Using Models For VRChat

[tuliphat]

I'm trying to make some avatars for VRChat when I came across the idea to use Townie models or maybe even my own models. I thought it was going to be easy to obtain them from my game files but now, I don't even know where to look. Are they even going to be compatible with VRChat?

[idontgiveafuckaboutthis]

Hello! I have been kind of working on this recently and it is very difficult because I don't not really know what I'm doing! But in short-- Yes you can! 

With CmarNYC Sims Ripper Utility from Mod the Sims, load the save you want to rip sims from, export that.

 

Next you need blender 2.79 and a utility called CATS blender plugin which is going to optimize the mesh for VRC because the sim from the game has sooo many bones. It took me a while to figure this out and my first few avatars had upturned finger tips! After "fixing the model" button within cats in blender, export as an FBX

 

Start a new file with Unity 2018.4.20, Import first into the assets your VRCSDK, shaders, dynamic bones if you want jiggle and textures, then import your sim model, apply the rig as humanoid and use external materials, move the model into the scene and apply shaders

 

Then add your colliders for dynamic bones first if you're doing that, then add the VRC avatar descriptor script under the animator on the main part of the model [the visemes generation through CATS doesn't work well in unity for me so I skip that and just do bone transform but the visemes might work for someone else, you'll have to watch a vid about that] anyways set up all your bone transforms for the mouth and eyes

add dynamic bones

make sure everything in the SDK control panel is saying you can upload it if its greyed out hten something is wrong for me it was the avatar descriptor script being under the wrong model in the hierarcy, it has to be under animator script. also detaching the blueprint was an issue the first time.

 

I am still hoping to learn how to use the visemes, and add animations. It would be nice if someone who knows more about rigging could help with that because we might be able to use animations made for the sims 4 for these.

 

My first Avatar for VRC was Bella Goth  i still have to fix her fingers, the CATS is very important

then I made a few versions of an OC so i can be a cool egirl but not a 2 foot tall mmd base

then I made the Tall Vampire Lady from Resident Evil 8 and everyone really likes that one!

 

All the CC and also I think the mods from wicked whims is included like the penis and the rigging for that  I have it all turned off for streaming currently so I'll turn it on and see about making some ERP models too. Sorry about the long rant but I've been excited to talk about this with someone who cares ?

 

[modella]

On 2/3/2021 at 4:43 PM, idontgiveafuckaboutthis said:

Hello! I have been kind of working on this recently and it is very difficult because I don't not really know what I'm doing! But in short-- Yes you can! 

With CmarNYC Sims Ripper Utility from Mod the Sims, load the save you want to rip sims from, export that.

 

Next you need blender 2.79 and a utility called CATS blender plugin which is going to optimize the mesh for VRC because the sim from the game has sooo many bones. It took me a while to figure this out and my first few avatars had upturned finger tips! After "fixing the model" button within cats in blender, export as an FBX

 

Start a new file with Unity 2018.4.20, Import first into the assets your VRCSDK, shaders, dynamic bones if you want jiggle and textures, then import your sim model, apply the rig as humanoid and use external materials, move the model into the scene and apply shaders

 

Then add your colliders for dynamic bones first if you're doing that, then add the VRC avatar descriptor script under the animator on the main part of the model [the visemes generation through CATS doesn't work well in unity for me so I skip that and just do bone transform but the visemes might work for someone else, you'll have to watch a vid about that] anyways set up all your bone transforms for the mouth and eyes

add dynamic bones

make sure everything in the SDK control panel is saying you can upload it if its greyed out hten something is wrong for me it was the avatar descriptor script being under the wrong model in the hierarcy, it has to be under animator script. also detaching the blueprint was an issue the first time.

 

I am still hoping to learn how to use the visemes, and add animations. It would be nice if someone who knows more about rigging could help with that because we might be able to use animations made for the sims 4 for these.

 

My first Avatar for VRC was Bella Goth  i still have to fix her fingers, the CATS is very important

then I made a few versions of an OC so i can be a cool egirl but not a 2 foot tall mmd base

then I made the Tall Vampire Lady from Resident Evil 8 and everyone really likes that one!

 

All the CC and also I think the mods from wicked whims is included like the penis and the rigging for that  I have it all turned off for streaming currently so I'll turn it on and see about making some ERP models too. Sorry about the long rant but I've been excited to talk about this with someone who cares ?

 

I’m super late to the VRChat party, haha, but I’m definitely going to try out what you’ve posted here to see if I can get my sim into it. Thank you for sharing how you did it!!

[modella]

On 1/25/2022 at 5:11 AM, modella said:

I’m super late to the VRChat party, haha, but I’m definitely going to try out what you’ve posted here to see if I can get my sim into it. Thank you for sharing how you did it!!

 

Can't upload to VRChat just yet, but I was able to get it up and working with VSeeFace, heehee, my dreams of becoming a Virtual YTer are so close 

 

 

[Chris123456555]

On 1/29/2022 at 5:10 AM, modella said:

 

Can't upload to VRChat just yet, but I was able to get it up and working with VSeeFace, heehee, my dreams of becoming a Virtual YTer are so close 

 

 

Hello 

I saw you did a post on moving sims to vr and was curious if you would be willing to help me? 

I have been struggling with this for a while and all attempts have ended in failure. 

1 big problem I have been having is that when I go to use Cat in Blender, it says I need atlas. Atlas under optimisation, has been removed and no longer avail for download. 

Next problem is, when I fix textures, then use fix model in Cats, then try to export as FBX, I get a ton of errors. 

I dont know what else to try or know my way around Blender enough to know how to fix the codes. 

Another is eye tracking. I have watched video after video and still don't get it whats wrong. 

You wouldn't happen to have a guid from start to finish? Most videos I can find on youtube are good but use outdated software. Plus, don't really go into using Sims specifically. 

Aly help would be greatly appreciated. I feel at this rate, ill be bald in weeks pulling my hair out. 

[modella]

3 hours ago, Chris123456555 said:

Hello 

I saw you did a post on moving sims to vr and was curious if you would be willing to help me? 

I have been struggling with this for a while and all attempts have ended in failure. 

1 big problem I have been having is that when I go to use Cat in Blender, it says I need atlas. Atlas under optimisation, has been removed and no longer avail for download. 

Next problem is, when I fix textures, then use fix model in Cats, then try to export as FBX, I get a ton of errors. 

I dont know what else to try or know my way around Blender enough to know how to fix the codes. 

Another is eye tracking. I have watched video after video and still don't get it whats wrong. 

You wouldn't happen to have a guid from start to finish? Most videos I can find on youtube are good but use outdated software. Plus, don't really go into using Sims specifically. 

Aly help would be greatly appreciated. I feel at this rate, ill be bald in weeks pulling my hair out. 

 

Don't go bald over this ;_____;

Haha, no I can definitely help. I'm working this weekend but on Monday I can write a fully fleshed out guide on how I did it (maybe a video). Are you using Blender 3.1? I don't know if it makes a big difference but I used Blender 2.83.

This tutorial helped me a lot in understanding shape keys and getting thing prepared to work in Unity.

[Chris123456555]

On 4/16/2022 at 11:42 AM, modella said:

 

Don't go bald over this ;_____;

Haha, no I can definitely help. I'm working this weekend but on Monday I can write a fully fleshed out guide on how I did it (maybe a video). Are you using Blender 3.1? I don't know if it makes a big difference but I used Blender 2.83.

This tutorial helped me a lot in understanding shape keys and getting thing prepared to work in Unity.

 

Thank you for the reply. I switched to Blender 2.83 for consistency. 

Was also able to find the proper add files for CATS (Atlas and Materials) via an updated YT video that had links to where to get them. So that was extremely helpful. 

Still working on tracking and stuff, but feel like i'm getting closer. 

The one I'm a little stuck on as well is forcing my model from A pose which is what ripper sends by default, to T pose so unity can rig it properly for animation.

Ive tried using Mixamo to force T pose and download as such, but a s soon as i use Cats to fix, it puts it back into A pose.  

 

LOL ... def a bit of a steep learning curve

Edited April 19, 2022 by Chris123456555

[Chris123456555]

On 4/16/2022 at 11:42 AM, modella said:

 

Don't go bald over this ;_____;

Haha, no I can definitely help. I'm working this weekend but on Monday I can write a fully fleshed out guide on how I did it (maybe a video). Are you using Blender 3.1? I don't know if it makes a big difference but I used Blender 2.83.

This tutorial helped me a lot in understanding shape keys and getting thing prepared to work in Unity.

Ok ... Finally was able to upload. Minor issues with shading but nothing crazy. Thank you for that video link. It helped a ton. 

Funny, says in the description "not for beginners" But honestly, I found it more helpful then videos titled as for beginners. 

Still haven't figured out movable eyes, blinking ect, but got the mouth working. So major victory today. 

[Vydina]

On 4/16/2022 at 2:42 PM, modella said:

 

Don't go bald over this ;_____;

Haha, no I can definitely help. I'm working this weekend but on Monday I can write a fully fleshed out guide on how I did it (maybe a video). Are you using Blender 3.1? I don't know if it makes a big difference but I used Blender 2.83.

This tutorial helped me a lot in understanding shape keys and getting thing prepared to work in Unity.

I second in needing assistance. I'm so confused on the process of this whole thing. My textures on my Sim are not showing up the way they need to. Perhaps Discord?

[modella]

On 4/18/2022 at 8:07 PM, Chris123456555 said:

 

Thank you for the reply. I switched to Blender 2.83 for consistency. 

Was also able to find the proper add files for CATS (Atlas and Materials) via an updated YT video that had links to where to get them. So that was extremely helpful. 

Still working on tracking and stuff, but feel like i'm getting closer. 

The one I'm a little stuck on as well is forcing my model from A pose which is what ripper sends by default, to T pose so unity can rig it properly for animation.

Ive tried using Mixamo to force T pose and download as such, but a s soon as i use Cats to fix, it puts it back into A pose.  

 

LOL ... def a bit of a steep learning curve

 

 

 

Super sorry I was MIA, I've had way too much going on but I have a little time today, so so happy you were able to get this to work @Chris123456555! 

With the T-Pose issue what I did was manually set the armature of the arms myself (Change the Rotation of X & Z to 0).

 

 

For the blinking, I believe you'll need to configure the shape keys which is literally the most annoying thing ever (for me). This will save the way your avatar blinks, facial expressions, etc. This tutorial helped me a lot.

 

Edit: My lazy way of doing shape keys is by copy and pasting a custom little pose animation I made into the DAE file and using CATS to convert each pose into a shape key. I've attached it just in case it might be helpful for you to use. It has a few facial expressions, like smiling and frowning, but also animations for looking up, down, left, and right. I just drag the cursor along the time line to each expression and convert it into a shape key ❤️ (Once you've made the shape key delete the animation before you export to FBX).

 

 

VRExpressions.blend

Edited May 4, 2022 by modella

[Innocent69]

Hello! Where are your dance animations?

[cxcainepuppy]

On 1/25/2022 at 8:41 PM, modella said:

I’m super late to the VRChat party, haha, but I’m definitely going to try out what you’ve posted here to see if I can get my sim into it. Thank you for sharing how you did it!!

Where did your downloads go? :((((( 

[idontgiveafuckaboutthis]

I don't know if you guys got them into VRChat, but honestly, mid experience. It's the social climate and I am new to the game. Trying to find friends as Bella Goth was really hard lol. Then I tried a different sim I made to look like an E girl to fit in but people just called me ugly xD wasn't the sim, everyone just uses vroid cat people. I did have a very positive experience by making Lady Demitriscu as a sim and then importing her to VRChat before that resident evil game was released and there was a lot of hype about the vampire mommy lady. Over all, I would continue using sims in VR Chat. I quite enjoy it. I dont mind some people are rude, and making your own avatars is really hard and you should be proud of getting through the process. ❤️