Forum Thread

Due to the file size, you can only get small, low quality avatars. The 150 x 150 pixel size isn't that bad, but it would also be nice if increased.

My main point here is that it would be a nice feature to a lot of users here on PH if you increased the file size.

For example, at the time of writing this, my avatar is a gif. I had to edit it a gif a lot, and i mean a lot, just so I could use it as an avatar. If you increased the file size, it would be less stressful for people to have new avatars. They wouldn't have to edit as much, or even edit at all.

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Thing is, all the avatars are hosted on the PH server. Now imagine if everyone had avatars of, say, 400kB average. Even that would require 1.6 times more space, and server space is limited.
Not only that, but a larger avatar would just be too distracting- the 150x150 size is perfect in my eyes.

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But still. Even a little increase to 300k wouldn't hurt. Half the users on here don't have avatars.

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If they decide not to have avatars, it's their choice; why question it?
Also, a 50kB increase wouldn't increase the quality of any GIFs you decided to upload by any largely noticeable amount.

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Riako has already increased the avatar file size for 100kb, just thought I'll point this out.
You're probably going to need to deal with 250kb for now, or find a better gif that doesn't have so many colours/detail. I doubt it'll be increased again anytime soon, though that might change.

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I love gif avvies and there have been times I had to edit a gif a lot(and make it look horrible in the process) just to be able to use it on here.

However. As stated, bigger avvie sizes will mean avatars will take up more space on the website. I'll be honest, I'd rather the server space go to new events/features then say to have more prettier avatars. In the grand scheme of things, pretty avatars are just not that important in my eyes.

Honestly. The only way I can see this working is if maybe limit it to premiums only? Even still I don't like the idea of having more space designated for avatars.

So yeah. No support on my end.

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@Minccino, I agree with you except for the premium part. I know that I know quite a few premium members on here, many of my friends are so, and by that I would guesstimate that there are quite a few others. That would mean that too much server space might still be used by this. Also, it would make it WAY unfair for other people who, like me, can't or won't ever be able to afford premium. But that's a slightly different discussion for a different time. So I'll let my statement go at that.

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yea, i agree it would be unfair, and @Minccino, why did you complain in that feed, the user only stated it was unfair, you had reacted like 5mil people had singled you out :/

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Derpy, please... try not cause any unnecessary drama due to misunderstandings... Especially in suggestion threads.
I believe she wasn't "complaining" about this suggestion, but just stating a rather valid fact. You need to understand what "unfair" really is
I'm going to mimic what I commented on her feed here. What is unfair about users who are allowing this site to run (with ads too) by giving money to get some bonuses? What would be unfair is if we didn't get any bonuses. And let me add on that the bonuses we get are not permanent. That would be unfair in my opinion. The bonuses and benefits we receive upon buying premium ship last for a limited time, and do not make anything impossible to do for the non-premiums. You're still able to access all features and do them. You can still shiny hunt (true, at a lower chance, but still possible), you can still get your pairs to make eggs (true, not as much as premiums, but still possible), and so on. We get these benefits because we are supporting the site.
To put it simply, if it wasn't for us, Riako would have found it rather difficult to keep this site running, especially considering the fact that we have no adverts, which almost all sites like PH have. That's one thing to keep in mind.

And I think I should also mention that if Riako truly believed we have "too many benefits" or that it's "too unfair", I'm sure he would have removed the green box at the bottom of that page, allowing us to voice any suggestions for premiums.
All sites need some sort of income for the servers to run. You want more features and events, right? I doubt there would have been as many events and features as there are now if it wasn't for users supporting the site. And whats more, these features and events are available for non-premiums too. I wouldn't call that unfair, at all.
I'll also point out that along with keeping the servers running, and making them bigger, Riako is using the money to even advertise PH on other websites, and I can assure you, that doesn't come out to be cheap.

Now don't get me wrong or anything. I completely understand that some people are not able to buy premium, even if they wanted too. That's fine. You're still somewhat supporting the game by being active. But complaining about the benefits people who support the game receive isn't really supportive. It's rather selfish, and I'm sorry if that sounds quite harsh/rude. Non-premiums do receive the same amount of attention as premiums do, and I'm sure Riako knows what is unfair and what isn't.
Nothing is made impossible for non-premiums. In fact, you're getting benefited by the premium users.

Now back onto the suggestion, I do like Mincinno's suggestion. An extra 50kB avatar file size (more or less) for premiums sounds pretty neat. (300kB in total). It's not that much, but could still make a difference. There are users other there, like me, who totally care about pretty avatars, haha. So a small benefit like that would convince some users to buy premium, etc.
And what's more? It doesn't affect anyone ability to play the game! It's not unfair as it doesn't affect anyone. This is not an "OP" suggestion at all. I'm going to mention this again, but Riako has already increased the file size limit from 150kB to 250kB for everyone. 250kB is still a decent amount, even for non-premiums, and 50kB is not a lot, like already stated.
Besides, this would be best as a premium only feature, since I wouldn't be surprised if everyone started having 300kB avatars would slow the servers down by a little. So it only makes sense if only a certain 'group' of users can have this benefit, and it makes sense if it's the people who keep this site running.

Overall, I'll apologise if this sounds harsh in any way, but my intention isn't to be rude at all, or put people down. It's just come to my attention that people use the excuse of premiums having "too many benefits" way too much now (even on suggestions that won't affect the game play for those who don't have premium) - which is what Minccino's feed really was about. I just wanted to make my point pretty clear on what's unfair and what isn't, and how complaining isn't supporting anything (and how it will most likely change nothing).

I have one last thing to say on here, before I leave my house for a few days because after that I might say something else on this suggestion, but what if someone has a premium and then runs out? They would lose their avatar, wouldn't they? But that doesn't seem like a very (and I'm probably using this in a slightly strange way, but) "appetizing" thing for people. Or "attractive" or synonym like that. So that's something to also think about. Some food for thought, I believe is how the phrase goes.

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The problem is not disk space on our servers - there is enough for millions of avatars (or hundredthousands of large avatars)

The problem is bandwidth and page loading speed. Larger avatars makes the page loading much lower (e.g. in forum threads), especially on mobile.

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Regarding the premium discussion:
If the problem was limited disk space then I would agree that a higher limit for premium members would be very reasonable - since those are the users who pay for our servers and who would help us afford more disk space.
(But yeah, the problem isn't disk space anymore in 2016)

ShinoTheShadowShinx
I'm guessing they would just get the original silhouette female/male trainer avatar until they upload one that has less kB (Though also maybe a chance to save the avatar before it gets removed, in case the user hasn't got it stored or saved for when they do happen to get premium again)

This suggestion has received less than 60% support and was moved to rejected.

Total votes: 20
Support ratio: 55%

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