Avatar Update

We have removed the 64x64 from the site (including the news) and have replaced them with Headshots of your Human Avatar. If you've noticed, the site is moving considerably faster, because instead of having to save and load (And query the database for) both versions of the avatars, we only have to do this for one :)

Let me explain this, in a technical way. As best as I can - to answer the questions that have been posted up to this point.

The avatars were located in one folder, that was over 13GB in size when it was just removed. That means that each time an avatar was displayed on the site (the 64x64 one) it had to search that directory for the right image (which caused crashing in NFS) as well as query the user database, for information on which avatar was the users.

With the HA only version, it queries from the HA image folders (which are separated) and there are no MySQL queries, as the information is already cached for each user.

That means that we're saving 13GB worth of file searching, and a database query to the most important table in the database, for each avatar load.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Edward
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The custom avatars are different then the shops. People usually enjoy freedom of expression, and find it restricting. x_x

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by MarchOnOff
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But, an other question. The youtube cacophony on each profile doesn't slow the site even worse then a lil 64x64?

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

Hmm, 64x64 should load faster than 100x100, ne?

(Dang making a lot of comments today. :B)

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by asterisk
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Quote:

; border: 1px solid ; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10;">You honestly think that's the one thing that affects everyone that isn't polled? He didn't poll the shop changes, the autopricer changes, the shop search changes etc. Pretty sure that affects everyone unless you never search for items, quest or use your shop in any way.


I'm pretty sure I remember those being "temporary changes" to see how things affected the site's economy.
But beside that, I'll retract my original statement and change it to "I can't believe another thing that affects the whole site is not polled"

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

cool keith if it helps the site run smoother ..good idea

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

Oh I think it's a fantastic idea! Really, alot better than having to save and upload an avvie; and now I get to see when my friends change their HAs around!

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by molt
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What about all the avatar graphics people have made? Are they going to be no use anymore at all?

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by hATRED_aND_dEATH
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eevvilll.. >.<

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Squirt
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Site slowed to a crawl on me for a second there. So many people posting.

Really, the avatar only showed up in the news anyway. If you want to know who is commenting in the news, read their username. If you like your avatar and commission graphics, continue to do so but for profile use only. It's not that hard to upload an image and just stick it on top of your profile text. :

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Squirt
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Site slowed to a crawl on me for a second there. So many people posting.

Really, the avatar only showed up in the news anyway. If you want to know who is commenting in the news, read their username. If you like your avatar and commission graphics, continue to do so but for profile use only. It's not that hard to upload an image and just stick it on top of your profile text. :

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by ANiME_ANGEL12_523
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I don't..Really like it :/

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Twi
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well... there was a mass amount of lag for me just now... so I'm a little doubtful on that claim. lol... And personally, I liked my avatar more before, even though it was nothing fancy and I had it for eons. Oh well...

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Orchipea
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[quote-quidditch_ginny]a list of names on a profile takes up less space than the avies. I like the change. It dosen't really bother me. Having my own site and server, I totally understand the bandwidth issues.[/quote]

Ctrl F5 on your profile, the HA heads show there as well :/

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by RaptorOnii
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should have made a poll at least

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

Oh, and now my Profile looks funny.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by NekoDramon
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Oh dear, that's a sad. But I'll deal with it.
I suppose one could find a place to put a 64x64 image on their profile if they were really upset by this idea. I know I liked making little piccies for my avvies, but I understand the need to remove them.
gulp Hope I put something nice on my HA, I can't remember what it is. 0.o lolz...

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by yawn
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... ;o; i miss my avatar. i spent so much time on the animation for each and every one of them.

couldn't there have been a poll to get the users' consent? or maybe an option to view the 64x64 avatars instead of the headshots?

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

Dang o___o Can't make avatars no more.

I can see the prices of Signatures go up now. And, I liked having a free, pretty avatar, instead of paying millions just to get a wig.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

Awww, I really loved my avatar. =( I like my HA, but my friend made that icon for me, and I don't have any other place to use it...

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Milkyushigirl
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I know some people have spent a pretty SP on custom avatars for the site and If I say just have it like it used to be only GA members can have custom avatars. This is to much like Gaia lately and it's starting to hurt.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by SeoRa
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Hmm I knew something was up when i found my avatar missing. it's not such a radical or bad change, but the site hasn't been faster for me.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Katts
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pros and cons but overall I like the change =)

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

Working, that is.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by yak
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Why is this a rule now?
It's... not right. It's not all that individual anymore. I liked it the old way where we could make avatars for ourselves and they would have our names.

This is... I don't like it. D':

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

All the complaining.. Oh well. It's not so bad, I had never found an avie I really like anyways!

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

I have to agree, the site's going even slower for me now than before. I really don't think the 100x100 avatar heads are doing it.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

Aww... I liked my avvie!

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Orchipea
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There's so much lag for me right now that I couldn't tell if it was faster or not. I am not a fan of the change, it makes it harder for me to find my friends in my friends list, not to mention the avatar makers and the people that just paid for them. And most of us were really attached to those icons.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Coretta
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My 2 cents -

I. Do not like this.
What about those of us who aren't really into HAs?

I mean... isn't Subeta a PET site? Not an HA site? I supposed I'm biased in that, as I haven't really been big on the HA idea since they originally came out... but come on. Why is everything in Subeta orbitting around HAs lately? Makes me sad. XC

I agree with Saga - Isn't there a way you can still offer 64 x 64 avatars to people who want them? Take them back to being a perk of GAsor something. I like the option of a 64 x 64 avatar. I actually knew who people were at a glance without having to scour the page for their username link.

Bring them back Keith? puppy eyes

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Verismo
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It makes all the comments HUGE... Me no likey...

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by JoAnna_119
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Quote By MidnightShadow:

; border: 1px solid ; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10;">

I'd like to add that I find if funny that the one thing EVERYONE is affected by is the one thing that isn't polled.


You honestly think that's the one thing that affects everyone that isn't polled? He didn't poll the shop changes, the autopricer changes, the shop search changes etc. Pretty sure that affects everyone unless you never search for items, quest or use your shop in any way.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Meagan_Madness
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Ive noticed the site DOES move faster since they changed it to this

and for those who make avvie's they still can people can just have them put else where. It wont ruin commission at all.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

And yes the site is doing the usual lag & freezing up that it's been doing, for me, every night when I try to do dailies & quests. Can't see how the avatars in posts would make a difference in the other areas.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Psyciandra
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well that's no fun... I never liked the idea of HA's when they came out... because I thought they were gonna replace the UA's... when they didn't, I was happy. Now I'm just severely disappointed =/ It's not the first change with subeta I've been saddened over either... I hope this won't be a repeat of neopets.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Sekhmet
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The site seems to be just as slow, if not slower. Perhaps Subeta needs to get a new server, or hire more programmers. Instead of taking away a feature that 90% of users are upset about.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by LadyTerentia
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I like the idea Saga posted about uploading out 64x64's offsite, so that we are responsible for hosting them somewhere else, that way they don't take up as much space on subeta servers.
They are a lot more distinctive and recognizable, as many people, myself included, change their HA's fairly often.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Psyciandra
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well that's no fun... I never liked the idea of HA's when they came out... because I thought they were gonna replace the UA's... when they didn't, I was happy. Now I'm just severely disappointed =/ It's not the first change with subeta I've been saddened over either... I hope this won't be a repeat of neopets.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Stocking
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I don't see the site moving faster, honestly it's lagging even more than before. It seems kind of plain now on the comments though, since it's just Human Avatars like the forums only in a more condensed space. :l

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

i dont think i saved mine...lol and id finally settled on one ah well, this is nice too~

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Ringo
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Pro - a list of names on a profile takes up less space than the avies. I like the change. It dosen't really bother me. Having my own site and server, I totally understand the bandwidth issues.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Nostalgia_507
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Well, what is better? having an avvie and making the site slower or not having it and making it go faster? We need to sacrifice little things in order to enjoy the bigger things...

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by tegu
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I love the idea, but I miss my avatar =( .

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Frostpebble
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Not sure if it's related, but the site is actually moving considerably slower for me at the moment.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Deleted User

Sorry, but I don't like it either. I liked & wanted my previous avatar, it was a picture of my "little girl". Please bring them back? I don't really care if the forums & news posts go slower or not.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Edward
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It isnt the same. People use to make a living off of making avatars, now what? ._. I liked being unique with my avatars, and now its just HA, HA, HA. They change hourly, if not minutely, and you'll now just have to go by their names. No more cute little avatars on your friends list, now its just a bunch of staring heads.

Yes I know, fragmented complaints.

I still dont notice any speed increasement. =/

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Meagan_Madness
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I love it... You can put the avvie somewhere else on the site or a other site.
Im happy that it makes the site faster. I was actually never fond of the avvies

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by foudre
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The headshot of my HA looks fat :/

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by asterisk
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I'd like to add that I find if funny that the one thing EVERYONE is affected by is the one thing that isn't polled.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Squirt
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Maybe like Saga said, have the option to use an avatar hosted off the site.

And I remember when that switch happened- there used to only be preset avatars. Maybe have a few of those too? It wouldn't kill the bandwidth nearly as much.

Or not, whichever works best.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by Charmander
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WHAT?! No. Give me my avatar back. Seeing everyone's HAs sucks.

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