Recommended VR for Il-2 Great Battles?

Which VR headset would be most recommended for Il-2 Great Battles (and, well, flight sims in general, I guess)?

I've only ever used the Oculus Rift and I love it, but it needs higher resolution. And a wider field of view would be great. Due to upcoming changes (forcing log in via Facebook account by 2023) I would not recommend OR now.

Just based on reading reviews and some "through the lens" videos on YouTube if I were just getting into VR I would give considerable thought to the soon to be released HP Reverb G2. Probably the highest resolution available right now (or soon).

Just to get your juice's flowing, here's an engagement from last night recorded in VR. My actual experienced FOV is greater than what is shown, the game doesn't capture it exactly right. Nor does it get my sight picture, position behind the gun site, quite right.

Been flying the scripted campaign "Lightning Strikes", I had just dropped a pair of 2000 lb bombs on a German railyard when.....



https://youtu.be/ihT7jVipU3M

You would recommend that over the Pimax 8K X?

Depends. I would diligently check reviews and make sure that the Pimax is well supported by the sims I was interested in. And that the claimed resolution is real.

I've not researched Pimax recently but I recall earlier that it wasn't as universally supported as Oculus. If that has been resolved and you have the PC to drive all those pixels, well God bless you!

Addendum, I've seen Pimax users post in IL2 forum but I have not inquired on their overall impressions. If I were considering purchasing a Pimax I would definitely get the opinions of current Pimax users in the IL2 / DCS (my primary VR sims) forums.


4k / 8k and 200 degrees of FOV sounds like perfection to a long time OR user like me, I'm jealous of the prospect.

Yeah; seems mixed reviews (some like it, some hate it, which does not help); some say it is great, others that the wide FOV has noticeable tradeoffs and/or require more tinkering to get it to work correctly.

I have a Ti 2080, and may get a 3080, so I should be able to handle the Pimax 8k (if barely). I currently run IL-2 on 4K maxed out without any issues. That said, the PIMAX is expensive . . . which if it is a clear winner may be worth it, but if it just a marginal improvement, not so much.

I am really trying to decide if I can handle the restrictive FOV on something like the G2. . . which on one hand is still slightly better than even my 43' monitor can give me, but on the other hand, significantly more restrictive than the potential of the PIMAX, but on the other hand, half the price of the PIMAX 8k X, but on the other hand . . .

FOV restriction mainly comes into play for me when checking six, you really have to twist your body around to get the view that you would get in real life by just turning your head and utilizing your peripheral vision. Other than that it is not a big deal. I would like to have real world FOV in VR but I don't think I would pay more than a $200 premium to get it over what I have now. Priority for me would be greater resolution for distance spotting / identification.

Have you tried to categorize the forum complaints/praise for Pimax chronologically? Maybe some of the old complaints are no longer valid?

So after doing as much research as I can, I think I am leaning towards the G2 . . . $700 vs $1400 for the PIMAX 8K X just does not seem like it is quite worth it, better FOV or no. Morever, it seemed a general impression that PIMAX was not as user friendly (something I am less inclined to deal with at this season in my life).

Maybe in a few years . . .

That has been my impression too, glad you did the research and confirmed. It's a shame Pimax isn't better supported, the raw specs are very impressive. But, I don't think the G2 is going to disappoint either

II'm an Index user, which was an upgrade from an Oculus CV1

The Index is a great headset with really good sound. But I'm also looking at the G2 as an update to my Index.

The convincer for me is the inside out camaera, higher res and same sound as the Index

At this point I'd also say get a G2 if you can

I use my own headset for sound, removed the Oculus supplied headset immediately after unboxing.

Now, I have to deal with waiting to November or December to actually recieve a G2 . . .

This guy is posting some pretty amazing "through the lens" videos of various flight sims using the HP Reverb G2: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtr084FH7rX9rUKTAlZFKXA

He is using terms like "photorealistic"

Just got word that my G2 is shipping; should arrive before Christmas.

So........ did you get it? What do you think?

Yep, arrived two weeks ago . . . definitely an improvement on the Oculus . . . still not as sharp as "real life" mind you, but I have not had any movements where the low resolution took me out of the immersion the way it did with the Oculus.. . . makes setting up high side and overhead attacks so much easier with the added depth perception.

I think there is still one or two more iterations of these headsets before they completely "arrive," but I think this technology is here to stay.

Good to hear. I'm definitely a convert, if a flight sim doesn't support VR I'm not interested. I hope to upgrade myself in the next 12-18 months.

Still loving the gear Nimits?
Any nasty bugs or defects that have show up for you after a year or more of use?


Wheels

The Reverb FOV is not as wide in practice as advertised (though third party visors can help with that for most people by moving the physical screens closer to the eyes), but yes, still the only I way I will play a sim nowadays

The downsides are what you would expect (lower res/higher system requirements than 2D, some discomfort over extended, multi-hour wear), but now major issues or bugs. For me, the feeling of actually being in a cockpit, of having to stop myself from reaching for the in game gear handle because it is right there in front of me, finally being able to deflection shoot consistently as I can judge 3D relative motion and distances accurately, getting a feeling of ground rush when I try to pull out of a dive at the last minute to shake a bandit, is totally worth the trade offs.

Do not get me wrong, it is still not nearly as much fun as flying for real, but until Bill Gates names me in his will, this is probably as close to flying a P-38 as I am likely to get.

The G2 is on sale on the HP site. $150 off. I just ordered one to replace my G1.

Thanks for that information Nimits. Now I just need to save the funds for my next new toy.


That's a great sale price but it is still too pricey for me to order today.


Wheels