Why not animated avatars?

[Aphex_Twin]

I was a bit baffled by CFC's ban on animated avatars. Why are they not allowed? File size should not be a problem since it can be restricted. Also, I don't think this will endanger the lives of the cross-eyed...

Is it some kind of browser compatibility problem?

 

[puglover]

It might be because they distract you from the topic and you end up staring at the avatar for hours without reading the thread.

 

[sabo]

yeah I'd like to know too, they don't take up anymore space than a "stationary" avatar.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

One possible reason - they're a strain on the eyes, for some cases. I still remember the headache I get fr Ohwell's 'dancing anime girl' animated avatar at GC fr some time ago...

And if I turn the option off, I can't see the fine custom avs other posters have...

 

[philippe]

Too bad i have a dancing white mage on my PC and a dancing Selphie and a sword slashing Squall

 

[Silverflame]

The eye almost always first sees movement, then bright colors, then text. Having an animated avitar will be as distracting as banner ads between each post. This is why the rules want our sigs shorter, because people are much more interested in seeing the post rather than a sig or an animated avatar.

 

[Pillager]

Just too distracting, and jolly annoying.

They are rightly verboten.

 

[Ren]

I'd like to see discreetly animated avatars allowed (such as my Civ 2 Fanatic w/ animated flame )

 

[Aphex_Twin]

But what about the eye strain caused by the emoticons...

Maybe animated avatars should be allowed , but at a limited frame number and speed (say 20 frames at no more than 5 frames/sec)... Also, there could be an option to have two avatars (one animated, one still and the user can choose to disable the animated ones) or a single avatar, but which could be set up to show only one frame at user request...

 

[Eklektikos]

Originally posted by hedgehog
But what about the eye strain caused by the emoticons...

The smilies are (or at least should be) relevant to the post and are often a good visual replacement for inflection and tone of voice. Used as such they aid communication rather than distracting from it - something that cannot be said for animated avatars, regardless of frame-rate.

Maybe animated avatars should be allowed , but at a limited frame number and speed (say 20 frames at no more than 5 frames/sec)... Also, there could be an option to have two avatars (one animated, one still and the user can choose to disable the animated ones) or a single avatar, but which could be set up to show only one frame at user request...

Firstly I suspect that the dual avatar system you suggest would not be implementable in the version of vBull used here (if in any). Secondly, would this not rather fly in the face of the assertion that animated avatars would not take up much more space?

 

[Portuguese]

So, don't use animated smileys also. They just keep me from reading the text for hours and hours...

J/K

 

[animepornstar]

Originally posted by Knight-Dragon
One possible reason - they're a strain on the eyes, for some cases. I still remember the headache I get fr Ohwell's 'dancing anime girl' animated avatar at GC fr some time ago...

dancing girl is the best avatar ever!

 

[Portuguese]

Now I see the point

 

[Pongui]

Originally posted by Silverflame
The eye almost always first sees movement, then bright colors, then text.

Also, animated avatars would be another step away from the "Civ feel" Thunderfall wants for the site and forums.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Final ideas...

1. What if only people with a significant number of posts would get the right to an animated avatar (i.e. 600-800 posts)? 50% of the members here have no more than 2-3 posts and only one small percentage have more than 500 posts...

2. Make the animated avatars half or one third the size (pixel numbers) of normal avatars...

3. Submit any animated avatars for the aprooval of moderators. If this is combined with the post-limit option then it shouldn't overload the moderators...

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Even with a limit of 600 - 800 PC, that'll still translate into quite a no of ppl (and work for the mods). And what if they want to chg their avs now and then?

Let's just be grateful for custom avs and stop it at that.

 

[Jeratain]

Originally posted by animepornstar

dancing girl is the best avatar ever!

After seeing this monstrosity I can totally understand the ban and support it all the way!

 

[Switch625]

Originally posted by Jeratain
After seeing this monstrosity I can totally understand the ban and support it all the way!

Seeing multiple instances of that vomitous avatar on a page is headache inducing and hurts the eyes. It's banishment from GC was a great day.

 

[hbdragon88]

I was one that was for animated avatars, but from seeing that 'dancing girl' animated avatar, I can totally understand why it's been placed on there...

GAHHH!

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Then limit the speed to 0.5 - 1 fps... It's more of an implement problem...