I just had to make a post about Zone. I work for a multimedia company in real life where we create interactive games and programs, so I do have some insight and experience in this area.
In the infant stages of this game I think that maybe the development is going in the wrong direction. I don't want to come off like some bitter player because my custom head was declined. I'd rather just offer my thoughts which I consider solutions.
The average number of players online in Zone is so low. The goal is to get more players to join and get hooked. Finally you made a free version. That's good.
Regarding customs: Since this is a Sci-Fi themed game. You should really have let any monster, creature, alien or robot in the game. It should be flooded with these kind of looks. Skinny, small, tall, whatever as long as there was no advantage or disadvantage with the fighting. Picture a world filled with them? That would be my vision of Zone. (of course no copyright stuff).
Another way to get more players: In the early stages of the game. Make the custom uploads free for a limited time. Or make the first 3 customs free. Something. So little to do on the game currently so why not grow the social aspect.
The environment of the game: Why would a sci-fi themed game have those colors? What I mean is blue skies and white puffy clouds? This should have the look of space. Black spacey skies with shooting stars (doesn't take much to make a pixel fly across the screen in the background) would be my design for the sky. Every where you jump to in the game looks the same. Same pale blue floors. Make it dark colors, more futuristic. Change the color scheme between places. Looks the same everywhere.
I have more ideas but probably wont matter if I list them because it wont matter anyway.
Zone rules are too strict. You don't have a player base like Classic or Era yet.
Oh yeah, (after I removed flashing eyes) the reason I was given to why my robot head was declined was: "Your head is too small". My response was: "I used the entire with of the template, all 32 pixels". There reply was: "Use the height". My reply was: "That's a square." No response.