VT MAK releases VR-Engage 1.4

VT MAK announced the release of VR-Engage 1.4. VT MAK’sVR-Engage multi-role virtual simulator lets users “get in the game” bycontrolling a first-person human character; or acting as the driver, gunner orcommander of a ground vehicle; the pilot of an airplane or helicopter; or asensor operator.

VR-Engage 1.4 is the first version of VR-Engage to be builton VR-Vantage 2.5 and VR-Forces 4.7 (which were released in May). VR-Forces 4.7and VR-Engage 1.4 can be used together to provide both CGF andplayer-controlled entities in a common scenario.

This release includes the following new features a new droneoperator role.

Several human characters are now configured to be able todeploy a small quadcopter-style drone. While controlling one of thesecharacters, users can launch a drone, control the drone’s flight, and see thereal-time simulated video feed coming from the drone’s virtual camera. Dronefunctions are controlled from a game controller – similar to the way a realquadcopter is operated. The drone’s video feed is displayed in an inset window,so that users can still see the human character’s first-person view and walkaround the virtual world to keep the drone in sight.

It also includes improvements to the Sensor Operator role toenable recording or streaming of simulated video, and capture of still imagesfrom a remote sensor or camera.

A new virtual-reality display configuration for the tankdriver role is now available – including a high-quality 3D interior model of anM1A2 tank and virtual vision block displays.

The release gives improved ability to customize HUDs andoverlays.

Users can now define simple HUDs and overlays (includingtext, lines, and images) by defining scripts in the Lua scripting language. Userscan also now use VT MAK’s configuration files to associate more complex GLStudio-based cockpit displays with specific combinations of role, entity type,and display configuration.

In addition to the new VR-Engage-specific features listedabove, VR-Engage 1.4 inherits many visual quality, performance, and capabilityenhancements by virtue of being built on the latest versions of VR-Forces andVR-Vantage. These include more realistic simulated sensor views throughenhancements to the built-in CameraFX module; additional 3D content, includinga highly detailed model of Edwards Air Force Base; support for localized cloudlayers configured in VR-Forces scenarios; and easier configuration throughimprovements to the Simulation Object Editor.