PROTOWLF

Billing Paused for 1 Month - Fires, Vacation

Hi everyone, I decided to pause Patreon billing for 1 month starting today. Two reasons for this:I had to evacuate my home for a couple days due to the ongoing fires in Los Angeles. Luckily our neighborhood is safe, but it's been a major disruption, and I've still got stuff packed and ready to go in case I need to evac again (the dangerous winds are expected to last through Tuesday).Later in January I'm leaving for vacation in Japan, where I'll be for roughly 2.5 weeks. I might do a couple impromptu streams out there, but I'...

Anatomy of a Video Game Feature

Hi everyone! This is a case-study about a feature I added to kemorig, and more generally a look at how implementing features in video games often goes.We've all played games that frustrated us when simple things were missing or wrong. Have you ever cried out out, "Can't they just add this! How hard can it be?"Criticism is always valid, but it's good to understand whyfeatures are not always as simple as they appear.So, let's take a look at how adding Auto Eye Movementto kemorig went!A Dead-Simple FeatureLast month I added...

kemorig v0.5 release

Happy new year! The plan was to get this build out before end of year, and if you're in in the US, I succeeded! 😅New FeaturesAuto Eye MovementOptionally have eyes automatically move (instead of using tracking).3 modes: look at camera, rotate with head, rotate oposite of head.Can also toggle on override in Avatar and Level blueprints, and look at custom targets.Tweakable eye rotation multipliersIn KemorigTracking node, you can now set a multiplier for how far eyes rotate up/down/in/out.Useful for stylized models, where "realistic"...

Status Update - December 21

Happy holidays everyone! I hope you're having a safe comfortable end of the year.First, a little life update, the last couple months have been very busy and hectic, but I'm doing okay and pushing through. In November, my partner and I had to say goodbye to our dog Cody, who passed away with a sudden illness. Later in November we also adopted a new dog, who is a ball of husky energy. We love him, but he does need lots of our time for training! I've also been chasing doctor appointments for various things, along with typical holiday s...

kemorig v0.4 release

kemorig v0.4Introducing Base-Kun -- a comprehensive example avatar! Test out kemorig with him, and use him as a reference in-editor for setting up your own avatars.There is also more editor content, and bug fixes.New FeaturesBase-KunA new example avatar with a cel shaded art style. Base-Kun is an example (in the app and the editor project) that features:Jiggle bones.Multiple skeletal meshes animating together.Idle and transition animations.A ragdoll interaction.Throwing props interactions, with physics impulses when hit.Kemorig Cel ShadeA suite...

Blender add-on -- docs, update, and new logo

Hey everyone, I've done some more work on the PROTO Game Asset Tools Blender add-on:Updated to V1.1.0. Improved vertex color tools.Documentation is now available on my site: https://protowlf.com/blendergameassettools/There's a logo now!I've updated the download post, and you can download the add-on there: https://www.patreon.com/posts/blender-proto-115751827Again, I'm making the add-on patron-exclusive for 1 month. It'll be available to everyone for free in mid-December. Thank you for your support!Next up, I'm working on...

[Blender] PROTO Game Asset Tools - Download

This is the download for PROTO Game Asset Tools- a Blender add-on.This add-on makes game asset authoring in Blender easier, and fixes issues with using Blender with Unreal. Features include:FBX Exporter with unit-conversions -- fixes unit conversion issues with Unreal and other engines.Quick Export panel to easily export meshes and animations.Quick Action panel to easily manage animations in Blender.Vertex Color tools to pack information into vertex color channels for games.VideoWatch a video overview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaZWd...

Status Update - November 10

Hi everyone!This month the status update is visible for free and paid Patrons.Blender Add-onToday I'm releasing the v1 of my new Blender add-on: PROTO Game Asset Tools. It's exciting for a few reasons:It will make using Blender for kemorig much easier.It is (as far as I know!) the only free add-on for Blender that exports to Unreal without bugs.It streamlines the Blender workflow for animating for games.Here's a video overview: https://youtu.be/MaZWdJQCnLMIt will be available for all paid Patrons exclusively for 1 month, before free...

Blender Addon

As I've been working on an example avatar, I realized that I need to do additional work to make the Blender to Unreal process more accessible.The ProblemI discovered additional bugs with Unreal's FBX importer, that are specifically related to unit-conversions. I thought that Unreal 5.4 (which kemorig uses) fixed these problems, but turns out it didn't fix everything. A model exported from Blender's default FBX exporter will mostlywork, but there's some bad data in the model. And when you try to make a physics asset, Unreal&#...

Status Update - October 21

Hi everyone! Here's what I've been working on and what to expect soon.Base-KunI've spent the better part of the last 2 months working on Base-Kun. This new 3D character is for 2 things:He will be a new example avatar in kemorig, source Blender files included, to serve as a reference for setting up a complex cel shaded avatar. The goal is that you can see a clean straight-forward example for all steps in the avatar pipeline.He's replacing Face-Chan. Sorry Face-Chan fans 😔He is a mesh to showcase my cel shaded materials in Blen...

What kemorig Example Content Do You Want?

Hi everyone, quick question:What example content do you want to see included with kemorig? Comment below!By example content, I mean stuff in the editor project to help you make your avatars and levels.I'm already working on the following:A feature-rich cel shading "toon" material (based on what I use with Proto)A full body version of Face-Chan, with multiple stances.A ragdoll interaction.A throw stuff interaction.A jiggle bones example.(One thing to note: I unfortunately can't give you the editor version of the Manny mannequin a...

Status Update - September 16 (+ new kemorig docs)

Hello again, here's the status update for September.New kemorig docsI just updated the kemorig site with new documentation pages:Tracking Settings- A new page about the Tracking Settings feature (you may not have known this existed!)Updated Quick Start Guide- updated with info on setting up webcam, and new images reflecting the current state of the app.Webcam, ARKit, and Microphone - 3 new pages with info on setting up tracking in the app, and some tips on getting the best results.Documentation is always a moving target, and I'm doing m...

kemorig on my stream

Hi everyone!This is a video with two new examples of how I'm using kemorigin my own stream. It's a glimpse at what I've been working on lately, and I hope it can also serve as inspiration for what you can do with it with your own VTuber!Last Monday was a special stream on Twitch for me, so I prepared new features for my VTuber. The two big ones were these:Fighting Game ModeMy cel shaded style is very much inspired by Guilty Gear, and I wanted to take a stab at my own GG-style animations for Proto. In addition, I thought it would be ...

kemorig v0.3.1 HOTFIX

This is a hotfix release fixing the following issues:Fixed avatars exported with Blender's default FBX exporter having extreme movement with webcam.The Kemorig Tracking node now auto-calculates a movement factor based on the mesh. You have the option to manually enter it as well.Fixed Avatar Tracking Settings not being applied before stance changes.Thank you for your patience and swift bug reporting!------------------------------------DOWNLOAD LINK- password is "newcam" (no quotes)CUSTOM CONTENT NEEDS TO BE RE-EXPORTED TO WORK IN v0...

kemorig v0.3 release - the webcam update

kemorig v0.3 is here!Bringing webcam support, quality of life updates, and more!Here's the changelog, download and more info at the bottom:New FeaturesWebcam TrackingYou can now use a webcam to track head, eye, and face motion. It also tracks your head position in addition to rotation.Webcam face tracking tracks a sub-set of facial morph targets. The same morph targets you set up for ARKit work for Webcam and vice-versa.Tracking uses a version of Google MediaPipe integrated into the app.Tracking SelectionYou can now combine tracking methods...

Status Update - August 24

Hi everyone!This month's status update is all about the webcam update coming to kemorig! Check out the video above for a preview of what to expect.There's a lot coming in the new update:webcam tracking- this is the big one! Webcam will track your head rotation and position, eyes, and a sub-set of face blendshapes.tracking selection- the app has been reorganized to easily let route different tracking methods to parts of the avatar (currently ARKit and webcam). You can independently select which method influence body, eyes, and face.bette...

kemorig Webcam WIP

Hey everyone, webcam tracking is working! 🎉This is a quick work-in-progress video showing the current state. It's using Google MediaPipe (as alluded-to in the last post), and runs inside the kemorig app.Right now you're seeing it track head and shoulders. Finally, we can see avatars move around instead of rotating in-place! It will also be able to track eyes, and influence some (but not all) face blendshapes.Now, don't get tooexcited by the words "shoulder tracking". Although MediaPipe can technically track the whole body...

Status Update - July 21

Hello!I hope the v0.2 kemorig update has been fun to play around with.First I'm going to share some cool stuff being done with kemorig, then go over what I'm working on right now.Cool kemorig Stuff!Here's some clips of other streamers using kemorig!Djano has a super-detailed wolf using fur rendering: https://www.twitch.tv/djano__/clip/ArtsyPlacidButterflyWutFace-i1NaiAq9UZcuqQX3Kofu has a stylized borzoi that they've done some really neat shader work with: https://www.twitch.tv/kofu/clip/ChillyImpossibleTermiteDxAbomb-ojV7AshFSa...

Next Steps for kemorig

I hope you're enjoying the new kemorig build! I'd like to share what I'm planning to work on next, and also extend a question:What are you looking for in the next builds?If you have thoughts, please comment on this post! What missing features are most important for you? What are the problems you've run into so far? What do you like most or dislike most?My Current PlanHere what I'm planning on diving into next:Webcam Tracking- I think webcam tracking is a make-or-break feature for a lot of people. I want to get this in next.P...

kemorig v0.2 release

kemorig 0.2 is hereThis is a big update!New FeaturesCustom levelsLevels are streamed in and out while running the app. You can switch levels behind your avatar without stopping your broadcast.Level transition effects are customizable and can be disabled if desired.Levels can define interactions and run Blueprint script. They also support their own hotkeys and camera positions.Talk detectionNow your Blueprints get Start/Stop talking events, allowing you to create logic similar to PNGTubers. You can get creative and blend in different animations ...

Status Update - June 17

Hello!Thank you for supporting my Patreon! The response to kemorig has been tremendous and I can't thank you enough.Since there are many new faces, I'll use this status update to let you in on the various things I work on.This is what I do these days:kemorig- This is my main project right now. The vast majority of my dev hours are devoted to kemorig.Streaming- I stream on Twitch every weekday! Sometimes I stream work, and sometimes I stream games. When I went indie I didn't initially have Twitch in-mind, but the way the cookie crumb...

kemorig guide - Create Poses in Unreal

I just uploaded a new guide for kemorig: Creating Poses in UnrealIt's possible to make pose animations in Unreal, and this guide goes over how to do it. Very useful if you aren't an animator, and just want to get your avatar out of T-pose.Future GuidesOne thing I'm also working on is a few pages on using Blender for Unreal. Blender is what I use, and it can work very well! But for whatever reason quality information on this is hard to come by. Blender mostly works out of the box... but there are some gotchas.(spoilers: I recommend p...

kemorig HOTFIX v0.1.1

This is a hotfix release fixing the following issues:Fixed the editor project being set to deferred shading mode (it should have been forward shading like the app).Fixed custom materials appearing black when loaded into the app.Fixed a crash that sporadically occurred during normal use of the app (garbage collection was invalidating an important property).Improved the lighting setup of the app's map, and the test map in the editor. (Later, you'll be able to adjust the lighting in the app, for now it is a static setup).Updated app to eng...

What is Supported? - kemorig Early Access Status

Making this public post to highlight the current status of kemorig. It's not done yet! You probably want to know:What tracking features are currently supported?ARKit Face Tracking- using an iPhone X or newer using Epic's Live Link App. This tracks face expression and head rotation (not translation).Lip Sync- using a microphoneWhat tracking features are NOT supported yet, but plan to be?Webcam Tracking- webcam tracking is a big feature for many, and it's not implemented yet!Leap Motion- for hand tracking.Other ARKit Apps- I'd lik...

kemorig v0.1

The first early-access release of kemorig is here!This is the very first build, I'm so excited to share it! I hope it's a smooth experience for everyone.Notes on Early Access:Don't share the files publicly, this is exclusively available for patrons.Be wary that things might changein early access, and in future builds you may have to re-export avatars, or even re-do parts of them. I want to minimize this of course, but be advised!The tracking methods currently supported are limited! More methods will be implemented during early acces...

Status Update - May 13

Here's a little update on what I'm working on! Moving forward, I plan to give you an update like this once a month.As you'd expect, I'm working hard on getting kemorigready for its first release to patrons. It might be ready by end of May, but might come in June.The big task that needs to be completed is documentation. This might seem strange, "just release it and finish the docs later!" But this is critically important before release, otherwise you'd get it, start trying to make an avatar, and immediately hit brick ...

kemorig Early Access Preview

Hey there! This is a video going over what to expect from the first early access build of kemorig that will be released to patrons.The video shows what the app itself will support. In addition, the first release will come with an editor project for authoring custom avatars, and documentation on how to do it.I'm excited to get it into your hands! Thanks everyone.-PROTO

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