hard to explain, only 'using' it can really allow one to see what I mean. Even videos can not give you the 'real' experience. Keep in mind though, for many people it can take hours to get used to. Some (like myself) take to it straight off. At any rate, nearly everyone that spends some time using it, sill forever demand it be working before they play (well some of us anyway, lol). I tested TDU2 with 3 montiors. I was lost without TIR. I wouldn't buy the game because the devs would not add it and they broke a 3rd party attempt to add it. Everytime I would enter a turn or a intersection, I would turn my head and when nothing would happen, I felt like closing the game. It really does bring that much to the 'in the zone' feel one gets when playing a 'simulation' type game (in cockpit view). Heck, I even used TIR1 in Morrowind. TIR is one of the best gaming pruchases I have ever made. As important as a wheel/joystick. 3 panels are great, but if I could have only one choice, 3 panels or TIR,,,, well I wouldn't need as big a desk. Last edited by Butch Nackley; 22 August 12 at 00:36.

22 June 12, 12:24	#2
max attack Donated Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Melbourne Age: 47	Sorry about the bad lighting, that camera man of mine is in trouble..

22 June 12, 13:34	#3
kamikaze666 Join Date: Jul 2006	Nice setup, fov seems very high though.

22 June 12, 13:40	#4
tjc Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scotland	Yeh... looks good. Know nothing about Track IR though so will investigate... A lovely setup like that and your using paddles in the BT20!? And your changing up on the left paddle!!! Tut tut!

22 June 12, 14:35	#6
tjc Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scotland	Mmm... just had a very quick search and it ranges from £70 odd - £150 odd... I reckon I won`t be experiencing it for a while then as I`ve to upgrade the pc first as it needs a wee bit more grunt me thinks. You tried it gears?

22 June 12, 15:15	#8
tjc Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scotland	Interesting... Damn! I don`t have a web cam either lol.

23 June 12, 02:06	#15
dartguy Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Louisville Age: 42	Yeah, I have never been motion sick, sea sick, or uneasy with speed, heights, etc, but that thing was just plain weird. Hell, I even met up with several of my league mates at Indy last year and used a Cruden simulator for a whole day and never felt bad at all. BTW, it made one of us puke! I would have kept it if I used flight sims more than a time or 2 per year, because it would be perfect for those. I just thought I would let you know they are not great for everyone. I think if I had one when I first started racing, I might have gotten used to it.

23 June 12, 05:57	#16
AeroMechanical Join Date: Dec 2006	I've been using TrackIR in flight sims for a while now, where it is absolutely indispensable. I've never gotten on with it for racing sims though. I just don't think it's worth the trade offs--mainly having to keep your head in the same position in order to maintain the same view, which can be a little tiring. In flight sims, where you need to be constantly looking all around, it's well worth it (I don't think I could go without it anymore), but just having a 'look left' and 'look right' button pretty well has you covered in racing sims. That said, a TrackIR can be pretty good for immersion. Once you're accustomed to it, it really becomes perfectly natural, not at all like what you'd think it was like by watching someone else use one. Your brain compensates for the oddity of it, and you don't have to think about how it works, you just look where you want to look much as you would in the real world. It's very difficult to describe, but it's kind of spooky how immersing it can be and how natural using it becomes. Some people do use them though, and when I've tried it, being able to look into corners was very helpful and pretty cool, but I could just never get comfortable with it overall.

2 July 12, 11:07	#19
lopsided Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA	I'm wondering how they operate in low light situations. Was going to buy a cheap webcam to try it out until I realized I have a PS3 cam doing nothing.

18 August 12, 03:01	#21
dbigers Join Date: Jul 2012 Age: 40	I was curious about the technology. Is there some type of dead zone setting? It was mentioned that you have to keep your head exactly on one spot. Is there a way to set a dead zone so that a limited amount of movement would be acceptable?

18 August 12, 09:05	#22
Chronus Donated Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Local Group-Milky Way-Sun-Earth Age: 44	I know a lot of simracers like TrackIR but...maybe it is the 20th century part of me or something, it doesn't feel "right" with 3 monitors for me. Nice setup, btw.

18 August 12, 20:45	#24
Chronus Donated Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Local Group-Milky Way-Sun-Earth Age: 44	That is how I see it too. I may be missing on something terrific and all in the future, but one would think 3 monitors would provide for a very good perspective, close enough to a 3D effect of a whole cockpit.

23 August 12, 04:10	#26
NWRAP_Golly Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Perth, Western Australia Age: 40	How would TIR go with a 42inch about 1.5ft away from the G25 ? Worth investing ?

8 September 12, 16:38	#27
rogue22 Join Date: Apr 2007	That thing looks nice. I may take the plung and get one myself. BTW, looks like you got some controller lag there. Didn't seem that bad but I could notice it. You runing Vsync?

30 September 12, 16:38	#28
Butch Nackley Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Clearwater, Florida Age: 51	I got the demo a couple weeks ago. I'm NOT using TIR in it at the moment and boy do I miss it. I am constantly wanting to look around, raise the view, tilt my head towards the apex, etc and can't. I recently moved and my TIR is in a box that is in storage way back in the back and it is impossible to get to it (there is even a 1984 Trans Am in there). Hell, I have a G25 in perfect shape in there too and had to go out and buy a G27 so I can play. And now I don't want to play because I don't have TIR. Guess I could buy a new one of them too (this hobby is getting expensive). Seriously, I have become that dependant on it in rFactor. Oh well, hopefully soon I can get all my junk out of storage and enjoy my TIR again, lol.

7 December 12, 18:12	#29
analogkid66 Track Maker Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles	Track IR and rF2 is Amazing!!...anyone who plays a race sim or likes flight sims should have one, and it really fills in the gaps from not having a three monitor setup, ive had mine six years, still works great!...oh and try it in ARMA, amazing helicopter views with it!

22 December 12, 01:37	#30
timothyddx Join Date: Sep 2012	I just pulled the trigger on the TrackIR5 this week and installed it. WOW, I had installed (then uninstalled) FreeTrackNoIR with a PS3 cam, and the motion made me sick (think it was latency issues). The TrackIR5 is awesome, really sweet transitions looking around corners (especially in open cockpit cars like the skippy or F2). The immersion factor and clean implementation (no jerkiness in the video) in RF2 is great. The only stipulation I would make is to turn the setting in controls for head motion WAYYY down. I have mine set at 10% as you are already turning your head so it feels very un-natural.

28 December 12, 01:55	#32
kopyville Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: picka materna	thought I'd borrow this thread.. how much of punch does the pc take fps-wise when it comes to the face tracking.. does it drop down a lot? my specs: GTX 680 TOP version.. 16GB ram 1600mhz. i3770 at 3.8GHZ and H80 watercooling.. what are other people experiencing while driving? does it start lagging when using the facetrack?

28 December 12, 03:04	#33
Butch Nackley Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Clearwater, Florida Age: 51	TrackIR doesn't reduce the games fps at all, that I have noticed. I have checked years ago. They wouldn't change at all. I don't know about any of the alternatives, but doubt they do either. I suspect your system will handle whichever one you choose just fine.

28 December 12, 05:36	#34
MickeyMouse Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ohio, USA Age: 26	FreeTrack or FaceTrackNoIR use the CPU for image processing, so will lower FPS a bit in CPU bound games, TrackIR uses hardware processing, so it doesn't. It shouldn't be a big hit, maybe 5-10% with the first two.

28 December 12, 16:58	#35
kopyville Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: picka materna	thanks for the reply