Player model

The player model is an image that represents a player's in-game Spartan avatar. All current armor permutations, colors, and visual effects are displayed in the model.

Image Sizes

The player model images come in a range of dimensions and file sizes.

Avatar:

Standard: (207x396)

Hi-Res: (320x704)

Image Generation

In previous Halo titles, such as Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST, player model images where generated dynamically through URL variables (similar to Emblems). In Halo: Reach, however, this does not seem to be the case. Instead, the player model images are generated in-game and uploaded to the Bungie.net servers.

Below is an example of a URL representing a Reach player model:

http://www.bungie.net/stats/reach/playermodel.ashx?rpis=It6Y8wTNMHAW8eLSRr7rbg%3d%3d

Current attempts to decode the string have failed. However, based on the format, the sting is most likely an SHA-1 generated hash string consisting of at least the player's gamertag (perhaps with some other variables).

Caveats

Due to bandwidth issues, the player model upload feature was disabled at launch time. This feature is still disabled, causing most Bungie.net player profiles to display the exact same player model. Player's who were online before launch may have had a different player model.

• Reference: Bungie Weekly Update: 10/01/10 "Pictures of You" (accessed Oct 7, 2010)

More recently, Bungie has enabled this feature. A player's player model may update as soon as every 12 hours, but in some cases after a week. This is assumed to be due to the amount of bandwidth Bungie can spare.