Lifetime Accounts

I know lifetime accounts were an incredible deal for those who got them back when they were available. And I know that really, the only way to get them now, if it's still running, is the Vive la Evolution promotion. But they still seem to me to be an interesting thing.

From what I understand, they originally went for about $225. What do you think would be a fair price for one nowadays? I'm not suggesting they be returned, mind you, but I'm just curious what people would value them at nowadays. How much would you pay for no monthly access fee and a free tier of up to 4096ms?

I doubt they will ever return. That's a marketing strategy that's used to haul up newcommers at the same time it "rewards" early birds.

I'm just curious what people think. I'm not suggestion they ever be returned.

Hehe.. Sorry dude. Guess I'm it's just the AM making me slow..

Charter accounts started out at $160. SL was beta and it took me some time to decide to buy an account. By the time I did, I paid $225. Back then everyone paid $15 a month to play, there were no free basic accounts and there were no tier fees, just expensive in world taxes. It took 15 months for it to pay off.

It was beneficial to both the charter members and LL when they were offered. The purchases of the charter accounts were a vote of confidence and a boost to LL in the form of capital. The one time (large) payment was a boost to LL and allowed some added money for growth early on.

There were a lot less people then and it would not make sense to make an offer like that now. But, if the current tiers and subscription rates we use now were in place when SL was new, taking tier and subscription into account, I would estimate the same deal today would cost you $525.

You're not so far off. LL values lifetime memberships at $625, or so they claimed in the contest thing.

I started Jan 2003. Assuming payment 24 months* @ a 4096 tier ($25./mo) = $600.00

(*Note this is a generous assumption since there was no fee during beta)

Each month that goes by, the value increases $25.

When I first started, for an online continual gaming experience, $160 was a total bargain. There was aboslutely no way I was going to miss out on it.

Now I assumed, 'lifetime' MEANT physical 'lifetime' but, I guess time will tell on that. Also, makes me wonder how long they intend to have 4096m for free or not.

Now yes, I'm guessing the value of a lifetime account would probably value around $600 given the facts, and how much tier costs are.

I imagine LLabs assumes the lifetimers will eventually just fall by the wayside.. I mean, there's only like 300 people or so from beta that still play, last I counted. How many will there be a year from now? 2 years? 5?

LF

It's a lifetime membership, LordFly... we can take a year long break and go back on active duty... and we will still be the legendary, most honorable and revered Beta Lifers

To paraphrase some.....
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO
and so on.
legendary, most honorable.... revered....
You're killing me.. stop it... please... please... mercy....

I dont know about honored and revered, but I have had many poeple say to me, "Wow, your a Charter member". As time goes on, seeing us will be more of a rare occurance.

Lol... Loki... the Charter Member only applies to lifers who bought in Beta. Those who bought in 0.9 and 1.0 have no such nomenclature.

I consider myself lucky to even had the chance to get Charter Member status, even though with the recent wackiness happening as of late. Still, a bargain in my eyes.

Eins,

I remember you agonizing over whether to buy that account, too. We all debated whether investing what seemed to us like such a huge chunk of money at the time was a good idea. Seems silly now, doesn't it?

well i consider myself as a half charter since in only pay my land fee (basic account that can still have land)

Please stop being stupid, he was JOKING, jeez.

Uh.. please get a sense of humor. Hint: it's not something you can script and it's not something you'll find in a wiki.

Points to own post.. it's called being sardonic.

lol interesting, i want some....

I thought you were just an ordinary egg!

^ kidding, of course. YOU'RE NOT!!!

As a winner of the contest and recipient of a lifetime membership I was told specifically that I will have access to Second Life for as long as there is a Second Life. What that means though is if LL decides to rename the game and significantly change it then I would no longer have an accout with LL. I had a hell of a time with LL just getting them to define exactly what I won and what terms they were under like defining "Lifetime" (I also had a lot of other problems that I won't go into... ) and how they were going to handle my paid annual account and land.

To be honest, the value of a lifetime account can only be determined by how long SL is around or how long the player stays in the game. In my opinion getting a lifetime account would be unwise unless you know for a fact you will still be playing 3 years from now. If your situation changes or SL shuts down(or restructures payment options) then you are stuck. I ran into that when I won the contest, I had paid for an annual account a few month prior and it upgraded my account to lifetime. Since I did not get a refund or credit for the balance of my paid account, I basically lost it. Had I opted for monthly or quarterly plan I would have not lost the balance remaining on the account.

Not just beta members were offered lifetime accounts. I bought mine just before they took away that option. I was tentative to do it at the time, but I'm glad I did.

At the time I bought the lifetime membership, SL was at a place where many people were not happy with the changes. The end of taxes, the start of "prims per parcel". I had no idea at the time what SL would look like in a year or two, and buying a lifetime membership was a bit of a committment to stick with it and roll with the punches. And boy, I'm glad I did!

Kat, SL is not a game.
It's not something you have to actively do. It just sits there. It's a place. You can visit and see the wonderful content people have made. Code up something to pass the time. Get together with your friends for a quick chat.
Saying "I dunno if i'll still be in SL 3 years from now" is like saying "I dunno if i'll still browse the web 3 years from now", or "I dunno if I'll still send email, download stuff, and chat online in 3 years".

Haha! So when LL changes the game name all lifetimers are dropped? Figures they would put plenty of escape clauses into their 'lifetime' offers but that is just lame. Still, the advantages likely outweigh the disadvantages and I want one desperately..

***WILL BUY LIFETIME ACCOUNTS*** =)

Eggy...

Uh, if I paid $1000 for lifetime internet access for dial up 5 years ago I would have been screwed royally don't ya think? That's all I'm saying. 4 years ago I switched to cable and moved to a different provider. Yes, I could still use the 56k dialup connection anytime I wanted but with 4400k connection I have with cable why would I? It's something to keep in mind that's all. My original ISP is closed and the owner in jail ( or was anyway) so if I had bought lifetime access through them I'd really be hosed.

"Lifetime" when used in a business sense means usually the lifetime of the product or service, not yours. YOu buy a can opener with a "lifetime" warranty be sure to read the fine print, it will usually state the expected service life is 2 years or something similar. Second Life is no different and would be crasy to do otherwise.