linden home

  • | | |

    Copperfield Heights, New Linden Homes for Plus, Premium, and Premium Plus Members

    Bygogo iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    1 Comment
    Copperfield Heights
    Sparkle landscaping my new Copperfield Heights cottage

    Did I ever tell you guys that I’m a recovering Linden Homes addict?

    It’s actually been pretty easy this past year to work on my addiction, mostly because Tiki, Aspen Ridge, and Ridgewood Enclave just weren’t for me. I tried Tiki for about a week or so, just to give it a fair shot. Aspen Ridge and Ridgewood Enclave? I didn’t even try them. I knew on sight they weren’t my thing, and that made it a lot easier to stay “in recovery.”

    So last Thursday, Second Life released the newest Linden Homes theme, Copperfield Heights. It caught me off guard because there wasn’t really any hype leading up to it. No big buildup. I wasn’t expecting anything new at all.

    I didn’t even love these on sight either. They launched with winter terrain and landscaping, and the houses didn’t really blend into the all-white surroundings. It felt a little harsh visually. And honestly, I wasn’t even wanting another Linden Home. I’ve been doing so well.

    But FOMO is FOMO.

    So I rolled.

    There are definitely things I don’t love. Some of the textures don’t line up perfectly. There’s no white interior wood trim. No back doors on some of the homes. None of it is a deal breaker for me, but it’s also not great. They’re just those little details you notice and wish were done a bit better.

    At the same time, there are things I really like. The built-in porches are nice. There’s slight PBR, but it’s not overly shiny like the Aspen Ridge homes. And the houses can absolutely lean cottage if you want them to. That’s what I wanted. A girly cottage. So I made one.

    Copperfield Heights
    Copperfield Heights cottage <3

    What really sets this theme apart from the previous fifteen is that it’s available for all premium membership levels. Plus members can get a 512. Premium members get a 1024. Premium Plus gets the largest 2048 homes. I think that’s a really good move. The regions are seasonal as well, which we were recently introduced to with Aspen Ridge, and I do like having that variety.

    I wouldn’t say I’m completely in love with Copperfield Heights, but I do think I could be happy with one. The one I have now is on a finished edge, and that’s good enough for me.

    Sparkle already started landscaping for me, and she says if I leave she’ll unalive me, so I guess I’m staying.

    If you want to learn more about Copperfield Heights, check out the official blog post and grab one.

    Copperfield Heights
    Interior – the fireplace works!
    Copperfield Heights
    So. much. brown. wood.
    Copperfield Heights
    Welcome to my new cottage
    Copperfield Heights
    Sparkle riding around Copperfield Heights – this should be an ad!
    Copperfield Heights
    Us checking out the neighborhood
    Read More “Copperfield Heights, New Linden Homes for Plus, Premium, and Premium Plus Members”
  • | | | |

    The Day My Waterfront Dream Got Blocked, part 2

    Bygogo iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    0 Comments
    Victorian Linden Home

    I wanted to show you my Victorian Linden Home. It’s beautiful, it’s my favorite. I was watching the latest Second Life Concierge and Land User Group meeting, and Izzy Linden mentioned that this is not a popular theme, but I disagree. This is easily in my top two Linden Home themes. I’ve been on this region for over five years, paying for Premium to keep this home, and the coast was absolutely finished in my eyes. It never looked like an unfinished edge. If you look at my photos, you’ll see that it looks complete, well terraformed, and beautifully done.

    That’s why it devastates me that Second Life decided to stamp out the new Ridgewood Enclave right in front of my house. Right now it’s only one region away from blocking my waterfront view. I’ve been anxiously watching Ridgewood Enclave regions come online, and so far they’ve gone west, but the moment they finish the region that corners mine, my view will be gone. I took a lot of photos because the Victorian coasts on OG Bellisseria were the best thing the Moles ever made, and nothing since has matched them. It would be such a shame if this gets blocked. Second Life can still fix this by moving the Ridgewood Enclave Canopy region one space west. There’s no reason for it to be pushed up this close to the Victorian coast, ruining the views for everyone. And honestly, as much as I don’t want to see Ridgewood Enclave, maybe they don’t want to see pastel Victorians either.

    Victorian Linden Home
    Victorian Linden Home

    For now, my view is safe, but when I look off the side of my porch, I see Ridgewood Enclave spreading north like a slow creep, and I know it will eventually erase everything I love about this house. I hope that when Izzy Linden says he empathizes with people whose views get blocked, he’s also thinking about long-time residents like me who have been paying customers from day one of Linden Homes. I’m a huge fan, but if residents can’t trust that finished coasts will stay protected, then what’s the point of Linden Homes? People pay extra for Premium to secure their perfect home, and it’s crushing when that view you chose suddenly disappears.

    Read part 1 of The Day My Waterfront Dream Got Blocked.

    Victorian Linden Home
    Victorian Linden Home
    Victorian Linden Home
    Victorian Linden Home
    Victorian Linden Home
  • | | | | |

    The Day My Waterfront Dream Got Blocked

    Bygogo Bellisseria, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    2 Comments
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/gogolita/54799348898/
    Who thought it was a good idea to drop ugly concrete homes on our cherished waterfront?

    I love Bellisseria. That’s no secret. I’ve loved it since the launch in 2019 and I even went Lifetime Premium so I could keep my little homes forever.

    Yesterday I woke up to find that the new Ridgewood Enclave, which first appeared on the west coast of the OG Bellisseria continent, has now crept north and is just one region away from blocking my beloved Victorian Linden Home. It’s one region away from destroying my waterfront view.

    Unblockable waterfront is the dream in Second Life. People pay big money for it on private estates and when it comes with a Linden Home for the cost of a yearly Premium subscription it feels like winning the lottery. For years we believed our rare coastal homes were secure, that our unblockable views would always stay that way. That sense of security was tossed out the window this week when Second Life started building in front of the very views that made Bellisseria magical.

    I’m disappointed. I know many residents who live along these coasts will feel the same sadness when their open water is suddenly replaced with rows of concrete houses. Bellisseria was supposed to be the sure thing, the continent where you could settle in, decorate, and trust that your neighborhood and view would remain untouched. Now that certainty is gone.

    Part of the charm of Bellisseria is its consistency. When we choose a theme we expect it to stay that way with only minimal or optional updates. We don’t want drastic changes that undo the very reasons we moved there in the first place.

    I wasn’t going to say anything. But the truth is, as residents, we should feel free to voice our opinions when the HOA, also known as Linden Lab, makes sweeping decisions without considering the people already living there. It’s not unreasonable to expect at least one buffer row of ocean regions between themes, something to preserve the views and avoid jarring transitions.

    Bellisseria isn’t just a collection of regions. It’s the neighborhoods and views that matter to us, and we don’t want to see them ruined.

  • Ridgewood Enclave, new Linden Home

    Bygogo Uncategorized
    2 Comments
    They're out! Ridgewood Enclave, new Linden Homes

    Ridgewood Enclave is out! I always want to be excited about a new Linden Home theme, but lately I’ve managed my FOMO a little better. I’m not getting one of these because nothing about them appeals to me. I prefer homes that are more cottagey and sweet looking, not modern boxes made of concrete. The palms are an interesting choice, and while the landscaping isn’t bad, it doesn’t win me over either.

    Ridgewood Enclave, new Linden Home

    Ridgewood Enclave is only available for Premium Plus members since each parcel is 2048 sqm with 936 land impact. Residents who like larger land and higher impact will probably enjoy them, and every home seems to come with a driveway. I’ve already spotted someone rezzing a helicopter on one of the very flat roofs. Honestly, rezzing obnoxious vehicles should be against the covenant, but we’ll see how that plays out.

    You can find these new homes on the Land Page or visit them in-world at the Welcome Hub Linden Homes.

    Ridgewood Enclave, new Linden Home
  • | | |

    Farewell to My Linden Home

    Bygogo iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    2 Comments
    Farewell to My Linden Home

    I’ve had my Linden Home (Stilt on Land) for over two years! Recently, the yearly renewal date came up, and I made the decision to let it go. Interestingly, I could have as many Linden Homes as I wanted—at one point, I had over ten—but I decided to abandon a few.

    One key factor in my decision was the PBR lighting ruining the water for me. Despite creating numerous EEPs, I never felt it looked as good as it did pre-PBR. I even crafted a cheerful tropical day EEP and water setting for the house, but it just didn’t capture my heart.

    This isn’t my only Linden Home; I still have a few more but not as many as before. By the end of this month, I plan on keeping just two or three. Unless the water situation changes, I doubt some themes will look good under the new lighting, and that can’t be fixed.

    Farewell to My Linden Home
    Custom EEP that I made + PBR Viewer, raw image from SL

    This house holds many cherished memories, and Sparkle did an amazing job with the landscaping, adding a touch of greenery to the sand. I hope the new owner enjoys it as much as I did!

    People often ask why I have so many Linden Homes. The answer is simple: all my homes are like cute little dollhouses on waterfronts with million-dollar views—except I didn’t spend a million dollars, just the price of one premium subscription for each. I don’t have any 2048 homes because I’m not fond of the Ranches or Mediterranean themes.

    Read More “Farewell to My Linden Home”
  • | | | | | | | |

    Country Skies EEP Settings

    Bygogo Bellisseria, Events, Fashion, Hair, Home & Garden, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    0 Comments
    Farm Fresh

    Welcome to farm life! Who is ready to live The Simple Life with me?

    The newly released Ranch Linden Home theme feature 2048 sqm. of land and 703 land impact. These homes are available for Premium Plus members only.

    JuicyBomb – Country Skies EEP settings, filmed at Fay Starlight’s house

    As a Linden Homes addict enthusiast, I always love when a new theme is released! I love exploring new regions and checking out the different home styles. Last year, I was lucky enough to win a charity auction, allowing me to name a Linden Home region and pick the location of my home – an incredible bonus! I’m deeply grateful to Izzy Linden for assisting me with this, and I’d definitely participate in another Linden Homes auction in the future.

    Read More “Country Skies EEP Settings”
  • | | | | | |

    Previously in Second Life

    Bygogo Events, Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Previously in Second Life, Second Life, Uncategorized
    1 Comment
    Dandelion

    Introducing Previously in Second Life, a new feature where I recap the latest news from around the grid if it’s an interesting week. Here are some things you may have missed:

    Read More “Previously in Second Life”
  • | | | | |

    Linden Homes Search

    Bygogo Bellisseria, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    0 Comments
    Sunshine
    In my Stilt Linden Home

    Hello from my Linden Home! By April of this year, it will have been 4 years since I claimed my first Linden Home. Time goes by quickly! I’ve been thinking a lot about my Linden Homes, including how much I’m spending on my region. I won’t say how many Linden Homes I had at my peak, but I have four of them now. I’ve given up homes in the same theme in the past month and decided to just keep one with any theme I like. I’m still trying to leave even more, and unless the next theme interests me, I’ll probably end up with just three homes. Like everyone else, I’m still waiting for those 2048 Linden Homes.

    Since the Concierge Linden Home service for Premium Plus came out, people have asked me to leave my homes so they can ticket for it. Sorry, but that’s not how it works. Abandoned homes go into a queue for anybody to get from the Land Page on the Second Life website. I’ve always thought the ticketing process was highly inefficient and there has to be a more instant solution. Even if I wanted to abandon a house for someone to use their Premium Plus to claim, they can’t without risking the house being taken by other residents.

    Sunshine
    View from my beautiful Traditional Linden Home
    Read More “Linden Homes Search”
  • | | |

    Linden Homes; New Houseboats styles

    Bygogo iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    0 Comments
    Linden Homes; New Houseboats styles
    Dock Holiday

    New Houseboats styles have landed on Bellisseria! This update brings the choices of houseboats up-to-date, which was long overdue. All the new houseboats have new colors on the outside and a new color HUD system for the walls inside.

    The new Linden Homes Houseboat styles are:

    • Dock Holiday (my favorite, very cute)
    • Jolly Roger (huge, ugly floor texture on the roof)
    • Knot Shore (kind of cute, lots of windows)
    • Shore Thing (a maze on the inside, ugly over-hang on the outside)

    The older houseboats styles did not get the color HUD update, which is a shame. It’s clear that the Lindens have been paying attention to what residents do to their houseboats since the updates seem to be geared toward people who like to add more floors and rooms. I’ve never liked the look of big houseboats, so I’m not looking forward to being surrounded by the Jolly Roger model.

    Read More “Linden Homes; New Houseboats styles”
  • | | | | |

    New Second Life Membership Plans

    Bygogo Bellisseria, Home & Garden, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    8 Comments

    Second Life just announced a new membership plan called Plus, which gives residents the right to own mainland and that’s it. Is it worth the money? I compare these new plans by only looking at the benefits that interest me, such as the land allowance, the stipend, and the perks that come with linden homes. I was shocked to find out that the Plus plan does not include a linden home, and the price is nearly equal to the Premium plan.

    Plus

    $65.99/year

    • L$150 weekly stipend
    • 512 m² mainland
    • NO Linden Home
    $34.87 / year actual cost

    Premium

    $99/year

    • L$300 weekly stipend
    • 1,024 m² mainland
    • YES Linden Home
    • $L1,000 Signup bonus
    $36.78 / year actual cost
    $32.80 / year actual cost (includes bonus)
    Read More “New Second Life Membership Plans”