Time to Limit Free Accounts RE: Grid Attacks ?

This is like the 4th major grid attack within a relative short period. There seems to be a correlation to this type of attack and the introduction of the 'free accounts' last year. I would be interested to know how many of the grid attacks were initiated by members gaining access to the SL grid via free accounts.

Perhaps some strict limitations on what free account holders can do inworld in terms of scripting, building, etc..... like with many other 'Demo' applications and games... ???

Just a thought.

Don't think that would work.

How hard is it for some malcontent to grab a fraudualant credit card number, log in & drop a script?

Harder than it is now.

Plus that would tack on another criminal charge as well.

Just curious as to whether the grid attacks are generated by free account members. As a long time member (circa 2004), I don't recall these types of attacks until after "Free Memberships" program was instituted.

Just maybe, those a'hole game hackers might consider not attacking the SL grid, if it cost them a Premium Membership fee in order to have scripting rights.

Again, just my 2 cents...

Next time you have one, just let it go.

The majority of users mange to function just fine in SL, so rather then punishing people who haven't done anything, let's focus on just the social rejects.

Why all of the hatred for us free members? There are a lot more legitimate free users than there are grid crashers. I never would have tried this game if I couldn't try it out for free.

Another Thought....

Also, would be a good way for LL to increase membership revenues by placing restrictions on what free account users can do inworld. Afterall, the whole purpose of the free membership program was to promote 'conversion' to Premium. If a free account holder likes it here and acts responsibly, they should gladly upgrade to Premium and pay for 'full rights", including scripting.

(posted in the last thread, I think its worth considering)
What about a deposite system?

They take 10 dollars from your credit card... if you're not banned in 30 days, they return it.

Current free accounts wouldn't be required to or subjected to any action.

That would be missing the whole point of a free account. I had never heard of second life before I signed up, there is no way I'd enter my credit card number for a game I knew nothing about.

You know, I have a free account, work as a greeter, take up scripting jobs for people . . . why exactly should I be punished for the actions of someone else?

Oh, right, cause implementing a fix that focuses on the few trouble makers would take too much work. Really, find a different scape goat.

How about...

free accounts cannot write or edit scripts at all. But they can use them. the only accounts that can write a script would then be those that are fully paid for. That way, hackers can't use a free account, newbies still get to use scripts, newbies (who logically shouldn't have that much experience) don't get to write scripts, but that is a goodie to be unlocked by premium membership.

Of course, a dedicated hacker could still get a premium account to make his griefing toys, then either use them himself or give them to a newbie or other unsuspecting victim who activates them. however, the original maker would still be identifiable, and at teh cost of one paid-for account each time he brings down the grid, that should reduce the problem significantly.

Okay, I make a little bit of money in-game by scripting. Let's say I've got a free account, and suddenly I have to pay to keep doing my thing. Why doesn't my friend who just designs objects (also for money) have to upgrade? Or my other friend who makes textures in Photoshop and uploads them?

You'll really step on the scripting community's toes this way. Relatively bad idea.

That would hurt people like me very badly who are on free account to learn what scripts can do so we can decide if we want to go premium or not. The people you'll be hurting are the future content makers like myself ... and at a time when people are screaming for more content, stopping scripting is a bad idea.

As a two day old newbie I already had a flying vehicle with a form and script I made from scratch. So "logically shouldn't have experience" does not apply. Some newbies are iRL accomplished artists, programmers, and engineers who only need to learn the nuances to be able to start creating from day 1.

YES, a dedicated hacker can simply get a premium account to get past a scripting block. So you're back to square one.

What Linden Labs needs are tools to catch the events as they happen or make the cleanup sweeps faster. Perhaps build a deletion function into each sim that can be fired off by a broadcast.

I think there should be an age limit before one can script in game of 15 to 30 days. Free or paid should NOT matter.

Just pointing out that though grid attacks have gone up in relation to the amount of new Free accounts, so has SL grown in relation time old PREMIUM acounts have been inworld. Hmmmm? ^.^

Leave the basics alone and simply hammer the griefers with the law and banning. Nuff said.

~Jessy

Just like a free account cant buy land, dont let them create scripts. Before all the whines about how you make objects with scripts, have someone create it for you, buy it, if it is for something you are going to resell, it's worth the investment that someone create it for you.

If a new free account cannot create the script, problem solved, or at least nipped in the bud better then it's been done now...

That has to be the crappiest idea I've ever heard. Congrats tho. I'm sure it took effort on your part.

Residents shouldn't be punished for the actions of a small handfull of people.

More then your rude comeback. Want to create scripts, pay the fee for a premium account. That simple.

This is probably the best suggestion IMHO. It shouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility to be able to delete all of X users objects/scripts/whatever from the sim(s). LL should have this function in all sims so in the event of some half-wit running crap like this again, they can run their function to mass delete everything this user owns from the game - job done in just a few mins.

I'm a premium account holder myself and I don't think punishing Free accounts is the way forward. As SL becomes more popular, it's a bigger incentive for the community to grow if people have a way in where they don't need to pony up cash. Granted it does invite the cretin element who have nothing better to do than write crap like we have seen recently, but on the flip-side how many budding artists/scripters etc would we be short of now in SL if it wasn't for them learning on FREE accounts, before taking the plunge with a premium.

The game needs better management tools and I hope LL are focussing their efforts in this area.

Please don't lump all account holders in the same category.

I do not think like that, except we get better pay. O .............. wait! We are above the free account holders. LOL

Not going to happen, come up with something that is realistic. I realize the greedy think it a grand idea to restrict scripting and drive up the prices, but I think you should start thinking about a new money making scam.

catch 22

to punish the few, the majority shall suffer

there isnt really a way to punish or stop this sort of abuse of the Sl system without a/a few major changes to the way SL works - but is this such a bad thing if a compromise can be found?

ie :- just look at how we punish people in normal society - from a fine - community service all the way to jail time and (in certain countrys) death sentences - these all take time and money to be served, which we all pay tax to pay for - are they punishments that didnt create suffer for the many? how many time have you thought 'dang this council tax is huge! How will i pay it?', not thinking about the tax cheats that cost tax payers money to be caught and punished? Or about the dodgy DVD you bought at the market, created by a person who caught would cost us a hell of a lot of time and money to punish? or the person who killed someone and you want the police to damn well do something about it?

we're lucky to be ably to enjoy this virtual world without the need for 'taxation' - for nothing we get a hell of a lot of liberties for free, do we need them all? maybe - script usage and prim creation is what makes SL 'SL' - but do we need all the self replication scripts things that make them 'tick'?

keep pushing various ideas, weird or otherwise, their might be one that limits the affect to most but punish's those that need be, we do need a punishment - we just need to decide what we would give up for it

When I made the comment about premium member's thinking they are above free accnt member's, I was referring to those who do , not all , they know who they are.

I am a premium accnt holder,and the only differance is we can own land and the pay (sarcastic WoW).

As far as being above them, hmmm as long as you believe that.

The old saying goes" ONLY A HIT DOG WILL BARK".

Es

Didn't realize there's such large, untapped market in SL for pitchforks, stakes and white pointy hats.

Though afraid all these particle effects from burning torches and basic account owners alike will bog the sims down more than the bling craze...

Seriously though, how about taking a step back and looking at yourself? This is such sad example of mob mentality, it's beyond words. Doubt anyone actually knows if the persons behind these attacks are basic account owners or maybe premium members ... but the willingness to blindly punish random people is astounding.

Here, a lecture to help with conducting this witch hunt in a more scientific manner...