VR-friendly comms menu?

I can't believe we still don't have something like this, so here we go:

It's pretty much impossible to reach out for the keyboard and find the F buttons assigned to radio communication while in VR.

Why not have a vr friendly menu with only 3 or 4 (or even 2?!) commands, easily assignable to say a hat switch?

Button 1: Open comms menu/selects highlighted option

Button 2: Highlights next option

OR

Button 1: Open comms menu/selects highlighted option

Button 2: Highlights next option

Button 3: Highlights previous option

OR

Button 1: Open/close comms menu

Button 2: Highlights next option

Button 3: Highlights previous option

Button 4: Selects highlighted option.

I mean, something terribly simple, just so you can navigate the menu instead of selecting an option from Twelve(!!) shortcuts, or point and clicking.

There's already an assignable Command to open/close the menu, and each module has their own radio shortcuts, so just moving up/down and selecting would be incredibly useful.

I hope I'm not the only one who thinks this is a must and that this is considered.

Cheers

You know you can Click the comm menu ?? That's how it do it.

It is kind of bugged if you check the 'use mouse' options. But it works fine without.

If anything I would like a rose like jester that you can use with just a single button and look at the required options

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Use a mouse or even better voice attack

I can't believe we still don't have something like this, so here we go:

 

It's pretty much impossible to reach out for the keyboard and find the F buttons assigned to radio communication while in VR.

 

Why not have a vr friendly menu with only 3 or 4 (or even 2?!) commands, easily assignable to say a hat switch?

 

Button 1: Open comms menu/selects highlighted option

Button 2: Highlights next option

 

OR

 

Button 1: Open comms menu/selects highlighted option

Button 2: Highlights next option

Button 3: Highlights previous option

 

OR

 

Button 1: Open/close comms menu

Button 2: Highlights next option

Button 3: Highlights previous option

Button 4: Selects highlighted option.

 

I mean, something terribly simple, just so you can navigate the menu instead of selecting an option from Twelve(!!) shortcuts, or point and clicking.

 

There's already an assignable Command to open/close the menu, and each module has their own radio shortcuts, so just moving up/down and selecting would be incredibly useful.

 

I hope I'm not the only one who thinks this is a must and that this is considered.

 

Cheers

Voice Attack with VIACOM Pro addon works best.

Although there could be 3rd party alternatives, a fully “VR centric UX design” is very much needed at least as an option.

ED is doing a good job on VR front, but this little handy detail is still worth some serious consideration IMHO.

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A circular menu system like that would be hella cool.

But for now, using voice attack is the best solution I have found for right now.

SWE-Timberwolf said:

Voice Attack with VIACOM Pro addon works best.

Many of us can't use voice attack as we can only play DCS when the missus and kids are asleep

I really support the OP!

At least with a decent mic , (my CVI or Razer headset for example) you don't have a to scream to use Voiceattack . A normal conversational level or even less works quite well . And losing the menus gives greater immersion . I am not arguing against the expressed menu changes , rather pointing those two facts out for those who might be interested in VA/VP .

Voice attack has changed the whole nature of the game for me, particularly in VR.

I do like the idea of having a next comm button that would help out a lot.

I'd like to be able to position the comms menu, because I use look to click in the cockpit when in VR and the comms menu is a little too high, I'd prefer it be lower, but making it user adjustable to people's liking would be best

Well, go take HB's Jester menu layout and functionality, increase the number of tiles to 12 and there you'd have it. But I guess that'd be too easy to make

Heatblur's Jester interface showed us all how this Comms menu should work. One button and then look in the direction of the command menu you want to go down.

I have been finding lately every now and then the mouse dot has no reaction on the comms menu at all - so you can't select any comms options in VR (can't reach keyboard). Just have to quit the mission back to main menu and try again. Pretty annoying!

Have tried to make a VA command saying "Option 1" Option 2" etc. But sometime VA just closes for no reason too....DCS is sent to test us...

any update on this>

With the core enhancements coming, I agree. This needs to be updated. Comms in VR sucks atm. 

On 1/7/2023 at 6:47 PM, Nomatic said:

With the core enhancements coming, I agree. This needs to be updated. Comms in VR sucks atm. 

Yep, even just few shortcuts:

Comms menu Up, Comms menu Down, Comms menu Select, maybe Comms menu Back. Add a highlight for the currently selected option and it's done.

But there may be some dark deep hacks in the code if the comms F keys aren't even assignable, plus they override regular F key assignments, which is something that isn't even possible elsewhere in DCS.

Another thing that's related in VR is the abysmal mouse behaviour, and how the white dot mouse appears with the comms menu, and how it's in different position than the regular cross mouse.

I really would like to see some progress here for us VR users. Now I have to release my grip on the stick, find the mouse and find the "white dot" against white clouds. And if I'm supposed to manage a couple of flights it is really hard to do.

For VoiceAttack we have to remember those who don't have English as their native language.

Although we could all argue about the best menu type (jester like or not), I think a quick key binding allowing you to move up and down the menus and select as the OP suggested would be a nice quick fix for us late night VR users.

You are all massively overthinking this.  All you need is to map LMB, and keep the mouse cursor locked to the VR cursor.  Then just glance up, and click the option.  Takes literally no time, no mouse interaction, no effort.  I've been playing VR for 4+ years, and not once needed to use the mouse.  The menu system works much better than Jester IMHO.  

15 minutes ago, Lace said:

You are all massively overthinking this.  All you need is to map LMB, and keep the mouse cursor locked to the VR cursor.  Then just glance up, and click the option.  Takes literally no time, no mouse interaction, no effort.  I've been playing VR for 4+ years, and not once needed to use the mouse.  The menu system works much better than Jester IMHO.  

No thank you 

I don't like this "look-n-click" option at all. Maybe my head is just too shaky to click those tiny switches and radio menu text in VR, but no, for me that's definitely not a good alternative. (oh, and as someone using Pointctrl, I also hardly ever use the mouse )

That said, since my last post in this thread (few posts up), I did gave in to the VA/VAICOM option and try it. To my surprise the voice detection was/is so good, I can even whisper and it'll still recognize my commands (ideal for those like me who sometimes have to play DCS in silence, not to wake up kids).

Since VAICOM is now freeware, there's really no reason anymore not to give it a try. And, obviously, it's the most "hands free" option to operate the radio menu.

The only true improvement, would be that ED would somehow integrate VAICOM functionality in its core game.

I am getting ready soon to try a one-handed keyboard (liked Razed Tartarus V2 Pro) for my left hand and binding some keys to Fs.  I am assuming someone in the Community has attempted this in VR?