Breaking News 2: Linden Lab Announces HOA For Bellisseria

 

 * * Update - Linden Lab April Fool's * * 

 

For residents with Linden Homes who dislike Home Owners Associations, or HOAs, a little bad news. Today, Linden Lab announced it was establishing one for Bellisseria, and looking for volunteers to report violations. 

 

We are looking for a few good residents interested in running for positions in the new Home Owners Association (HOA). 

Members of the HOA help the Lindens and Moles keep Second Life safe and beautiful by identifying and reporting violations of the Linden Homes Covenant. To be considered, applicants must be homeowners. A demonstrated record of vigilance and a willingness to help your fellow residents is preferred, but trainee positions are also open. Conflict resolution experience is a plus. Members are not paid, but do have influence through the HOA Policies & Planning Committee, which recommends covenant enhancements to the LDPW.

Assist residents in understanding and following the rules to maintain peace and tranquility.  Be part of the HOA’s long-range vision for grid-wide stability!

 

Linden Lab would have a short video with the announcement, with Magellan Linden and "Punky." Apparently some avatars in violation of the rules are subject to taser shocks and "purple nurples."

 

There's a short thread in the forums about the new HOA already. 

 

Stay tuned for more information about this development, and be sure to watch the video to the end.  

 

 

Copperfield Heights Linden Home Area Adds More Sims

 

 The Copperfield Heights homes that first became available to the residents a week ago and had more available a few days later, have continued to grow in numbers. They have gone from 27 sims to 44. Many have amusing names such as Spit Take and Trollbridge. The Winter look the first ones had is now gone, the snow melted and replaced with greenery. 

 

Demand for the homes seems to have been outstripping supply, at least early in the week. On Tuesday evening when I dropped by, I noticed several sins on the west were empty of people and people were gathered at the edge on the other side of the boundary. Going over, I found those sims were closed to regular residents. In Bellisseria chat, a Linden stated they wouldn't be open until later. And this left the residents grumbling a little, the ones near me frustrated with unoccupied new Linden Homes so tantalizingly close, but out of reach until presumably some unknown time tomorrow, with no guarantee by the time they logged on any would be available. 

 

With this kind of demand, there will likely be more Copperfield Heights sims later on. There is plenty of room to the west for further expansion.  How soon is not known.

 

Stay tuned for details.

 

Bixyl Shufan

 

More on The Copperfield Heights Linden Homes

 

 

As reported earlier, on Thursday February 26 Linden Lab announced their latest model of Linden Homes: the Copperfield Heights homes, both in the official blog, and the forums. 

Copperfield Heights - Traditional Craftsman homes with spacious living areas and signature architectural design.

The newest in the line of Linden Homes has arrived. These warm craftsman styled homes feature wooden beams, custom wood elements and minimalist Craftsman interiors.

Copperfield Heights is open to all Plus, Premium and Premium Plus Residents. This collection of Craftsman style homes creates communities featuring natural elements and earth tones designed to create an authentic Arts & Crafts neighborhood in Second Life.

 * * * * *

 

 Copperfield Heights brings traditional Craftsman design with spacious living areas and signature architectural details inspired by the Arts & Crafts movement. Warm wood tones, exposed beams, natural stone elements, and multi-paned windows create a neighborhood that feels timeless and welcoming.

Open to Plus, Premium, and Premium Plus members, this collection expands the Linden Homes lineup with a focus on craftsmanship and comfort.

 

Dropping in myself for a look, the place looked like a nice suburb in the middle of winter. As it turns out the neighborhood is designed to change with the seasons, with greenery appearing in the spring, and in the fall the leaves turn brown and red. I would read, "Like Aspen Ridge, Copperfield Heights regions transform automatically throughout the year. ... There is nothing to manage. The seasons shift on their own."

 

But what sets this neighborhood apart from previous Linden Home areas is it's not just Premium homes, not just Premium Plus homes, but both! Among the 512 and 1024 square-meter lots one would expect to find in a Premium Linden Home area are some 2048 sm lots that were previously only in their own spacious neighborhoods. 

 

And in terms of variety of house design, this is the most diverse Linden Home area to date with a total of twelve models. There are four homes with 512 square meter lots, Glenwood, Laurel, Maple Grove, and Prairie. There are four with 1024 sm lots, Cedarwood, Meadowbrook, Millbrook, and Sunnydale. And there are four with 2024 sm lots, Maplecrest, Oakridge, Pinecrest, and Woodland. 

 

If you want to jump right in to look around, this spot is as good as any: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Winesap%20Ridge/128/128/25 

 

Update: The Copperfield Heights area has been expanded to 27 sims, including Copperfield Crossing which connects it to Bellissera. The shore has a boat rezzing area, near All Hours (169,150,23),  so you can sail across. The sims I saw at the edge looked green, so this being March, the change of seasons may have already happened. 

 

There may be further expansions, so those who are interested in a home here, keep an eye here for more sims later. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

New Linden Homes: Copperfield Heights

 

As it turned out, the new sims just off the west Bellisseria coast that appeared this week turned out to be the first location for the next group of Linden Homes. The news was announced by Linden Lab yesterday, Thursday February 26.

 

A little more about the homes later (pesky real-life). 

 

It's The Great Trick or Treat Event, Bellisseria!

 

 

 With Halloween, an interactive event has returned to the Linden Home areas: the Bellisseria Trick or Treat event. This is an event anyone can take part in, and any owner of a Linden Home can make it grow. Details were explained in the Linden blog and the forums. 

Join the Halloween fun in Bellisseria this season to collect candy and win exciting prizes! This interactive event is open to everyone, with Bellisseria Residents hosting Candy Buckets on their parcels. Don’t miss out on the spooky partygoers and creative costumes during this virtual Trick or Treat. Plus, there are prizes for all participants ...

* * * 

 

Prepare to celebrate Halloween Belli style! Collect candy across Bellisseria this Halloween season and win prizes! This is an interactive event where residents living in Bellisseria can host Candy Buckets on their parcels and anyone (even residents not living in Bellisseria) can go all around Bellisseria Trick or Treating to collect candy. 

 

 

People take take part in two ways. For both of them, head over to the Haunted Neighborhood in Millbank (217/41/23), There, near the red balloon, you'll find three boards. The first will give you a candy bucket, which is what those playing the game will need to find. The second will give you the Trick or Treat HUD for playing the game. The third will give players a prize if they've collected enough candy. 

 

For those with Linden Homes, you can take part in the candy giving. Touch the first panel, and it will give you a orange candy bucket with a jack o' lantern smile. Just rezz it on your porch, or somewhere clearly visible that you don't mind visitors walking over to. Rezzing it inside the house is not recommended as treaters need to get close to the bucket to collect candy. 

 

To take part in the trick or treating, clicking on the middle panel will give you the trick or treat HUD. Just add it to your avatar, and it should appear on the upper left of your screen, with some minor adjustments possibly needed. When entering a Bellisseria sim, it will tell you in local chat how many candy buckets are around. 

 

 When clicked by someone with a HUD, the candy buckets animate with a cloudy of candy going up into the air. The bucket won't work outside Bellisseria.

 

To get the candy faster, there's a spreadsheet with various locations you can find (here).  To get on the list, fill out this Google docs form (here). 

 

The forum would also list some prizes, which can be gotten by clicking on the third panel. Patch Linden would list the prizes in the forums as follows:

• 1 Candy: Custom display shelving unit for Boopies.
• 100 Candies: Nibblehoof Boopie (decor and animesh follower), Custom display shelving unit for Boopies.
• 250 Candies: Boopie Bones Boopie (decor, huggable, and animesh follower with random tint-changing versions), Nibblehoof Boopie (decor and animesh follower), Custom display shelving unit for Boopies.
• 400 Candies: Snarklin Boopie (decor and animesh follower), Boopie Bones Boopie (decor, huggable, and animesh follower with random tint-changing versions), Nibblehoof Boopie (decor and animesh follower), Custom display shelving unit for Boopies.

No ending date was given, though it's safe to assume the event will end on November 1. In the meantime, have fun collecting candy, and the sights of the occasional decorated home in Bellisseria. Among the locations with candy buckets is the Newser's auxiliary office at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wallingford (128/40/32). 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

EOTB: New Linden Home Theme: Ridgewood Conclave

 

 At the Second Life Birthday in June, Patch Linden would announce the next Linden Home theme would be soon, and called "The Ridgewood Conclave." Yesterday on September 11, the Lab announced the first sims with these homes were now open. 

A brand new Linden Homes theme has arrived, bringing a fresh sense of style and calm living to Bellisseria.

Ridgewood Enclave blends contemporary design with lush landscaping, offering Premium Plus Residents a neighborhood that feels both modern and connected to nature. Set among palm trees and winding sidewalks, this community balances clean architectural lines with soft greenery, creating a warm and breezy retreat.

Patch Linden would announce the news in the forums:

A new Linden Homes theme has arrived, bringing clean lines, modern living, and a peaceful suburban feel.

Ridgewood Enclave is now open to Premium Plus Residents. This warm and breezy neighborhood blends contemporary design with soft landscaping, giving each street a fresh and refined look. Set among palm trees, curving sidewalks, and layered greenery, it feels connected to nature without losing its sense of structure and style.

There are six varieties of Ridgewave homes: Brackenrock, Crestline, Claystone, Duskieedge, Shadowline, and Vellstone. These are made to look like they're built with brick or stone walls. Most are two stories, some with a small tower. Two models had car garage areas. The neighborhood was full of subtropical greenery, much like what one could find in Florida. 

As of the writing of this article, some of the homes were already claimed, but some looked like they were still available, at least for now. 

 

The 22 sims are in a group just off the southwest corner of Bellisseria. As of now, there is no direct connection to the rest of the Linden Home continent, but given the history of Linden Home development this will almost certainly change. 

 

For more information, check the Linden Blog.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

SL Video: "Drivers of SL Grid Drive 2025-06-07b - Old Linden Homes Special"

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

 From Zada Bury on August 9, of the old Linden Home regions, a continuation of her tour of the pre-Bellisseria ones, before they would be closed down.

 

SL Video: "Zada's Visits - old Linden Homes: Cape Ekim, Secret Caves (Drive 25-06-07)"

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

 From Zada Bury on July 20. Here, she visits some of the old Linden Home regions, the pre-Bellisseria ones, before they would be closed down. She uncovers some hidden secrets.

 

New Tiki And Groto Linden Home Sims On Map

 

 When the first Tiki and Groto Linden Home sims went online earlier this month on Monday February 2, the homes in the eighteen sim area were all quickly snapped up in a matter of hours. Fortunately, the Moles have been continuing to work on more, adding sims with the new kind of Linden home around the original area (outlined in red above) and to it's south and southeast along the southern coast of the central part of Bellisseria. 

Figures on how many houses are left available are unknown, but the sims are open for anyone wishing to boat from Bellisseria to them (or swim underwater for any merfolk).

 

Bixyl Shuftan

Tiki Linden Homes Appear on Map, Quickly Grabbed by Residents

 

 

 

Earlier today, the new Linden Homes, the Tiki and underwater Groto homes, were made available, the sims open and free to people to visit. There were several varieties of Tiki, and two types of the underwater groto.

Even though the homes were limited to Premium Plus residents, within hours, every single one had been grabbed up.

More on the homes later.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Winner of Final Linden Home Poll Announced: Tiki/Water Theme

 

Last Monday, August 5, Patch Linden announced in the Second Life forums the winner of the last Linden Home Poll. It was the Tiki/Water Theme, with Alpine Style Theme (Snow) as the runner up. 

The winner:  Tiki/Water Theme
Runner up:  Alpine Style Theme (Snow)

Owing to our offsite training, the team has fallen somewhat behind and is now focused on catching up. We have yet to determine which theme will be in line with Premium or Premium+, but we expect to make this decision promptly. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the poll and helped decide the upcoming themes for Linden Homes!

The first of the three polls was announced on July 1, of which Tiki/Water and Alpine style were just two of 33 themes listed. The winner was supposed to have been announced a week earlier, on Monday July 28, but was delayed without comment for seven days. 

There was no comment about when the new theme will be available.

Bixyl Shuftan

EOTB: Lnden Home Poll

 

In the official forums, Patch Linden announced there was a poll open, one asking people which of a list of Linden Home theme ideas were the best, telling them they could select three. 

 

As mentioned in the "Your Theme Ideas Please" post, this is the first of two polls we will conduct.  We reviewed the thread and identified numerous potential themes!  We condensed some of the themes down to what we know can work as Linden Homes, and also merged a few together where we thought it would make sense, especially with some duplicate mentions.  Please vote for your top 3 picks in this poll!   We will then have a second poll from the top choices here to choose a winner. 

The poll (page here) has a total of 33 themes. They vary from science-fiction to fantasy to Medieval to modern. Some were similar to existing themes, such as Mid-Century Modern. And there were some very unique themes such as the Mermaid Homes, which would be the first underwater theme if approved. 

 

It was not mentioned which homes would be Premium, and which would be Premium plus, though Patch did say, "selection of the premium account type to which the theme will be applied will depend on the winning theme's outcome." But "Millionaire Homes" and "Castles" would be easier to pull off with Premium Plus. 

I happened to be listening in on Bellisseria chat when the poll was first brought up. The only complaint there was that people could only chose three. It was commented on that mermaid homes and 18th Century Caribbean would be an interesting combination. In the forums, it was asked why Norwegian homes were an option as there was already a Second Norway region. Patch answered that this was an option a number of people asked for.

Patch didn't give a date as to how long this poll would be open, though did mention "possibly concluding it by Friday." 

Once again, the poll is located (here). 

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Bellisseria's Fifth Anniversary

 

 

"Get ready everyone. We're going to celebrate Bellisseria turning 5 and we're going BIG"

 

For most of the month of April, the Linden Home continent of Bellisseria will be celebrating it's fifth anniversary. From Tuesday April 2 to Tuesday April 30, Bellisseria Fairgrounds (and a special area) will be the scene of DJ music parties, live singers, dance performances, hunts, art shows, races, special family day events, and of course prizes and gifts

 

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SSPBA1/171/249/25 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Whiskey%20Bay/172/6/24 (Fairgrounds Pier)

Expansion of Mediterranean Linden Home Area In Bellisseria

 

 

 In December, Linden Lab unveiled it's next line of Linden Homes for Premium-Plus accounts: the Mediterranean. With this announcement, some land with the homes was opened just offshore north of the  Bellisseria landmass just west of the Sakura homes. This month, the area of sims has been expanded. This included two connections, one of which was linked by a bridge. 

The bridge is in the Goodge Reef sim (no sign of anyone named Charlie Brown). One could walk or drive across the bridge. But there's also a cannon at both ends. One can get in, and with a press of the button, fly into the air, and go splat onto the beach at the other side. 

Premium-Plus residents are no doubt happy to hear about the new homes available to move in, as well as fans of Bellisseria who are pleased to have more land to explore. 

 

Hat tip: Daniel Voyager 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

New Linden Home Theme: The Mediterranean

 

 

 On Friday December 8 at the Christmas Expo, Linden Lab revealed their upcoming style of Linden Homes: The  Mediterranean.

 

These homes come in seven varieties. Two are one story, the Bella Rosa and Bella Vista. Five are two story, the Gran Palma, the Grande Vista, the Felicita, the Primavera, the Favola, and the Precioso. The homes were brick structures with terracotta-style roofs and arched doorways, in yards with dry grass. Some had outdoor stairs. Some had the entrance in a turret-like structure. As with the Ranch homes about six months ago, these Linden Homes are for Premium-Plus residents only.

Patch Linden didn't give a date on when these Linden homes would be available. But there were a number of new sims that just appeared on the map north of the Ranch home area. This is likely to be the future location of the Mediterranean Linden Homes. So they will likely be available early in 2024. 

There is a thread in the official forums about the new homes (here). So far, response has been positive.

 

 Bixyl Shuftan

Upcoming Premium Linden Homes Announced, Sneak Peek at Christmas Expo on Dec. 7

 

Earlier today, it was announced in the Second Life forums there will be a new theme of Linden Homes available in the future. And for those wanting a speak peak, there will be sample homes available for viewing at the Christmas Expo. 

Get ready for a magical moment this holiday season as we unveil the theme for the next wave of Linden Homes at the Christmas Expo event! As with our last theme, Ranch, this theme will be available exclusively to Premium Plus users. 

Join us on December 7, 2023, at 7:00am SLT, for an exclusive sneak peek into the enchanting theme we've crafted just for you. 

 

The homes will be at Expo 1 (104/128/23)

 

Source: Linden blog. 

 

A Look At The New Ranch Linden Homes

 

Last month at the SL20B, Patch Linden announced that the new Linden Homes just for the Premium Plus residents, the Ranch Homes, were ready. Among them were two people known by Newser reporter Gemma Cleanslate. She had a talk with them, and got to see their new homes and land.

 

Read Gemma's story in Places. 

Commentary: Reflections On The SL20B

 

We made it!

While Second Life turning twenty was seen as a near-certainty though far-off date in it's golden age from 2007 to 2008, a few years later, it didn't seem that was as troubled times from 2010 to 2013 led to some doubts and rumors. But enough residents toughed it out, and Linden Lab managed to stay afloat. In comparison to some hit video entertainment a generation earlier, such as Atari games which went downhill after a few years, the virtual world has been far more adaptable and durable. And this year it was time to celebrate the big two-oh.

Second Life is no longer in it's teens.

This year had some things what have been part of birthday celebrations since Linden Lab assumed control a few years ago, such as the Shop and Hop and the Tapestry of Time (though the later was updated). But this year there were some differences. For the first time, people were allowed to bring back an old exhibit from a previous birthday if they wanted to. Also for the first time, there were adult-rated sims set aside for builds that exhibitors there could design of a more graphic nature than would be allowed on a moderate one and for shops selling items of a clearly adult nature. These sims were placed in their own separate areas of the SL20B and the Shop and Hop. This was something of a surprise to many as Linden Lab in the past had mixed feelings about Second Life's more sexual side being talked about.

The theme this year, "Our Fantastic Future," was an appropriate followup to Steampunk for SL19B. But it was also reflective of the optimism often shown by Linden Lab as well as many of the residents. Despite all the problems of today, there's hope for a better world tomorrow. And with Second Life's future being in doubt on occasions in the past, there is certainly reason for such optimism. Some exhibits showed the theme in the form of technology and space travel. But this being a milestone birthday, there was also a reason to look back with pride, hence the number of old exhibits that made a return (or given a 'second life,' pun intended).

Of the announcements made by the Lindens and Moles, the two that got the most attention were the new Linden Homes exclusively for Premium Plus residents, and the new option to get a lifetime option for Premium and Premium Plus accounts. For newcomers, the NUX avatars were almost but not quite ready. For the rest of us, it was announced progress was being made on the mobile viewer, but an open beta wouldn't be available until at least early 2024. While there was excitement about these by a number, there were a few grumbles that this was evidence Lab was mostly interested in money. Perhaps Linden Lab's owner the Waterfield Network has been encouraging them to find ways to make more cash. We can only speculate. But that the Premium Plus homes were quickly snapped up could also be called evidence they were simply responding to demand.

So what will SL21B hold? Who knows. While Second Life may be "old enough to drink," the theme sure won't be beer parties. But this year's theme being about a brighter future, let us look forward to good times for the next year, and beyond. We've made it this far, and no reason to feel we can't for a few more years. While future birthdays that don't end in "5" or "0" may seem a little less special, we'll still find plenty of reason and ways to throw and enjoy a good party.

In the meantime, more time for us at the Newser to write about the people, places, and other events in Second Life.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

"Second Lifetime" Premium Accounts For Life, Upcoming Ranch Linden Homes Announced at Lab Gab

 

 

 (Click here if the video does not play)

On Monday June 26, Patch Linden was interviewed in the first of the SL20B's Lab Gab shows. Patch almost always reveals something about what Linden Lab is planning or is about to release, and yesterday was no exception. But the big details involve users with the most cash to invest in their inworld experience. 

 

At the SL19B last year while talking about then upcoming Premium Plus option for accounts, Patch stated that eventually there would be a 2028 sq meter option for Linden Homes just for them, double the size of the max available for Premium residents.

On Monday, Patch stated the homes were just about ready. He would also mention them in the forums.

 

The all new Ranch theme features country style Ranch homes in multiple sizes and open floor plans on 2048m2 parcels. It is a beautiful rural area with gravel roads, split rail fences, windmills, silos, and stunning fields of wildflowers.

More land means more land impact. Previous themes have 351 or 175 LI per parcel. These have a whopping 703! Plus a new theme means a new content pack, with wildflowers, hay bales, and such. 

They would also be mentioned in the SL wiki in the page about Linden Homes.

The ranch theme is your invitation to step into life on the grasslands of central North America. This is farm country, a land of rolling prairie and big sky. It’s a place where you can imagine raising wheat or corn or soybeans and having a few cattle, a horse or two, and a flock of chickens. You might have a barn stocked with hay bales and a tractor and harvest machinery. Or, perhaps, you could have the large garden for vegetables and flowers that you always wanted.

The houses are in a new area in Bellisseria, north of the central part of the continent (and the new WelcomeHub area, which is now also connected to Bellisseria by a road). The sims themselves often had appropriate names such as Silo, or whimsical ones such as After You and Knott Mine. There were several different styles of Ranch houses, Spring View, Stable View, Knotty Pine, Creek Stone, Silver Spurs, Buffalo Pastures, and Grizzly Point. With the larger amount of land per home, plus the gravel roads and the country look of the houses, the place certainly looked more backwoods than much of the Linden Home continent. There were silos, windmills, and other farm buildings and structures in places. And some residents and brought in cows, horses, and other animals.

 

Despite that "selection of specific Ranch homes will not be available until July 10," demand for these houses was high. In Bellisseria chat, it was stated that a day after they were made available, there were no more left to claim. When the next batch will be available is unknown.

 

 

The other feature aimed at Premium Plus, and Premium, accounts was "Second Lifetime." This was an option to have a Premium, or Premium Plus account for life.

 Be among the lucky few to claim one of the limited edition SecondLifeTime Premium or Premium Plus plans – available in extremely limited quantities at SL20B. Each SecondLifeTime plan offers the same benefits as Premium or Premium Plus – but for a one-time fee for the rest of your life! Only available while supplies last!

Patch Linden would explain some details at the Lab Gab, and there was also a "Frequently Asked Questions" page. The one-time payment for a lifetime Premium account is $749 USD, and for a lifetime Premium Plus, it is more expensive at $1749 USD. Compared to Premium at $99 USD a year, and Premium Plus at $249 USD a year, it's comparable to a resident paying for several years in advance. 

 

Patch would say that only so many residents can get a lifetime account. Only two hundred residents will be able to get Premium for life, and for Premium Plus for life the limit is much smaller, just twenty. The openings are available on a first-come first-served basis. On the FAQ page, it stated a Premium for life account holder "might not" be able to upgrade to Premium Plus, and anyone wishing to do so would have to talk with a Lab agent to see what could be done. 

While it wasn't mentioned by Patch, or the FAQ, it should be reminded that even a lifetime account holder would still be subject to the Lab's Terms of Service, and people have been banned for what some would see as small offenses such as using a parent's credit card. 

Patch would discuss other things in the video, such as the upcoming newcomer NUX avatars, the new WelcomeHub area, an SL radio station, the *possibility* of one of the more recent last names being brought back temporarily, and Linden Lab talking to the producers of a TV show about a deal which would have Second Life being a big part of the plot of one episode. This would be the first time since an episode of CSI in 2007.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Bellisseria's Fourth Anniversary

 

Last Saturday, the continent of Bellisseria had it's Fourth Anniversary party.  Gemma Cleanslate was there, seeing Patch Mole give a speech and the DJs play the tunes while the residents, Bellisserians and others, danced away. Gemma would also find out Abnor Mole would have a few things to say about how the land grow from a few hundred Linden Homes to a few thousand with several different varieties for Premium residents to choose from. Gemma would also mention something about the Nature Collective.

Read Gemma's story in Design.