Idea: Avatar App

J3DI · 10-05-2008, 10:56 AM

So after looking at the 'Gamertag' thread I got this idea. Wouldn't it be cool if our avatars indicated when we were on/off LIVE?

Granted, I understand we don't do animated .gifs nor those sig bar things. This application would simply change your avatar when you were online.

I think it would be fairly easy to do (if you have the skill set to do it). If I understand correctly, infomration about LIVE IDs is kind of open source i.e. mygamertag.net. We also have the option of using a web based avatar via http://.

My mock-up....
If your online

If your off...maybe or it could just be your regular avatar

A variation of the online

So what do you think?

jeffbax · 10-05-2008, 11:21 AM

What about Steam and PSN?

You'd have to differentiate the two online/offline graphics better. I'd be more in favor of dropping the join date, post count, and location and having status text for whatever services you have. Its also probably much less expensive than trying to generate 40 images per page on the fly.

fitbabits · 10-05-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffbax

What about Steam and PSN?

You'd have to differentiate the two online/offline graphics better. I'd be more in favor of dropping the join date, post count, and location and having status text for whatever services you have. Its also probably much less expensive than trying to generate 40 images per page on the fly.

PSN is meaningless, as is Steam.

Obviously online gaming begun (and will end) with Xbox LIVE. :rolleyes:

J3DI · 10-05-2008, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffbax

What about Steam and PSN?

You'd have to differentiate the two online/offline graphics better. I'd be more in favor of dropping the join date, post count, and location and having status text for whatever services you have. Its also probably much less expensive than trying to generate 40 images per page on the fly.

That is a good idea too(dropping the join date and post count). Many people have actually stated that they would like to see the post count gone. Plus you'd be able to add other things like Steam and PSN. I was just posting an example though, of course I don't think it would be feasible to generate specific avatars. I was thinking of having a general one or something. It could be a really good endeavor for someone looking to build a web site/app though (similar to mygamertag.net).

To be honest I really didn't care about those other networks... I'm a LIVE gamer, so forgive my bias. Yet, if I'm not mistaken you probably shouldn't care about one of them that you mentioned either (not yet at least) :rolleyes:

Siraris · 10-05-2008, 12:07 PM

Personally? I think that sounds like it's a lot of work when you can either 1. Sign on Live and check in 3 seconds, 2. Install xblist, 3. Goto X-box.com and check.

Brady · 10-05-2008, 12:11 PM

Instead of it changing your avatar it would be much easier to just have a small indicator underneath your avatar. For instance that green little dot indicates that you are signed into the CoG forum. It would be much easier to just add a mini XBL icon next to that that changes depending on whether you are signed in or not, that way you can easily adjust in the vB templates to include one for XBL, PSN, or Steam depending upon whether the info is filled in on the users profile.

Quite easy to do actually, given there is an easy way to scrape the data from another website on whether your online or not. I believe that is pretty easy for XBL, but I'm not sure about PSN or Steam.

J3DI · 10-05-2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brady

Instead of it changing your avatar it would be much easier to just have a small indicator underneath your avatar. For instance that green little dot indicates that you are signed into the CoG forum. It would be much easier to just add a mini XBL icon next to that that changes depending on whether you are signed in or not, that way you can easily adjust in the vB templates to include one for XBL, PSN, or Steam depending upon whether the info is filled in on the users profile.

Quite easy to do actually, given there is an easy way to scrape the data from another website on whether your online or not. I believe that is pretty easy for XBL, but I'm not sure about PSN or Steam.

I like that idea better than mine! Mine was a bit over kill now, but that is what discussions are for; to bring ya back down to earth.

All we care about is LIVE anyways... ta hell with the others

jeffbax · 10-05-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J3DI

Yet, if I'm not mistaken you probably shouldn't care about one of them that you mentioned (not yet at least) :rolleyes:

Umm.. what?

pseudopseudo · 10-05-2008, 12:35 PM

This all sounds like more work than it's worth. REALLY.

J3DI · 10-05-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pseudopseudo

This all sounds like more work than it's worth. REALLY.

Why! Why must you steal my joy!? I can dream can't I?!

pseudopseudo · 10-05-2008, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J3DI

Why! Why must you steal my joy!? I can dream can't I?!

It's part of my job description.

Quote:

Originally Posted by My Contract

Job Title: pseudopseudo
Position Description: Make half-assed forum posts at the website of your choice. Play lots of video games. Drink lots of booze. Also, steal people's joy.
Experience Required: College Degree, one year experience, must have kicked at least one young child in the shin.

Raen · 10-05-2008, 12:46 PM

I'd imagine that someone has done a vBulletin plugin for this already if someone looked hard enough. However I don't really play a lot of multiplayer, so don't care enough to look :P

J3DI · 10-05-2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pseudopseudo

It's part of my job description.

Damn you!!!!!!

Brady · 10-05-2008, 01:32 PM

Just did some research on the matter and found a method to get the online status as well as other XBL data for a gamercard without having to embed the entire gamercard.

There is a program that MS set up for developers of community websites to get XBL data called XCDP. Someone has set up a service for those that won't be accepted into XCDP so everyone can benefit. All you have to do is pass this address a xbox live gamertag and it will return an XML file with all the info about the gamertag.

For example:
http://duncanmackenzie.net/services/...rTag=The+Brady

This would make the online status indicator very easy to do for XBL.

J3DI · 10-05-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brady

Just did some research on the matter and found a method to get the online status as well as other XBL data for a gamercard without having to embed the entire gamercard.

There is a program that MS set up for developers of community websites to get XBL data called XCDP. Someone has set up a service for those that won't be accepted into XCDP so everyone can benefit. All you have to do is pass this address a xbox live gamertag and it will return an XML file with all the info about the gamertag.

For example:
http://duncanmackenzie.net/services/...rTag=The+Brady

This would make the online status indicator very easy to do for XBL.

And there it is folks. Give Brady a cookie will ya

Now can we get some engineers to work on this?

rinichanraar · 10-05-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffbax

Umm.. what?

I'm going to assume that comment (the one you quoted) was for Bootsy.

pheriannath · 10-06-2008, 11:52 AM

As stated, it's possible, but another thing to consider is that we don't want to continue cluttering up the user information attached to each post. When we get around to gamercards and other things, we might add it to another part of the site?

J3DI · 10-06-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pheriannath

As stated, it's possible, but another thing to consider is that we don't want to continue cluttering up the user information attached to each post. When we get around to gamercards and other things, we might add it to another part of the site?

You asked a question at the end there, and I'm gonna have to decline. Can't a little "L" or Xbox circle be added to where the AIM, ICQ, etc. stuff is? At a later date of course.

jeffbax · 10-07-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rinichanraar

I'm going to assume that comment (the one you quoted) was for Bootsy.

I don't see how...

10-05-2008, 10:56 AM	#1
J3DI Gamertag: J3DI p Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dearborn, MI Posts: 267	Idea: Avatar App So after looking at the 'Gamertag' thread I got this idea. Wouldn't it be cool if our avatars indicated when we were on/off LIVE? Granted, I understand we don't do animated .gifs nor those sig bar things. This application would simply change your avatar when you were online. I think it would be fairly easy to do (if you have the skill set to do it). If I understand correctly, infomration about LIVE IDs is kind of open source i.e. mygamertag.net. We also have the option of using a web based avatar via http://. My mock-up.... If your online If your off...maybe or it could just be your regular avatar A variation of the online So what do you think?

10-05-2008, 12:35 PM	#9
pseudopseudo Where'd he come from? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,304 Blog Entries: 6	This all sounds like more work than it's worth. REALLY. __________________ About [Dot] Me XBL: pseudopseudo \| Wii: 4565 7740 2372 8879 \| PSN: oduespoduesp "...normal life is so goddamned boring and people are too comfortable with it." - Slack3r78

10-06-2008, 11:52 AM	#17
pheriannath Fair enough. Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 743 Blog Entries: 6	As stated, it's possible, but another thing to consider is that we don't want to continue cluttering up the user information attached to each post. When we get around to gamercards and other things, we might add it to another part of the site? __________________ Editor/Podcaster/Artist/Code Monkey: http://www.co-optimus.com/ Steam: pheriannath Gamertag: Pherbear PSN: pheriannath[/SIZE]

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10-05-2008, 11:21 AM	#2
jeffbax Colonist Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 1,308	What about Steam and PSN? You'd have to differentiate the two online/offline graphics better. I'd be more in favor of dropping the join date, post count, and location and having status text for whatever services you have. Its also probably much less expensive than trying to generate 40 images per page on the fly.

10-05-2008, 12:11 PM	#6
Brady The One and Only Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 144	Instead of it changing your avatar it would be much easier to just have a small indicator underneath your avatar. For instance that green little dot indicates that you are signed into the CoG forum. It would be much easier to just add a mini XBL icon next to that that changes depending on whether you are signed in or not, that way you can easily adjust in the vB templates to include one for XBL, PSN, or Steam depending upon whether the info is filled in on the users profile. Quite easy to do actually, given there is an easy way to scrape the data from another website on whether your online or not. I believe that is pretty easy for XBL, but I'm not sure about PSN or Steam.

10-05-2008, 12:46 PM	#12
Raen Colonist Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK Posts: 1,345 Blog Entries: 2	I'd imagine that someone has done a vBulletin plugin for this already if someone looked hard enough. However I don't really play a lot of multiplayer, so don't care enough to look :P

10-05-2008, 01:32 PM	#14
Brady The One and Only Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 144	Just did some research on the matter and found a method to get the online status as well as other XBL data for a gamercard without having to embed the entire gamercard. There is a program that MS set up for developers of community websites to get XBL data called XCDP. Someone has set up a service for those that won't be accepted into XCDP so everyone can benefit. All you have to do is pass this address a xbox live gamertag and it will return an XML file with all the info about the gamertag. For example: http://duncanmackenzie.net/services/...rTag=The+Brady This would make the online status indicator very easy to do for XBL.