Avatar Announcement  (Read 15326 times)

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ItsLawrence

Avatar Announcement
« on: 29 Aug 2012, 01:32:06 »


We're changing how site avatars will work!

As part of a progression with the site that you are likely to see later this year, we have decided that it is a good time to initiate a change to your site avatars. The changeover will progress as follows (providing we experience no issues):

  • 30th Aug - All current avatars will be locked and no new ones will be able to be added.
  • 1st Sept - All current avatars will be deleted.
  • 2nd Sept - All users will receive their user (skin) avatar.

This timetable of transition will allow anyone who needs to, to get their avatar from our server before it is deleted. If you are wondering what we are replacing avatars with; look at what has been my avatar for a few weeks now, every user will receive their own Minecraft skin face as their site avatar automatically; you won't have to do anything (providing we have a suitable skin on our records).

This change should be a good improvement for the site, it should make reading posts and seeing who has made a certain post much clearer for everyone. As normal if you have any questions please reply to this topic.

During the transition period you may experience some momentary changes to the site, these should be fixed soon after they occur. If you notice any serious issues please contact me.
« Last Edit: 29 Aug 2012, 01:33:42 by ItsLawrence »

tyja

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #1 on: 29 Aug 2012, 01:57:57 »
What benefit does this bring to the server or forum? Im wondering because I would much rather keep my current avatar, which practically is my skin but was made by a friend of mine from V3.

ItsLawrence

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #2 on: 29 Aug 2012, 02:10:09 »
What benefit does this bring to the server or forum? Im wondering because I would much rather keep my current avatar, which practically is my skin but was made by a friend of mine from V3.
I did explain this in the original post:
...
This change should be a good improvement for the site, it should make reading posts and seeing who has made a certain post much clearer for everyone.
...

MagicMan27

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #3 on: 29 Aug 2012, 02:19:26 »
after you have your face avatar can you change your skin to change the avater? or just the avatar? also will helmets show?
« Last Edit: 29 Aug 2012, 02:46:02 by MagicMan27 »

ItsLawrence

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #4 on: 29 Aug 2012, 03:59:58 »
after you have your face avatar can you change your skin to change the avater? or just the avatar? also will helmets show?
It will automatically update (on a once daily basis) once you edit your actual Minecraft skin (on minecraft.net). Helmets/hats won't be shown; faces only.

emmabear

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #5 on: 29 Aug 2012, 09:06:48 »
that means no one will see my gogle's 

Miner_man123456

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #6 on: 29 Aug 2012, 09:40:27 »
I already got my face as my avatar, will it still change or ?

buckieUK09

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #7 on: 29 Aug 2012, 12:45:43 »
I'd rather have my own pic as my avatar but oh well.

Licksterboy

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #8 on: 29 Aug 2012, 16:29:06 »
I already got my face as my avatar, will it still change or ?
It WILL be deleted according to the post, but you will most likely not see a difference on September 2nd. It may also be a different size, thats all.
  • 1st Sept - All current avatars will be deleted.
  • 2nd Sept - All users will receive their user (skin) avatar.
« Last Edit: 29 Aug 2012, 16:49:58 by Licksterboy »

Miner_man123456

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #9 on: 29 Aug 2012, 18:10:12 »
I was thinking about the size really was just in a hurry when writing that :P, sitting in school while on the forums is a no no :-)

tyja

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #10 on: 29 Aug 2012, 19:42:39 »
I saw what you wrote but it lacks logic in many ways. So by the new system it will be easier to identify who says it, as if the name of the person wasn't enough, because their skin is their avatar. I'm lucky if I know what my friends skins are let a lone all the other people. And frankly I don't care what they are and don't see the need to identify them by it.

buckieUK09

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #11 on: 29 Aug 2012, 20:14:40 »
I was planning on putting up a new pic as well, a pic of all my guitars :(. It was going to say at the bottom, "my babies" lol. Oh well :(

ItsLawrence

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #12 on: 29 Aug 2012, 21:30:19 »
I saw what you wrote but it lacks logic in many ways. So by the new system it will be easier to identify who says it, as if the name of the person wasn't enough, because their skin is their avatar. I'm lucky if I know what my friends skins are let a lone all the other people. And frankly I don't care what they are and don't see the need to identify them by it.
The new system will therefore allow you to learn people's skins according to who they are? You will be able to identify that image with their Minecraft user; thus giving more of a connection between the site and the server. You will see once the change has occurred that you begin to associate that image of their Minecraft face with that user; rather than having to read the user's name.

I was planning on putting up a new pic as well, a pic of all my guitars :(. It was going to say at the bottom, "my babies" lol. Oh well :(
You can still put any pictures/messages you may want users to see in a topic or in your signature.

buckieUK09

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #13 on: 29 Aug 2012, 21:46:16 »
Yes Lawrence I suppose I can

tyja

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #14 on: 29 Aug 2012, 22:22:43 »
But still, the connection seems trivial.

Citebafla

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #15 on: 30 Aug 2012, 20:38:49 »
I wouldn't want to have my name connected with my Minecraft skin... I don't have an avatar because an avatar is something personal, and should expres something about the person in question. My Minecraft skin is in no way connected to me as a person, and will only confuse people and give them a wrong impression about me. I'm firmly against this change.

tyja

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #16 on: 30 Aug 2012, 20:47:24 »
I wouldn't want to have my name connected with my Minecraft skin... I don't have an avatar because an avatar is something personal, and should expres something about the person in question. My Minecraft skin is in no way connected to me as a person, and will only confuse people and give them a wrong impression about me. I'm firmly against this change.

In agreement completely.  My skin is a rainbow. I, in no way, am not that girlyl.

Foob

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #17 on: 30 Aug 2012, 20:55:01 »
Lawrence may have not fully explained the reasons for the change but we are planning lots of updates to the site that will connect your in game stats and such, this would require profiles and what not. We personally think the connect between site and server will be easier if your profile image is the skin of your Minecraft character instead of a piece of artwork. You may not see the need for the change right now, but in the future you will understand the reasoning.

Citebafla

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #18 on: 30 Aug 2012, 21:00:53 »
So I guess I'll just make my avatar's head completely black then, and start getting a proper "avatar" for in my signature. I just really don't want a Minecraft skin, which changes frequently depending on my mood or just a nice movie or book that I've recently seen/read, connected to a profile of me on this site.

A unique piece of art, reflecting someone's personality and emphasizing their individuality is a lot better to identify a user than a random avatar of a skin that's a meager 8x8 pixels. Especially since a lot of people have the same skins, or very alike skins, you'll only cause more confusion on the forums by connecting forum accounts and minecraft skins.

So I still stick with my opinion, I'm strongly opposed to this change, please just let people keep their own avatar.

buckieUK09

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #19 on: 30 Aug 2012, 21:18:03 »
As I said before, "I'd rather have my own pic as my avatar but oh well", I would prefare my pic but I'm not strongly opposed to the change, as you say. If you are that concerned about how people think of you from your avatar, put it on your signature or a new type of avatar that you think reflects yourself. When Lawrence pointed this out to me I thought, "Oh well I suppose I can do that, problem solved".
« Last Edit: 30 Aug 2012, 21:23:02 by BuckieUK09 »

Citebafla

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #20 on: 30 Aug 2012, 21:41:21 »
You didn't read my other argument Buckie, which said that a lot of people have the same, or at least very similar skins. This will only create more confusion when it comes to recognizing someone's posts, which was first a pro-change argument. If they want to connect the server and the site more they should find other ways. This one just isn't handy.

Foob

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #21 on: 30 Aug 2012, 21:41:42 »
So I guess I'll just make my avatar's head completely black then, and start getting a proper "avatar" for in my signature. I just really don't want a Minecraft skin, which changes frequently depending on my mood or just a nice movie or book that I've recently seen/read, connected to a profile of me on this site.

A unique piece of art, reflecting someone's personality and emphasizing their individuality is a lot better to identify a user than a random avatar of a skin that's a meager 8x8 pixels. Especially since a lot of people have the same skins, or very alike skins, you'll only cause more confusion on the forums by connecting forum accounts and minecraft skins.

So I still stick with my opinion, I'm strongly opposed to this change, please just let people keep their own avatar.

As I said above, its needed in future updates for personalized in game profiles. Go to the art section to post art.

Waterworth

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #22 on: 30 Aug 2012, 21:49:12 »
Quote
So I guess I'll just make my avatar's head completely black then, and start getting a proper "avatar" for in my signature. I just really don't want a Minecraft skin, which changes frequently depending on my mood or just a nice movie or book that I've recently seen/read, connected to a profile of me on this site.

A unique piece of art, reflecting someone's personality and emphasizing their individuality is a lot better to identify a user than a random avatar of a skin that's a meager 8x8 pixels. Especially since a lot of people have the same skins, or very alike skins, you'll only cause more confusion on the forums by connecting forum accounts and minecraft skins.

So I still stick with my opinion, I'm strongly opposed to this change, please just let people keep their own avatar.

This isn't up for debate, we are doing this for new features that connect your stats and skins to the website. If we felt this wasn't necessary we wouldn't have done it.

If you wish to reflect yourself on this site, change your skin so it reflects you more, you can also post art in the several threads we have on this forum.

Tidala

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #23 on: 30 Aug 2012, 21:55:42 »
Indeed, and honestly not very many people ive seen have the same skin, and no one will(should) have the mod skins.

There's nothing wrong with this change, and while you cant have your own pic, Water's right and you can post your 'i wish this were my avatar' pictures in one of the artwork threads.

GrizzShark

Re: Avatar Announcement
« Reply #24 on: 30 Aug 2012, 22:15:01 »
I like the new avatar thing. I don't always remember people's names, but I can be all like "Hey, I saw you (literally) on that thread."

But seriously, I really like the idea.