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    The Premium Price Increase Has Me Reconsidering My Accounts

    Cherishville

    I’m disappointed by Second Life’s latest Premium membership price increase.

    What makes this change difficult for me to accept is that the core benefits haven’t really changed. The stipend is the same. The land allowance is the same. While there are some additional perks and gifts being added, they’re not benefits that I personally value enough to justify paying more each year.

    Whenever a company raises prices, I take a look at my spending and decide what’s still worth keeping. That’s exactly what I’m doing now. Over the years, I’ve accumulated several Premium accounts, mostly to hold extra Linden Homes. After thinking about it, I’ve decided I don’t really need all of them. I’ll be keeping the two accounts that I previously upgraded to Lifetime Premium Plus, but the extra accounts are becoming much harder to justify.

    The same goes for land. I’ve acquired quite a bit of mainland recently, and this price increase has me reevaluating how much I actually need versus how much I’ve simply gotten used to having.

    One thing about me is that I’m usually willing to spend money on Second Life. I enjoy supporting the platform, and I’ve never been afraid to invest in the things I love. But I also believe it’s important to periodically review our subscriptions and spending habits, especially when prices go up.

    If you’re maintaining multiple Premium accounts, now might be a good time to ask yourself whether you’re getting enough value from each one. Do you really need that extra Linden Home? Do you use all of the benefits you’re paying for? Maybe the answer is yes. For me, the answer was no.

    At the end of the day, every resident has to decide what makes sense for their own budget. My decision is to scale back a little. Not because I’m leaving Second Life or because I suddenly dislike the platform, but because I don’t think every account I currently pay for is worth the new price.

    Sometimes the most effective feedback we can give isn’t posting on the forums or arguing on social media. It’s simply reevaluating our subscriptions and spending accordingly.

    Just a girl flipping burgers
    Flipping burgers at Cherishville
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    Pirate Treasure with James&Dew

    Pirate Treasure with James&Dew in Second Life

    Another round of Anthology has just opened, and the item that immediately caught my eye is the Captain’s Lullaby decor set from James&Dew. This captivating set includes a decorative chandelier crafted from bottles and ship pieces, along with candles nestled in bottles, all evoking a delightful DIY old-world charm. I absolutely adore how these items have been repurposed, making them perfect for a rustic or cottage-themed setting.

    Pirate Treasure with James&Dew in Second Life

    As I delved into the description on Flickr, I was intrigued by the mention of a hidden surprise. Curiosity piqued, I meticulously searched and eventually uncovered a hidden treasure! While I don’t want to give away the surprise, I can assure you it’s definitely worth exploring. Who knows? You might find treasures that have washed up on the shore somewhere. I’m thrilled about this treasure hunt feature, as I have a soft spot for nautical-themed items.

    Pirate Treasure with James&Dew in Second Life

    I must say, it’s quite bold of James&Dew to release this set with PBR textures only, sans fallback. This decision highlights their forward-thinking approach. As Second Life progresses, we’re moving beyond older texturing methods. For those unable to view PBR textures, the fallback is a blank white texture, but it’s high time designers focus on the future. Continually supporting outdated texturing methods is a tall order, and it’s refreshing to see creators embracing advancement.

    Filmed in Second Life: Stormy Sips & Play

    To showcase the stunning PBR textures of the Captain’s Lullaby set, I created a short video. I rezzed a reflection probe in the entire room, although it’s not necessary to enjoy the beauty of PBR items. The probe merely enhanced the reflections, making them more focused. In fact, foregoing the additional reflection probe might even reduce lag, as regions already have auto probes, albeit less concentrated.

    So, embark on this nautical adventure with the Captain’s Lullaby set, and who knows what hidden gems you might discover along the way!

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    Voguel Skin

    Sweet

    Are you into hyper-realistic skins in Second Life? I normally wear smooth skins without imperfections, but then I visited Voguel and found a new skin that’s just adorable, even with pores and freckles! The imperfections really adds character, and it’s not too much, it’s still very soft and pretty. I’m wearing the Voguel Mia skin in Chantilly 2 skin tone. This tone matches well with a Pink Fuel body skin, or you can wear Velour (but I have not found a Velour skin tone that I like yet).

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