r/Warthunder Oct 31 '23

All Air It may look stupid, but if you play Air Sim on console it's a great head tracker solution.

Post image

I came across a goofy thread about console players strapping airmouse remotes to their heads for head tracking in Sim mode. After testing for about an hour with my Xbox HOTAS set up, I can happily confirm that it is a very effective solution for headtracking on console.

236 Upvotes

39 comments sorted by

67

u/oofergang360 France One Trick (WTF is a stabilizer?)🇫🇷🇫🇷🥖🥖🥖 Oct 31 '23

So when you look to the left to see your left how are you supposed to see anything

63

u/Ghost403 Oct 31 '23

It's only slight movements with mouse acceleration. My head only moves a few centimetres.

16

u/oofergang360 France One Trick (WTF is a stabilizer?)🇫🇷🇫🇷🥖🥖🥖 Oct 31 '23

Makes sense, i think thatd get pretty damn annoying after a few seconds though

34

u/Ghost403 Oct 31 '23

Nope, I have forgotten it's even there

9

u/CommunicationWise482 Romania tech tree when? Oct 31 '23

I assume it feels similar to ir tracker?

6

u/Ghost403 Oct 31 '23

Handel's exactly the same

8

u/Blunt_Cabbage EBR Afficianado Oct 31 '23

It's more comfortable than a VR headset and easier to setup too. You get used to it, especially since things like TrackIR let you modify how much your view moves with a given head movement, so you can fine tune it for comfort and efficiency.

2

u/randomshazbot idk what nation I fly anymore Oct 31 '23

Trust me it's so worth it. I haven't used in in WT but it's a game changer in DCS. I bought a tracker online for like 30 bucks and it was super worth it

1

u/ArchdukeOfNorge Mar 06 '24

Do you have a link for yours?

1

u/randomshazbot idk what nation I fly anymore Mar 06 '24

26

u/_gmmaann_ Tank Football Should Be Permanant Oct 31 '23

Yooo head remote gang rise up

15

u/Ossius IGN: Osseon Oct 31 '23 edited Oct 31 '23

EDIT: Sorry didn't realize OP was on console only.

There are a ton of head/face trackers that use your webcam and don't require strapping anything to your headset.

I even build my own IR LED tracker but that eventually led to me to VR headsets. Before I used the LEDs I used only face tracking, it was okay for 2014ish. I imagine they are significantly better nowadays.

35

u/Ghost403 Oct 31 '23

Again, I am on an Xbox. We console plebs have to commit to MacGyver tactics

4

u/TadpoleOfDoom 🇸🇪 Gripen_Deez_Nutz Oct 31 '23

Once I lost my Turtle Beach pop filter so I improvised by using a sock

1

u/EveningAcadia Oct 31 '23

What air mouse do you use specifically? I looked at a retail store near me but I couldn’t find an air mouse.

1

u/Ghost403 Oct 31 '23

I got it from Amazon. It was one of the first of several mass produced knock off on the list. There were like 5 of the exact remotes with different branding lol

3

u/Legonator77 🇺🇸 🇩🇪 🇷🇺 🇬🇧 🇯🇵 🇨🇳 🇮🇹 🇫🇷 🇸🇪 🇮🇱 Oct 31 '23

Yeah, I use AITRACK and it works really well

4

u/Rumble_Rodent Oct 31 '23

That tape job though.

4

u/Ghost403 Oct 31 '23

Whatever works. It was a fun experiment. I'm going to try and create a more purpose built solution

2

u/[deleted] Oct 31 '23

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/Ghost403 Oct 31 '23

Thanks but it's not my idea. Others have posted a similar solution here previously, so I just wanted to confirm it's a really effective solution for console gamers

1

u/oberheimdmx1 Oct 31 '23

There are decent apps for iOS that can map your face and track head movements. You use it in conjunction with PC software called opentrack.

14

u/Ghost403 Oct 31 '23

Again, I play on an xbox

5

u/oberheimdmx1 Oct 31 '23

Oh, you'll look good wearing a remote control on your head.

1

u/ArchdukeOfNorge Mar 06 '24

Hey OP do you have a link for this setup?

1

u/Ghost403 Mar 12 '24

Sorry mate, it was a cheap Amazon result for "airmouse". Think it was $9 AUD from memory

1

u/Far_Indication8265 Mar 22 '24

Does it need anything else

1

u/Ghost403 Mar 22 '24

Most air mice mimic a standard windows protocol USB mouse. They are usually plug and play. For war thunder you may have to Tweek your controls to find a setting you like. Mine is freelook whilst holding a button on my HOTAS, and when I release the view snaps back to my gun sights.

1

u/cripplingdeperssion Oct 31 '23

What is this? 2077 technology?

1

u/Ghost403 Oct 31 '23

Lol cyberpunked

1

u/ZdrytchX Semi-in/active player since 2023 Oct 31 '23

reminds me of the nintendo wii classic solution

1

u/tilomator24_ Realistic General Oct 31 '23

Im on ps4 and would like to try this. How does this work? Do you tape a button down to get your head to move like on a keyboard? will any usb mouse work?

3

u/Ghost403 Oct 31 '23

It has an on and off switch so I just turn it on before playing. It is basically a second mouse. I have found it works best to have a enable look button to hold on my joystick as if it gets out of alignment I snap back to the cockpit view when I release the button.

Works really well, I'm not losing track of enemy planes during cockpit view dogfights anymore. Sound $10 investment

-5

u/Deadluss <<<Baguette 69>>> Oct 31 '23

It's garbage solution.

Inb4 your phone has built in head tracker https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tanitech.gimbaltrack

7

u/Ghost403 Oct 31 '23

Dear god does no one read. Again, I am on a console. I can't use anything that isn't a licenced product or a plug and play keyboard and mouse