realvr
patreon
Where's my mod?
🕑 Added 2022-07-08 11:27:19 +0000 UTCHi! Maybe you just landed for the first time on my Patreon page (welcome!!), or perhaps you've been a supporter for a long time (thank you so much!!), but you might be wondering the same thing: where is the download?
Unfortunately, on July 6, 2022, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., parent company of Rockstar Games, Inc. and 2K Games, Inc., saw fit to issue a DMCA notice against me and my creations. Their reasons are anybody's guess, because no-one has been able to reach any Take-Two representative in order to find out what alleged copyright violations they found in my flatscreen-to-VR conversion software. Among those who tried and failed to establish contact with Take-Two are: myself, The Verge, Kotaku, UploadVR, Rock Paper Shotgun...
Some believe that they just can't stand their paying customers being able to play in VR if they don't directly squeeze out additional profit from it (beyond the price of the game that is, since my mods only work with the original titles). Others are speculating that Rockstar might be about to launch some VR port of their own and wants to pre-emptively snuff out competition. I have no idea; as I said, they seem to believe that they are well above the need to communicate with us mere mortals.
Anyway, since Patreon was threatening to suspend my account and that would have killed off all my VR mods for other games too, for the time being I chose to sweep out anything that could be even remotely connected or related to games by Rockstar and 2K.
Be patient: in a few hours I should be able to attach here a new version of the mod which removes support for all the titles under dispute, and allows you to play again. That is my priority at the moment. As soon as I can give you back access to the (crippled) mod, I will add to this post, or create a new one, in order to let you know what my position is and how best I think we should act as a community in order to get back what we worked so hard for.
In the meantime though, behold the new, awesomely restyled banner and avatar (courtesy of a Patron who wishes to remain anonymous, but man, I'm so thankful!) and please: don't panic! Especially in some YouTube comment sections, on Reddit, on related Discord servers, I've already seen people saying things like "Let's pirate the mods!", or "I will put the old version on a public server!", or "Let's post them everywhere and torrent them"...
That's not cool, man. Stealing my work (which is the fruit of many Patrons pledging their own hard-earned money) just because greedy corporations want their corporate wallets to become even fatter is probably NOT the best way to go about this, what do you think?
Update 1: Okay, I was just now on the Pimax forums and people are already panicking, so let me add a few words.
I seriously don’t think that as soon as a big fat corporation begins to put the squeeze on us peasants, the correct reaction is to madly start stealing from each other.
The correct way to go about this is to contact Take-Two, Rockstar and/or 2K directly using any channels available (forums, support channels, direct emails, Twitter, LinkedIn, ...) and ask for them to (re)consider the matter and allow access to the mods. The more people do that, and at the same time, the higher the chance that it will penetrate the corporate wall of indifference.
Please include the all-important information that my mods don’t work without the original software, and they are my original creations, not using or leveraging portions of code/assets belonging to the original IP owners.
Remember that it is your legal right, as paying customers of Take-Two, Rockstar and 2K, to use the games you bought in conjunction with any other piece of software, and that their DMCA bomb is preventing you from exercising your consumer rights.
Some people are rambling about moving this onto the Dark Web, switching to Bitcoin payments, and so on.
NO.
This needs to be solved legally, and in the light of day. Acting like criminals when they are the ones violating our rights is the cowardly way to go, and it would also be quite foolish.
I'm not speaking only about my mods by the way. This problem has become too widespread. A Google search for "take two" "dmca" returns more than 600K hits.
It's not a question of money. Take-Two and Rockstar have pulled the trigger on dozens of mods which were completely free. And on the opposite side, they are perfectly happy with https://www.patreon.com/razedmods making more than $100K per month selling ONE mod, specifically for GTA V, that does exactly what my mods won't: replacing some of the assets and files in the game with modified versions, and using all sorts of copyrighted logos, screenshots, trademarks to promote the mod.
It's not a question of "unauthorized" mods. Rockstar uses DLSS technology licensed from NVIDIA. Yet their abusive launcher prevents you from exercising your customer right to use the latest, improved version of the DLSS component (which NVIDIA distributes) in conjunction with the legal copy of Red Dead Redemption 2 that you bought. It will prevent you from running the game, leaving you no recourse and no control. In Story Mode: I'm not speaking of online multiplayer.
It's not a question of VR. VorpX (for some crazy random happenstance, I'm sure) has specific mods for GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2, and it's a paid-for injection tool that hooks into the games, yet it hasn't been targeted.
DMCA needs to be fixed. As it stands, it's nothing but an oppression tool. Patreon doesn't implement any functionality for pinning a comment (that dark magic was known to the ancient sorcerers of any forum software around the beginning of the century, but it's been lost to the depths of Web 3.0), so I'm reposting here a very good comment by Natasha Owens:
For the Americans: Go write an email to your congressional representative.
The DMCA is an easily abused hammer that can (and often is) misused by companies to harm users in arbitrary and unfair ways. Companies can and have abused this to attack content creators like Luke here for any reason they feel like, including "they said bad things about us"
Complaining to your representatives to have the DMCA Fixed to be less one sided and easily abused is the only long term solution.
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative#:~:text=If%20you%20know%20who%20your,the%20U.S.%20House%20switchboard%20operator
Make your voice heard, people! I'm doing the best I can, both for VR and for modding in general, but one person is a fly on their Lamborghini windshield. Many people together can stop the car from its power-mad killing spree.
Comments
Lightningsoul
I came her by searching for "discord". Any chance we have a chat support from the community anywhere? Seems like an obvious thing to have when it can get quite complicated to install a mod with all the different ifs and maybes we need to setup. Thanks guys! And yes I am already in the Flat2VR discord. (:
petrus munteanu
this is more of a shame now, because the Mafia Trilogy has been released on GOG; so the mods would virtually work for ever with no maintenance, if one stays out of updates
Mathieu Hémond
Hey Luke! Hang tight and strong you didn't do anything wrong and they are just trying to scare you, you have a big opportunity to change things and stand up to this criminal company ! You are backed by your community more than you can think . Remove the money aspect for these games and you have nothing to be scared about. It's time to fight them
LukeRoss
The download is in the pinned "Start here" post, https://www.patreon.com/posts/68859691
rob oak
were are all mods download +++
LukeRoss
Hi Christopher! Sorry for the late reply. The quick setup instructions are here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/68859691 The folder for Elden Ring on a typical Steam installation is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ELDEN RING\Game". Did you remember to run RealConfig after extracting the archive?
Chris M
I tried putting it in the start_protected_game file but nothing happened, it just started the game as usual. Sorry for my novice comp skills but can you walk me thru finding the right folder? I’m using oculus quest 2 with a link cable
Chris M
I paid the monthly $10, I got the REALVR file on my desktop, I want to use it for elden ring. I play it on steam. I’ve been here for hours trying to figure out where to put the file, opened the game folder and there’s no exe file.where is the main folder for steam??
LukeRoss
As you can see it's not really my decision :-( The only thing I can do is refund your pledge if you're not interested in any of the other games
Jose Candela
This was my last chance for playing RDR2, I will uninstall and I will be waiting for the VR MOD. I paid 1 month for nothing, im really disappointed. I signed the petition, hope you have good luck.
Sire News
I joined patreon just to get this mod, but now I see on the page it is not available. What to do?
Jose Candela
I wanted the RDR2 mod, where is it ?? I paid for it :/
miras m
So i'm 10Dollars per month patreom now, how to get the RDR2 VR mod? j
Solomon Ginsberg
Sign the petition and change t2 mind: https://www.change.org/p/sign-for-our-right-to-create-and-enjoy-content-for-games-we-purchase?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_33865433_en-US%3A4&recruiter=1228651283&recruited_by_id=c8ab2ee0-264a-11ec-8200-d960022a1ee3&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=share_for_starters_page&share_bandit_exp=initial-33865433-en-US
Mark Pickford
Same here.
Mark Pickford
Quote Johno: "Honestly, if you hadn't made these VR-Mods, i wouldn't have bought the games!"
johno
omg, i hope this will have a good end to you! -and for the community. It is a shame, i just bought RDR2 and the complete MAFIA 1 -3 only because of your VR-Mods!! I also have bought CyberPunk and think about to buy Dark Souls and some other one. But now i will wait... Good luck my friend! Shame on this companies! 😡 PS.: Honestly, if you hadn't made these VR-Mods, i wouldn't have bought the games! PPS.: i hope my subscription will support you. Greets from Germany!
LukeRoss
Or s/give/stick/
Cercata
They made a tipo 8 years ago, instead it was "We'll be the first one in line to remove it from customers" XD https://www.roadtovr.com/news-bits-gta-v-publisher-vr-support-well-first-line-give-customers/
Nicky Butler
Yep
Jamie Kuntz
how long will the current version mods work? until the games get updated again and then it stop working right?
Boat Kettle Cheese
Bioshock is a 2k game. As previously stated It wont be released here under current circumstances less they change ofc. I am wondering what the next exciting Luke Ross REAL title is going to be! Maybe an additional layer of developer mod reaction research should factor into game mod choices though? Best case scenario would be to ask them for permission before hand and for them to give the go ahead. Not sure how viable that is.
Tomo
I too believe its just a hick up on the amazing VR journey. Some jealous bullies will always be present and it was just a matter of time they appear. Now lets navigate through the rough waters into calm ones and all will be fine. its not the end of the world. just need to change some settings :) you have my support (moral and financial) and always will have, especially if you drop the Bioshock MOD !! HAHA (and many others) lol but seriously Bioshock would be mind bending.
Flowzen
be careful with your words, friend(law and that) keep your head down for a minute(at least, till you got news) hang in there, heads down.. :) you´ll win that, hopefully for all of us. keep on it mate!
Jonathan Schwartz
Can you DM me, David? Just joined before finding out the news :(
david johns
Hey Luke. Im only into VR these days. Because of your mods, I purchased GTAV, Red Dead 2 and Elden Ring. If it wasnt for your mods, I would not have purchased them???? Appreciate your great work. Im certain this will all work out................
zer0
It's just plain mean if this is what they intend. To take away the ultimate enjoyment that can be experienced in their game. They are even quoted saying that they aren't interested in VR like its insignificant to them.
LukeRoss
Bioshock is a 2K game, so no dice. BTW I had already begun working on it, and I can say it was coming up pretty well, but unless the community can exert enough pressure on Take-Two to make them reconsider, that work will never be seen
LukeRoss
Seems even worse than that, they just broke the game altogether even in 2D (at least for some people): https://steamcommunity.com/app/360430/discussions/0/3410930083337620170/
Tyler Martin
I see that Take Two just pushed updates on the Mafia games. Has anyone been able to test them? I'll be pissed if they intentionally spite-broke this through an otherwise pointless update in a damn single-player game.
Bob Douglass
regardless of the outcome with Take Two, I truly hope you continue what you're doing. Bioshock will be incredible when it is given the proper VR treatment
LukeRoss
Mmm, sadly their current behavior seems to confirm what you dug up. They're not even deigning to reply to Patreon or The Verge.
Cercata
Luke, read this to know the modus operandi of Take Two ... if you ask them for explanations, they will just send you a new C&D, but from a lawyer firm in your country: https://www.pcgamer.com/gta-modding-tool-openiv-shuts-down-claiming-cease-and-desist-from-take-two/ No way to negotiate with them. With OpenIV they reverted their decision just because the backlash was too big, but that being something VR, I guess we'll be too little people and they'll ignore us.
Tiger Man
maybe it's time for those mods to go on github, i guess ppl at github will take a dmca act more seriously as if there are copyright infringments it has to be proven as the code is free for everyone to check.
friendly neighbor
Take-Two has a long history of DMCA against modders. One can therefore predict with reasonable certainty how they will behave. They usually only communicate with actions of their legal department. They don't communicate otherwise, they don't negotiate and they're not interested in compromises whatsoever. It's a shame and no matter if it makes sense or not, but they made their decision.
The Merote
I had one of these DMCA notice, it turned out to be something in the picture might be considered copy written but I never found out what. My advise, release the mod as R.E.A.L VR and leave it to us to work out how to get it working, If there is nothing in the file or anything that mentions GTV/RDR2/Mafia etc surely take two don't have a leg to stand on although Patreon might not take the risk, or maybe start a discord and put some files there and some here, break up the mod into segments and scatter it all over the internet, Scripthook has been going for years and taketwo never managed to bring it down, we'll still support you mate, most other mods ain't that easy to install. TakeTwo should be asking you to work for them not trying to shut it down. We can all protest by not playing their games for a month and see how they like it.
BOB HOPE
I just bought it recently as well . . . thrower-engined.0w@icloud.com
Shawn P Dobbins
Luke you are amazing and I'm just catching up on all this BS. If I can help please let me know. Otherwise keep fighting the good fight and we all have your back on this!!!
LukeRoss
I would happily negotiate, if only there were a communication channel! Patreon is being silent, and Take-Two never responded to anyone. Intimidation is not negotiation! Besides, it's one thing if they said to me (under NDA or whatever they could require for confidentiality): "We're doing our own RDR2 official port, yours is in the way". It's another thing to kill everything off just because they wield the mighty DMCA sword. I mean, I don't believe even for a moment that they're considering doing VR ports of GTA V, RDR2 AND the Mafia Trilogy!
Sean Crisel
You will have my continued support here and I am confident that it will work out in the end,
Dan Moll
Man, this stinks and makes no sense to me since I can't see a way at all that this would affect their bottom line. How is it different than any other mod? I had played through GTA V with your mod and it just made it so much better. I'd be happy if they decided to officially offer VR for it. They should do this and hire you to implement it.
Justin Davis
Were you misquoted here, Luke? Doesn't seem happily to me. "One thing that confuses Luke is that he hasn’t heard from video game developers — not with praise, not with cease-and-desists, not at all. “They totally seem to not care.” He says he’s not really worried because he’s serving a niche of a niche, and he’d happily negotiate or simply take down a mod if they asked."
Solomon Ginsberg
And I just tweeted Zelnick Strauss @strausszelnick (head of take2) politely asking him what t2 stands to gain by bullying a modder. He wont reply but why dont you guys also give him a tweet? Just be civil about it, let him know what he is taking away from you.
TheReclusiveGamer
I don’t know how to get the first 2 Mafia titles running again in VR because I was too late and it updated already…but with Mafia3,i was able to change my update options on Steam to only update when launched etc I also made a copy of the game,the real vr mod and a few other mods i had installed from the Nexus,on to a different backup drive…im going to try to see if i can launch the game in offline mode….as for GTA 5,I found a work around to playing it still in VR with the hundreds of other mods i had installed….i made a video on it awhile back,if anyones interested,its on my youtube channel: just search for it in my tutorials playlist….youtube.com/TheReclusiveGamer
Maciek Błachnio
Hey Luke, just sent an email to Copyright@take2games.com, demanding withdrawal of the DMCA, with "all the important details" included. I'm not sure how to push them as EULA might prevent users from almost any non-standard usage of the software. Maybe someone with deeper legal understanding might come up with a good email template for us to use in contact with their legal department.
Cercata
Le temps qui'l passerá on luttant, c'est du temps qui'l ne sera pas on faisant de VR mods ;-(
Killerlolo5524
De tout cœur avec vous Luke... mais parfois il faut se battre pour exister, et même si en face on a un monstre, il ne faut pas hésiter à le défier... la procédure de DMCA ne peut elle pas être retourné à son envoyeur ? sans précision claire sur les logiciels, codes ou autre chose évoqués, je ne peux savoir ce que vous me reprochez et ne peut procéder à la suppression demandée... ? Bon courage, je vous soutien dans votre travail et vos démarches... Les gens ont en général peur du conflit... mais c'est une erreur... vous gagniez votre vie avec vos mod VR, faut se battre pour continuer....
Emile Tixeuil
I bought rdr2, gta AND mafia only cause of your mods …. This is fucking bullshit. I hope your patreon will hold. Bon courage ! 😎and keep up tje good work.
Alan Rogers
I only bought Red Dead a few days ago. I downloaded the mod only last night. No idea if it's going to work but I'll try tonight if can figure out how. I forgot to download the PDF. Doh
petrus munteanu
is there a way to create a formal petition from us as a group? Sort of like class action suit? Does anybody know how to and if it's worth it?
petrus munteanu
some indie games, too, maybe. Smaller companies would very much appreciate the boost in sales that Rockstar seems oblivious to
Natasha Owens
For the Americans: Go write an email to your congressional representative. The DMCA is an easily abused hammer that can (and often is) misused by companies to harm users in arbitrary and unfair ways. Companies can and have abused this to attack content creators like Luke here for any reason they feel like, including "they said bad things about us" Complaining to your representatives to have the DMCA Fixed to be less one sided and easily abused is the only long term solution. https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative#:~:text=If%20you%20know%20who%20your,the%20U.S.%20House%20switchboard%20operator. Take2 and their like are perfectly able to ignore a flood of emails from users, what can and will get them worried is the same flood of emails to legislators who have the power to re write the rules to change the game to Our benefit rather than theirs. Go take 10 minutes of your day to send a polite email to your representative (doesn't matter if you voted for them or against them, they still represent you)
LukeRoss
Exactly. That's why I say the fight is for customer rights, and not for VR or even less for my mods
Gyula Papp
What is incomprehensible to me about the whole thing is that if I invent a controller that can be controlled by thought, the couple of files of which must be copied into the directory where the game you want to control is located, can the publisher prohibit it?
LukeRoss
That makes no sense unfortunately, because it takes all of 5 minutes for a paralegal in their highrise offices to send out a precompiled Cease and Desist. This is a battle for rights, it can't be won by hiding under a rock
LukeRoss
Just be patient! The mods are not lost, they're only inaccessible. The right way to go about this is by making Take-Two, Rockstar and 2K see that they're losing customers and goodwill by limiting our rights. They have nothing to lose from allowing their paying customers to play their games in the way they're most enjoyable
goostie
you should honestly just be grateful it lasted this long, as soon as i found out about this i couldn't believe they allowed it lol, this was only a matter of time
d0x360
The problem is gonna end up being the launcher
d0x360
I want to cry because I'm a moron and didn't download it months ago but you're right.
Cercata
So R* didn't send you C&D, only to patreon ... so you can download the old mods elsewhere, until they send it C&D to you. If they send it again to the website, you move it again. Any lawyer here, what do you think ?
Gyula Papp
Turn off the automatic update and then maybe there will be no problem.
Cercata
You can't avoid the old mods spreading, this is like stolen porn ... :( But R* will not sue you because of that, they know. If they want really to stop the mods, they just have to release an update.
Solomon Ginsberg
TakeTwo are exceptionally stupid if they think snuffing out one modder is going to earn them money in droves. Bethesda hasn’t made a move on Vorpx despite the fact that they have two competing vr conversions (Fallout 4 and Skyrim). What does Vorpx do differently?
Sebastianos Ionnides
contact@take2games.com I wrote them and pointed out that even if they are in the right for their dcma, their lack of communication and bully tactics lost me as a customer. I encourage others to do the same. I'm also a VP of IT for a large company and reached out to their CEO on LinkedIn about their poor community practices.
gurufabbes
Thank you for keeping us updated. However I can understand the reaction of some of those users. I hope well be able to access them again some day, as I was lucky enough to finish GTA5 with your mod. I think however this indicates the benefits of diversifying the mods to different games from different gaming companies, as it lessens the risk of large chunks of your work being forced to disappear.
Joseph
Thanks for keeping us so thoroughly updated!
