1. What is the difference between a Demo license and a Regular license?
Haptek’s Most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
2. Does the Haptek VirtualFriendTM CD have more content on it than the web site download?
3. What does the VF2.0 Web Authoring license give me?
4. Why can't I get the download? Or why is the download failing?
5. Can I create my own skins on a VirtualFriend Character?
6. Do I have to buy a license to use VirtualFriend?
7. What are the System Requirements for using VirtualFriend?
8. Can I mail in my order?
9. How do I get instructions for sending a VirtualFriend Email Movie?
10. What does the recipient need to do to receive my VirtualFriend Email Movie?
11. How do I use VirtualFriend 3 on a web page?
12. Can I buy licensing only once if I have two machines that I want VirtualFriend on?
13. What can I do with Haptek’s VirtualFriend?
14. What is the annoying static sound that I sometimes get when running VirtualFriend?
15. How do I load my license number into Chatterbox?
16. How do I use VirtualFriend on my web site?
17. What if I am having frequent problems running VirtualFriend?
18. How do I chat with other VirtualFriend users?
19. What is VirtualFriend 3?
20. What do I do if I have a missing DLL File error message after the VirtualFriend download?
21. When I close VirtualFriend 2.08, I get a dialog box that says "There was a problem saving the file
Data/Default/ClipsUseWorking.txt". What is This?
22. How do I fix the SummerTime Song?
23. Why does my character look distorted, not appear, or appear as a white shape with no texture?
1. What is the difference between a Demo license and a Regular license?
The Demo License is free and automatically comes with any of the Haptek technology software downloads (including the CD). A demo license enables the user to see a sample of the Haptek software functionality by giving the user access to some of the skins, textures, and functions.
The Regular License has additional cost and can be obtained here. The Regular license enables the user to access all of the software features including over 70 morphs, 30 skin textures, additional backgrounds, speech clips, songs, and demos. In addition, the Regular licensing enables you to build scripts and animation that you can save and send as 3D Email Movies.
2. Does the Haptek VirtualFriend CD have more content on it than the web site download?
The Haptek CD is the same version as the 14 MB download from the Haptek web site. The CD is for users who don't want to download from the web site or for those who wish to have a backup copy of the software.
3. What does the VF2.0 Web Authoring license give me?
The Web Authoring licensing has additional cost and can be obtained here. Web Authoring licensing provides access to advanced editing features like key frame animation and phoneme editing, and it allows a user to place a VirtualFriend 2.0 character/script on a web site.
4. Why can't I get the download? Or why is the download failing?
Commonly, a download fails because of poor modem/phone lines, unstable connections, or older versions of browsers. In addition, sometimes our server gets busy, which results in folks having trouble getting the download. We soon hope to set up a mirror site to handle some of the traffic. Please try the download again.
5. Can I create my own skins on a VirtualFriend Character?
Soon, Haptek is releasing the production tools to make custom characters. For now, Haptek creates custom characters for clients.
6. Do I have to buy a license to use VirtualFriend?
VirtualFriend software is FREE, and the user is not required to purchase a license to use it. To gain added functionality, the user can purchase additional licensing.
7. What are the System Requirements for using VirtualFriend?
Windows 95/98
Pentium Class 166 MHz Processor
16 MB of RAM
51 MB of disk space (for the full version)
6 MB of disk space (for the Web Player version)
Sound Card
DirectX- 3.0 or above for VirtualFriend 2 and 6.0 or above for VirtualFriend 3.
The DirectX download site is: http://www.microsoft.com/directx/download.asp.Set your display to one of the following, or better yet, try running the program with all three:
800X600 X16 bit color
800X600 X32 color
1024X768 X16 bit colorWe highly recommended the following:
Pentium Class 233 MHz processor or higher
32 MB of RAM
16 bit color or higher
3D Hardware Accelerator Card
Internet connection for internet messaging/chat.Yes, make a copy of the mail-in order form on our web site here, and send it in with a check or money order in U.S. funds.
9. How do I get instructions for sending a VirtualFriend Email Movie?
Use the Email Movie document for instructions.
10. What does the recipient need to do to receive my VirtualFriend Email Movie?
The recipient must have the VirtualFriend 2.4 MB "Lite" download or the full 14 MB version to receive email movies. Downloads are Here.
11. How do I use VirtualFriend 3 on a web page?
We have a very handy Homepage Builder that enables a user to place a VirtualFriend 3 character on a web site in about five minutes. Be sure to check out the VirtualFriend 3 Web Authoring Guide for tips on how to add the plugin to a web page using the VF3 JavaScript Wrapper.
12. Can I buy licensing only once if I have two machines that I want VirtualFriend on?
At present, VirtualFriend licensing is done on a per machine basis.
13. What can I do with Haptek’s VirtualFriend?
You can send Email Movies to all your friends, throw VirtualFriend parties and invite people over to meet Roswell, gain enlightenment with Baba, generate wisdom with the wisdom and speech generator, connect with long lost pals, forge important and meaningful relationships with highly evolved beings, use a VirtualFriend character on your web site, and much more. The list is endless!
14. What is the annoying static sound that I sometimes get when running VirtualFriend?
A bug randomly causes a static sound while running VirtualFriend. We have identified it as a conflict between DECtalk and various sound cards. The volume is set too high in the DECtalk control parameters for your sound card. Open VirtualFriend. In the white type-in bar at the bottom of the interface window, enter this: [:volume down 30] You can change the volume up or down in a range from 0 to 99. To raise the volume, enter: [:volume up30] The software will remember the settings once you have it adjusted to your specific needs.
15. How do I load my license number into Chatterbox?
Open VirtualFriend first, then open Chatterbox from the Start Menu > Programs. In the Chatterbox memo line, type:
Unlock Chatterbox with "xxxxxxxxx"
Note: The x's represent where your code goes. Be sure to enclose the code in quotation marks. If the code is accepted, the program replies by saying, "OK boss."
For more information on Chatterbox, please Click Here or visit the Ergo Linguistics Web Site.
16. How do I use VirtualFriend 2 on my web site?
Use the VF2 Web Authoring document for instructions.
17. What if I am having frequent problems running VirtualFriend and uninstalling/reinstalling the program hasn't helped?
Use the Last Resort document for instructions.
18. How do I chat with other VirtualFriend users?
Currently, we don't have our own server available to support the chat feature between VirtualFriend users. Communicating with others is only available through our 'Chat' utility. Use the Chat menu located on the Main menu to access the chat feature.
Two different scenarios can be used to chat. The first is where you initiate the connection, and the second is where your friend (who also must have the Virtual Friend software), initiates the connection. Whoever initiates the connection must know the IP address of the other party. You can find out what your IP address is by looking in the My Friends Information pull down menu located inside the Chat menu. Unlike an email address, the IP address may change each time you connect to the web.
If you are the party to whom someone else is connecting, you must put your Virtual Friend in a mode where it will receive incoming chat connection requests. In the Chat menu, click the Receive Incoming Requests pull down menu. When this menu item is activated, a check mark appears next to it.
Once you have a connection established, you can type input into the keyboard window. Hit Return, and the line of text will be transmitted to the chat connected (remote) friend instead of the your virtual (local) friend.
The Send button is redundant in that, it does the same thing as hitting return, but we put it there for people who are used to having a send button with their chat application.
VirtualFriend 3 is the next generation of virtual character players, including seamless full body characters. VF3 is available as a browser plugin that integrates into your web pages and is thoroughly controlled through JavaScript! VF3 is also available as an SDK that's suitable for integration with any 3D applications. Use it for games, education, any internet applications, and to develop a telepresence. More info about VF3 is Here.
20. What do I do if I have a missing DLL File error message after the VirtualFriend download?
The most common missing DLL is DirectX. DirectX really helps the VirtualFriend textures. To download the most recent version of DirectX, go to the MS web site at: http://www.microsoft.com/directx/download.asp. Other missing DLL files could be an indication that you need to update your browser.
21. When I close VirtualFriend 2.08, I get a dialog box that says, "There was a problem saving the file Data/Default/ClipsUseWorking.txt". What is This?
This is a small bug in the VF version released in December 1999 and January 2000. It is okay to simply click "no", or you can follow the simple steps here http://www.haptek.com/support/vf2/PresetsBugFix.html to fix it permanently.
22. How do I fix the SummerTime Song?
Oops, our summertime song has a problem! Please click Here to learn how to fix it.
23. Why does my character look distorted, not appear, or appear as a white shape with no texture?
This could be a display settings problem. Try changing your monitor's display settings, and be sure you have DirectX (Please see below.) Run the software at each setting to see which one works best for your particular machine and video card.
800X600 X16 bit color
800X600 X32 color
1024X768 X16 bit color
(You might even try 24 bit color if your video card allows for it.)DirectX - 3.0 or above for VF2
DirectX- 6.0 or above for VF3
(If you don't have DirectX, the MS site to download it at is here: http://www.microsoft.com/directx/download.asp)