The code I posted above should work just fine. Just replace the GetAvator function with the GetTagContents call with the correct start and end tags. Replace the GetUsername function with the GetTagContents call with the other start/end tags, etc...
Only, the GetTagContents function returns a List(Of String); you only need the first result.

So that part would become:
vb.net Code:
  1. strAvator = GetTagContents(item, <avator start tag>, <avator end tag>).Item(0)
  2. strUsername = GetTagContents(item, "<SPAN class=friend_id>", "</SPAN>").Item(0)
  3. strStatus = GetTagContents(item, "<SPAN class=last_online_time>", "</SPAN>").Item(0)
  4. strGame = GetTagContents(item, <game start tag>, <game end tag>).Item(0)

Just replace the start/end tags you did not tell us yet with the correct ones.
It would also be wise to do some error checking. What if the current item doesn't contain the Status tag for example? Right now, my code is trying to access Item(0) of the GetTagContents function, which would not exist and throw an error.