Head Tracking with Cliffs of Dover

[MadBlaster]

One year ago:

http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthr...devices+BoB%3F

[MadBlaster]

Another way to go about this. Simply bifurcate the head tracking interface functionality out of the stock game. Make it mouse only. Then offer two separate add-on packages. One for TrackIR users with their encrypted/proprietary interface and the other for Freetrack users with their free-use interface. The game is priced at ~$50 right now. So, say drop the price to $48 and price each headtracking add-on at say $2 dollars each as an example. This will maximize sales of the game and give the user more flexibility in how they want to play the game.

[SEE]

Originally Posted by MadBlaster

Another way to go about this. Simply bifurcate the head tracking interface functionality out of the stock game. Make it mouse only. Then offer two separate add-on packages. One for TrackIR users with their encrypted/proprietary interface and the other for Freetrack users with their free-use interface. The game is priced at ~$50 right now. So, say drop the price to $48 and price each headtracking add-on at say $2 dollars each as an example. This will maximize sales of the game and give the user more flexibility in how they want to play the game.

I certainly wouldn't object if it was possible to do! Like Lobisomem says, I too don't quite understand why there has not been an official response - certainly stirred up a lot of debate in the past looking at that thread you linked to. Ah well, only a few weeks to go and all will be revealed!

[Royraiden]

If a mod sees this please close it, its useless.

[Wolf_Rider]

Originally Posted by MadBlaster

Another way to go about this. Simply bifurcate the head tracking interface functionality out of the stock game. Make it mouse only. Then offer two separate add-on packages. One for TrackIR users with their encrypted/proprietary interface and the other for Freetrack users with their free-use interface. The game is priced at ~$50 right now. So, say drop the price to $48 and price each headtracking add-on at say $2 dollars each as an example. This will maximize sales of the game and give the user more flexibility in how they want to play the game.

I think that is what quite a few people seem to be saying... "FT, make your own software and interface, and make it independantly and being dependant on other peoples' software and interface, or parts of. Also don't use the NP SDK to do so."

[MadBlaster]

They already have made it. Apparently it is being used by other game developers now. I see an SDK folder where I have Freetrack saved on my computer. There is a stereo button in the GUI to activate the freetrack interface. So, it must exist.

The problem is that 1C has given us all the impression that TrakIR interface will be bundled (again!) into the game with the video advertisments it has provided to us. It has done nothing to lead us to believe that we can use another headtracking solution such as Freetrak. That is the relevant issue here. I don't think there is a "professional" representive from Freetrak to do a business deal with 1C because it is free license. So, if we want to get an answer from 1C (and I do believe this is the goal of this thread) then we the users of Freetrak and other solutions should be pointing out economic reasons why it would be prudent to do so. I see no economic reason to bundle TrakIR interface again. Why, because there are now legitimate competitive options available and if you exclude them you disenfranchise a segment of the market that would otherwise buy your game. It is not like 2001. Speaking for myself, I've been playing IL-2 4 years now, have plenty of money to invest in the hobby. But I have no intention of spending $150 for something I can do for $40. That is just the way I am. I'm a saver. My mortgage will be paid off soon while my friends lose their house. Simple rational budgeting. 1C should address this segment of the market because there are a lot of us who will just keep on playing the old game because it has become quite good with the efforts of DT and the "other guys" and frankly, there simply hasn't been enough time to enjoy their latest efforts now that we are all distracted with the release date of CoD. So, I suggest we steer this thread around and get 1C's attention. And the only way I think we can do that is to point out how they can make more money if they go in this direction. Or we can party down with Johnny Lee again next year with the same old arguements. I do like that video. A classic youtube moment imho.

[Wolf_Rider]

Originally Posted by MadBlaster

They already have made it. Apparently it is being used by other game developers now. I see an SDK folder where I have Freetrack saved on my computer. There is a stereo button in the GUI to activate the freetrack interface. So, it must exist.

how does this interface work? how was it developed?

Originally Posted by MadBlaster

I don't think there is a "professional" representive from Freetrak to do a business deal with 1C because it is free license.

the software must have been created by someone and hosted on a site created by someone...

[MadBlaster]

I am not a programmer. I won't be able to tell you. In the meantime, I have just sent a message to the Freetrack author to post here. Hopefully, that request will pan out. In the meantime, you can certianly do your own research at their website. I suppose if you are a programmer, you could download the program and deconstruct it to figure it out. But it also been stated earlier in this thread that other games are making it available to users. I assume that to be true, but I did not verify. Of course, we all know your well-documented position on this topic W-R. So, your future comments will be weighed accordingly by me and by others I think.

[Wolf_Rider]

so you've gone from "I don't think there is a professional representative ~" to "I've contaced the FT author ~ "?

well done on the casuistry of your post the first quote is from...

oh, and the site download brings up security certificate warnings which kind of figures

[MadBlaster]

This is what the manual says it does. High level explanation I guess.

FreeTrack interface
Raw pose
Raw pose affected by model dimensions, position and averaging.
Raw pose Z measurement is distance from camera sensor.
Axis range isn't limited.
All measurements absolute with no centring so centre can only be controlled manually by changing the model dimensions or orientation.
X, Y, Z translation measures the location of the pivot point, adjustable via the point model position.
Ordering of points in point list
Virtual pose
Uses centring, smoothing, averaging, inverts, mapping, response curves, limited by response curve (+/- 180 degrees for rotation and +/- 500mm for translation).

When using the interface for games, especially multiplayer games, the data range should not be trusted and limits used to prevent cheating.