Latest News about Animaze!

Hello Awesome People!

Big news:
Webcam-based hand and finger tracking, without a need for an external VMC sender or bespoke hardware, is now available in Animaze on the "Next-version" beta branch.

Please select it from the tracker list, test it, and send us your thoughts via email or Discord, as we will continue to tune the experience based on your feedback!
If you need a reminder on how to navigate branches:
https://www.animaze.us/faq/animazedesktop/navigatebranches
This module is in open beta, based on the Google Media Pipe tracker, supports simultaneous face, hand, and finger tracking from the same webcam input, and is available for everyone to test.

Items of note for this beta version:

- It can't be currently combined with other face trackers (for instance with iPhone face tracking). Naturally, this will be addressed before the official feature launch.
- It works with all 3D models that are Animaze mannequin compatible: native Animaze avatars, Ready Player Me, Union Avatars, VRM (0.0 and 1.00).
- For most avatars you might want to start either with "face as origin" setting toggled to on, or with it off, change Reference Origin settings in Advanced Tracking Configuration->MediaPipe Tracker, to adjust the tracking offsets to your specific setup.
- It does not yet work in Animaze Rooms (Animaze Multiplayer)
- Live2D support can be added but is currently on hold until we hear from Live2D artists information on which parameters (and parameter ranges) they want. The sooner we receive that information, the sooner we can plan for Live2D-specific parameters to be sent out.

Thank you for supporting indie VTubing engine alternatives.
The Animaze team (Dragos, Alex and Catalin).

A very cute baby seal avatar joins the Animaze Originals roster.

Will you use his cuteness to build your online empire, rivaling or even surpassing the likes of PuffPuff, TheOneManny, Obit or MagLobao?
You decide!

Available on both Windows PC and iOS.
If you do use iPhone tracking, we recommend you test him with direct mapping settings on and off too, and see how you like it best. We are partial to the interpreted mapping (not direct) in his case.

Thank you for supporting indie VTubing engine alternatives.
The Animaze team (Dragos, Alex and Catalin).

Hello Amazing People!

Today's update brings a new Capibara skin. Carlos the chill Capibara cosplaying as an intrepid explorer, Capybara Jones. We're also deploying client-server security certificate updates.

We are taking this opportunity to announce that the Animaze servers will be temporarily inaccessible for scheduled maintenance next week, on August 18th, at 10 AM Pacific Time (5:00 PM GMT). Please plan your streaming sessions accordingly. We apologize for any inconvenience.

https://youtu.be/ozUfESE7xgs

https://youtu.be/QSLC7HbpFVA

As always, we love hearing what you think about the new content and Animaze! Let us know what you’d like to see added to Animaze on our Discord server, or email us at support[@]animaze[.]us!

Thank you for supporting Indie Engine vTubing initiatives.

Happy Streaming,
Dragos, Catalin and Alex

Hello Awesome People!

We're happy to announce that the Animaze update featuring enhanced support for the Sony mocopi® sensor is now live on the main branch. Ultraleap Hyperion drivers can also be used starting with this version. 
Thank you to everyone who tested it on the Next Version preview last week. 

Using Sony mocopi you can enjoy fast, accurate body motions in both full-body and upper-body modes, overcoming the typical limitations of video-based body tracking. Animaze is now an official partner of Sony mocopi.
Three Raynos-chan avatars are also preinstalled in Animaze.

Here is where you can read more about Sony mocopi.
https://sony.net/mocopi-dev

Here is a video on connecting the mocopi app to Animaze PC.
How to Connect Sony mocopi® to Animaze - YouTube

If you have multiple network adapters (real or virtual), you may need to use Windows tools like ipconfig to find your PC's correct IP address, instead of simply copying over the autodetected one. Also, ensure to allow the connection in your firewall settings.

Detailed changelog is in the full-length post.

Thank you for supporting indie VTubing engine alternatives.
The Animaze team (Dragos, Alex and Catalin).

The jungle adventure begins today.

Whether used for teaching a biology class, stepping in for Harambe, or performing the best karaoke cover of King Louie's "I Want to Be Like You", Brutus is up for the task.

https://youtu.be/h81APl_hyuI

Because he is a chonky boy to render, (high-quality ape model), he is, for now, available on Windows PC only.

Empire State Building not included, but we are adding a free banana prop.

Thank you for supporting indie VTubing engine alternatives.
The Animaze team (Dragos, Alex and Catalin).

Hello Awesome People!

The Animaze PC App and its launcher have been updated recently.

This update is special as it changes the client-server interaction, so it can't be done automatically on the old Launcher.
You will have to download the new version of the Launcher manually (unless you are on the Steam version of Animaze, in which case the update has already been applied via the Steam client and the below steps do not apply to you). 

To update to the correct version, the  steps are:

1. - [Optional] back-up any custom settings/ imported avatars that you want to keep, if you have them; you can do so either by using the backup scripts  ( https://www.animaze.us/faq/animazedesktop/animaze-pc-backup ) or manually copying the appropriate files to a separate folder.
2. - download the new Launcher,  from https://animaze.tv/download
3. - make sure the old launcher and old Animaze are not running.
4. - install the new Launcher,  (this will automatically uninstall the old one too, so you don't have to do that manually)
5. - once the new launcher is installed, start it, click on the cogwheel icon in the upper right-hand corner, scroll down, press "Check for Updates" button.
6. - then install the latest  Animaze normally, login to your account 
7. - [Optional] restore the backup personal avatars and settings, as applicable.

The correct versions are:

The Holotech Team.

Hello Awesome People!

A new Holotech original free avatar enters the arena: Silenus the futuristic war GOAT.
He also brings along his futuristic spaceship backdrop.

https://youtu.be/ZX3L_ZE8XlQ

Whether you want to have a sci-fi goat narrating your exploits in the galaxy or repurpose him in zoomed-in portrait mode as a tiefling lookalike for your new BG3 run, Silenus is reporting for duty.

Cheers, and happy steaming!

The Holotech Team.

Hello Awesome People!

We have updated the Visage Technologies Tracker to v9.1 in Animaze.
Those of you who checked out the Next Version update a couple of days ago already know about this, but for those who have stayed on the default branch here is the news:

Desktop Changelog

-> added tracked vertical pupil movement to the Default Tracker. If the motion is too intense you can adjust it (or even turn it back off) in the Advanced Tracking Settings -> Eyes -> Eye Pupil Vertical Movement.
-> fixed a bug causing the shop-interfacing galleries to not load properly sometimes,
-> fixed a crash when importing some VRM models,
-> fixed a bug related to TPose validation in GLB files

As always, we love hearing what you think about the new content and Animaze! Tell us what you’d like to see added to Animaze on our Discord server or email us at support[@]animaze[.]us!
Thank you for supporting indie avatar engine initiatives.

If there are any unexpected issues please report them to us and remember that you can always roll back to the previous version branch while things are investigated. Here is info on how to switch branches: https://www.animaze.us/faq/animazedesktop/navigatebranches .

Happy streaming,
The Holotech Team

Hello Awesome People!

We’ve updated the Animaze with several key improvements.
Those of you who checked out the Next Version update a couple of days ago already know about this, but for those who have stayed on the default branch here is the news:

Desktop Changelog:

-Added new idles, to make it easier to use holdable props for folks who don't use any form of hand tracking (though they are really fun when you *do* use hand tracking), added microphone and coffee mug holdables for those morning coffee moments and Karaoke streams.
- Added UI warnings about typical experience “debuffs”: Bad framerate during streaming or issues with internet connectivity on start are sure to throw a wrench in your streaming experience. Low fps warnings, low average fps during broadcast warnings, and network connectivity warnings will now pop up in the UI, letting you know that there are some problems and settings that might need adjustment (in and out of Animaze). Depending on feedback, more debuff detectors will be added, for instance, below-ideal input camera FPS or jittery tracking input that can (and should) be addressed by dialing up the smoothing sliders.
- Fixed a bug where reset keys in the Control panel were not properly displayed.
- Fixed a bug where unbound keys were not saved
- Fixed a non-start issue, if there was no detectable network adapter.
- Fixed a bug with changing the model for ChatPal in the OpenAI settings panel
- Various other fixes and optimizations.

Please let us know about your experience with this build.
If there are any unexpected issues please report them to us and remember that you can always roll back to the previous version branch while things are investigated. Here is info on how to switch branches: https://www.animaze.us/faq/animazedesktop/navigatebranches .

As always, we love hearing what you think about the new content and Animaze! Let us know what you’d like to see added to Animaze on our Discord server, email us at support[@]animaze[.]us, or message us on Twitter!
Thank you for supporting indie avatar engine initiatives.

Happy streaming,
The Holotech Team

Hello awesome folks,

We have integrated Inworld AI in Animaze ChatPal as an alternative LLM + voice engine solution.

Inworld AI enables you to fully customize the AI Brain that powers the Animaze avatar, to craft characters with distinct personalities and contextual awareness that stay in-world. Keep in mind that an Inworld AI account and additional fees for Inworld AI services will be needed beyond the Inworld initial free usage allotment.

As always, we love hearing what you think about the new content and Animaze! Let us know what you’d like to see added to Animaze on our Discord server, email us at support[@]animaze[.]us, or message us on Twitter!

Happy Streaming,
The Holotech Team