Do You Agree with the SL Registration Changes?

Here is the new policy:

Exciting Second Life Registration Changes

Later today, June 6th, we will be launching in a limited fashion Second Life’s new registration system.

The key changes of this system will be to simplify the registration form to only require some basic identifying information, mostly for account security. Most importantly: No billing information will be required for free accounts! However, free accounts will no longer receive the starting bonus of 250 Lindens.

For the next few days please don’t be surprised if you see either the old registration form or the new form. While we investigate early results of the new registration system we will likely be tuning it off, updating it, and turning it back on throughout the next few days.

Chris Linden

Yes or no? If other, explain below.

coco

yea they simplified it all right. now any one can get on ether grid with out any problems at all, and any one can have as many accounts as they want now and do what ever they want, with out any fear of being perma baned.

i would say that it is a great success see you all in hell. because the more I think about it the more i believe that second life will go right in the crapper.

I TRULY HOPE THAT I AM WRONG IN THIS OPINION ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

The good part about the new registration would allow people who are weary about using the CC online to still be able to play/join. You'd get more sign ups, but goes the good outweigh the bad? Only time will tell.

I don't know. It may depend on whether your sex life suck SO BAD that u have to get booty in a virtual game.

I've noticed a lot more people since the new system who may or may not be kids, but they sure act like kids (no offense to kids who know how to behave in polite society). I mean, there has been a HUGE influx. And maybe it's because they don't feel they're as traceable without the other info. Or maybe they really are kids. I don't know. But I've seen a LOT more rude newbies in the last few days than I have in the prior months since I joined. I seriously hope LL goes back to the old way before it goes to crap.

Or does this kind of influx happen every summer when the schools and universities let out?

whats goin to happen is.... all the creative and nice people are going to leave and there will be just alot of kids / griefers etc. will have just another shooter game.full of gits....

Nobody needs to register in order to browse the web.

I like the changes. It makes the barriers to entry lower... thus better.

Here's what I dont get... you all are acting like SL is some exclusive club that only High Falutin Poo Poos should be able to get in.

Thats bogus!

SL is like America... give me your poor, your huddled nOObs, yearning to make money on the internet!

SL is the land of opportunity! Stop trying to keep the nOObs out!

I think there should be age verification somehow for sure! So in that I don't agree with it. And well people will abuse it and thats kind of sad. I mean how many avatars does a person need. So also there I don't agree.

But at the same time it will promote buying. Those alts need to have thier looks you know. It could also help someone with no Credit Card, or Paypal try it. I would have alot sooner but those factors held me up a while. Sigh its a double edge sword. But really I don't think Linden Labs will let things spin out of control.

Lets play out my little theory on this:

1. LL introduces new Registration system that allows anyone to register simply by providing a name, valid email address, and birth date.

2. Everyone goes apeshit over announcement, and makes 20 gojillion alts. They learn quickly that logging in alts to a single parcel generates traffic, thus destroying the camping chairs that other users are creating alts to get money from.

3. User count goes out the friggin roof.

4. Media picks up on fact that user count with out the proverbial friggin roof, and starts mentioning it all over the place.

5. Actual new users start to join SL. En masse.

6. New users realise that since they have no skills in SL, and they cannot afford to buy/upload anything they start to purchase L$ from the LindeX. Oh, and they arent going to be getting alot of "free" money either, since all the camping chairs were wiped out from "The Great Alt Rush of '06".

7. The value of the L$ rises.

Alternate 7. Said new users create premium accounts, thereby sending more money in the direction of LL, allowing them to hire more programmers and make SL better.

Actually, either way its more money LL's pocket in the long-run, and it helps the economy by bringing up the value of the L$ (in this scenario).

Of course, all this may or may not happen, but that seems to be where it is headed to me.

ZOMG! No one noticed this - it happened on 6/6/06 - and who said the apocalypse wasn't upon us?

Maybe griefers will discover it's just too easy to attack and cause problems, and will move on to greater challenges. I'd've preferred the changes in registration to've been put into place after the anniversary if it had to happen, but oh, well. I like constant change, so this is all interesting to me. .

I voted "other" because there wasn't a "don't care" button.

EVERYBODY noticed that.

yes

If by everybody, you mean not including me, then yes. Though, I didn't really pay attention to that.

Maybe I just didn't notice everybody noticing

I'm torn.

I like the easier entry process tremendously... it increases the chances that I can bring friends in that have been resistant to trying SecondLife.

I don't like that it may put Linden Lab at legal risk.

The only way I can see this working is if LL begins recruiting and empowering more volunteer policy enforcers to make sure that PG areas stay PG.

I'm not sure I like the idea of empowered and deputized volunteers running around censoring content.

On the other hand... SecondLife does have a rather sultry reputation out there. "Oh, that's the porno MMO, right?" I've actually heard someone say in regards to SL, which I think sells us rather short.

I'm not worried about the alt-flood. Without stipends or sign-up bonus money for new basic alts what's the point? The thrill will pass quickly enough. There will always be some that use alts to grief... this might lower the bar slightly. We'll cope.

Anyway. So far, I'm the lone 'other' vote.

Other. It doesn't look like a good idea, but I haven't heard the lindens side of the story. I need to hear what their thinking was before I say it was bad thinking.

A down side to removing the $10 signup fee was to remove knowledge of CC usage. Even a $1 charge would at least alert someone that their CC had been used and allowed for a dialog to ensue. Allowing a cell phone # made me blink but I refrained from voicing my thoughts at that time. It was my opinion that a decision had been made to go after the youth market; prioritizing numbers over maintaining the grid as adults only. I guess I feel that I've waited for their word for a long time and this recent action has spoken louder.

Yes. Because it pisses the people off who take this game way too seriously

Access to the grid is ok, however there should be age verification and a $10 sign-up fee to use the forums.

Second Life isn't the web.

Other: Don't really care