Do i need head tracking

[diode_71]

do i need head tracking to start

[Troll Norris]

no

[Speed]

it helps

[GrimReaper 06]

No, head tracking is not needed to run DCS. You can use the hat switch on your Joystick or keyboard commands to control your view. That being said, if you can afford it, I would highly recommend head tracking as it is a game changer as far as I am concerned and make the sim Immersive. Happy Flying & remember to check your six. Reaper

[startrekmike]

Originally posted by diode_71:

do i need head tracking to start

In the most technical sense? No. It is not required in order to run DCS World. That being said. I won't lie to you. DCS will be tough without head tracking and not in that cool "I like a challenge" kind of way. Not having at least some kind of head tracking will be a significant handicap.

It isn't exactly a wild assumption to say that Eagle Dynamics and the various third parties that make aircraft for DCS assume that players are going to have flight sim peripherals on hand. One of the more important ones is some form of head tracking. Those with VR (and a beefy system) will already have that covered (with some caveats that shouldn't be too eagerly swept under the rug) while others will want to seek out some kind of IR headtracking solution. These setups are not exactly super cheap (at least the worthwhile ones) but they are going to be on the cheaper end when compared to other flight sim peripherals.

It is possible to kinda "get by" without head tracking but it will make things a lot more frustrating and will put hard limits on how smooth your experience will be.

[SSerponi76]

Originally posted by diode_71:

do i need head tracking to start

It is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended to have one.

[Troll Norris]

To expand on my first answer, it's the second most useful thing after the joystick. Neither is strictly necessary, but it changes the gaming experience dramatically.

[The Mountain Jew]

for 2 years i flew the F15C with mouse and keyboard and no head tracking, it can be done.

[Shibbyland]

Echoing what everybody has said above, it's not necessary but it makes it so much better. TrackiR is the single best thing I've bought for sims since buying a joystick. It's well worth the money.

I actually prefer it to VR but that's just me.

[Maki Nishikino]

I bought TrackIR for DCS a long time ago and won't play any flight sim without it.

[SSerponi76]

Originally posted by Maki Nishikino:

I bought TrackIR for DCS a long time ago and won't play any flight sim without it.

Once you go Track, you'll never go back

[roy35150]

A definite must have for close up dogfights using heaters or guns,

Also great for SA.

Great for immersion.

Not needed but highly recommended...

[Emme]

Originally posted by SSerponi76:

Once you go Track, you'll never go back

True

I honestly could not play DCS without headtracking.

@OP there are also free solutions if you want to get an idea of how useful headtracking will be in DCS.

[☮-мαтту-☮]

Trackir is a game changer, there are also budget options, like i heard a guy playing with one of those old PS3 cameras w/FaceTrackNOIR... as for VR i cant get into it i start to feel sick after a few mins, but will try the meta Q3 soon as i hear its not too bad as the lens have been reworked

[startrekmike]

Originally posted by ☮-мαтту-☮:

Trackir is a game changer, there are also budget options, like i heard a guy playing with one of those old PS3 cameras w/FaceTrackNOIR... as for VR i cant get into it i start to feel sick after a few mins, but will try the meta Q3 soon as i hear its not too bad as the lens have been reworked

Face tracking is one of those things where it only really should be used if you don't have any other possible option. It is probably the cheapest approach but it also serves as a great example of "you get what you pay for". The biggest issues really come down to lighting demands and general accuracy.

[Spooderbilly]

There are alternatives to trackIR if you want a substitute and have a camera, the one I use is the AItrack and opentrack combo.