Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) and American Truck Simulator (ATS) are top-tier truck simulation games, delivering authentic experiences on PC. To enhance immersion, head tracking technology lets players control the in-game camera view with their head movements.
For truck sim enthusiasts, especially those into ETS2, improving the gaming experience is always a priority. Beyond downloading the game and exploring its vast world, understanding assistive tech like head tracking and various customizations makes the virtual driving experience more lifelike and engaging.
Why Use Head Tracking in Truck Simulation Games?
Head tracking is a significant advancement in simulation technology, especially beneficial in games like ETS2 and ATS. It enables you to use your head as a camera controller, providing a natural and intuitive way to look around the truck cabin. Apps like Eyeware Beam transform your mobile device into a powerful 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) head tracker, creating a more immersive gaming experience.
The global ETS2 community is already leveraging head tracking to enhance their driving experiences. If you’re curious about this technology and whether it’s right for you, let’s explore the top 5 reasons to use head tracking while playing ETS2 or ATS.
Head Tracking: Maximize Immersion
SCS Software aims to deliver the most realistic truck driving experience possible. From selecting European or American maps to customizing trucks and transporting cargo, every element in ETS2 is designed for maximum immersion.
To further enhance this, many gamers invest in simulation equipment like steering wheels and pedals. However, 6DOF head tracking takes it a step further. With apps like Eyeware Beam or Smoothtrack, you can freely look around the truck cabin by naturally moving your head.
Every detail inside the cabin, from the dashboard and mirrors to the windows and surrounding scenery, is easily observable with a simple head tilt. This is a feature many ETS2 gamers desire in VR devices, but head tracking offers a similar experience without complex and expensive hardware.
Even better, head tracking doesn’t cause motion sickness like some VR systems might. You can move your viewpoint comfortably without feeling nauseous, fully enjoying your truck journey.
Euro Truck Sim Beam
Alt: Euro Truck Simulator 2 player using Eyeware Beam for head tracking, enhancing the realistic driving experience.
Easier Vehicle Handling with Head Tracking
Steering wheels, dedicated controllers, and PC mods have advanced significantly in recent years. They’ve become complex with countless buttons and switches, but that doesn’t necessarily make truck driving easier. In situations requiring precise viewing angles, using conventional controls can be awkward and distracting.
Head tracking solves this issue by making camera control more intuitive and accurate. For example, when you need to park at a warehouse in ETS2, constantly checking the mirrors is crucial. With a head tracking app, you simply tilt your head towards the mirror to change the viewing angle, making alignment and parking easier and more natural. The in-game camera automatically follows your gaze, ensuring you always have the necessary view.
Similarly, when cornering, especially on sharp turns, head tracking helps you easily see both the road ahead and the sides. You can make small adjustments to the viewing angle quickly and easily, without needing complex controller manipulations.
Head Tracking: Optimize Control Flexibility
Modern steering wheels often have many programmable buttons and knobs, allowing you to customize your driving experience. However, assigning too many functions to these buttons can be confusing and hard to remember.
Head tracking frees up camera control buttons on the steering wheel, allowing you to assign them to more important functions, such as gear shifting or controlling lights. By mapping viewpoint control to the head tracking app, you can easily see every aspect of the cabin and surrounding environment with just head movements.
Even if you use a basic steering wheel, 6DoF head tracking provides high customization without needing to invest in expensive accessories. You can enjoy a more realistic and flexible driving experience without needing a lot of supporting equipment.
A More Natural Driving Feel Than Ever Before
Euro Truck Simulator 2 aims to realistically simulate the feeling of driving a real truck. From vast highways to winding mountain passes, the game vividly recreates every aspect of the trucking profession. A key part of this experience is the naturalness of the controls.
In reality, we often use our heads to look around while driving. Head tracking brings a similar natural feel to ETS2, helping you drive more intuitively and comfortably. It eliminates the restrictions of controlling the camera with buttons, creating a smoother and more realistic driving experience.
Truck Driving Game
Alt: Image from Euro Truck Simulator 2 with head tracking technology, showing the player easily observing the road and surrounding environment.
Especially for those new to truck simulation games, cornering can be difficult. Lacking the sense of weight and size of the truck, coupled with sitting in front of a computer screen, forces you to rely on vision and feedback from the steering wheel to control the truck accurately.
Head tracking helps solve this problem by creating natural reflexes while driving. When cornering, you’ll naturally want to lean your head to see the road. Head tracking turns this reflex into camera movement in the game, helping you corner more smoothly and confidently.
Easy to Learn and Use Head Tracking
Many ETS2 players may worry about getting used to head tracking technology. However, in reality, the process is quick and easy.
Head tracking leverages the natural human reflex of observing with your eyes and head. After installing the app and setting it up on your phone or tablet, you just need a little experimentation in the game to get used to it. Most users find it only takes a few seconds to a few minutes to adapt to controlling the camera with head movements.
A common issue is head tracking sensitivity. Luckily, you can easily adjust the sensitivity and other settings in the head tracking app. With a little experimentation, you’ll find the configuration that best suits your driving style.
6DoF head tracking technology offers complete viewing freedom. You can look up, down, left, right, bow your head, tilt your head, turn your head – every head movement is accurately reflected in the game.
Is Head Tracking Right for You When Playing Euro Truck Simulator 2?
Head tracking is a great technology to enhance simulation game experiences, especially in games like ETS2 and ATS. However, whether or not to use head tracking depends on your individual needs and preferences.
If you want to enhance the immersion and realism of the game to the highest level, head tracking is a great choice. It provides a more natural and intuitive driving experience, helping you feel the vitality of the ETS2 world more clearly.
If you’re using a simple controller or basic steering wheel, head tracking can help you free up camera control buttons, enhancing control flexibility and game customization. Even if you own a high-end steering wheel, head tracking can still be a valuable addition, helping you focus more on driving and fully enjoy the game experience.
With the development of computer vision and AI technology, using head tracking is becoming easier and more cost-effective. Apps like Eyeware Beam allow you to turn your iPhone or iPad into a powerful head tracking device, no less capable than expensive dedicated products. This app supports over 190 OpenTrack-compatible PC games, opening up a new world of fresh and realistic gaming experiences.
Euro Sim Game
Alt: Euro Truck Simulator 2 gameplay showing a player using head tracking technology to control the camera’s viewing angle.
Accessing head tracking technology is easier than ever, helping you elevate your truck simulation game experience to new heights.
Connect with the Truck Simulation Community
Want to share your ATS gaming experience or compare ATS with ETS2? Join the truck simulation gamer community and Eyeware Beam Discord to learn and share tips!
