FaceTrackNoIR - free face tracking software for gaming

[rootsrat]

FaceTrackNoIR is a great free face tracking software. I have never seen anyone mention it here - maybe because Skyrim/FNV are not supported plus there's not much point in using it with these games. For other games, mainly racing or simulators - or any other game where you can turn your head around - it is an excellent tool to enhance the gameplay and increase immersion in game. 

 

It tracks your face via the web cam and translates its moves to camera (head) moves in game, allowing for natural behaviour when playing. It's absolutely awesome and I encourage you to try it out. The list of supported games is listed here.

 

The only thing you need is a webcam that is able to pull 60 FPS. A cheap solution is PlayStation 3 webcam - The Eye. It costs about £7 on eBay. It's pretty bad for web comms, like Skype etc., but for the purpose of face tracking it's absolutely flawless.

 

I used it Elite: Dangerous and F1 2013 so far and it really adds to immersion, I'm loving it!

 

It's a great FREE alternative to TrackIR that costs £140 and requires you to put some funny stuff on your head, which makes you look like a nutcase in your wife's eyes :D

 

Hope you enjoy this tool guys!

[EssArrBee]

I've used a modified version of this that Lockheed brought to my school. They have this big flight simulator they bring in for people to demo when trying to headhunt. It was actually quite impressive what they could do with the whole setup. You sit in this cockpit type pod with screens all around your FOV. They put an actual flight helmet, with 3D goggles built in, on you and as look around and even lean to the side to try to see over the edge of cockpit it will adjust the screen and you can look down on the ground below.

 

I'd say that the demo probably got used by more staff members than students. We just kept cutting the line and taking our turn with it. Screw the students, most of them are to dumb to work for Lockheed anyways. 

[DanielCoffey]

The problem with the face tracking is that it is running in software and takes quite a high toll on the CPU plus it can "lose" the face position at inopportune moments. The folks over on the ETS2 truck forum have discussed it and found the game struggling for CPU power and the TrackIR is the hardware solution.

 

It is like the difference between using FRAPS or a hardware capture card. The software solution has a higher overhead than the dedicated silicon.

[rootsrat]

The problem with the face tracking is that it is running in software and takes quite a high toll on the CPU plus it can "lose" the face position at inopportune moments. The folks over on the ETS2 truck forum have discussed it and found the game struggling for CPU power and the TrackIR is the hardware solution.

 

It is like the difference between using FRAPS or a hardware capture card. The software solution has a higher overhead than the dedicated silicon.

I never noticed any performance drop due to FaceTrackNoIR to be honest, everything works like a charm.