Realistic spotting mod for Oculus Rift users

So I recently got the Rift. One of the few shortcomings is that spotting planes has become a challenge. I used Eekz's label mod before but with the rift those dots look massive, like flying among black bricks of houses.

So I started tweaking it, and came up with a label mod that's hardly noticeable, very faint, and it's centered in the plane so transition is smooth. Don't think about it as a label, more like a view enhancing mod. You won't see black dots from 10 miles...I fly small planes in real life so I have a pretty solid idea how far I can spot other planes. I think I managed to nail it with this one. Your mileage may vary with different settings than mine, but I thought I'd share (with Eekz's permission of course).

DOWNLOAD:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3302086/

can you share any SS a i get confused trying to understand what this is like?

My thanks. I'll give that a try later on.

thanks, I will try this out on the weekend. (Got kiddies coming over tonight for treats). :-)

to me it is like there are no labels...i cannot see any label....

There is a label, right at the centre of the target, but now it’s a dot, as against a neon sign.

Certainly seems to be working as I “feel” that the ranges I’m spotting enemies at seems far more appropriate.

So good work for that, my thanks OP.

The only thing that springs to mind is to have a different version with colours, denoting which side an aircraft is on. Less important to monitor users with their telescope level zoom, but IMO, important for VR users, for whom aircraft identification is very hard.

There is a label, right at the centre of the target, but now it’s a dot, as against a neon sign.

Certainly seems to be working as I “feel” that the ranges I’m spotting enemies at seems far more appropriate.

So good work for that, my thanks OP.

 

The only thing that springs to mind is to have a different version with colours, denoting which side an aircraft is on. Less important to monitor users with their telescope level zoom, but IMO, important for VR users, for whom aircraft identification is very hard.

i understand...but cannot see it..using the default ED dot (colored one) i can see it but obviously i would like something more realistic

You can verify if it's working by pressing shift F10 while looking at planes from 3-4 km. If there is no change, something is not working.

Then again, this mod only slightly enhances spotting to bring it to a realistic level. It's not like using traditional labels.

i like this, but the missiles are way too big, its ez to confuse them with planes.. Can you make it that the missiles are not bigger ?

Missiles? I didn't even know it applied for missiles too.

it does look like. I even fired a aim9x on my own aim120 because i thougt (not even kidding) that the aim120 was an AWACS :D

it does look like. I even fired a aim9x on my own aim120 because i thougt (not even kidding) that the aim120 was an AWACS :D

I tried again, and I don't see any labels placed over missiles.

Sir you have helped a pilot recovered from sight impairment.

Hey - How do I install this one on the steam version? Haven't played yet with mods in DCS (even when I am playing this game for years now :D)

The Path in the readme is not available for me?

Hey - How do I install this one on the steam version? Haven't played yet with mods in DCS (even when I am playing this game for years now :D)

The Path in the readme is not available for me?

You'll find it in your saved games folder

You'll find it in your saved games folder

Urm - Well, no? I was searching for it. But there is no. I even opened the mission editor and saved that thing in the default folder. But there is none. Can I make a folder myself?

I checked on my backup from my previous Windows 8.1 x64 Installation and now on my fresh Windows 10 1809 x64 - Still not here. Maybe because I don't use a local user, but instead I have a domain user with home directories? :helpsmilie:

Nice mod - I brought it finally to work. Somehow it was saved in my Docuemtns, not under the "Saved games". Strange o_O

Nice mod. Actually, so good in fact I hardly even knew it was on until I found out about the Lshift+F10 toggle to verify it was working. I was afraid that it would make the experience unrealistic with the dot on the planes, but not at all. I wouldn't have known there was a dot if I hadn't installed the mod myself and looked for it.

Question: How do I make this apply to ground targets as well? It's very difficult to spot ground targets in the Rift, as I'm sure you're aware of, which makes VR unrealistic in that regard by default. If I could spot things on the ground like IRL, it would make the experience that much easier and better. I currently rely on my TGP more than needed. A T-55 sitting in an open field...perfectly hidden from me!

Thanks!

Edit above post...

Nevermind. I figured out the ground target thing. The LUA was actually pretty easy to understand. Now I just have to tune it to realistic settings.

HI guys,

I am currently using this mod, and it seems a "must have" for any VR user.

I have a question, does anyone know how to change the dot size at 4-3 km??, To make it a little more smaller. Thanks!

Great stuff many thanks!

HI guys,

 

 

 

I am currently using this mod, and it seems a "must have" for any VR user.

 

 

 

I have a question, does anyone know how to change the dot size at 4-3 km??, To make it a little more smaller. Thanks!

I’ve been playing with the LUA file recently and also added the dot to ground targets. You can’t set up the dot to change size per distance. You get to choose one size (it’s actually a “dot” character, and a font size chosen). You can only charge it’s opacity per distance.

Take a look at the LUA file. It’s not too difficult to understand. The font came in at size 15. I changed it to 12 which made things better for me. Any smaller and it was very difficult to see.

I’ve been playing with the LUA file recently and also added the dot to ground targets. You can’t set up the dot to change size per distance. You get to choose one size (it’s actually a “dot” character, and a font size chosen). You can only charge it’s opacity per distance.

 

Take a look at the LUA file. It’s not too difficult to understand. The font came in at size 15. I changed it to 12 which made things better for me. Any smaller and it was very difficult to see.

Oh thanks!!

I have done some tests, and find for myself that these values are more natural:

font_properties = {"DejaVuLGCSans.ttf", 5, 0, 0, 0}

But you have to change alls alignments to CenterTop :thumbup:, dot is now more smalls and keep it in center. Thanks a lot GTFreeFlayer. :thumbup::thumbup:

Is it possible, to have the dot on the plane itself and maybe the aircraft type as before on lower distance? (WIth the dot and small pixels of the plane itself its hard to see sometimes, what type of aircraft it is)

I tried to play around in the LUA with a bit copy / paste also from the original file with the lower values, but somehow my aircraft names dissapeared completly?

Is it possible, to have the dot on the plane itself and maybe the aircraft type as before on lower distance? (WIth the dot and small pixels of the plane itself its hard to see sometimes, what type of aircraft it is)

I tried to play around in the LUA with a bit copy / paste also from the original file with the lower values, but somehow my aircraft names dissapeared completly?

I don’t think so. The label is simply some text that you choose what to type and where to place it. I don’t think you can do two texts or two locations.

Look at the very bottom (I think) of the LUA file. It shows the format of the text in order to get what you want. I’m not looking at it now, but for example it will be something like %N%D, which would display name and distance. The comments in the LUA file explain this and also gives examples.

Defiantly works, but the pixel is HUGE when the AC are rather close.