4 ways to INTERACT with DCS in VR

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

Thanks due to surprising interest in the argument, my next step surely will be to try out the SlugMouse!

[@MeplusYellow]

I have both a full cockpit and have VR with passthrough - that’s really the goat option.

[@Ready.A-10C]

Yes it must be great! But are you not limited to the aircraft's cockpit? Switching from a jet to an Apache must not be that easy I guess

[@MeplusYellow]

@@Ready.A-10CI suppose it depends on how you set it up. Some people have 1-1 simpits of their aircraft some people have a bit of a hybrid. All depends on what your end goal is. But there’s nothing like completely getting rid of the keyboard and mouse during a flight. I’d also recommend checking out voice attack if you haven’t.

[@Ready.A-10C]

@@MeplusYellow Yeah I am using Voice Attack, but stopped using the voice recognition side of it. I use it to run shortcuts on my HOTAS to trigger actions and scripts. I use the keyboard numpad for my CDU and mouse for the F10 menu. My next step probably will be a motion rig, don't think I will go the full cockpit route. If you have videos on your setup I am very interested in watching that.

[@RedTail1-1]

​@@Ready.A-10Cmost people who build pits are pretty dedicated to the aircraft they built the pit for.. You never see The Warthog Project flying anything but the A-10C.

[@Nick-xe2hu]

The first option is really smart. Can you (haven't tried yet) to bind another button as a modifier for a hat switch as a mouse. i.e. the hat switch controls your trim. But if you depress another button (the modifier) the hat switch then controls the mouse.

[@TheRealSlimSteve]

I use a genius ring mouse on my left hand throttle index finger - can gently move the mouse anywhere, click left button, right click button, all without moving my hands off the throttle, and with all throttle controls remaining easily accessible. You can't get them in the west, but they are available on Aliexpress, and was delivered to the UK in around 10 days. They are brilliant, and until I can afford a full cockpit build with a pimax passthrough setup, works a dream. Give it a try.

[@Hatredy11]

Can you give a link to the one you use?

[@algroyp3r]

I use a variation of your method 1, but I map the additional little joystick to mouse movement in an external program Joystick Gremlin. This way, I can move the cursor with my head most of the time, but also control it with my thumb with hand on the stick, like if I had to twist my head too much. I never found the need for this little joystick in any aircraft, so it's not a great loss.

[@Musix4me-Clarinet]

*Slowly,* I am finding these solutions to nagging issues. Thank you for this. I had not considered turning off the mouse and using the _look_ to-point. I also have the additional controller and will immediately be setting it up for this. *Thanks again!*

[@VR_Aviator]

Method 1 is my favorite as well. For method 2, I wrote an autohotkey script that moved the mouse 1 pixel and back every 2 seconds to keep it visible. It also let me move the mouse position with the arrow keys for hard to reach places.

[@shamandgg]

I have a micro trackball attached near right throttle finger lift and another one next to flap lever (TM Warthog mod). Both include left a right mouse buttons and switch for wheel operation.

[@simonhouel1984]

Slugmouse and PointCTRL are the best ways to interact with DCS in VR at the moment.

[@demdirtyboyz247]

This is the best reply. Slugmouse is a week time from purchase to using, pointcontrol close to 18+ month wait. Point control lite looks promising and will be shipped after payment too. HTCC software otherwise is free and works very very well with practice, not need for Virtual Desktop.

[@EbonySeraphim]

Is PointCTRL shipping now? I put my name on the list maybe 2 years ago now, and I don't know if any batches have been made -> shipped since. That's a dead product if no one can get it and shouldn't be discussed.

[@jtorc]

Same here ​@@EbonySeraphim

[@slughead817]

@@EbonySeraphim Slugmouse ships in under a week.

[@brettcameratraveler]

Seems like the ultimate setup would be a IRL simpit with working buttons and then using mixed reality for everything outside the canopy.

[@bigdawg0777]

Thank you very much, this has been the most helpful vr video i have seen.

[@joesim9577]

As one of your readers already comment on: if you want to reach behind you on the left console, first look right and lean slightly forward, then hit recenter VR view from your mapped hot key. Then look straight ahead as normal and sit back in chair as normal. Your view will be of the left console and slightly pulled away from you which makes everything easy to reach. When done using left console, simple look forward and hit recenter VR view and now the cockpit is back to normal.

[@davidwaVR]

You can use the recenter in VR button this allows you to look behind your shoulder 360 by just centering opposite and turning your head

[@TheBitzoVidChannel]

Great video! Very helpful and very much needed instructions on how to use VR UI and panel controls intelligently. Thank you for that! I've tried them all, including developing a Bluetooth "mouse glove" and also hanging the hand controllers from a lanyard around the neck which does help, but I found the first method you describe as the most efficient. If you use the great VR utility "Necksafer", you can tweak that to gain that extra neck turn to get those hard to reach controls. Unfortunately some buttons cannot be reached and a dedicated controller button is still needed. The video link really should be posted on the DCS forums. Just a comment, I found the video ended very abruptly. Maybe a "thanks for watching, I hope this helps" or something along those lines so the end is not so jarring. Anyways, thanks again for a very informative video!

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

Thanks :) Necksafer goes against my VR-beliefs tho

[@ttdsi5745]

I thought they were making interactable cockpits like VTOL vr, heart dropped but nope 😢

[@Crunch104]

The only disadvantages of VR for me are having a lower resolution (I am still on an older Meta 2) and even with a Meta 2 you need to turn down graphic settings for smooth gaming. Playing in 2D with my 4070ti I can turn every option up. Great video! Thanks

[@gabry7817]

The setup is crazy. The best one i have seen

[@Bobby-r2z]

I find it's best to bind certain buttons because in a pinch muscle memory is a factor. For example, dropping tanks in a dogfight isn't ideal if you have to look at the button. That said, most of the mundane buttons during start-up makes sense.

[@gelbevierzehn]

You missed PointCTRL, which is actually the best way to interact within DCS. Even the Airforce is using it in their training...

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

@@gelbevierzehn pretty specific hardware not that easy to get my hands on at the moment, still have to decide the next step but i’m more prone to go for the slugmouse+HTTC

[@MrSnacko]

Yes I was just about to post the same thing about PointCtrl. It would be nice to have seen that, but it is hard to get your hands on.

[@slughead817]

@@gelbevierzehn Two year wait still for pointctrl. Slugmouse ships in under a week.

[@steeltribe3967]

Great video, well done. I agree that fixed mouse is the clear winner for the time being. Do you know if there is a way to lower the position in the view as the middle is not the best place as most buttons are lower so I think bottom 1/3 would be better.

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

The 2 methods I know require to have the mouse enabled: a) Manually place the cursor in the lower part of the screen then never touch the mouse again. b) Use Voice Attack and define "Move Mouse Cursor to Screen Coordinates (1920,1250)" command (twice with a 0.1 interval in between) If the cursor disappears just click it will come back visible.

[@bjrnchrstn]

Use the fixed mouse aswell. Just wish we could change the dot (color and size). I feel currently it’s too visible. Also like the vr hands but we need 3 more axis to set up each hand separately. Now we have 3 axis for both. This would allow me to setup my virtual hands to match my real cockpit.

[@CuneytSeckin-e7l]

Thanks for the video which points one of the headache when you fly vr. I also fly only vr and have a very detailed cockpit with tons of buttons, however still using the cursor to interact with the cockpit. For me the best effective way is a trackball mouse. I don’t even think that I would trade trackball mouse over hand tracking when becomes available.

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

@@CuneytSeckin-e7l the great thing about VR is that one can just have a lonely flight chair like mine and forget about the cockpit thing. Not that my setup is “entry level” but we’re talking half the price of a decent cockpit

[@MrUnfamiliar]

Thank u so much ! been looking for a video like this to decide certain things about this game...

[@VOLTRIZZZLE]

I move the mouse with my head and use a finger mouse on my left hand for the buttons and scroll wheel. I use voice command to put the mouse cursor below center when I key the mic on my hotas.

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

that is actually very smart, I wanted to dive into voice attack and nested profiles for DCS but my explanation skills were already stretched thin for this video, maybe soon! which finger mouse are you using?

[@vikingo3001]

Brilliant! Can you please explain how you use the voice attack to center the mouse?

[@VOLTRIZZZLE]

@@alpenfoxvideo7255 BESTDO Finger Rings Optical Mouse"

[@VOLTRIZZZLE]

@@vikingo3001 search ed forums for "Please make VR head cursor point position adjustable (or a little lower than current position)"

[@Caroussellindiekopf]

awesome idea to replace the mouse with the hat of the stick - I have the same WinWing stick but I didn´t know how to keybind this....I will try this method out! Thanks for sharing!👍👍👍

[@christianschoenfeld1825]

Solid overview - I've found mouse control to be best but it still has a few quirks, and although accurate its not the fastest

[@rontalley]

Thanks for this video! I personally like to have physical buttons for everything and very rarely use a mouse to "click" on stuff but my setup is very F/18 specific. At time mark @1:32, how do you get to that menu? Only time I am breaking immersion is when using the coms menu. Thanks!

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

@@rontalley that’s the built-in jester menu in the F-4, it’s to communicate with the back seater AI. I use the ICS comms switch

[@rainerbehrendt9330]

i use a Logitech MX Ergo Trackball. Not optmal because you has to find the Mousecursor first but the Trackball is in the same Position every Time and easy to find with the VR Set on. My Dreamset would be full Handcontrol.

[@Tom-qf3mq]

The fastest, most efficient way to interact with & click the cockpit controls is surely the trusty left mouse click?

[@JohnVanderbeck]

The biggest issue for method 1 for me is I find it very hard to hold my head perfectly steady on a button and manipulate it

[@duguluse2089]

I use the VR controller option. Find it fairly easy. Looking forward to the day hand tracking will work in cockpit. I set the controller on my lap and it usually stays put. One problem I have had is I accidentally have pulled the ejection handle in the F18, lol. It's happened more than once.😂

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

@@duguluse2089 I also use controllers, made resting points for them on the side of my chair, I also have “require palm grip to interact” so they don’t do stuff by themselves

[@krizc.3561]

OK, "...virtual deKStop..." made my day 🙂

[@KevinS47]

I am curious to know what your setup is in regards to the center mounted stick? I need ideas as to how to mount my joystick center...! And these chairs with the center mount integrated are soo damn expansive...

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

@@KevinS47 I have a Next level racing seat, 3D printed a custom center stick adapter so I can fit the stick with an extension so to have the same leverage as a future FFB stick

[@gelbevierzehn]

Sometimes you have to wait to get your hands on the best... 😏

[@RedTail1-1]

Maybe one day when I have a $3,000 PC...

[@dogsbd]

So if you're using handtracking mouse control isn't available at all? Would be nice if both were active at the same time, use handtracking for some operations and for things that are a bit more "fiddly" use the mouse.

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

with handtracking you can use the mouse if and only if you have your "trackers" set to click or click and touch + enable when palm grip is obtained. I think hand tracking is the worst at the moment. I'm compiling a second video where i'll be using some custom hardware or software hacks

[@Panzerlang]

Really helpful video, cheers dude. :)

[@otanguma]

I believe, to change the default cockpit view press R ALT+Numpad0. How Can I change the aircraft in the Hanger? You had a Tomcat, I have a SU-57 in mine.

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

\Scripts\DemoScenes\sceneVR.lua

[@keepsyouincontrol]

You must be using a older version of DCS. in June the latest versions Break the VR hand tracking. This also includes controllers. sometimes you can get it to work, but if you go to VR settings they disappear. Right now there are lots of post of the Forum that these feature is broke. untill DCs fixes this playing it you will have to settle for the mouse. people with PC DCS can revert back to a older version of DCS, however if you have STEAM like me ytou are hosed as you can not revert...so you are left with waiting on DCS

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

@@keepsyouincontrol use Virtual Desktop man, stop using Oculus’s software

[@Bazbzon]

Awesome video. Is there a way to have hand tracking and mouse control?

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

@@Bazbzon you have mouse control with hand tracking, but as you reach for the mouse you will be clicking stuff all around you unfortunately

[@slughead817]

Yes. You combine HTCC to perform hand to mouse movement and use Slugmouse worn on each index finger to perform the mouse button clicks. Search for Slugmouse in the VR section of th DCS forum for more information and demonstration videos.

[@simonhouel1984]

Yes. Slugmouse

[@Teh-Stig]

Yes, just use keybinds on your other hand for mouse presses. Works well for me.

[@MRhankylolka]

Can you Share your layout for controller? I use only the ursa minor, complete new in game

[@simpitacademy]

Hand tracking is still bad for turning knobs. Even flipping toggles work only half the time. When you say VR is better than full cockpit you assume people with full cockpit use big projector screen only. I have full cockpit, but I do MR only, no projector screen. With MR I can see my cockpit and my hands to operate switches, and also see the virtual DCS around me.

[@Ready.A-10C]

For me PointCTRL works the best.

[@roguesqdn]

Though it can take a while to get through the wait list, you left out what I have found to be THE best and most accurate option, PointCTRL.

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

couldn't get my hands on one :C

[@slughead817]

@@roguesqdn and now there is Slugmouse. Ships in less than a week and only £100.

[@slughead817]

There is another option. Hand tracking to move the mouse using HTCC and Slugmouse worn on each index finger to perform mouse button clicks. HTCC gives you a mouse cursor cross in the same way a normal mouse does. So no fumbling for controllers, no fumbling for a mouse, just point your hand over a control in the cockpit and click with the Slugmouse. More information on this in the VR section of the DCS forum.

[@simonhouel1984]

I cannot agree more with that comment. I just love mines, the creator is quick to answer questions and shipping is done properly and rapidly

[@slughead817]

⁠There’s a 25% Christmas sale on it too!

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

@@slughead817 im pretty interested on what you told me, Slugmouse is in this continent too… Have you tried it without HTTC? meaning having the DCS native tracked hands

[@slughead817]

@ Yes. And it’s not good. You might try multiple times to flip a switch before actually managing to do so. That’s why I developed the Slugmouse.

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

@@slughead817 i've sent you a DM on ED's forums

[@daliborrasic484]

How can you go out for 1 second in the discor. With meta qiest 3.

[@currololo]

I use method 3 with both controllers, much better than mouse for me.