Hello, here is a guide to run VAM on Steam Deck with recommendations of settings and bindings
Firstly, I want to explain how it runs and what to expect. As we know, VAM is a VERY powerful software that can take a toll on even the most high-end PCs.
I basically made a rule to only run 2 characters maximum and low settings + softbody. as a warning, it WILL crash when things get too much and the Deck can get moderately warm and drain battery fast in intense-enough scenes. I can get a solid 40fps. If all that doesnt bother you, feel free to try this out!!
Step 1.
Go into Desktop Mode on your Deck. An easy way to do that is to hold the power button in game mode, when the shutdown prompt comes up, select "Desktop Mode" prompt
Step 2.
In Desktop Mode? great! now go into Discover (a preloaded app on Desktop mode, looks like a Blue shopping bag) and search for "Lutris", which is an app that allows you to download non-Steam games preloaded with Proton and Wine etc. you may need to summon the on-screen keyboard with holding "Steam" button and pressing X button on your Deck.
Step 3.
After Lutris is installed. go into it, you will see a menu. press on the "+" icon on the top left of the app. a search prompt will show up, summon keyboard and type in "virt-a-mate". press "download" and follow the prompts
Step 4.
Now that VAM Updater is installed, open VAM via the Lutris menu to open the updater. Press on "Install" and wait a bit to install all the files.
Step 5.
When the updater finally finishes, dont start the game yet! go into Steam app on Desktop mode, on the top menu at "games", click the "add a non-Steam game to library". scroll down to "Lutris" and add it to your library. DO NOT ADD VAM.exe!! the app will not work and will instantly crash to desktop. it HAS to be Lutris.
Step 6.
Go back into game mode via the desktop icon beside "Steam". when it has rebooted into game mode, play Lutris. It will come up with menu again. tap VAM and start the updater. press on Desktop mode at the top. VR mode probs wont work obviously lol
Step 7.
You are now in VAM on your Steam Deck!! add your key if you like (prompt the onscreen keyboard again once the field is up~). First things first, press the Steam button on your Deck and go into "controller settings" as there will be no buttons currently useable in VAM.
Step 8
you now want to assign the buttons to mouse instead of controller. How to do that:
As an example, In controller settings, tap "Edit Layout". then go to "trackpad". select "R trackpad click" and it will come to a menu of layouts and buttons. there should be in the middle of the screen, something that says "mouse". tap that, in the menu, tap "mouse left click"
Here is how i assigned all my buttons, if you find a more suitable binding for you, great!
R trackpad click: left mouse click
R trackpad touch: cursor movement by diameter - X:10 Y:10
L trackpad click: right mouse click
up on dpad: mouse scroll button up
down on dpad: mouse scroll button down
left on dpad: mouse middle click
Step 9.
Now for settings! go into scene mode and click the 3 vertical dots on the end of the UI menu. change the UI offset smaller so the UI can fit on the screen.
in "Performance" menu, change preset to "Low". and enable soft body physics if you like!
--
and thats all! you can download VARs just fine via hub. preferably do it in-app so you dont need to find the VAMdata folder lol (unless you need to pay for your atom)
I might add some images later, maybe more helpful
Firstly, I want to explain how it runs and what to expect. As we know, VAM is a VERY powerful software that can take a toll on even the most high-end PCs.
I basically made a rule to only run 2 characters maximum and low settings + softbody. as a warning, it WILL crash when things get too much and the Deck can get moderately warm and drain battery fast in intense-enough scenes. I can get a solid 40fps. If all that doesnt bother you, feel free to try this out!!
Step 1.
Go into Desktop Mode on your Deck. An easy way to do that is to hold the power button in game mode, when the shutdown prompt comes up, select "Desktop Mode" prompt
Step 2.
In Desktop Mode? great! now go into Discover (a preloaded app on Desktop mode, looks like a Blue shopping bag) and search for "Lutris", which is an app that allows you to download non-Steam games preloaded with Proton and Wine etc. you may need to summon the on-screen keyboard with holding "Steam" button and pressing X button on your Deck.
Step 3.
After Lutris is installed. go into it, you will see a menu. press on the "+" icon on the top left of the app. a search prompt will show up, summon keyboard and type in "virt-a-mate". press "download" and follow the prompts
Step 4.
Now that VAM Updater is installed, open VAM via the Lutris menu to open the updater. Press on "Install" and wait a bit to install all the files.
Step 5.
When the updater finally finishes, dont start the game yet! go into Steam app on Desktop mode, on the top menu at "games", click the "add a non-Steam game to library". scroll down to "Lutris" and add it to your library. DO NOT ADD VAM.exe!! the app will not work and will instantly crash to desktop. it HAS to be Lutris.
Step 6.
Go back into game mode via the desktop icon beside "Steam". when it has rebooted into game mode, play Lutris. It will come up with menu again. tap VAM and start the updater. press on Desktop mode at the top. VR mode probs wont work obviously lol
Step 7.
You are now in VAM on your Steam Deck!! add your key if you like (prompt the onscreen keyboard again once the field is up~). First things first, press the Steam button on your Deck and go into "controller settings" as there will be no buttons currently useable in VAM.
Step 8
you now want to assign the buttons to mouse instead of controller. How to do that:
As an example, In controller settings, tap "Edit Layout". then go to "trackpad". select "R trackpad click" and it will come to a menu of layouts and buttons. there should be in the middle of the screen, something that says "mouse". tap that, in the menu, tap "mouse left click"
Here is how i assigned all my buttons, if you find a more suitable binding for you, great!
R trackpad click: left mouse click
R trackpad touch: cursor movement by diameter - X:10 Y:10
L trackpad click: right mouse click
up on dpad: mouse scroll button up
down on dpad: mouse scroll button down
left on dpad: mouse middle click
Step 9.
Now for settings! go into scene mode and click the 3 vertical dots on the end of the UI menu. change the UI offset smaller so the UI can fit on the screen.
in "Performance" menu, change preset to "Low". and enable soft body physics if you like!
--
and thats all! you can download VARs just fine via hub. preferably do it in-app so you dont need to find the VAMdata folder lol (unless you need to pay for your atom)
I might add some images later, maybe more helpful
