Info about MateEngine: Official game description: **MateEngine** -------------- **MateEngine** is a lightweight, customizable desktop companion app that brings 3D anime-style characters to life on your screen. Built with VRM model support, it allows you to inject your own avatars and watch them interact, idle, and even dance—right from your desktop. This project is a alternative aimed at giving users more control and flexibility without relying on expensive model packs or locked-down systems. Whether you want a simple virtual presence or a more animated character hanging out while you work, MateEngine is designed to be approachable and performance-friendly. **VRM Models / Frequently Asked Question** ------------------------------------------ **Important:** This app includes the default model "Zome." Hatsune Miku is _not_ included. To use custom models, you must download them from websites that offer .vrm files, or commission artists who create or convert models to the VRM format. I am not responsible for the quality of third-party models. If you experience clipping or similar issues, the model's author is responsible, not this app. **RELAXE ON WINDOWS** --------------------- Drag your pet onto a window and it will relax on top! Perfect for watching videos she'll watch with you. Or let her quietly spy while you do your homework, hehe. _This feature is experimental and not fully developed. Please avoid using it with apps that have anti-cheat protection enabled._ **DANCING** ----------- She will start dancing when you play music! You can decide which apps are allowed to trigger dancing. Open the Options menu, go to the audio sources, and whitelist your music apps. **Tip:** Start the music app first (e.g. Spotify), then open the menu and add it to the source list! **HEAD AND SPINE MOVEMENT** --------------------------- Not just the head — her eyes, head, and spine all follow your mouse cursor! This makes the movement look smooth and natural compared to other desktop pets. **HAND MOVEMENT** ----------------- Careful! Sometimes she’ll try to grab your mouse — hehe! Move your cursor near her hands or arms and watch her try to catch it! **TOUCH REGIONS** ----------------- Hover your mouse over sensitive areas like the head or belly to trigger cute gestures! For example, hovering over her head makes her giggle and spawn sparkle effects, making her feel comfy. **CHATTING** ------------ You can chat with your pet anytime! Just note that it’s a small, local AI with simple messages. For more complex conversations, you can use mods with your own models and messages! **RELAXING** ------------ When you drag her to the taskbar, she’ll lay down and relax on a big candy macaron, watching your mouse cursor with sleepy eyes. **DRAGGING** ------------ You can reposition her by clicking and dragging her with your mouse. Just hold the button down and move her wherever you like! **CHIBI MODE** -------------- Hold your mouse over her feet for a few seconds and she’ll transform into a tiny, adorable chibi version of herself — extra smol and cute! **CUSTOMIZATIONS** ------------------ You can change her size, animation speed, language, and modes. There are also graphics and FPS settings for low-end (potato) PCs! **DARK MODE** ------------- You can turn off lighting — perfect for VRM models with emissive textures! Pair it with the glow/bloom toggle and your pet will shine like a diamond in the dark **MODDING** ----------- Modding is supported! Load your own VRM model by pressing the VRM button. If your model doesn’t load, it’s likely corrupted or not exported correctly. Make sure to export using the correct format: * **VRM0.X**: Uses **MToon Shader** * **VRM1.X**: Uses **MToon10 Shader** Also make sure your model uses a proper humanoid bone setup. MateEngine follows the **official VRM loading specification**, so model issues are not caused by the app. **How To Use** -------------- **It’s easy!** Just start MateEngine and you’ll be greeted by Zome. Right-click Zome to open the Options menu — here you can change graphics, effects, audio, and choose which apps make the pet dance. **Tip:** Start the sound app (e.g. Spotify) and play something _before_ opening the menu, or it won’t appear in the sound source list. Then add it to the Danceability list and save. **Key Features** ---------------- * **Idle Animations:** 10 different idle animations for when the pet is relaxing on your desktop! * **Drag Animation:** 1 drag animation plays when you move your pet around the desktop. * **Dance Animation:** The pet dances when music plays on apps like Spotify, Chrome, and others! * **Head Tracking:** The pet follows your mouse with its head. * **Eye Tracking:** The pet's eyes also follow your mouse for extra detail! * **Hand Tracking:** When you hover your mouse near its hands, the pet will try to catch and hold it! * **Head Pats:** Hovering over the pet’s head makes it shake, jiggle, and spawn adorable heart particles. * **Spine / Chest Tracking:** Head, eye, and hand tracking aren’t enough! When you move the mouse, the pet will also move its upper body in that direction to make movement more realistic! * **Chibi Mode:** Hover over its feet for 3 seconds to transform the pet into a chibi version! Works with custom VRM models. * **Sensitive Parts:** The pet will react shyly and cover certain areas if you hover over them. * **Custom VRM Support:** Load any VRM using MToon shaders (UniVRM VRM0). VRM1.X (MToon10) support coming soon! * **Particle Effects:** Includes various particle effects, with more to come! * **Auto-Load Custom VRM:** Your custom model loads automatically on startup. **Performance** --------------- MateEngine is designed to be lightweight on CPU and GPU resources. RAM usage depends on your model’s complexity, especially texture sizes. For example, a high-res VRM model may use around 200MB of RAM. Simpler models use significantly less. Animation transitions are smooth and fluid, providing a more natural experience compared to other apps in this space. **Planned Features (Upcoming Updates)** --------------------------------------- * Menu color customization * Wallpaper Engine integration * Optional support for avatars sitting on windows or the taskbar **Known Limitations** --------------------- * Taskbar/window sitting is currently disabled to avoid triggering anti-cheat systems in certain games. **Community and Contributions** ------------------------------- MateEngine is open-source. IIf you’re a developer or just curious about how it works, you're welcome to explore the project, contribute features, or build your own versions using Unity. Release date: Apr 16, 2025 Categories: Desktop Companion, Customization, Mod Support, Animation, AI Integration, Music Integration, 3D Model Support, Open-Source Feature scans: - MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair Monetization; summary: Users generally perceive the game's pricing and DLC strategy as fair and reasonable, especially when compared to Desktop Mate. The value for money is highlighted as a significant positive, with users appreciating the access to a large number of characters at a lower cost. There is a strong sentiment of dissatisfaction with Desktop Mate's high DLC prices, which makes the current game's approach more favorable. - Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game generally works well on Linux using Proton, with users reporting successful installations and gameplay. However, some technical knowledge of Linux may be required to set it up properly. Overall, the sentiment towards Linux support is positive. - Steam Deck: score 40; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals that while the game can be made to work on Linux, it requires additional effort and knowledge. Users have successfully used Proton and Steam for Linux, but there is a clear desire for better native support for Linux to reduce the need for workarounds. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00 - Reasoning: The reviews consistently mention that the game is worth the price, with several users emphasizing that it is a good deal compared to other similar apps. Phrases like 'good deal,' 'small price,' and 'worth the full price' suggest that the community finds the game to be reasonably priced and offers good value for money. The sentiment that the game is worth its price indicates that the community considers the fair price range to be around the current base game price, which is relatively low. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 108.0h - Story completion: N/A - Session length: 1.0h - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The evidence provides some insights into playtime metrics. The first quote mentions a playtime of 108 hours, which can be used to estimate the game completion time. The second quote indicates a session length of 1 hour. The third quote suggests that the user has the app open all the time, implying long sessions or continuous use. However, there is limited specific evidence for story completion and endgame playtime. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game starts off as boring and limited but becomes more enjoyable once players discover the customization options and community content. - Stance: Fun after initial friction - Anchor: Discovering customization options and community content - Time to anchor: 0h 30m - Friction: Lack of customizability; Limited content - Unlock drivers: Importing VRM models; Accessing Steam Workshop - Conditions: Community content; Customization options - Player Archetypes: - Customization Enthusiast (buy) - Motivation: Customization and personalization of the gaming experience. - Playstyle: Enjoys tweaking and modifying game elements to suit personal preferences. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Modder; Customization Fan - Reference games: VRChat; MMDs - Value-Conscious Gamer (buy) - Motivation: Finding cost-effective and feature-rich alternatives to other similar products. - Playstyle: Seeks out games and software that offer the best value for money. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Bargain Hunter; Value Seeker - Reference games: Desktop Mate; Shimeji - Community Enthusiast (buy) - Motivation: Engagement with the community and sharing positive experiences with others. - Playstyle: Actively participates in the community, sharing and recommending content. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Community Member; Enthusiast - Reference games: VRChat; Vtuber Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - High-quality models and customization (weight 0.97): The game offers high-quality models and extensive customization options. Players appreciate the variety and ease of importing and creating custom models. - Better value than Desktop Mate (weight 0.6): Players find this game to be a better value compared to Desktop Mate, offering more customization options and better functionality at a more affordable price. - Excellent VRM model support (weight 0.52): The game supports VRM models well, allowing for easy customization and integration. Players enjoy the user-friendly VRM model usage and the ability to import their own VRM models. - Fun and interactive experience (weight 0.46): Players find the game fun and interactive, with enjoyable activities and features that work well. - Strong modding support (weight 0.37): The game has great modding support, allowing for extensive customization and modding, which enhances the overall experience. - Free and open-source on GitHub (weight 0.35): The game is available for free on GitHub, with good documentation and support. This makes it accessible and easy to get started with. - Active developer and community (weight 0.33): The game has an active developer and a strong community, contributing to its growth and support. - Regular updates and new features (weight 0.27): The game receives consistent updates with new features, which keeps the community engaged and anticipating future improvements. - Highly functional desktop pet (weight 0.23): The game is praised for being a highly functional and interactive desktop pet, offering more fun and features than other similar software. - Dancing and music features (weight 0.19): Players enjoy the dancing and music features, which allow characters to dance to the rhythm and interact with music playback. - Interactive mouse cursor (weight 0.19): The game offers interactive mouse cursor features, enhancing the overall interaction capabilities. - Good performance and low resource usage (weight 0.19): The game is resource-efficient, using low amounts of RAM and offering good performance. - Better alternative to other programs (weight 0.18): Players consider this game to be a better alternative to other similar programs, offering more features and better value. - Features work as advertised (weight 0.18): The game's features are well thought out and work as advertised, providing a reliable and enjoyable experience. - Easy access to more models (weight 0.18): Players appreciate the easy access to more models through the Steam Workshop, making it simple to expand their collection. - Positive overall program experience (weight 0.16): Players generally have a positive experience with the program, finding it great and promising with well-thought-out features. Common complaints: - Desktop Mate pricing criticism (weight 0.36): Users frequently criticize the cost of Desktop Mate models, citing them as expensive despite their higher quality. There is also mention of support being dropped for Desktop Mate. - AI lacks personalization and voice (weight 0.36): The AI is criticized for lacking personalization, voice functionality, and diversity in conversations. Users express a need for significant improvements in AI features. - Translation and localization issues (weight 0.27): The game faces criticism for incomplete translations, particularly in Spanish and Chinese. Some texts remain in English despite translation efforts. - Developer attitude concerns (weight 0.22): Criticism is directed at the developers for their attitude and closed mentality, as well as their poor response to feedback and bug reports. - Menu usability issues (weight 0.2): The menu system is criticized for being non-intuitive and difficult to use. Users report various glitches and adjustment issues with the menu interface. - Chat mode performance issues (weight 0.16): The chat mode is reported to have lag and crashes, significantly affecting the user experience. - Comparison to Desktop Mate (weight 0.16): Users compare the game to Desktop Mate, noting fewer idle actions and less polish in some details. Desktop Mate is also criticized for wasting resources. - Limited models in the workshop (weight 0.15): There is a lack of male models in the workshop, and overall, the variety of models available is considered insufficient. - Limited functionality and settings (weight 0.13): Users report that the game has too few functions and the existing settings lack explanations. The current functionalities are described as very basic. - Lack of timer and pause options (weight 0.09): Users note the absence of a timer feature and a pause option, which are considered important for gameplay. - Limited animation variety (weight 0.09): Users express a desire for more variety in animations, indicating that the current selection is insufficient. - Character dancing functionality issues (weight 0.08): Users report difficulty in making characters dance, indicating problems with the dancing functionality. - Compatibility issues with music apps (weight 0.08): The game does not work well with popular music apps like Spotify and Apple Music, which is a drawback for users. - Avatar clipping issues (weight 0.08): Users report clipping issues with avatars, which detract from the visual experience. - Gender bias in models and voices (weight 0.08): Users note a tendency towards female models in terms of actions, movement, and voice options, indicating a lack of diversity. Gameplay feedback: - Extensive model import and support (weight 0.44): The game supports importing and using various models, particularly VRM models, and allows for multi-model support and custom model expressions. - Character customization and interaction (weight 0.31): Players appreciate the extensive character customization options, including animations and interactions, which enhance the gameplay experience. - AI integration and chat (weight 0.18): The game includes AI programming and integration, allowing players to connect to AI and chat with their desktop pet. - Passive activities and music interaction (weight 0.14): The game supports passive activities like dancing to music and interactive music linkage. - Workshop and Steam Workshop integration (weight 0.14): The game supports workshop action modules and Steam Workshop integration for additional content. - Frequent updates (weight 0.09): The game receives frequent updates for improvements and new features. - Community-driven and modded content (weight 0.09): The game encourages community-driven content and supports modded content for enhanced customization. - Advanced customization options (weight 0.09): The game offers both basic and advanced customization options, including size, animation speed, language, and mode. - Graphical enhancements (weight 0.08): The game features graphical enhancements like dynamic lighting and ambient occlusion. Performance notes: - Low resource usage (weight 0.41): The application is noted for its efficient use of system resources, including low RAM and CPU usage, making it suitable for older or modest hardware. - Performance issues (weight 0.19): There are various performance issues reported, including general performance problems and the need for performance optimization. - Crashing issues (weight 0.17): Users report frequent crashes, including system crashes and occasional crashes during use. - Specific hardware requirements (weight 0.12): The application requires a good PC to run alongside games and has issues with high-polygon models and specific GPU settings. - Background operation efficiency (weight 0.12): The application can run in the background with relatively low resource usage, allowing it to operate alongside other games. - Graphics and GPU settings (weight 0.12): Users report issues with graphics settings and GPU usage, including high VRAM and CPU consumption. - Miscellaneous glitches (weight 0.11): Various minor glitches and issues are reported, including mouse lock issues, black background problems, and app glitches. - High resource usage with specific features (weight 0.09): Certain features, like the inbuilt AI chatbot, cause high resource usage and crashes on low-end systems. - Compatibility and connectivity (weight 0.09): There are connectivity issues with other apps and specific compatibility features like running without Steam. Recommendations: - Highly recommended for creative users (weight 0.23): The game is highly recommended, especially for creative users who enjoy customization and interactive features. - Improve animations (weight 0.22): There are requests to improve animations, including adding exit animations and more dance styles. - Enhance AI voice features (weight 0.17): Players are requesting more AI voice acting integration, including active speaking in AI chat and optional AI voice with toggleable features. - Improve voice customization (weight 0.13): There is a demand for more voice customization options, including text-to-speech features. - Support for high-polygon models (weight 0.13): Users want enhanced support for high-polygon models and additional model formats like pmx and blend models. - More male avatar expressions (weight 0.13): Users are requesting more expressions and interactions for male avatars, including specific settings for different reactions. - Future upgrades and development (weight 0.1): There is hope for future upgrades and continued development of the game, including more features and collectibles. - Add character cloning (weight 0.09): Players are interested in character cloning and having multiple characters to interact with. - Add more interactive texts (weight 0.09): Players want more interactive texts and a chat system to enhance engagement. - More gestures in resting mode (weight 0.09): There is a demand for more gestures and actions in resting mode to make the characters more lifelike. - Remove startup screen (weight 0.09): Some players suggest removing the startup screen or launching the game on startup for quicker access. - Reacting to music (weight 0.09): Users want characters to react to music, including dance changes based on music modulation. - More personalized desktop pets (weight 0.09): Users want more personalized desktop pets with varied interactions and expressions. - Language output options (weight 0.08): Players are requesting more language output options to cater to a diverse audience. - Include a task list (weight 0.05): There is a suggestion to include a task list for better organization and management within the game. - Interaction system improvements (weight 0.05): There are suggestions to improve the interaction system, similar to Desktop Goose, for more engaging gameplay. - Model sorting system (weight 0.05): There is a need for a model sorting system to better organize and manage characters. - AI group chat (weight 0.05): Players are interested in an AI group chat feature to interact with multiple characters simultaneously. - 3D Model Viewer (weight 0.05): Players are interested in a 3D model viewer to enhance the visual experience. - Window management options (weight 0.05): There are requests for more window management options to customize the user interface. - Independent settings for characters (weight 0.05): There is a suggestion for independent settings pages for each character to allow for more customization. - National language sound support (weight 0.05): Users want sound support in their respective national languages to enhance accessibility. - Add reading function (weight 0.05): Users want a reading function to be added to the game. - Support for more game linkages (weight 0.05): There is a demand for support for more game linkages to enhance interactivity. - Allow using own APIs (weight 0.05): There is a request to allow users to use their own APIs for more personalized experiences. - Allow model updates (weight 0.05): There is a demand for the ability to update models to keep them current and improved. - Improve experimental features (weight 0.05): There is a need to improve the consistency of experimental features for a better user experience. - Custom voice models (weight 0.05): There is interest in custom Pth voice models for more personalized voice interactions. - More bonuses for Steam buyers (weight 0.05): Users suggest adding more bonuses for those who purchase the game on Steam. - Fix persona prompt issue (weight 0.05): Players want the persona prompt issue to be fixed for a smoother experience. - Resize menu box (weight 0.05): Players want the option to resize the menu box for better customization and user experience. Other player notes: - Feature requests and resolutions (weight 0.06): Users have specific feature requests and some of these requests have been resolved, showing active development and user engagement. - Disable 'sit on taskbar' option (weight 0.06): Players recommend turning off the 'sit on taskbar' option to prevent the software from being flagged as a third-party cheating software by system scans. - Tips for software usage (weight 0.06): There are various tips shared by users on how to effectively use the software, which can help new users get acquainted with its features. - Request for creative workshop (weight 0.05): There is a request for a creative workshop feature, indicating users are interested in more creative tools or learning resources within the software. - Add app to startup (weight 0.05): Some users have added the app to their startup programs, indicating they find it useful enough to run automatically when their computer boots. - Developer's music background (weight 0.05): The developer has a background in music, which might influence the software's design or features related to audio. Emotions: - Happy (weight 0.14): Players enjoy the companion feature, customization options, and frequent updates. The availability of mods, character interactions, and overall value for money contribute to their happiness. - Joy (weight 0.13): The joy comes from the fun interactions with characters, such as dancing to music and the overall quality of the software. Players also enjoy the customization options and the lively presence of characters on their desktops. - Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players are satisfied with the software's value for money, frequent updates, and customization options. The overall quality and functionality, despite some issues, contribute to their satisfaction. - Excitement (weight 0.08): The excitement stems from the software's unique features, customization potential, and anticipation of future updates. Players are eager about the new features and the overall quality of the software. - Hopeful (weight 0.07): Players are hopeful about upcoming updates, improvements, and the potential for broader version compatibility. They believe in the software's potential and look forward to future developments. - Frustration (weight 0.05): Frustration arises from issues such as model debugging, lack of certain features, and critical bugs with AI chat. Performance issues, hardware limitations, and glitches contribute to this frustration. - Excited (weight 0.05): Players are excited about the availability of a workshop for modding, the software's performance, and future potential. The ability to import custom models and the overall quality of the software contribute to their excitement. - Frustrated (weight 0.04): Frustration is caused by chat crashes, difficulty fixing issues, and developers not addressing cursor problems. Connectivity issues, lack of updates, and glitchy animations also contribute to this emotion. - Satisfied (weight 0.03): Players are satisfied with the overall experience, value for money, and improvements over other products. The ability to use custom characters and improved stability contribute to their satisfaction. - Hope (weight 0.03): Players hope for future updates, features, and improvements. They believe in the developers and anticipate more functionality and attention for the project. - Gratitude (weight 0.03): Gratitude is expressed for the user-friendly design, continuous updates, and the work of developers. Players appreciate the desktop companion and the features provided. - Love (weight 0.03): Players love the overall experience, character designs, and AI interactions. The ability to create custom models and the strong positive feelings towards the product contribute to this emotion. - Happiness (weight 0.02): Happiness comes from the quality of the models, enjoyment of character dances, and overall satisfaction with the software. Having favorite characters as pets and watching them dance contribute to this emotion. - Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the support for developers, the open-source nature, and the positive features of the software. The creation out of sheer spite and the overall experience contribute to this admiration. - Appreciation (weight 0.01): Appreciation is shown for the developer's effort, improvements, and the overall experience. Players appreciate the features and support provided by Mate Engine. - Disappointment (weight 0.01): Disappointment arises from the lack of custom actions, voice support, and unfinished features. Comparison to other products and developer attitude also contribute to this emotion. - Amusement (weight 0.01): Players are amused by the fun interactions and characters dancing on the desktop. The overall enjoyment of using the software contributes to this emotion. - Disappointed (weight 0.01): Disappointment is caused by various issues with the software and rude behavior from developers and mods. These issues lead to a negative experience. - Affection (weight 0.01): Players have affection for the waifu character and describe the software as cute. The character interactions and overall experience contribute to this emotion. - Hopefulness (weight 0.01): Players are hopeful for future optimizations, updates, and additional features. They anticipate improvements and believe in the potential of the software.}