This Blog grants insights on things I like feat. lots of different topics. Historical, Sci-fi and nowadays real life stuff gets posted, simulated or reviewed. Basically it's all about close-up views of my favorite vehicles and some info on how to get the whole experience running on your PC, including things to point out, e.g. tech facts or design goodies. All rounded up by some random fun and interesting side notes. Bots like this place. Aimed to be a resource. Heres what I have to share!
While TrackIR ain't that new to us and Oculus Rift is something relatively new, how about some free head tracking solution that uses the webcam instead of external hardware? Heres a little review of such optical motion tracking applications.
(Things will be different in the year 3000)
Where was that button again?
It keeps me strugglin. I'm playing so many different vid games that sometimes I forget my controller and keyboard setup. In general, this whole thing makes me sick, it could be so simple: All I need to do is to take a look around the map, especially when playing in cockpit mode. Are buttons a must? Not at all – thanks to everything we life in middle of the future and here we can find nerdish solutions for a better digital lifestyle. So, let's give it a try.
Test experience
Starting with a headbanging session and yeah it works! The download was easy but the installation needs some attention. It seems lots of games support this type of input methods. I also tried this with War Thunder and it was big fun. However, it could lower your ingame FPS (depends). The decision about the right software is a question of choice since both have a unique set of features. Which software fits best, you might ask.
FreeTrack
This software piece can also be used for a better computer accessibility as a kind of input device. It runs with a standard webcam and FreeTrack states the the majority of webcams work with their solution. It uses markers to track your heads movements. Conclusion: You will need to put something onto your head, so in order to make it work you could wear a Headset or a hat. Those markers could be a infrared source, a LED or some retroflective surface material. Freetrack offers a Single Point mode, a 3 Points Clip mode, a Points Cap or 4 Points Cap mode. On their website theres a so called "LED Assembly Wizard" that will teach you how to do the LED part. For a list of supported video games check this link.
FaceTrackNoIR
This software works without a marker. You don't need anything besides a webcam. Also, it can track multiple objects at the same time. It runs with a lot of so called "Protocols" that grant many type of use. You have to choose one of the Trackers and this also means a bit of cunsumption for your individual setup. Then you can pick Filters as presets for different environments (e.g. dark places). This piece of software is modular so we can expect further improvements. FaceTrackNoIR supports about 400 different video games having a special workaround for non-supported games, too. Heres a huge listof supported titles.
Thoughts
In the past, I did a couple of projects with the MS Kinect system and compared to that those free tracking methods are not that sophisticated but at least a cheap workaround that really can be recommended for a better gameplay. But: This might not work in dark rooms or inside a nerds lightless room where theres no way to find the potatoe chips. I'm not sure about the impression we leave to people watching us play like that – it looks a bit strange I guess. And the biggest question that remains ununanswered: What's next, no more buttons? TrackSteering?
Find out more and download one of both: FreeTrack FaceTrackNoIR Note: As usual this ain't gonna work with Macs or Linux OS.
A true Hall of Fame entry: The LOLCATS strike back! The Most epic game ever: Wing Commander Saga!
Cat's are fun: A Cat on the ISS would be the most ever clicked YouTube video I guess.
I don't know how, but cat's somehow appeared in space, they call themselves Kilrathi now.
And they evolved to be lovely monsters. Yep and we and them became equal so watch it, they fly spaceships. BTW: The cute angry cat on the left actually ain't a Kilrah (those look more like tigers).
Oh yeah, so linear story based gameplay can be big fun, entertaining and thrilling. It's about atmosphere and you can feel it even theres no atmosphere in the vast of space. The storyline is like this: A Squadron, Carriers that house you, lot's of cat's everywhere. They call us furless freaks (maybe because we freaked out on funny cat-vids, yeah no doubt). They have CapShips / BigShips and lot's or medium and catsize support crafts. They fight hard but they don't risk too much. They entirely blame your flight skills (at least till right before you finished all campaign missions) + they hit hard.
The seven lifes thing works for cat's even in space, be it as if you need to restart a certain mission or because they can eject their ship just like you could. You pathetic descendant of monkeys! ...that's one of the more gentle things they said to me. Since they really make you want to find arguments (because of their flight skills or what they say) you can enjoy listening to what your taff wing mates have to counter. Fly in groups of 8 or more or do a recon mission with only one wingman. Play all those "I always wanted to" things. De-stabilize the Kilrathi presence at different sectors of space, get them away from any resources, aim for their Carriers and whatever (try damage it part by part, if they let you).
Having a great time:
Do two atmospheric flights, safe people, safe your Carriers. Encounter a loyal Monarchy of cat's following their Kings / independant leaders and say miaow to many high society cat's. A couple of the interesting stories and sceneries know from the various Wing Commander releases await you behind the ingame part where you have to stand them while you and they play hide and seek. This is no old-to-new: It has been made from A-Z for it's pilots. This also means the storyline introduces you the the world of Wing Commander. It's a tribute to Chris Robert's Wing Commander (which many of you might played before as it was the first top seller PC games, had movies and merchandising decades ago). WC Saga is made by fans for fans. Unlike Battlestar Galactica Diaspora – which also is a very epic game based on the FreeSpace2 Engine – Wing Commander Saga feels a bit more comfortable. I recommend flying only with "Glide Mode ON" (adds fun and simulator charecteristics). Meet famous cat's (you will get to know them). Have a little dogfight, the cat's have awesome ships (absolutely). Now they don't just look frightening sweet – unfortunately they are your target's (oh behave, cute cat's) . You will experience stunning briefing sequences, great music, voice-speech and radio-comms. the AI's will become your friends. Even the graphics are not state of the art the visuals have been all over raised to the maximum possible that the FS2 engine can master! If you haven't played it yet, trust me, everybody is saying this is trully thrilling and totally entertaining.
Notes:
– Play it or never even think of calling it wack (it's Open Source, it was meant for something)
– This ain't a Multiplayer but they're working on such a thing at the moment
– I can't wait till we can pilot the cat's ships ourselves. They're on it, too!
This entry has been written by Simulator Miaow, meet her, she is here on this blog (on the right side), she wants to play a bit and she is a cute non-monster cat.
This is something of personal interest and another Open Source application that should be called mighty.
FreeShip let's you create real things and simulates them, e.g. benchmarking and stress testing. It's a surface modelling tool aimed for yachts and all types of boats. I'm still experimenting with it but this could be the base for a new passenger punting boat I could help build. FreeShip is a five stars SourgeForge project with a strong community.
This time around I would like to tell you about another masterpiece of Open Source software power. Introducing Diaspora, a dream that came true!
Created not so long ago but with years of development it features 99% real space flight Physics with the aim to recreate the handling + look and feel showed in the award winning TV series Battlestar Galactica. That's why the developers just claim that this is no real physics Simulator, only a BSG Simulator (strike, we all agree). Other than that it does act like a true space Sim. Believe me, what the guys from Hardlight Productions created is truly one of the best games ever saw the light of the day (if not the best).
It wants to combine old BSG with new BSG elements so theres plenty of ships for you to play with. And in multiplayer chat messages can set to be voice-speech (big fun because it's a computer voice talking).
Sit inside a Colonial Viper MK VII or how about a Cylon Raider (an organic ship and you will see it's blood veins for example). The ships are very exclusive, not based on random BSG mods made entirely from scratch and they designed new ships you never saw before (this way they did a favour to BSG). The Engine used to make this dream of a game come true is based on FreeSpace2 which wasn't a big seller (shame on all of us, the game studio behind it got broke long long time ago). But the original developers saw the power of their engine and granted access for further improvements. The graphics and detail level are state of the art looking awesome even the former FreeSpace2 engine is an old sailor (FS2, existing since more than ten years). I recommend flying with the so called Glide-Mode which makes the game act like a hardcore Space Flight Simulator. You need lots of training to be able to manage a dogfight. Limited ammo makes you feel tiny. The ambient is dark and cold. I never saw a game that delivered that experience!
The storyline of the campaign mission set is epic, BSG fans gonna love the thrilling end. Spoiler: it's all about fate. It features voice speech briefings and great cut scenes, the music is great, too. It has TrackIR support. The Multiplayer part is the biggest fun – I call this the most tricky game to play ever! After a ten minutes online session I end having an epileptic seizure (or at least it feels like that). Said with others words: It's breathtaking, it's sick, only skilled gamers gonna enjoy, you can't be a n00b pilot on this, it ain't your average game! ;)
The community behind it is strong, more and more mods appear, many missions and maps are in the making. A powerfull mission editor is included. A lot of ships known from the game Battlestar Galactica Online have it's origin from one of Diaspora's lead artists. This game is about quality.
Five stars rating on this! Get it here for free while it's hot: http://diaspora.hard-light.net Coming soon: My first Mod pre-release for this game, an fps intensive map for skilled manuevers (WIP). Note: It ain't easy to find people in the Multiplayer mode. That's properly because only a few of you even know about this game. It's worth it, let's play it togheter – go spread the word!
BTW: I loved FreeSpace2 the game. It was the most exciting childhood game I ever played and it had the so far unseen most epic ending even it was sad and almost made me cry (the Carrier beeing the players home just blows up and meanwhile, in real life, the game studio called "Volition. Inc." is no more).
Sumo stands for "Surface Modeler".It can help rapidly create aircraft geometries and provides an automaic surface mesh generation. It's like WYSIWYG, just drag parts to shape things. All parts of a plane are featured and can be modified. Editing parts is possible in a CAD-2D view or as 3D view. Even it's easy to learn and intuitive to use the origins of this software reach back to a serious Swedisch Aeronautics Research Project called DirSim. The European Union project SimSAC sponsored further develoments.
Along with the included visualization tool called Scope it is a great problem solver, stress testing simulator and a true plane designers tool. I'm still just playing around with it a bit – this is the way I learn things (with patience). If I ever would design a plane, I would use this tools to benchmark it!
Today I would like to introduce you to Rigs of Rods – a highly sophisticated vehicle Simulator featuring awesome Soft Body Physics and real time processing. It is the first Open Source attempt of this type and the results are breathtaking beeing very accurate. Buoyancy, the blade element theory, distribution, construction, and/or suspension. Those are the things making you believe that you actually sit in that virtual vehicle of choice. Also theres a Multiplayer mode, try to beat the top time of another player racing over a complicated surface. Or you might just like to share your crane handling skills with a dude. Rigs of Rods is made for that – Casual players wont understand.
Currently the development tends to be within the CryEngine3 which can handle Physics way more effective than the original Rigs of Rods Engine could. Of course the CryTek GFX will make it look better but even with some lowpoly Add-Ons it's fun to play now. I would make this game an official ESL (Electronic Sports League) candidate. Take my vote!
The community behind Rigs of Rods is creating something different. Neither the vehicles, the types of machines or the intend of this game are common to most people. Exclusive rides and professional heavy weight machines make this game a perfect education plattfom. Theres something comparable to the Orbiter Space Flight Simulator – Rigs of Rods is another extreme tricky to play game! This is truly a fun Simulator for different types of folks. It allows real handling of any type of vehicle, e.g. cars, trucks, lifts, boats, submarines, planes, trains, bikes, hotrods, misc objects – almost everything except spaceships (so far). Start your motor, shift the gear, drive over a stone a feel the deformation of your car. It's enough to just use a Monster Truck to jump over a set of parking cars and watch the show while things below get stomped down. The other experience is to drive a 4x4 over bumpy grounds. The scenarios couldn't be other to the exclusive Rods part – you can drive your "whatever's" at very exclusive locations. It's a tribute to flexibility! This game has so much style! It welcomes modding and right now offers over 2000 downloadable Mods.
I will list my favorite ones soon...!
Find out more at and take a look at it's repository to pick some Rods:
http://www.rigsofrods.com The latest release version is 0.38.67 downloadable at: http://download.rigsofrods.com/
Installation of Add-Ons is pretty simple but keep in mind, there are two folders – one game folder and one individualization folder (find the second one, usually under C:\Users\XY\Documents and Settings\Rigs of Rods. Place your Rods into that folder). On Windows 7 the game may only run with admistrational rights, right click admin open the RoR.exe to get things working. Note: Full HD resolution is not supported yet, those of you gonna have to play with two black strips just like me.
Coming soon: My screenshots of cool rides inside Rigs of Rods plus some fail compilation (me driving like craizy) and some good manuevers I managed to handle.
+++ Update News 2014: A new Orbiter version is in development and with the D3D9Client Beta 7 available at Orbiter Forum you can instantly discover it. It features 3D surfaces, new particle effects and a a way better D3D9 and and and. They are even working on a DirectX 10 client. +++ Orbiter is an open source game with thousands of free mods. Definitely the only real physics space simulator existing so far. No doubt it feels like space, it's tricky to play but that's it's uniqueness!
It features seamless planetary entries and basicly said our whole Solar System beeing a powerfull Planetarium software and something far beyond any description. Created by Dr. Martin Schweiger, the development continues and new Add-ons get posted everyday. Currently the version Orbiter 2010 is the newest and even in 2013 it still feels relatively new. Real spaceships and unmanned drones, from Apollo's moon lander over Saturn 5 Launchers to X-Wing. Some feature great detail, a cockpit and extras like robotics, life support or cargo management. Even a level 14 Earth map exists which provides incredible satelite image details almost like Google Earth. For the curious ones, how about visiting Alpha Centauri? There a uncountable scenarios available. It also supports TrackIR. Many good Ingame Tutorials teach you how to fly a space ship. This game has nearly endless possibilities and a strong community keeping it alive!
Things to have fun with (or how to spend years playing Orbiter):
Land on any planetary surface, deploy your cargo, place your countries flag, open up your cargo manually, watch an ISRU (Inflatable module), place some seats, beds, manage fuel, oxygen and water cargos, activate gravitational wheel, sit in the cockpit, press buttons, plot courses, deploy drones, do rendevous manuevers, dock, exchange things (open bay), wear a spacesuit, exit ship and float in space, do a sling-shot manuever, enter the door, take off spacesuit, look for your crew, check your ships damage status, listen to music, eat something, sleep in the captains room or go repair a satelite or touch down and create a space colony. Endless possibilities!
Recommended Add-ons (Please check compatibility to each other):
– D3D9 Client (makes for a better overall graphics look enhancing Orbiters Engine)
– Orulex (clever procedural terrain and landscape heightmap generator, beta)
– Orbiter Race League (Multiplayer for Orbiter / also was called Orbiter Multiplayer Client OMPC)
– Level 11 Nasa BMNG Blue Marble Next Generation (a set of seasonal textures for planet earth)
– OrbiterSound (unlike Sci-Fi, only adds great ambient were acoustic is possible)
– UCGO (Universal Cars and Cargo is a must have Add-on simulating management of cargo and consumption)
– UMMU (simulating living crews on board of space stations, ships and bases, must have Add-on)
– HOT: Orcus Patera (the first base recently realeased that can handle infrastructure management)
– Vinka's Spacecraft3.dll (turns the real space simulator into a Sci-Fi game)
– CamControl (walk inside your ship)
– CamShake (feel the shaking your flight skills causes)
– Universal Cargo Plattform (info coming soon)
– Buoyancy (creates wind on planets with atmosphere)
– Warp Drive MFD (for those on a hurry)
– Relativistic Warp MFD (more info coming)
– Time Jump MFD (a powerfull date and time change tool inside the Sim)
– Battlestar Galactica Jump Drive (the FTL "Faster than light" method)
– Gravity Controller MFD (manipulate ships thrusters max output on the fly)
– Higgs Field Controller MFD (manipulate ships mass on the fly)
– Orbiter Galaxy (a prodedural Galaxy Generator)
– Space Trader (play the game Elite inside Orbiter)
– Damage Module (for those crafts without damage simulation)
– Wind Tunnel (external benchmark app)
– Videnei Orbit Drawing (turns Orbiter into a full scale Planetarium)
– ReFuel MFD (transfer fuel between docked ships)
– Test Pilots MFD (more info coming)
– Mfd Irc 100124 (Chat online from a MFD console)
– OrbiterClouds(aka Nebo)_0.3 (more info coming)
– Orbiter Radio (yes, this game has it's own Radio Station, great space age music)
Flight helpers (not cheats):
– AutoRudder (yes spacecraft is different to aircraft so this will help with atmospheric flying)
– RV Orientation (HUD aid for manuevers like docking called "Multi waypoint approach")
– Hover MFD (helps with hovering over the ground)
– AeroBrake MFD (helps with high speeds)
– Precession MFD
– Surface Speed MFD (little visualizer, helps with landing)
– Lola MFD (a true autolander)
– FlyAround MFD (automated fly around a object)
– Lagrange MFD (visualizes your movements)
– Energy MFD mk2 (displays your movements kinetic energy)
– Atmospheric Data MFD (atmospheric conditions in relation to your vessel)
– Rendezvous MFD (not only for meeting girls at the right place just in time)
– Checklist MFD
Multi Function Displays (MFDs):
– LaunchMFD (with HUD, manages flights, launches, rendevous)
– Waypoint MFD (navigate by waypoints)
– Precession MFD (get there more accurately)
– Burn Time Calculator (measure your fuselage needs)
– Map3D MFD (futuristic data visualization of your current position)
– Calculation MFD (complex realtime calculator)
– TransX (move from here to there with plotted courses)
– HAL9000 (Dave, I'm feeling cold, Daefff, Daaaaeffffff, Aeffff!)
– Attitude MFD (holds altitude and visualizes pitch, roll and stuff)
– Date+Save MFD (more info coming)
– State Vector MFD (more info coming)
– Vessel Parameters MFD (more info coming)
– Thrust Control MFD (more info coming)
– Equation MFD (I guess that's something for the math nerds)
– IEAT MFD (for constant Ion like engines)
– Fuel MFD (more info coming)
– Notes MFD (more info coming)
– Tetris MFD (play Tetris on long flights)
– Clock MFD (world clock + timezone worldmap visualization)
– TelescopeMFD
– more coming soon
Untested MFDs so far:
– Attachment Menagement MFD
– Encounter MFD
– Name Change MFD
– Lagrangian points MFD
– Msss MFD (adds multiple Star Systems)
– Interplanetary MFD
– Universal Pointing MFD
– BurnTimeMFD
– PursuitMFD
– DVToolsMFD
– LoadMFD
– AeroBrakeMFD
– FuelQuantityMFD
– WebMFD
– AutoTrimMFD
– Watchdog MFD
– SensorMFD
– BurnTimeCalcMFD
– CameraViewMFD
– HUDdataMFD
– TimerMFD
– IEMFD (The IE browser in a MFD)
– SuborbMFD
– JumpDriveMFD
– WeatherMFD
– SolarSail_MFD
– SafeTimeAccelMFD
– EnergyMFD
– SmokeMFD (inflight particles generator)
– WakeupMFD
– FlightDataRecMFD
– NavMFD
– FlightInstMFD
– ArriveMFD
– PitchRecorderMFD
– Orb2CelMFD (Celestia Exporter)
– Scopesat V2
– IMFD Full Manual/Playbacks
– PlantFlagMFD (wave your flag wherever you land)
– StatusMFD (a awesome MFD for Delta Glider)
– VideoCaptureMFD
– TetherMFD (connect vessels with elastics tethers)
– SpaceTrader (trade cargos between bases)
– Trajectory Optimization Tool v2.1
– Limit Rotation
– Universal Autopilots
– Better Glaspit Buttons (optimize the HUD button visualization)
– Orbiter Speech Recognition Module for Orbiter 2010
– Asteroids! the game (inside Orbiter)
– Heavens traffic 090405 (Track satelite traffic)
– Orbiter Fly-By Camera
– Orbinuid v1.3 Beta (another game for long flights)
– Orbitrader (more info coming)
– Accelerometer
– Autopilot 1.72 with AIRAC and worldwide Airports
A little listing of great ships to download and play with (most of 'em available at orbithangar):
– Fiction-but-real: PTK NP Spacecraft
– Close-to-real: XR 2 Ravenstar (a space shuttle like concept spacecraft with real ambitions and great development)
– For XR 2: Different MFDs for XR2 (extra download)
– Close-to-real: XR 5 (XR 2's big brother)
– XR Facility (a hangar with cargo management features and lots of parking space)
– Close-to-real: G42-200 StarLiner WIP-302 (awesome can move it's wings)
– Real: A4E Skyhawk UPDATE (a Jet plane)
– Real: Mirage2000 (Jet plane)
– Real: Me163
– Real: Me262
– Real: F-35B
– Real: V-22 Osprey ver3
– Real: F-117 Nighthawk ver5
– A-10A
– FA-22A
– FA-18A
– F14A
– Hawker Harrier
– Real: NASA T-38 ver4
– Real: Soyuz 7K series
– Real: Skylab-B
– Real: Dragon Capsule
– Real: Space Ship Two (Richard Bransons spacecraft)
– Real: Soyuz Capsule
– Real: Ariane 5 rocket system
– Real: Saturn 5 rocket system
– Real: Apollo 20 and Tycho Landing Site
– Close-to-real: DGIV Space Compression Engine
– Close-to-real: Perseus Launcher & Perseus MkII 1.3
– Retro: Shuttle Fleet (Space Shuttles)
– Fiction: MIPTS V0.02 (info to come)
– Comic: ACME Rocketship
– Comic: Planet Express Ship
– Star Trek: Chaffe T-10 Shuttle (The Danube Runabouts shuttle craft)
– Star Trek: Danube Runabouts (two variant pack)
– Star Trek: Delta Flyer NX-426 (Voyagers second shuttle craft)
– Star Trek: U.S.S Reliant Miranda
– Star Trek: Enterprise NCC1701TOS and Galileo shuttle (the first tv-show Enterprise)
– Star Trek: Enterprise XI (The Enterprise shown in the recent two movies)
– Star Trek: Federation Starbase XI (The newest Starbase design)
– Star Wars: Slave (Boba Fett drove it)
– Star Wars: Naboo Cruiser
– Star Wars: Naboo Fighter
– Star Wars: Imperial Star Destroyer
– Star Wars: Sky Hopper
– Star Wars: L.A.A.T. (Troops drop ship)
– Star Wars: Shuttle Tyderium (Imperial Shuttle)
– Star Wars: Tie Fighter and Tie Interceptor
– Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
– Star Wars: Super Millennium Falcon
– Star Wars: X-Wing (most known Star Wars vessel)
– Battlestar Galactica: Colonial Viper MK II (a truly nicely done mod aircraft)
– Battlestar Galactica: Colonial One
– Stargate Universe: Destiny and Destiny Shuttle (if you find it, get it and let me know where to get it again, please)
– Stargate: Daedalus X303
– Stargate: Puddle Jumper
– Stargate: Goa'uld TelTak Shuttle
– Stargate: Goa'uld TelTak Shuttle
– Stargate: Aurora
– Stargate & Battlestar Galactica (lots of spaceships missing since the go down of the Rag Tag Fleet, R.I.P., we miss those files!)
– Spaceman Spiff: A little flying saucer (looks like a beattle)
– Aviation history: Me163 (try flying it on mars, it's fun)
– Spaceballs: The space Van (for funny purposes)
– Futurama: Planet Express (for funny purposes, one of my favorites)
– Space1999: The Eagle (features lots of cargo modules)
– 2001 Space Oddysey Pack (everything mentioned in the book and in the movie, play with the monolith of wisdom)
– Babylon 5: Almost every ship shown in the series
– Buck Rogers Thunder Fighter
Extra things to add to your favorite sceneries like bases or assets / objects:
– Prelude Base Skin Pack (maybe you prefer the dusty Prelude base
– Shukra Earth Weather (a hovering floating airbase)
– Russian's Spacesuit Orlan
– UMmu textures pack (A flag pack for spacesuits)
To be continued, dozens of entries to come! My mods to come:
– Cargo skin set (WIP)
– Arrow Freighter Skin & Cockpit Skin (WIP)
