Demo Teaser: FreeSpace 2 Open with head tracking on Linux PC

[@BekoPharm]

I've no idea why this of all videos is going up right now. Guess the YT algorithm found something of worth, so NO IDEA what brought you all here today. Mebbe leave a comment? Also very sorry if this is not what you expected to see. It's just a freakin TECH DEMO I recorded for the very specific peer group of FreeSpace2 Open developers 🤷

[@VictusUnus]

I have no idea why the algorithm took me here, but as someone who played the hell out of Freespace 2 back in the day, I love everything about this set up.

[@VisualBasic6]

I don't know what this is but I need it.

[@BekoPharm]

A head tracker or the Diaspora mod for FreeSpace2 Open? :)

[@adsadsaddFQ]

Amazing

[@_vr]

Played on Linux logo 😍 I wonder where it came from 😏

[@BekoPharm]

not exactly sure but I'm pretty sure I murdercopied the files from solwhitehorn.github.io/linuxbadges/ a long time ago 🤓 I see you're doing the same 👌

[@kiri101]

Is this a native Linux application? I just came back from Windows and realised Opentrack doesn't support Freetrack output on Linux but I can't determine if that's because there are no native Linux consumers of the protocol or not - the dev suggested so in 2018. War Thunder has a native client but I can't tell if it supports the TrackIR/Freetrack protocol like the Windows client and it won't run fully with EAC enabled under Proton so I can't just dump the Windows Opentrack in to a prefix with it :(

[@BekoPharm]

FSO is a native Linux application, yes. I hacked the opentrack support into it but didn't commit the changes upstream yet. It was rather easy to do though. Most native Linux versions of anything do not support TrackIR or Freetrack. This is usually completely skipped, which is a shame because I think the UDP approach is superior to DLL injection and memory mapping. That's probably what brings EAC on the fence too.

[@kiri101]

@@BekoPharm Tysm for replying! > Most native Linux versions of anything do not support TrackIR or Freetrack Are you saying there are any native Linux consumers of TrackIR/Freetrack? If so, is that exclusively via UDP as you've implemented or do any use the DLL method? War Thunder has a Linux binary but it appears to be using DXVK so I have some hope of hacking together something like the DLL method. If I can confirm there is any native consumer of TrackIR/Freetrack via DLL or it's possible I want to open an issue on Opentrack's Github. EAC is fine with the DLL method - it's using it under WINE/Proton that seems to be an issue, as a few common DLLs are whitelisted, rolling your own would probably trip it though.

[@BekoPharm]

@@kiri101 no idea, sorry. While I have a good track record (haha) I hardly know all games with head tracking support. I'd try if it trips EAC. Mebbe with a burner account if your real one is important. TrackIR can not be done native for all I know though. I blogged about how I think TrackIR works when I dived into this for X4 Foundations. I'll link it in a separate reply because YT will probably not notify you otherwise. Feel free to poke me elsewhere for a discussion.

[@BekoPharm]

@@kiri101 here are my findings in the example of X4. Pretty sure it's the same for other games: beko.famkos.net/2021/05/03/head-tracking-for-x4-foundations-on-linux/

[@kiri101]

@@BekoPharm If only I could have found your blog entry while researching! Exactly what I needed. Given how TrackIR seems to be implemented before the ver 5 encryption I doubt there are even any references to it in the Linux binary then. Guess I better live with libevdev virtual joystick as the output protocol - War Thunder handled FreeTrack input with zero configuration necessary (or possible) on Windows :P

[@comradelemon6928]

what joystick and throttle you use and how much does it cost?

[@BekoPharm]

That's just an X52 Pro that you can get for ~150 EUR nowadays.

[@thathandsomedevil0828]

Ok, how much for setup, you take diamonds?

[@BekoPharm]

Check SimPit.dev for details :) It's not for sale but it is built on a budget.

[@Essobee]

now do vr! :p

[@BekoPharm]

Ah yes, there is always the one asking for VR :p

[@BekoPharm]

Here @Essobee - had to look it up first but @FekLeyrTarg does demo this in VR: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3m5ep2YhraVjK8 🤓

[@Essobee]

​@@BekoPharm @FekLeyrTarg, Holy smokes guys! I'm going to have to stop looking forwards for another good VR space sim, thanks to this kind of work. Thanks! Will be diving in shortly

[@Essobee]

😂@@BekoPharm

[@christopherheintz2634]

Homy crap, is FSO still being worked on? Ive had an itch to kill shivans since 7th grade... Time tl dust off the old Windows Sidewinder force feedback stock and get back in the batle.

[@BekoPharm]

Yes it is. You'd need the original game for assets though. What you see here is the standalone mod Diaspora: Shattered Armistice.

[@pickle2405]

based