How can I set an avatar (profile photo) in multiplayer?

There are two main ways to add a profile photo in multiplayer:

When you’re creating the SparkChess multiplayer account, you’re asked to “Connect to Facebook” or skip. If you do connect, SparkChess will use the email address and avatar from Facebook automatically.

Alternatively, you can use the Gravatar service to add an avatar. Gravatar stands for Globally Recognized Avatar and it’s a free service from WordPress, the organization that maintains the WordPress software that powers over a third of the world’s web sites. Gravatar works by linking an email address to a public profile picture.

To add a photo, first you need to create an account:

• Visit www.gravatar.com
• Click on the big Create Your Own Gravatar button.
• A simple account sign up form will be shown. Enter the same email address you’re using with SparkChess and a password. When you submit the form, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Click the Activate Account button on the email.

Now that you have your account, go to www.gravatar.com again and login from the top right. After login, you’ll see a page with the title Manage Gravatars and the text “Whoops, looks like you don’t have any images yet! Add one by clicking here!” Click on the link and follow the instructions.

If you’d prefer SparkChess to have its own avatar system, please contact us so we can see how much interest there is in this feature.