Virt-a-Mate (VaM or VaM1 for short) is our first application, the very popular adult-oriented sandbox platform for creating interactive 3D experiences. VaM1 is now feature complete and is no longer receiving major updates, but continues to thrive with a very active community. Start with VaM1 for the maximum amount of features and content! VaM2 is our next generation Virt-a-Mate application that is still in early development and is covered HERE.
Backer Level Information
VaM1 can be downloaded freely by anyone to access the demo content. Backers get exclusive content based on backer level. The breakdown is below:
Free = Access to the "Free" build of VaM1. Ability to load the built-in demo scenes. Note these scenes are outdated content and don't represent all that VaM1 can do. To see what VaM1 is capable of, we recommend checking out the thriving community content on our official content site, The VaM Hub . You will need "Teaser" or higher backer level to use Hub content within VaM1.
Teaser Subscription = Access to "Teaser" builds of VaM1. VaM1 "Teaser" builds unlock nearly all capabilities except the following limitations:
You cannot save scenes or packages
You cannot create new animations
You cannot add new atoms (objects) to the scene
Entertainer Subscription = Access to "Entertainer" builds of VaM1. VaM1 "Entertainer" builds unlock the ability to save scenes and packages, allowing you to save your changes and share with others. "Entertainer" builds have the following limitations:
You cannot create new animations
You cannot add new atoms (objects) to the scene
Creator Subscription = Access to "Creator" builds of VaM1. VaM1 "Creator" builds unlock the ability to:
Create new animations
Add new atoms (objects) to the scene.
Create limitless scenes and content.
Downloading and Installing VaM1
Step 1:
Click this link to get the installer/updater: VaM1 Installer / Updater Direct Download
Unzip the installer/updater zip file downloaded above into a new folder if you are performing a new install, or unzip to your current VaM1 directory if updating an old install. IMPORTANT: Do not choose a folder that is admin-rights protected, such as the Program Files directory.
Step 2:
Navigate to the folder you extracted the zip file into. Run VaM_Updater.exe to begin the automatic install/update process. You may need to tell windows to make an exception by clicking “run anyway”. This process may take several minutes. If you have any issues running the installer/updater, see Troubleshooting Tips below.
Step 3:
From the same folder you installed VaM1 into, run VaM.exe to get started. If this is the first time you have started VaM1, you will be presented with a EULA and opt-in/opt-out panel, which is explained in more detail here:
https://hub.virtamate.com/wiki/first_time_user_page/
Complete the settings on this panel, review the EULA, and click continue if you accept the settings and EULA. You will be taken to the normal startup screen you will see each time you open VaM1.
Step 4:
If you are a Patreon backer, you can use your backer-specific key to unlock extended features and content in VaM1. When the application opens and you have completed the first time user page as covered in Step 3, you will be presented with a screen that has a button you can click to enter the key, as highlighted here:
Be sure to enter the key exactly as shown; keys are case sensitive. If copying/pasting, be sure that no extra spaces or lines are accidentally copied.
Versions 1.21 and 1.22 "Creator" key post: https://www.patreon.com/posts/release-1-21-and-77429610
Versions 1.21 and 1.22 "Entertainer" key post: https://www.patreon.com/posts/release-1-21-and-77429613
Versions 1.21 and 1.22 "Teaser" key post: https://www.patreon.com/posts/release-1-21-and-77429611
If you are running an older version of VaM1, you may find your keys here: https://www.patreon.com/meshedvr/posts?filters[tag]=Keys
Getting Started
We recommend you check out the official wiki to help you with VaM1's interface and features: https://hub.virtamate.com/wiki/
Several community members have made YouTube video tutorials covering a large range of topics, including videos specific to getting started with VaM1:
From Captain Varghoss ( Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/captainvarghoss )
https://hub.virtamate.com/resources/youtube-tutorials.6672/
Older tutorials from JustLookingForNothin:
https://hub.virtamate.com/resources/vam-tutorials-channel-on-youtube.4991/
The official VaM Hub ( https://hub.virtamate.com ) contains more guides and forums if you get stuck. The Hub also hosts a plethora of community content that can be most easily found and used by using the in-game Hub browser. If you have other issues or questions you can also contact us by direct message here on Patreon or on Discord.
Troubleshooting Tips / FAQ
Windows is asking to make an exception, or my virus scanner is warning me about running the installer/updater…
Windows and other virus scanners may flag the updater exe with a false positive and you will need to indicate to Windows to run it anyway. Updater programs commonly have this issue due to their self-updating nature. This updater was developed in-house on a clean computer and is safe to use.
I am receiving the error message “could not create SSL/TLS secure channel”...
This error happens because you are either using the older version of updater which no longer works and/or you are running Windows 7. Please re-download the installer/updater using the link at the top of this post, and Windows 7 users should see the following post: https://www.patreon.com/posts/windows-7-users-35039570
I am having other issues running the updater…
Please see the following link: https://trello.com/c/zWZxIKRw
VaM1 will not recognize my key…
Be sure that your key version matches the version of VaM1 you are running. If you are running a new install, your version is 1.22.
If you are copy/pasting your key, be sure that no extra spaces or lines have been accidentally copied. We recommend typing directly into the key box. Keys are case sensitive, so make sure letters are capitalized.
VaM is crashing after I have downloaded and installed using the updater…
Please see this link for common issues and fixes: https://trello.com/c/c5WWHlnn
Do I need VR in order to enjoy VaM1?
Not at all! VaM1 is fully-featured in desktop mode, and in fact many creators prefer to use desktop mode when perfecting their characters or scenes.
However, for the fullest immersion we do recommend experiencing VaM1 in VR.
What are the system requirements for running VaM1?
VaM1 requires a Windows PC (Windows 10 or 11 recommended) with a DirectX11 compatible video card to run. VaM1 does not run natively on MacOS, Oculus/Meta Quest, or other standalone VR headsets. Standalone headsets can generally be used to remotely connect to the Windows PC running VaM1 through Steam Link, Meta Link, Virtual Desktop, or similar software.
VaM was built for VR, but can also run in a desktop mode.
Due to the nature of an extensive body physics system, as well as simulated hair and clothing systems, we recommend the following:
Intel i7-10XXX series or higher (3.6Ghz or higher)
Nvidia 3080 GPU or higher
16GB RAM or higher
VaM1 favors high single-thread CPU performance for overall framerate, but does utilize all CPU cores to an extent. In many cases today, this favors Intel CPUs. VaM1 hair and cloth simulation also tend to run better on Nvidia GPUs at this time due to how they seem to handle compute shaders more efficiently.
Issues with VaM crashing after download and install using updater?
VaM_Updater link for common issues and fixes: https://trello.com/c/zWZxIKRw
VaM common issues and fixes: https://trello.com/c/c5WWHlnn