Virtual Tubing

[RT-55J]

When I first started streaming, I wanted an PNGTuber-style avatar that could blink automatically at random intervals, and also animate some lip flaps based off of my voice. There were lots of supposed PNGTubing solutions that apparently could not do this, or they just gave me bad vibes looking at them (like, they were web apps or something). Eventually, I stumbled across veadotube mini, which could do everything I wanted, exactly how I wanted, and more! Great piece of software. Highly recommended.

My first avatar was this little 32x32 pixel thing that looked roughly like this emote: I made it by referencing/futzing around with Rokko Chan's portrait from the Mega Man clone Rokko Chan, and so in honor of her I played that as my debut game for this avatar.

It served me well for a couple years, but I wanted something more detailed (say, 128x128 pixels), so I made it myself (heavily referencing some other art that you folks might become familiar with in the near future). I think it turned out quite well. Collectively, I think all the frames of this avatar form my favorite depiction of my lovely persona, Samantha Arantes.

Nevertheless, there are new frontiers in self-expression I want to explore.

[RT-55J]

My current interest is in getting some sort of face-tracking setup.

This requires a webcam. I don't have one.

This also requires a model. I don't have one that meets my satisfaction.

It's hard to justify purchasing a webcam without a model to use.

It's hard to justify commissioning a model without a webcam to use.

And so I'm in a sort of Catch-22 situation, and the fact that I find my current situation to be perfectly reasonably satisfactory makes it hard to find the motivation to break the recursive requirements.

Nevertheless, I've heard a cheap webcam from anywhere should be perfectly sufficient (so saith my friend Ambureon who's been streaming for 4 years at this point). And I also have a reasonably cromulent 3D model, even if some of the particulars don't suit me. I made it in VRoid Studio, as I previously wrote about here.

The main problem I have with this model (beside the generic overall look) is the nose. Samantha doesn't have a very cat-like nose. She has a slightly goofy, pleasingly round nose. I made a quick edit to demonstrate what I mean.

(Side-note: I'm not too particular one way or the other regarding the 2D vs. 3D VTuber style debate, but I'm slightly biased towards 3D because then I'd at least be able to use the model for other purposes, such as VR.)

[RT-55J]

So, my current checklist looks something like this (I haven't actually written this down before (this is why I made this topic)):

• Purchase a cheap webcam.
• Find whatever facetracking software I can use with my VRoid.
• Run a couple test streams.
• If I am satisfied, then commission a proper model from somebody.
• Slowly invest in slightly better equipment:
  
  • Lights for better face tracking
  • A second monitor
  • A dedicated GPU
  • etc.

Now, even with a proper 3D model, I don't think I'd abandon the PNG style entirely. I think the PNG style would suit 2D games better, and the 3D style would suit 3D games better (much to consider here).

[Cera Sizzle]

I must say I really like the pngtubers you've used. Inspired me to mess around with one myself. Character from NG Daikou Tuage

[RT-55J]

oh wow that's very cute!

[neen]

extremely good