Avatar

''This article is about the characters that Roblox users play as. For people that play Roblox, see Players.'' An avatar (also known as a character, or Robloxian) is a customizable entity that represents a user on Roblox. Players can use their avatars to interact with the world around them, and generally move around games. Avatars have a head, a torso, 2 arms and 2 legs, they can wear Heads, Faces, Hats, T-Shirts, Shirts, Pants and Gear. They can also equip. An avatar can only die in two ways, if they fall down a certain distance from off the map where once the certain distance is reached, the avatar is killed immediately (distance chosen by game creator), or if their head and torso is separated by having a neck joint removed. This type of death happens when the health of said avatar reaches 0 or by resetting or with anything that removes joints, such as lethal explosions.

Dynablocks avatars (2004-2005)
During this stage of ROBLOX development, the game had no actual avatars. Instead, playable characters were made through the usage of ControllerFlags, which were used in conjunction with motors in order to create vehicles that move through obstacles, or in cases like "Steer the Spheres" were used to push around a sphere using various methods.

ControllerFlags were called ControllerFlags due to the 3D flag that was over the controllable model indicating what ControllerType it was. ControllerType included "KeyboardLeft", which was WSAD, "KeyboardRight", which was the arrow keys, but was later replaced with UHJK, "Flee", which ran away from other ControllerFlag models, and "Chase" which chased the nearest ControllerFlag model unless it was already chasing a model. They were removed in 2009, in favor of Vehicle Seats.

1.0
The first and most iconic version of avatars had round studs on their body parts and no moving limbs. The torso also became only one part. In 2007, avatars were given the ability to move their limbs.

A new head with a different shape was added to the avatar in 2009, with some giving it the nickname "shiny head" due to the tremendous amount of glare emitted from the head. The "shiny head" mesh is still used up to today, however, most of it's glare is not present anymore ever since Plastic got a texture. You can still bring the old glare the head mesh had by changing the head's material to "Smooth Plastic". The same goes for all other body parts.

2.0
Robloxian 2.0 is a package available for 15 ROBUX. It was introduced along with the "package" feature itself in 2010. The feature allowed for users to optionally change their avatars to have unique body types, by buying packages with ROBUX in the catalog. This was the first package on Roblox for players to try out for their avatar. This package was met with severe criticism because of it looking realistic and people worrying about "ODers" (online daters) using the package because of its realistic look.

3.0
3.0 bodies are the starter packages for users that have registered an account in 2014 or later. Users could choose between the Man package or the Woman package. Soon after, the starter Man package was changed to include a hair-type hat that cost 90 ROBUX, a blue and black shirt with a motorcycle print and dark green jeans. The Woman package on the other hand, was given a grey striped shirt with a denim jacket and a pair of pink jeans. These packages were introduced in 2013, but cost 75 ROBUX. The price was decreased for the new packages to 25 ROBUX, and finally they were available for free. This series of packages also has a negative association, as avatar 3.0 is default for new users and is seen as "amateur."

4.0
On March 2, 2016, 4.0 bodies ("Boy" and "Girl") were added, and are automatically received by users after signing up depending on which gender they choose. They are free packages and resemble an updated Robloxian 2.0 but with realistic fingers on the hands instead of curved nubs.

R15 Body
The R15 body is a new avatar rig. Instead of the regular 6 joints, it uses 15, allowing for more fluid animation. R15 was officially announced on the blog. Beta testing for this new feature came out on February 18, 2016. It was fully released on September 29, 2016, and users can switch to the rig via the Avatar customization page. Extra animation packages for this were added later and can be purchased from the catalog, which have been positively received as the most appealing part of this package (R6 is usually preferred from a nostalgic/mature viewpoint).

Anthro
Not much is known about Anthro's development progress, and the Roblox staff has not said much about it. It may have been cancelled, but nobody knows for sure.

Anthro (anthropomorphic proportions), is the newest avatar rig on Roblox. Anthro isn't usable by the public yet, but it can be tested here.

Users generally dislike the Anthro avatar for multiple reasons. It is generally much different compared to R15. It doesn't fit with the blocky Roblox style that has been established ever since 2006. Anthro is also thought to encourage more OD'ing.

Anthro is now the new scaling options, Body Type and Proportions. The human model was the beginning, but then it was made into the new scaling, Anthro in the game's files are now known as 'characterR15V2', or something along those lines.

Trivia

 * The first characters had medium green pants, a bright blue or a bright red torso, and a yellow head and yellow arms, resembling what many players call a noob.
 * Avatars are supposed to be plastic robots, hence the "Ro-" part of Roblox and the fact that avatars fall apart once dead.
 * There are a number of similar user/person definable characters and/or avatars like these such as Whatnots from The Muppets, Anything Muppets from Sesame Street, Miis from the Nintendo consoles and Piantas from the Super Mario series.
 * A user can change the colors of their avatar's limbs; if the user is not wearing a shirt, players can see the color of its torso.
 * Up until 2013, the player's torso color would change to the color of the team they were on, their head would become yellow, and their arms and legs would become dark gray.
 * Avatars from 2006 to 2007 had sharper limbs and different heads.
 * According to an admin post, avatars are only 5 inches tall.
 * Having smaller or bigger legs do not make an advantage in obstacle courses; even if a package is on, the limbs have the same hitbox.
 * Users used to have circle studs on their shoulders until 2009.
 * In early 2007, the icon for an avatar looked different, as seen with builderman in the picture to the right.Avatar1.png