Avatars: Safety Fallback System
Serxne
Currently, there is one iteration of avatar fallbacks, but I would like to suggest a secondary avatar fallback system, using the Trust system.
Outline:
Performance Fallback (Currently implemented) - The avatar a user will see when the other user's avatar does not meet the criteria based on performance metrics/limitations set by the main user.
Safety Fallback (Proposed) - The avatar a user will see when the other user's Trust/Safety settings does not meet the criteria based on Trust/Safety settings [Note: The Trust/Safety fallback avatar could be a private or public avatar, but does not reflect the currently worn avatar of the user, allowing the primary user to have control over which avatar is being viewed by strangers]
Additional information:
Why?
Currently, VRChat does not have a solution for protection against file extraction (avatar ripping), but I am offering this solution as a means to allow users to "consent" to who downloads their files. Utilizing the current Trust/Safety and Fallback systems, of course.
Example:
User A is using a private avatar ["Avatar P"] with a Trust Fallback of a public avatar ["Avatar T"] and a Performance Fallback of a Legacy Avatar ["Avatar L"]. User A has their Trust And Safety settings on "Friends Only" for who can view "Avatar P."
When User A joins a lobby, friends can view "Avatar P," while non-friends can view "Avatar T," and the users who have tighter performance limitations that do not allow "Avatar T," see "Avatar L."
When User A accepts a friend request from User B in the lobby, User B experiences an avatar reload on User A that changes their avatar from "Avatar T/L" to "Avatar P" (Unless "Avatar P" does not meet the performance limitations, then User B will see "Avatar L" again).
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Docteh
I'd like an option where it someone is using this system, I don't see them. Irregardless of friendship status. Like a temporary block.
Having avatars that are shown to small groups is just asking for trouble...
poiyomi
I don't think giving new players a worse experience is good for the overall health of the game.
Serxne
poiyomi: The Trust/Safety fallback would be no different than swapping into a public avatar to go into publics, but it would allow the primary user to control who sees which avatar they are in based on currently implemented systems.
However, it would help alleviate the issue of rippers popping into a lobby, loading everyone to grab their vertex streams, then dipping out to upload them on archiving websites.
Do you have a solution that would protect the primary user's private avatar from being seen by others? If so, I'd like to hear it!
poiyomi
Serxne: I doubt this would do much for ripping. Considering how the program grabs avatar data, I doubt it has much to do with the rank of a player. The only thing this does is discriminate against new users.
New players shouldn't be treated like second-class citizens if the game wants to retain them as long-term users. People try VRChat to see creative things, and lessening that aspect lessens the overall experience.
I get that people are worried about other people having their stuff, but lessening the overall experience or discriminating against new users isn't a good solution. New Players already feel bad when people can't see their avatars because their rank is too low; extending this to not letting them see yours is even worse.
Serxne
poiyomi: I see. My intention with this post was not to "invent" the system, but to build on another system that is being tracked.
I'd simply like to have the option to pick which avatar is my fallback for the Trust/Safety fallback, if the system is implement, not force the performance fallbacks for the situation.
Other Canny post, in reference: https://feedback.vrchat.com/feature-requests/p/requestfallback-avatars-to-non-friends-as-an-anti-theft-measure
poiyomi
Serxne: ah ok, well I hope that system never gets implemented so I can see people playing the game as they see themselves.