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| Virtual Reality in Sim-Racing Games |
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TrackIR & eDimensional Glasses Combined
Now, let�s look at TrackIR and the eDimentional glasses combined. Let�s say you are afraid of flying for example. Load up your favorite flight sim. Take to the skies, climb as high as you dare, look down and suddenly become overwhelmed with fear. Then you get close to the sensation of these two pieces of hardware working together! Being afraid of heights myself and being able to do this in the comfort of my computer room is awesome. My heart rate went bananas. When it comes to speed, I am not afraid being on the ground and all, but the experience is just as exhilarating.
The eDimentional glasses and racing Sims is a match made in heaven. When combined with the TrackIR device you ARE there. Driving the fastest and most exotic cars, and almost for real. You see a corner approach, and you see the distance. You shift the focus to the nearest contender. You shift your focus again to look into the corner. You ARE there. You are not driving on a computer. You are experiencing it first hand!
On the starting line as you settle down into your �67 Lotus, or the car of your choice, you look around. You are experiencing your beloved car taking off with a firm push on the throttle. Yeah, it really feels like you are doing just that. Looking into the turn, as I take Zandvorts� first corner, it feels as natural as Mother Nature herself. Shifting focus: I�m looking around at the awesome modelled wheels by the GPLEA team as well as all the wonderful details in the cockpit. Shifting focus again and looking at that second tight corner approaching. All of a sudden, you are there; 1967. You just don�t see it you are experiencing it. I might sound a little religious when talking about this but this is what I truly felt. This little simulator born in someone�s mind years ago finally made justice. Hallelujah!
By using the TrackIR device, and the eDimentional glasses, it has all comes together. This is what I longed for, and now I have it. I don�t care if the little tiny tire model in GPL is not modelled perfectly. I don�t care if a curb is slightly square. I don�t care if the bolts on the engine are modelled correctly, I love this era and I love being able to experience it this way. The 3D effect is stunning. To be honest with you, I thought I would write most of this article about how good LFS would appear with this hardware. Frankly, after all these years, GPL still hold the crown in all aspects. I am both sorry and pleased at the same time to say that I didn�t really expect GPL to handle the newer equipment that well.
If taking just the 3D experience into account, sure NASCAR 2003 beats it. It has a more involving experience due to the advanced graphics engine that provides more detail and higher frame rates. On the other hand it lacks in the ability to look left and right because Mouse-look is un-supported. Just feels so frustrating, driving around not being able to use the hardware I had for testing. Especially when it feels that much more real using the 3D option. Please, sneak out a TrackIR support feature Papy! That sim deserves it! Or at least make the left/right look activated by a mouse device. The same goes for F1-2002. It works great with 3D glasses. If you do have an expensive tracker that supports direct input axis view, it can be used with F1 2002. Dirt Track Racing also has good 3D glasses support out of the box but no native support for the tracker.
While all this sounds very good, it does come at a cost to performance because each device takes some processing power. The TrackIR device isn�t taking as much power as it takes to run the eD glasses. Here is a chart I made driving a lap using free practise, no AI. I drove one lap with no devices. Then one lap with TrackIR only and one lap with them both combined.
Review system: Athlon 2000+ | 512 Meg ram | GeForce ti4600 128 Meg ram |Windows XP Professional
CONCLUSION
One can only say that Virtual Reality is here, and very affordable. Maybe not all racing-sim developers have picked up on it yet, but if you like flight Sims, or FPS games, you cannot loose. With additional users demanding support for racing simulators, TrackIR implementations may not be too far in the distant future. These are relatively inexpensive upgrades that will enhance your immersion factor immensely. Forget that NASA simulator. A few hundred bucks and you are halfway there.
You can get TrackIR for $129 and the eDimentional glasses from $69.95 and up, depending on the configuration. If you are looking to save some money, keep your eyes open for special offers where you get TrackIR and eDimentional glasses combined.
Refference links: GPLShift+ | Virtua Track | I-Glasses & Virtua Track | TrackIR | eDimensional 3D Glasses | GeForce 3D Software
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| Author: |
29-03-2003 |
| Where to get this TrackIR? Sounds interesting |
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| Author: |
29-03-2003 |
| https://www.trackir.com |
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| Author: |
29-03-2003 |
| You can also get it directly from eDimensional.com for a bit less and they also offer a package with the trackIR and 3D glasses where you save about $30. I just ordered both and can't wait to take them for a spin:) |
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| Author: |
01-04-2003 |
| great article but how much australian dollars thanks |
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| Author: |
01-04-2003 |
| Prices will be discussed in the last part of this article, so make sure you return this Friday. |
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| Author: |
02-04-2003 |
| When you turn your head, does it just change the view on your screen? Or does it have little video screens on the glasses itself? Thanks |
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| Author: |
02-04-2003 |
| I've worked with these 3D shutter glass technology at GM's virtual lab and they do look extremely convincing especially when you look at a full size car on 6 foot screen. But I did experience slight headache after about an hour so I'm still a bit skeptical about this glass. Most 3D IMAX movies are based on same principal and I wonder if there's any study on long term effect on the eyes. I'm also interested in knowing how heavy this glass is and do the games have to support this glass or does it work with any software? |
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| Author: |
02-04-2003 |
| xl ant |
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| Author: |
02-04-2003 |
| The view only changes in the monitor, not in the eD glasses. These eD glasses are VERY light. The software is basicly a 3d driver that will work with 99% of the games. But better or worse depending on how well the software uses 3d objects vs sprites and so on. |
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| Author: |
05-04-2003 |
| Great article, I've just ordered the eDimentional glasses as well. If Papyrus release some TrackIR support for NR2003 I may buy them as well. |
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| Author: |
08-04-2003 |
| Well, I've orderd and got mine today. Few things I'd like to note. Perhaps there's bigger frame rate hit to slower machine. On my T-bird 1.33ghz/GF3, frame rate loss in N2003 was around 50% (60fps to 29fps) and reducing resolution didn't help. Second, this glass is awesome for latest games which supports it such as N2003 or C&C Renegade (few games I've tested with) but if it doesn't support it, navigating through 2D elements such as HUD and menu buttons in Freelancer is a nightmare. Nevertheless, great toy for $70 :) |
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| Author: |
08-04-2003 |
| One thing to have in mind regarding those glasses in the regards of FPS, is that for instance it seams like % varies around one lap, hence the chart. I wouldn like to comit to a figure so I left it up to the figures. Look at NH and LFS for example - FPS hit is huge. This is possibly a driver issue for LFS I�m told though... In general I would say having read other reviews that they experience (as I did) on average a 20-25% fps loss. |
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| Author: |
11-04-2003 |
| Great article, I'd have a question, I really like RAVENSHIELD ( and other r6 games ) does this eDimentional glasses support it 100% and what resolution can we play on?? ( in any game i mean by that ) |
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| Author: |
11-04-2003 |
| Thanks. I tested Ravenshield, and the effect is stunning! It uses 3d extreamly well! One thing that makes it hard to play, is that the sight is 2d, and therefore you see "double sights". There is a feature called "lazer sight" that are supposed to take care of that. I see in the drivers description that other rainbow6 games does have support for lazersight, but the latest release havn�t found it�s way into the drivers. Hopefully one can be able to use it with some tweaking or when newer drivers are released. otherwise it�s awesome. I used 1024x768 and it worked fine. That is a matter of testing the best settings I recon. Havn�t found a way to manually add lazer sight, but maybee it can be done (lazer sight should make you be able to use it in 3d, and not just as a 2d sprite) :) |
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| Author: |
19-04-2003 |
| Good one! |
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| Author: |
22-04-2003 |
| Bought a pair of wired glasses, on the strength of this review and I was not a t all disapointed. I think this thing is going to get big. Thanks for the insight Thomas, pun intended. |
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| Author: |
22-04-2003 |
| Thanks. Glad you like them too. I just wanted to just give that "insight", pun intended here too, to the fellow next door :) |
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| Author: |
23-04-2003 |
| What a great read. You have definately sparked my interest with your passionate review. Question: Do you have to have an Nvidia graphics card? I have an Ati Radon 9700pro, will the glasses, & tracker, work with this Ati product? |
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| Author: |
28-04-2003 |
| I'm a sim racing junkie and got the glasses last week after reading this article and (GPL leaguemate)Baz's comments. I tried to set up N2003 using Toms article and the N2002 game config. I'm getting double images more than 23 carlengths in front of the car and cannot figure out how to make them go away. I hope the new drivers come soon. All in all I like the glasses and am looking forward to driver updates and hopefully a base of user config files to make a good thing better. |
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| Author: |
28-04-2003 |
| :) The supported graphic cards can be found on the eDimentional page for the glasses. Regarding new drivers. These are new drivers. They do not support import or export easy, but have some improvements: https://download.guru3d.com/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=598 Dunno about those double images? there is alot one can do with tweaking. It does take some to get everything right, but the little tut i made was enough for me atleast. I don�t get double stuff...try these drivers with the latest nvidia drivers (I am told they are "as official as can be without having them posted) ;) |
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| Author: |
02-05-2003 |
| Already got them but yr quick setup guide really helped ! |
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| Author: |
10-05-2003 |
| I just purchased the glasses from edimensional.com. I had some trouble with N2003. They DO NOT seem to work with OpenGL. Had to configure it to work in D3D which adds to my framerate hit. Anyone get them working with opengl? Having said all this, my experience thus far has been that there is a profound sense of where the opponents car is when is nearby (ie side by side). This has helped my racing at short tracks immensly. In fact, that which used to be a crash fest for me, has now become somewhat challenging. They work online as well. Worth the money. |
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| Author: |
22-06-2003 |
| Great article! I understand that F1C will not have support for TIR, but does support VFX3D. Not too good! VFX3D isn't even available any longer. Why support something we can't buy, yet NOT support TIR, which works well and is available. Very disappointing. |
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| Author: |
02-07-2003 |
| I Know the frustration. I talked to the developers of F1C and begged them to atleast invlude mouselook...I said the VFX3D was a bad call, since it�s outdated, and not availible. Lets hope they can make a patch.... :) |
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| Author: |
25-07-2003 |
| Hi, great article!!!!!! Do this glasses work well when using a LCD flat Panel monitor?? Rafael |
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| Author: |
25-06-2004 |
| After I did a good deal of research into this device that allows the driver or pilot of a simulator to freely look about the cockpit, freely look at all angles around myself, track my opponant durring a contest or dog fight, I decided to buy the latest version of this device. I lurked all about the support forums on their website and even asked a few questions. A tech support person chimed back with an answer within 14 minutes. This is not an unusual occurance over there as they are quick to help you get running. And will RMA if neccasary. The article referenced in my new signiture, is from here at BlackHoleMotorsports. And I believe a new article is in the works. I feel that this $109 - $139 device is an important next step in the evolution of sims. And not a baby step. As important as a wheel purchace and less likely to wear out as often. The hat switches and toggles have always bugged me as a lousy way to look about. And after viewing the movies in the BHMO article I was pretty much sold from there. The fact it takes very little from frame rates was the cincher. From now on I will have a signiture that tells everyone including publishers that this is a feature I will want from sim games if they want my money. GTR has already promiced this support and pretty much secured my checkbook entry. F1C and MODs can make use of this device with some nifty third party apps. If after taking a look at what the TrackIR 3 Pro can do for your immerion into your game experience, you gain some enthusiasm as I have. I recommend you add your own personallized signiture asking for this feature from your current and future simulator games. I am also making this my signiture at www.beyondunreal.com and www.racesimcentral.com and all others. Personnaly I would buy another inexpensive copy of GPL etc, if it now offered TrackIR Enhanced Mode. ANY & ALL modern simulators worth my money will support TrackIR Enhanced mode! https://bhms.racesimcentral.net/article/113 https://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/ |
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| Author: |
27-06-2005 |
| Really good article but sadly as of date stereo3d never really took off. However still enough for Edimensional keeping producing them and nVidia to keep developing stereo3d drivers. Sadly the early stereo3d glasses and vr helmets and virtua boy still seem to make it hard for people taking this seriously. Which is a shame because games like rFactor, Live for Speed, GTR is just so awesome with stereo3d glasses. Live for Speed and GTR has full trackIR support as well whereas the rFactor full version will also have it. So the future of head tracking devices really looks much better. It has already caused quite a stirr in the gaming community though there is still many that have never heard of it. But the positive thing that game developers haven�t fully realized is how extremely little effort it takes to implement trackIR support in their games. Also as of noted I see more and more games working well with stereo3d glasses now that more and more games moves to full 3D environment so VR is far from dead thank god. |
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| Author: |
01-07-2005 |
| the article is very well written and direct and to the point.... I wouldn't of even thought about tracking and 3d glasses together.. im getting mine soon |
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| Author: |
09-03-2006 |
| Glad to see it is still being read. 3-D glasses have not "taken off", but the enjoyment of those who have them is still there. As of late, it seams it sucks up more recourses then when I wrote the Article, but the TrackIR Hardwar/software is thriving... |
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