diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml b/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
index 24dfc31..7f259d5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # DO NOT TEST YOURSELF
 # MIGHT ONLY WORK IN A VERY CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AS OF NOW
-
+# only running this in a very small windows VM
 
 name: "Build, test, bundle FastGH3"
 on:
@@ -40,8 +40,11 @@ jobs:
     }
     "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\" | Out-File -FilePath $env:GITHUB_PATH -Append
     "C:\Program Files\Git\usr\" | Out-File -FilePath $env:GITHUB_PATH -Append
+    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\10.0.18362.0\x86\" | Out-File -FilePath $env:GITHUB_PATH -Append
     Import-Module $env:ChocolateyInstall\helpers\chocolateyProfile.psm1
-    sleep 8
+    pushd "C:\Program Files\Git"
+    compact /c /f /s /a /i /exe:lzx *.exe *.dll *.txt *.pm *. | Select-Object -Last 3
+    popd
   -
    name: Install Node.js or Bun
    run: |
@@ -49,32 +52,11 @@ jobs:
       choco install $env:node -y --no-progress
     } else { "Node environment is already installed" }
     Import-Module $env:ChocolateyInstall\helpers\chocolateyProfile.psm1
-    sleep 8
-  -
-   name: Install UPX
-   run: |
-    choco install upx
-    Import-Module $env:ChocolateyInstall\helpers\chocolateyProfile.psm1
-    sleep 8
-   # i need functions
   -
-   name: Install NSIS
+   name: Install UPX, NSIS, 7Zip, Resource Hacker # make optionally installable if user decides so
    run: |
-    choco install nsis -y --no-progress
+    choco install upx nsis 7zip resourcehacker.portable -y --no-progress
     Import-Module $env:ChocolateyInstall\helpers\chocolateyProfile.psm1
-    sleep 8
-  -
-   name: Install 7-Zip
-   run: |
-    choco install 7zip -y --no-progress
-    Import-Module $env:ChocolateyInstall\helpers\chocolateyProfile.psm1
-    sleep 8
-  -
-   name: Install Resource Hacker
-   run: |
-    choco install resourcehacker.portable -y --no-progress
-    Import-Module $env:ChocolateyInstall\helpers\chocolateyProfile.psm1
-    sleep 8
   -
    name: Install DotNetCompressor
    env:
@@ -91,7 +73,6 @@ jobs:
    run: |
     choco install mpress -y --no-progress
     Import-Module $env:ChocolateyInstall\helpers\chocolateyProfile.psm1
-    sleep 8
   -
    name: Install stripreloc
    env:
@@ -106,6 +87,11 @@ jobs:
    uses: actions/checkout@v2
    with:
     submodules: recursive
+   # manual checkout all repositories: *
+   # for manual testing:
+   # set "PATH=%PATH%;C:\Program Files\git\bin;C:\Program Files\git\usr\bin"
+   # & "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\git" submodule update --init --recursive --remote
+   # & "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\git" pull --recurse-submodules
   -
    name: Set up MSBuild, Visual C# and C++
    env:
@@ -115,7 +101,7 @@ jobs:
    #uses: microsoft/setup-msbuild@v1 # NOT WORKING!!
    #with:
    # vs-version: 'latest'
-   run: | # this whole thing should probably be a for loop, AND CHECK IF ALREADY INSTALLED ANY OF THESE!!!!!!!!!!!!
+   run: |
     .\.github\workflows\visualDeps.ps1
    #choco install microsoft-build-tools netfx-4.6.2-devpack visualcpp-build-tools -y
    # NOPE: visualcpp-build-tools
@@ -133,15 +119,16 @@ jobs:
     conf: ${{vars.GH3PLUS == true && 'Release' || 'NoVC++'}}
     STUPID: true # STRIPRELOC BREAKS EXE ON SELF HOSTED RUNNER SOMEHOW
     GH3PLUS: ${{vars.GH3PLUS}}
-    NORELOC: ${{vars.NORELOC}} # run stripreloc if true, need to override from here to the event script, glhf
+    #NORELOC: ${{vars.NORELOC}} # BREAKS EXE ON VM
     RCASSETS: ${{vars.RCASSETS}} # recompile assets, NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     VCTargetsPath: C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\v140
+   # *
    run: |
-    & "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\14.0\Bin\MSBuild.exe" SOURCE\FastGH3.sln /p:Configuration=$env:conf /t:Rebuild
+    & "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\14.0\Bin\MSBuild.exe" SOURCE\FastGH3.sln /p:Configuration=$env:CONF /p:WindowsTargetPlatformVersion=10.0.18362.0 /p:PlatformToolset=v140 /p:AdditionalIncludePaths="$env:INCLUDE" /t:Rebuild
     if ($env:RCASSETS) {
       cmd.exe /c "SOURCE\build-assets.bat"
     }
-   # ERRORS AT 'DO' IN FOR BLOCK WTF
+   # ERRORS AT 'DO' IN FOR BLOCK IN CMD WTF
  test:
   runs-on: self-hosted
   env:
@@ -153,9 +140,18 @@ jobs:
   # uses: actions/checkout@v2
   # with:
   #  submodules: recursive
+  # directx 9 only
+  # https://archive.org/download/directx_9c/directx_9c_redist.exe
+  # http://software.oldversion.com/download.php?f=YTo1OntzOjQ6InRpbWUiO2k6MTcyNTg5MzYyOTtzOjI6ImlkIjtpOjE4NTU1O3M6NDoiZmlsZSI7czozNDoiZGlyZWN0eC05LTBjLWRpcmVjdHhfOWNfcmVkaXN0LmV4ZSI7czozOiJ1cmwiO3M6NDY6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cub2xkdmVyc2lvbi5jb20vd2luZG93cy9kaXJlY3R4LTktMGMiO3M6NDoicGFzcyI7czozMjoiMmNmOGE1YzIzNTc5ZjEwYzUyM2Q4ZjI0NDFiZTZjZjAiO30%3D
+  # june 2010 https://download.microsoft.com/download/8/4/A/84A35BF1-DAFE-4AE8-82AF-AD2AE20B6B14/directx_Jun2010_redist.exe
   -
    name: Playtest songs
    run: |
+    $DXTEMP = "C:\DXTEMP"
+    iwr -OutFile "DX9.EXE" -Uri "https://archive.org/download/directx_9c/directx_9c_redist.exe"
+    start -Wait -FilePath "DX9.EXE" -Args "/Q /T:$DXTEMP"
+    start -Wait -FilePath "$DXTEMP\DXSETUP.EXE" -Args "/silent"
+    rm "$DXTEMP" -r -force
     cmd /c dir
     cmd /c register.bat
     .\.github\workflows\testSongs.ps1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/testSongs.ps1 b/.github/workflows/testSongs.ps1
index cb1e8a7..faa5ffb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/testSongs.ps1
+++ b/.github/workflows/testSongs.ps1
@@ -4,11 +4,16 @@
 AutoStart=1
 Hyperspeed=5
 ExitOnSongEnd=1
+NoFail=1
 [Launcher]
 SongCaching=0
+VerboseLogging=1
 [Player1]
 Bot=1
 Device=3
+[Player2]
+Bot=1
+Device=0
 [Misc]
 Debug=1
 
@@ -18,17 +23,20 @@ $songs = @(
 	,@("1EQ8rvcxhv-Xq7T0FT62ZLOZ3rR2gcx9O","[ZIP] Squarepusher - Dark Steering")
 	,@("13gt3k5WsiRkIthf9V5i6dAAmFK5poyFX","[ZIP] Kommisar - Springtime")
 	,@("16Ipd-4SV1IqBzAVDA26P-42tWN4twvL7"," [7Z] The Used - Take It Away")
-	,@("1_F-7Hv7YbF-sw9l_tS3FyjRmpKICa8lp"," [7Z] QOTSA - 3's & 7's (Metal Track Pack)")
+	# "BROKEN" MIDI (these comments are a cry for help)
+	#,@("1_F-7Hv7YbF-sw9l_tS3FyjRmpKICa8lp"," [7Z] QOTSA - 3's & 7's (Metal Track Pack)")
 	,@("16thK1ivFdKqsxd5TscRVh6DYZcQn23dA","[SNG] Fearofdark - TABNY (Jarvis)")
 )
+# also test random modes every song
 for ($i = 0; $i -lt $songs.length; $i++) {
-	"* "+($songs[$i][1].ToString())
+	"**********************       "+($songs[$i][1].ToString())
 	$arg = "dl fastgh3://drive.google.com/uc?id="+($songs[$i][0].ToString()) # STUPID CRINGE THING WHY
-	start -Wait "FastGH3.exe" -WorkingDirectory "." -Args $arg
+	start -NoNewWindow -Wait "FastGH3.exe" -WorkingDirectory "." -Args $arg -PassThru
 	sleep 5
 	Wait-Process -Name "game.exe" -Timeout 600 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -ErrorVariable to
+	# forgot: how am i even going to know when a crash occurs
 	if (-not $to) {
 		kill -Name "game.exe" -Force
 	}
 	sleep 15
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/visualDeps.ps1 b/.github/workflows/visualDeps.ps1
index 7210eb9..50b83c9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/visualDeps.ps1
+++ b/.github/workflows/visualDeps.ps1
@@ -1,15 +1,37 @@
 # my first powershell script i guess, i hate it already
+function StopWastingMySpace
+{
+	param(
+		[Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]$dir,
+		[array]$filter
+	)
+	
+	if (Test-Path -Path $dir)
+	{
+		pushd $dir
+		if ($?) {
+			# stop wasting my space
+			compact.exe /c /f /s /a /i /exe:lzx $filter | Select-Object -Last 3
+			popd
+		}
+	}
+}
 $pkg = @(
 	,@("Visual C# 2015 Build Tools", "BuildTools_Full.exe", "/q /full /passive /norestart /log C:\tmp.log", $true, $true, 0,
 		"https://download.microsoft.com/download/E/E/D/EEDF18A8-4AED-4CE0-BEBE-70A83094FC5A/BuildTools_Full.exe")
 	,@(".NET Framework 4.6.2 Targeting Pack for .NET Framework 4.0", "NDP462.exe", "/install /passive /norestart /log C:\tmp.log", $true, $true, 0,
 		"https://download.microsoft.com/download/e/e/c/eec79116-8305-4bd0-aa83-27610987eec6/NDP462-DevPack-KB3151934-ENU.exe")
 	,@("Visual C++ 2015 Build Tools", "vc15bt_full.exe",
-		"install --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.140,Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows10SDK.18362 --passive --norestart --nickname stupid --theme Light",
+		"install --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.140 --passive --norestart --nickname stupid --theme Light",
+		$env:GH3PLUS, $false, 600, "https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vs_BuildTools.exe")
+	,@("Windows 10 SDK", "vc15bt_full.exe", # not enough space to install both at once because i suck
+		"install --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows10SDK.18362 --passive --norestart --nickname stupid --theme Light",
 		$env:GH3PLUS, $false, 600, "https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vs_BuildTools.exe")
 	,@("DirectX SDK", "DXSDK_Jun10.exe", "/U", $env:GH3PLUS, $false, 600, "https://archive.org/download/dxsdk_jun10/DXSDK_Jun10.exe")
+	# wish i could exclude features for this one
 )
 for ($i = 0; $i -lt $pkg.length; $i++) {
+	# CHECK IF ALREADY INSTALLED
 	if (-not $pkg[$i][3]) {
 		continue
 	}
@@ -18,20 +40,51 @@ for ($i = 0; $i -lt $pkg.length; $i++) {
 	iwr -Uri $pkg[$i][6] -OutFile $pkg[$i][1]
 	"Installing..."
 	if ($pkg[$i][4]) {
-		$null > "C:\tmp.log"
-		$vsi = start -NoNewWindow -FilePath $pkg[$i][1] -WorkingDirectory "." -Args $pkg[$i][2] -PassThru
-		$killorbekilled = sajb {
-			if ($pkg[$i][5] -gt 0) {
-				$vsi | Wait-Process -Timeout $pkg[$i][5] -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -ErrorVariable to
+		Set-Content -Path "C:\tmp.log" -Value "" -Encoding UTF8
+		$killorbekilled = sajb `
+			-Init ([ScriptBlock]::Create("Set-Location '$pwd'")) `
+			-Name Installer -ArgumentList $pkg[$i] -ScriptBlock {
+			$vsi = start -PassThru -FilePath $(Convert-Path $args[1]) -Args $args[2] # actual unironic cancer
+			if ($args[5] -gt 0) {
+				$vsi | Wait-Process -Timeout $args[5] -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -ErrorVariable to
 				if ($to) {
 					$vsi | kill -Force
 				}
 			} else {
 				$vsi | Wait-Process
 			}
-			del "C:\tmp.log" -Force -Confirm
+			sleep 2
+			del "C:\tmp.log" -Force
 		}
-		#Get-Content -Path "C:\tmp.log" -Wait
+		try {
+			Get-Content -Path "C:\tmp.log" -Encoding UTF8 -Wait -ErrorAction Stop
+		} catch { }
 		$killorbekilled | Wait-Job
+		$killorbekilled | Receive-Job
+	} else {
+		start -NoNewWindow -Wait -FilePath $(Convert-Path $pkg[$i][1]) -WorkingDirectory "." -Args $pkg[$i][2]
+	}
+	"Making space..."
+	switch ($i) {
+		0 {
+			StopWastingMySpace "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\14.0\Bin" *.exe, *.dll
+			break
+		}
+		1 {
+			StopWastingMySpace "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio" *.exe, *.dll, *targets, *.txt
+			break
+		}
+		2 {
+			StopWastingMySpace "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0" *.exe, *.h, *.lib, *.cpp, *.hpp, *.dll, *.rc, *.inl, *.pdb, *.obj
+		}
+		3 {
+			StopWastingMySpace "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits" *.exe, *.h, *.lib, *.cpp, *.hpp, *.dll, *.xml
+			break
+		}
+		4 {
+			StopWastingMySpace "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft DirectX SDK (June 2010)" *.exe, *.dll, *.lib, *.h, *.sdkmesh, *.mt, *.dds, *.x, *.bmp, *.cpp, *.vcproj, *.vcxproj, *.obj, *.jpg, *.xwb, *.xml
+			break
+		}
 	}
+	del $pkg[$i][1]
 }
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ca47946..c05f873 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ disabled/
 !/DATA/MODS/disabled
 /SOURCE/q/test
 /SOURCE/Misc/verify_build.sh
-/FINALPKG.*
+/FINALPKG*
 
 stats_*.txt
 /DATA/HIGHWAYS
diff --git a/DATA/MUSIC/TOOLS/bt.bin b/DATA/MUSIC/TOOLS/bt.bin
index e51ecae..26c9858 100644
--- a/DATA/MUSIC/TOOLS/bt.bin
+++ b/DATA/MUSIC/TOOLS/bt.bin
@@ -1 +1 @@
-fݼR
\ No newline at end of file
+f�)2
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/DATA/MUSIC/TOOLS/c128ks.exe b/DATA/MUSIC/TOOLS/c128ks.exe
index 012664b..67d8934 100644
Binary files a/DATA/MUSIC/TOOLS/c128ks.exe and b/DATA/MUSIC/TOOLS/c128ks.exe differ
diff --git a/FastGH3.exe b/FastGH3.exe
index 2c07121..cac06bc 100644
Binary files a/FastGH3.exe and b/FastGH3.exe differ
diff --git a/FastGH3.pdb b/FastGH3.pdb
index a1870b5..832fef4 100644
Binary files a/FastGH3.pdb and b/FastGH3.pdb differ
diff --git a/PLUGINS/FastGH3.dll b/PLUGINS/FastGH3.dll
index 8cb52e4..c646e95 100644
Binary files a/PLUGINS/FastGH3.dll and b/PLUGINS/FastGH3.dll differ
diff --git a/PLUGINS/Logger.dll b/PLUGINS/Logger.dll
index a9a3647..22899f9 100644
Binary files a/PLUGINS/Logger.dll and b/PLUGINS/Logger.dll differ
diff --git a/PLUGINS/NoteLimitFix.dll b/PLUGINS/NoteLimitFix.dll
index 4b4e417..fc556bb 100644
Binary files a/PLUGINS/NoteLimitFix.dll and b/PLUGINS/NoteLimitFix.dll differ
diff --git a/PLUGINS/SongLimitFix.dll b/PLUGINS/SongLimitFix.dll
index c22ba0a..b950fa3 100644
Binary files a/PLUGINS/SongLimitFix.dll and b/PLUGINS/SongLimitFix.dll differ
diff --git a/PLUGINS/TapHopoChord.dll b/PLUGINS/TapHopoChord.dll
index 0629279..9807870 100644
Binary files a/PLUGINS/TapHopoChord.dll and b/PLUGINS/TapHopoChord.dll differ
diff --git a/PLUGINS/core.dll b/PLUGINS/core.dll
index cf2a793..dd1fb21 100644
Binary files a/PLUGINS/core.dll and b/PLUGINS/core.dll differ
diff --git a/PLUGINS/modifiers.dll b/PLUGINS/modifiers.dll
index 8f798ce..03c13ab 100644
Binary files a/PLUGINS/modifiers.dll and b/PLUGINS/modifiers.dll differ
diff --git a/SOURCE/FastGH3.sln b/SOURCE/FastGH3.sln
index 0fff0ea..cc49c17 100644
--- a/SOURCE/FastGH3.sln
+++ b/SOURCE/FastGH3.sln
@@ -174,10 +174,10 @@ Global
 		{EEFF0E58-CD15-4D7B-945C-2C2F0584D43B}.Release|x86.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
 		{CBBF2D18-BCFD-4BF0-8626-09CCFCE1BF2A}.NoVC++|x86.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
 		{CBBF2D18-BCFD-4BF0-8626-09CCFCE1BF2A}.Release|x86.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
-		{822E3318-036A-42E1-A2ED-7C2382DF5557}.NoVC++|x86.ActiveCfg = Release|x86
-		{822E3318-036A-42E1-A2ED-7C2382DF5557}.NoVC++|x86.Build.0 = Release|x86
-		{822E3318-036A-42E1-A2ED-7C2382DF5557}.Release|x86.ActiveCfg = Release|x86
-		{822E3318-036A-42E1-A2ED-7C2382DF5557}.Release|x86.Build.0 = Release|x86
+		{822E3318-036A-42E1-A2ED-7C2382DF5557}.NoVC++|x86.ActiveCfg = Debug|x86
+		{822E3318-036A-42E1-A2ED-7C2382DF5557}.NoVC++|x86.Build.0 = Debug|x86
+		{822E3318-036A-42E1-A2ED-7C2382DF5557}.Release|x86.ActiveCfg = Debug|x86
+		{822E3318-036A-42E1-A2ED-7C2382DF5557}.Release|x86.Build.0 = Debug|x86
 	EndGlobalSection
 	GlobalSection(SolutionProperties) = preSolution
 		HideSolutionNode = FALSE
diff --git a/SOURCE/FastGH3/FastGH3.csproj b/SOURCE/FastGH3/FastGH3.csproj
index fba9750..98e06ae 100644
--- a/SOURCE/FastGH3/FastGH3.csproj
+++ b/SOURCE/FastGH3/FastGH3.csproj
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ set "RES_HACK=start /b /wait "" "ResourceHacker""
 %25RES_HACK%25 -open "$(TargetPath)" -save "$(TargetPath)" -action delete VERSIONINFO,, -action delete MANIFEST,,
 %25RES_HACK%25 -open "$(TargetPath)" -save "$(TargetPath)" -action add -res "$(ProjectDir)res\Version.res"
 %25RES_HACK%25 -open "$(TargetPath)" -save "$(TargetPath)" -action add -res "$(ProjectDir)res\note.ico" -mask ICONGROUP,32512,
-if "%25NC%25"=="NetCompressor" ( stripreloc /b /c "$(TargetPath)" )
+if "%25NC%25"=="NetCompressor" ( ping localhost -n 3 >NUL & stripreloc /b /c "$(TargetPath)" )
 popd
 set SH=sh
 where /q dash &&set SH=dash||where /q %25SH%25
diff --git a/SOURCE/GH3Plus b/SOURCE/GH3Plus
index 00e8505..bb94e49 160000
--- a/SOURCE/GH3Plus
+++ b/SOURCE/GH3Plus
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 00e850545981288efefac0d4271448a81229e35a
+Subproject commit bb94e491746a449a48feaf41348ec69a126de544
diff --git a/SOURCE/Misc/stripversion.bat b/SOURCE/Misc/stripversion.bat
index 6f5fdfe..670884f 100644
--- a/SOURCE/Misc/stripversion.bat
+++ b/SOURCE/Misc/stripversion.bat
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 @echo off
 start /b /wait "" "resourcehacker" -open "%~1" -save "%~1" -action delete VERSIONINFO,, -action delete MANIFEST,,
 :: COMPLETELY MORONIC
-if "%STUPID%"=="true" ( exit /b )
-call stripreloc /b "%~1"
+if /I "%STUPID%"=="true" ( exit /b )
+ping localhost -n 3 >NUL
+call stripreloc /b "%~1" || ( exit /b 0 ) & rem "I/O error 32 ☝️🤓" DON'T CARE STUPID!!!!!!
diff --git a/SOURCE/build-project.bat b/SOURCE/build-project.bat
index 08652ac..5c48b5d 100644
--- a/SOURCE/build-project.bat
+++ b/SOURCE/build-project.bat
@@ -2,8 +2,13 @@
 pushd "%~dp0"
 set MSB="C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\14.0\bin\MSBuild.exe"
 set CONF=Release
+:: TODO: check if VC++ installed, and change configuration if it isn't
 echo ########## FASTGH3 ##########
-%MSB% "%~dp0FastGH3.sln" /p:Configuration=%CONF%
+%MSB% "%~dp0FastGH3.sln" /p:Configuration=%CONF% /t:Rebuild || ( pause & exit /b )
+pushd ..\PLUGINS
+upx -9 --ultra-brute *.dll
+upx -d core.dll TapHopoChord.dll RichPresence.dll FastGH3.dll
+popd
 ::echo ########## FASTGH3 ##########
 ::%MSB% "%~dp0FastGH3\FastGH3.csproj" "/p:SolutionDir=%~dp0" /p:Configuration=Release
 ::echo ########## C128KS  ##########
diff --git a/SOURCE/q/pakdir.exe b/SOURCE/q/pakdir.exe
index 641bb27..bd082c7 100644
Binary files a/SOURCE/q/pakdir.exe and b/SOURCE/q/pakdir.exe differ