It's been 110 hours since Linden Lab updated the total population. We've requested more information on the problem, but Linden Lab has not responded to our inquiries. There is more going on in the background, obscured by the loss of figures, and we can take some guesses at what it might be.Remember, a few weeks ago, the signup rate suddenly took about a 20% dip, and remained at the new lower level? We're starting to get an inkling as to why that might be, and it looks like a serious disconnect between registration and billing processes, possibly coupled with a bug or two. Whatever it is, Linden Lab isn't saying anything about it.
Firstly, check this knowledge-base article on the number of alt accounts you may register (formerly a limit of 5 per household).
"Currently, you can create as many additional Basic or Premium accounts as you want to pay for. Previously, we limited accounts to 5 per household and 2 per payment method, but this is no longer the case."
Okay, now that we've established that. You can have as many as you like, so long as you pay for them. However the registration system recently stopped asking you if this is your first or subsequent account, nor does it offer you a chance to pay for that account.
Coupled with that change, people are now being refused second and subsequent accounts, and in some cases their first account is being refused as well. Some cases. Not all.
On Thursday, a resident tried to create an alternate account (his second) for business purposes, quite prepared to pay the US$9.95. Of course he was not given the opportunity to. The new account would not activate, instead he says, "A support email came back telling me that there was a limit of five per household. That made no sense as it directly contradicted their written policy."
That email looks like this:
"He kept telling me 'LL reserves the right to limit accounts per household', over and over. I told him I was not arguing with LL's right to limit accounts per person. I agreed that they could do so. I was pointing out that something was not working right."
"He told me to watch the blog for more information. I told him I could, but the suspension of the existing policy was not published in the blog in the first place. I asked what was going on. He told me 'LL reserves the right to limit accounts per household'. I'm serious, he said it like five times."
"Here is where it gets weird. He asked me for my account name. I asked whether he wanted the name I had tried to create or my primary account name. He said both."
He provided details to the support person, and suddenly virtually everything was fixed up, though he had to immediately go in, provide payment details so that the new account could be billed.
So... what? You can register as many alts as you can pay for (so long as you change your IP address once in a while - not hard, as most people's IP addresses change frequently, especially outside the USA), but the system won't actually let you do that, because it doesn't seem to be rigged to allow you to pay.
Seems like a bit of a Catch-22, only without Alan Arkin. Perhaps the systems are in transition, perhaps there's a crackdown on alternate accounts. Again, whatever is going on, Linden Lab has yet to speak up and clarify any policy.
Okay, now that we've established that. You can have as many as you like, so long as you pay for them. However the registration system recently stopped asking you if this is your first or subsequent account, nor does it offer you a chance to pay for that account.
Coupled with that change, people are now being refused second and subsequent accounts, and in some cases their first account is being refused as well. Some cases. Not all.
On Thursday, a resident tried to create an alternate account (his second) for business purposes, quite prepared to pay the US$9.95. Of course he was not given the opportunity to. The new account would not activate, instead he says, "A support email came back telling me that there was a limit of five per household. That made no sense as it directly contradicted their written policy."
That email looks like this:
Hello,The following day, he called Linden Lab's support number, and wound up speaking to a support Linden directly.
Thank you for your e-mail.
However note that the amount of accounts that can be created at any one location is limited. Even if you have never created any Second Life account, others may have done so from your current registering location and that's why the maximum number of accounts per location has been reached and you can't register, because if more than 5 people tried to register from the same location it will block them. We can alter this if it's part of your job to be on-line doing research on or within Second Life.
There are 2 options for you to create an account:
1) Make it from a different location like your home, then you can log in from your work location.
2) Call our office and they will be able to set up your account manually over the phone. Our office can be reached from 9am - 6pm PST (Monday thru Friday) at
1-800-961-6851 (US and Canada)
(00) 800 722 00010 (UK)
(0011) 800 722 00010 (Australia)
Our direct number (not toll-free) is available worldwide: +1 (703) 462-1695
If you call us after business hours, please leave a voice mail with your Account name, Real name, email address, phone number and short description of the reason you called. Please remember to give all of the information needed and speak clearly and slowly! We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Please note that if you cannot get a hold of someone, please retry after a while for we are experiencing a high number of calls.
"He kept telling me 'LL reserves the right to limit accounts per household', over and over. I told him I was not arguing with LL's right to limit accounts per person. I agreed that they could do so. I was pointing out that something was not working right."
"He told me to watch the blog for more information. I told him I could, but the suspension of the existing policy was not published in the blog in the first place. I asked what was going on. He told me 'LL reserves the right to limit accounts per household'. I'm serious, he said it like five times."
"Here is where it gets weird. He asked me for my account name. I asked whether he wanted the name I had tried to create or my primary account name. He said both."
He provided details to the support person, and suddenly virtually everything was fixed up, though he had to immediately go in, provide payment details so that the new account could be billed.
So... what? You can register as many alts as you can pay for (so long as you change your IP address once in a while - not hard, as most people's IP addresses change frequently, especially outside the USA), but the system won't actually let you do that, because it doesn't seem to be rigged to allow you to pay.
Seems like a bit of a Catch-22, only without Alan Arkin. Perhaps the systems are in transition, perhaps there's a crackdown on alternate accounts. Again, whatever is going on, Linden Lab has yet to speak up and clarify any policy.
1. I wonder if third party registrations are all bugged too....
Posted at 11:15AM on May 15th 2007 by TigroSpottystripes Katsu