I wanted to try the head tracking feature that has become available in the 4.26 version of TSW2 released on EPG. I didn't however want to shell out $500 for a Track-IR. I looked for a cheaper solution and came across the open source project Open Track available on github https://github.com/opentrack/opentrack and paired this with Smooth Track which is available for Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epaga.smoothtrack and Apple https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smoothtrack-head-tracker/id1528839485 Open Track running - the pink octopus shows you how the head tracking is going in real time. It does not have to be visible. Smooth Track running screen on the phone It took me quite a while to get it set up and working to the point where its good, following the directions requires a little bit of Windows knowledge to get it working but is straight forward enough and works great even with my glasses and fuzzy face. I tried a few other options and could not get them working with my glasses. Smooth Track even still works when I'm streaming even though my microphone occludes about 20% of my face. I did find that getting Smooth Track to be reliable I to have the phone as near to 90 degrees to my face as possible. I set it up on its wireless charging stand (more on that in a moment) in front of me just below my main monitor where I play. Then its smooth and reliable. If its too low or too high it gets very janky. You will need to have your phone powered while the tracker runs, on Android Smooth Track invokes Android AR Core 2.0 which is a major battery hog. My phone is fairly recent and powerful and its battery will normally last 1.5 days if I stay off socials. Smooth Track depletes it in under an hour. It gets warm when on the wireless charger and Smooth Track is running but not hot so won't likely hurt the hardware from heat soak. Smooth Track on Android was AU$12. There is no free-to-try version but this didn't worry me as you can nearly always get a play store refund if you ask for it within 48 hours. I used Smooth Track on my stream this morning (link to channel in sig) if you want to see it in action with TSW2 Unreal 4.26 EPG version. I was surprised to find that its not just a gimmick, it actually does help with immersion to be able to look around you and have that replicated inside the driver's cab. Interestingly you can put your head out of the cab even without opening the windows. Used in combination with the mouse it makes it quite easy to get to that pesky master switch in Bakerloo. Don't push your head out too far though, I did manage to stick my head right out of the world in a tunnel and could not get back. Note this will not work with the current steam version until the Core Update comes out "soon" - my personal guess is a two to three weeks away - I emphasise this is a guess, but to get three routes out by the end of the UK Summer (Sep 20th or so) that is about 50 days from now - I emphasise I'm guessing but it seems logical to push one out every two weeks to make this schedule. Given they usually release on UK Thursday it sort of sets this timing. Anyway in the mean time TSW2 is free to play on EPG as long as you get it this week so you can preview the feature. If you have any questions, please ask. Paul
