Ok folks, remember that cool web camera from Logitech that has an “avatar and accessory” feature that maps characters and objects on human faces real time? (Video here). Well, our interest was in the files, which seem like they’re moddable – so far we were able to view the XML files and “see” the JPEGs used, but not change them quite yet. Logitech, for some reason doesn’t seem to want to let folks make their own – article here. That’s OK, we understand their reasons. So, instead of waiting for a custom avatar or accessory maker from them, we’re offering up a reward – help us make some custom ones and get a year of MAKE or any item from the MAKE store.
Just download one of the avatars (like this Skull pirate) or this Beer can hat and start poking – On Mac OS X I renamed them .zip, unstuffed and was able to few the XML files, the images, I’m going to try some other apps and also a hexeditor to see what’s in them. On PCs, some Makers have reported that they’re just .cab files.
Related:
Update: I used EXTRACT.EXE to get the files out, and MAKECAB.EXE to make a new set… Since I still cannot read the images, I tried replacing one image from one CAB (LVF) to another, seems like it would work right? It didn’t I’m assuming they check for the number of bits / give them each an ID… I’ll keep trying…
24 thoughts on “Makers want their own avatars…”
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OK, I’m not much of a computer DIY guy, so I’ll have to rely on some hacker to figure out how to do this, but a perfect avatar for this Webcam would be the Laughing Man logo from the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series. There is probably a hundred hackers out there working on this one, but just in case I figured I’d put a bug in someone’s ear.
2 words MAX HEADROOM baby!
i would kill for that one
I think the key is going to be in the file with the GR2 extension. Assuming it’s not a new format, that makes it a Granny Game Content File that is created by RAD Games Tools’ Granny 3D: “a powerful toolkit for building all kinds of interactive 3D applications.”
Each LVA file is zipped with a digital signature, you can see it with Winrar, right click, properties, digital signatures:
V3
41 91 a1 5a 39 78 df cf 49 65 66 38 1d 4c 75 c2
sha1RSA
OU = Class 3 Public Primary Certification Authority
O = VeriSign, Inc.
C = US
CN = VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2004 CA
OU = Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)04
OU = VeriSign Trust Network
O = VeriSign, Inc.
C = US
…
I’m afraid you’ll have to hack Video effects dll & exe to use your own avatars.
Each LVA file is zipped with a digital signature, you can see it with Winrar, right click, properties, digital signatures:
V3
41 91 a1 5a 39 78 df cf 49 65 66 38 1d 4c 75 c2
sha1RSA
OU = Class 3 Public Primary Certification Authority
O = VeriSign, Inc.
C = US
CN = VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2004 CA
OU = Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)04
OU = VeriSign Trust Network
O = VeriSign, Inc.
C = US
…
I’m afraid you’ll have to hack Video effects dll & exe to use your own avatars.
Each LVA file is zipped with a digital signature:
V3
41 91 a1 5a 39 78 df cf 49 65 66 38 1d 4c 75 c2
sha1RSA
OU = Class 3 Public Primary Certification Authority
O = VeriSign, Inc.
C = US
CN = VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2004 CA
OU = Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)04
OU = VeriSign Trust Network
O = VeriSign, Inc.
C = US
…
I’m afraid you’ll have to hack Video effects dll & exe to use your own avatars.
dunno about the avatars, but I found nice software that allows remote network control of the Logitech MP at LogiSphere
i don’t work for them, but i like the software so far. i’m working on a outdoor all weather enclosure for the MP next using a simple glass display dome and base.
I’ve done a bit of research, and found a few interesting things.
A few applications can open and read/convert .LVA files, so i’ll post a few links:
Mathright32 seems to be the best program:
http://www.mathwright.com/help/Interactive3D.htm
http://www.mathwright.com/help/MathkitContents.htm
http://www.csit.fsu.edu/~burkardt/data/vla/vla.html
http://www.csit.fsu.edu/~burkardt/g_src/ivread/ivread.html
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=76306
As far as this lot, so far i havn’t found a 3D graphics application which opens these files – or the strange Jpeg’s. Blender doesn’t work, either.
I presume the Jpeg’s have been renamed something else…
hi there, i recently found out this video, it’s about adult video FX … so i guess it’s already been hacked but we don’t know about it yet. I’ve also made a search on the net, (i guess not enough) i haven’t found the program that he’s talking about yet.
here is the link http://www.kontraband.com/show/show.asp?ID=5787&nsfwfs=yes
so i hope someone will find out more about this.. but this proves that the logitech video fx have been hacked :) :) :) i hope i’m not giving old news…
cheers zero
The software used technology from Neven Vision, which was acquired a year ago by a large search engine beginning with the letter G. A long time ago the company was called Eyematic (aricle on earlier product named EyePublish
Stilll, would love to know how to create a new avatar, or of similar products that allow it (even after-the-fact editing via plugins to programs such as Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas).
Is this comment project/thread dead? I have the E3500 and it allows for the fun filters, and nothing else as per logitech. I doubt it! I noticed in the .xml files there is a component ID and in the Registry there are tons of Product IDs, but they are all set to 1000.
If there is a way enable your product id, this should be feasible.
cgman
Any progress on this, or was everyone defeated?