Will PSN finally get custom avatars?
Written by Sev1512 
Now that the “new” PlayStation.com has launched, and with the PlayStation Network fully integrated into the site and forums, there is one thing that is blatantly missing…
That one thing is avatars. Avatars are defined as a “user’s representations of himself/herself or alter ego”. Part of what makes the internet so special, is that things such as “avatars” let users basically be anything they want to be.
So why on the PlayStation Network are we forced to choose from a set of 200 + avatars, most of which are horrible and no one would actually want to use? The offering Sony has given us certainly doesn’t represent us gamers, or PlayStation fans at all. Sure there are some bearable avatars out there, like the Motorstorm avatar, or a Nathan Hale avatar, but since they are the only decent avatars, it’s not uncommon for 15 of your PSN friends to have the same exact avatar as you.
My avatar, one of the bearable avatars
The old PlayStation.com forums allowed you to upload your own avatar (after a certain post count), now that the PlayStation Network has merged with the PlayStation.com forums, will that mean we will get to upload our own avatars soon?
No word yet from Sony, but lets hope that they listen to us PlayStation fans that want to express ourselves a little more than a choosing from a list of crappy (very crappy) avatars.
What about you guys? What avatar are you using? Would you still use that avatar, if you could upload you own? Didn’t think so.
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November 24th, 2008 at 7:34 PM
I thought the same thing. My other thought was with the merger is that this might mean that we will soon be able to interact/message friends from other sources like computers or mobile phones. Your thoughts?
November 24th, 2008 at 7:43 PM
I can only hope that they will either greatly expand the list of avatars with some good ones or allow us to upload our own. I have about 50 friends on my list and between every one there is probably only about 10 different avatars used. I personally use like this weird Cat avatar thing because it seems to match my name best but I would much rather have other choices. I mean seriously who uses an electrical socket as an avatar? What genius decided hey you know what will identify with gamers… electrical sockets! Genius!
I long for the day where we have more options. To the guy above me as well… I think it’d be awesome to be able to send someone a message or check it from my phone or PC.
November 24th, 2008 at 7:48 PM
I think they need to remove the ones no one uses and then add some proper new ones. I doubt they will allow us to upload our own however
November 24th, 2008 at 8:02 PM
I’m using the sheep, and no, would change it to a custom avatar if I had the chance.
November 24th, 2008 at 8:52 PM
I am currently using the Spade and, if I had the opportunity to change it, I would.
I have a theory that, when Home is released, our avatar’s face will become our new avatar…
This way everybody would have a varying avatar.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:01 PM
I personally don’t think user uploaded avatars will be allowed… there’s too many ways to abuse that privilege. I think Sony should just expand the current avatar selection with more game eccentric icons, and also allow games to reward players with additional icons. For example, get a platinum Trophy for a game and unlock a specific avatar that only a Platinum can unlock.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:03 PM
I agree with whoelse on the fact that they probably won’t allow us to upload our own Avatar especially for use on the PS3 but just adding a bunch of new options would be fantastic. I mean they have enough franchises now that they can do some characters for. Sackboys, Grimps from PixelJunk Eden or the guys from Monsters… They shouldn’t be a lack of avatars to make at least.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Easy solution is within PS Home allow the user to upload his PS Home avatar as an image for the XMB.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Now that Home is finally coming out I am not shocked that people have found something new to complain about.
I can remember when Avatars for 360 were revealed. It was a near unanimous “Xbox Avatars look gay”.
You always want what you don’t have.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:18 PM
i find it hilarious that even though your discussion is valid, me and whoelse have the same avatar.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Lol.
i use the guy from….prototype…He looks so awesome lol.
But yea….it would be tight if i could upload my own.
Or atleast give us better ones.
November 25th, 2008 at 12:56 AM
if people wont put porno pictures on there then they will let us. thats pretty much why sony wont let us.
November 25th, 2008 at 1:31 AM
I don’t see this as an issue. Who cares about some little square picture next to your name, really?
I guess Sony is doing pretty well if the priority with some is a dinky little picture on the friends menu.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:56 AM
I would like to have a custom avatar.
I currently switch between the rooster and the yellow baby duck (chicklet) whatever it is
November 25th, 2008 at 6:19 AM
i can see it now…..my friend “giant penis” just came online and now he’s fallen asleep……ok bad joke but seriously there has to be some kind of control. imagine if they let you set a custom pic with your eye or god forbid they let you choose random pics off your hdd. trust me tub girls everywhere.
November 25th, 2008 at 9:31 AM
I figured there were no custom avatars out of fear of visual vulgarity.
November 25th, 2008 at 12:53 PM
I think if it works in the same fashion as Xbox Live where your friends can see your custom avatar but others will see your default, I will be happy with that
November 25th, 2008 at 2:51 PM
I want to use one of the sigs that Pete made me as my avatar. Sony, it is only fair
November 25th, 2008 at 10:53 PM
I am using a hot shots golf avatar that i have never seen anyone else use which is nice. But i would def. use an image from my PS3 if given the option.
November 26th, 2008 at 12:23 AM
[...] Will PSN finally get custom avatars? Written by Sev1512 Now that the “new” PlayStation.com has launched, and with the PlayStation Network [...] [...]
December 11th, 2008 at 9:00 AM
Perhaps one of the main reasons Sony did not implement the feature’ custom avatars was to avoid priviledged being abused.. or something similar, meaning avoiding someone from making a explicit, offensive or gory custom avatar. If that’s the case, are they… just plain stupid?
They could adapt, simply allow users to upload custom avatars from the photo library in XMB and a notice bar below the PSN avatar icon saying either “approved” or “pending” when it’s approved, you get the idea, when it’s pending, Sony will be deciding to whether or not let that picture through. There’s always better option, it’s up to those lazy jerks to decide what to do.
February 7th, 2009 at 10:48 AM
I use the kratos avatar from god of war : D but yeah.. If we could choose our own it would be long gone