03. Jul. 2008, 10:47 | GOOD MORNING SL!
Premium accounts in decline
THE number of premium account holders has shrunk in the last year, according to Linden Lab figures.
Just 88,585 residents held subscription-paying Second Life accounts at the end of May 2008, according to the statistics - down 1260 members from the same time in 2007.
An article on the Reuters website has argued that the rise of OpenSim and other open source worlds could be responsible for the decline as those alienated by Linden Lab rules – such as bankers and gamblers – find a home elsewhere.
But there is good news for the Lab as well – despite the decrease in premium accounts, the total number of hours spent in-world was up to 32 million from 20.8 million.
University entry
Southampton Solent University has teamed up with developer Daden Limited to launch Solent Life in-world.
The island will be used both as a teaching platform and as a showcase for students' work.
It will mainly be used by students in fashion design and digital music courses.
Solent Life is surrounded by a stream and boasts a reference library, gallery, cafe, nightclub, auditorium and stalls which can host exhibits.
The university's Lisa Mann welcomed the chance to improve connections through the virtual world: "Collaboration with other universities and indeed companies abroad and in the UK will provide invaluable 'real life' experiences that would not normally be possible."
No console development
A PR representative for Linden Lab has denied that the company is looking to expand Second Life to the Xbox, Playstation and iPhone.
Rumours spread that an expansion was under development after a comment was spotted hidden in the code of a page on the Second Life website.
But the official response made it clear that no work had been started on such plans.
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Have your say
4Comments
- Posted at 03. Jul. 2008, 13:26 — by SoapClawtooth
As a premium account holder, I think it's fair to say that the reason the Premium accounts are in decline is because there simply aren't enough benefits to warrant paying the annual feel (or whatever payment plan you choose). 512 square meters of land is hardly anything and $L300 a week is, while handy, not a vast sum. My opinion would be that LL needs to revise the benefits it offers to people considering going premium in order for it to retain its appeal.
- Posted at 03. Jul. 2008, 13:26 — by SoapClawtooth
As a premium account holder, I think it's fair to say that the reason the Premium accounts are in decline is because there simply aren't enough benefits to warrant paying the annual feel (or whatever payment plan you choose). 512 square meters of land is hardly anything and $L300 a week is, while handy, not a vast sum. My opinion would be that LL needs to revise the benefits it offers to people considering going premium in order for it to retain its appeal.
- Posted at 03. Jul. 2008, 14:46 — by DweedleCoronet
I USED to be a Premium Account holder... it was a joke. You're so much better off buying your land on an estate sim for a fraction of the price and tier, and the 300L a week is a joke. You can't buy ANYTHING with that. It was a useless endeavour. As a n00b I was taken in by the Premium Account because I wanted land and to grow a business. As soon as I learned that there were other options available I choose to keep my Premium Account fee and buy other things with it. The Premium Account system needs to be heavily overhauled or dismantled.
- Posted at 07. Jul. 2008, 16:21 — by Nuke67
I have to agree with others, the premium account needs to be vastly redone to get people to want to pay the monthly fee, raise the land and stipend allowance would be the first steps, it's better to keep your account free, and just buy lindens when you want to, when I paid a monthly fee to other online games, they provided things and also had a system in the game to let you make inworld money to spend, LL has nothing like that, so raising the stipend to what 1500 or so per week would get more people to think about going to the premium account.
