Following the recent update to the Second Life Terms of Service, which disallows trading of Linden dollars (L$) on third party exchanges, we’ve heard from some users outside of the US who are concerned that it may now be more difficult for them to purchase L$ to use in Second Life.

 With a credit card, you can purchase L$ on the LindeX using 27 different currencies, including EUR, GBP, JPY, and AUD. If you don’t have a credit card, you can also use PayPal, which can be connected directly to a bank account in more than 193 countries and regions. If you put payment info on file for your Second Life account, you can also purchase L$ right in the Viewer with the “Buy L$” button. If you’ve never done it before, check out this helpful video: 

Now, to give users more options and make it easier to purchase L$, we’re launching a pilot program of Authorized Resellers of L$. These sites are authorized by Linden Lab to purchase L$ on the LindeX and then resell those L$ using a variety of international currencies and payment methods. To be clear: per the Terms of Service, these resellers will not be allowed to purchase L$ outside of the LindeX (i.e. they will not be able to buy L$ back from users and cash people out). The list of Authorized Resellers participating in the pilot program is available here.

 If you would like to receive an application to the program when it formally launches, please send an email to LDollarSeller@lindenlab.com.

We know that users are also concerned about the length of the LindeX’s cashout process and the limited choice of currencies when selling L$. We’re currently investigating ways to improve that experience for users while still providing superior fraud protections, and hope to hasten the cashout process and offer new currency options in the future.

Have you ever wondered about the personalities behind the avatars in Second Life? Virtual journalist and machinima artist Draxtor Despres has been documenting the many personal and inspiring stories of our creative community in the acclaimed video series “The Drax Files: World Makers.”

 This week, Drax interviews Edinburgh-based motion capture artist Abramelin Wolfe -- founder of the successful animation and creations studio Abranimations.    

 Watch the video interview here.

You can check out Abranimations’ shop on the Second Life Marketplace or directly teleport to the store inworld.

Motion capture artist Abramelin Wolfe and his wife are based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

For more info on The Drax Files: World Makers, be sure to check out Drax’s website at draxtor.com. If you haven’t yet watched the rest of the series, check out the past episodes at the links below:

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 1: Kriss Lehmann

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 2: Jo Yardley

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 3: Eshi Otawara

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 4: Fantasy Faire / RFL

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 5: Engrama

This June, Second Life will celebrate its 10th birthday, thanks to users like you!

We have some fun things planned to celebrate the occasion (keep an eye on this blog for more on that soon!), but we'd also like to highlight your events. Like last year, we'll have a special category in the Destination Guide for Second Life birthday-related events. No one throws a better party than the Second Life community, and if you're planning an event to celebrate Second Life's 10th birthday, we want to know about it!

Submit your event or party information to the Second Life Destination Guide Submission Form (use the misc category) or via editor@lindenlab.com, using “SL10B” in subject line on the form or email.

In addition, there will be an organized community celebration happening that is sure to be great, and they are currently taking applications for volunteers, performers, and exhibits here.

Are you ready to celebrate?

When you log in to the Second Life Viewer today, you’ll be asked to accept an updated Terms of Service. As with any legal document, it’s important to read in its entirety before accepting, but we wanted to highlight one of the changes we’ve made in this update: to better protect Second Life users against fraud, the updated Terms of Service make it clear that trading of Linden dollars (L$) on exchanges other than the LindeX, Second Life’s official L$ exchange, is not authorized or allowed.

 As the official exchange owned and operated by Linden Lab, the LindeX is the best place to buy and sell L$ for use in Second Life. It consistently offers the best rates for both buyers and sellers, and by limiting L$ trading to the exchange we operate, we are better able to protect users against fraudulent activity.

 The majority of Second Life users who purchase L$ do so through the Second Life Viewer by clicking on the “Buy L$” button. There will be no change to that function, as these orders are placed directly through the LindeX. Similarly, shopping on Marketplace will not be impacted.

 If you haven’t used the LindeX before, check out this Knowledge Base article and the video below for more information: 

The latest episode of Draxtor Despres’ The Drax Files: World Makersis here! This week, Drax profiles the rock band, Engrama, who perform original music live (without pre-recorded backing tracks) in Second Life.

 Watch the video here.

You can check out some of Engrama’s music here, shop for their merchandise inworld here, and catch them performing live in Second Life on May 11!

Want to discover music like Engrama in Second Life? Explore the Music category in the Destination Guide and check out the Live Music event listings.

For more info on The Drax Files: World Makers series, be sure to check out Drax’s website at draxtor.com. If you haven’t yet watched the rest of the series, check out past episodes at the links below:

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 1: Kriss Lehmann

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 2: Jo Yardley

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 3: Eshi Otawara

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 4: Fantasy Faire / RFL

It’s coming around to that time when we at the Destination Guide show off some interesting and generally awesome destinations new to Second Life. Much like last time, we wanted to introduce you to a few of the newer locations that caught our attention. So let’s get to it, huh?

This week, prepare for an invasion of art. Journey to an entire ecosystem of rusting, clanking machines, or take a look at a land of nine unique zones of thought. How about a perspective-bending island, or a wildly alien interactive music venue? But if all this sounds a little too far fetched, fear not, for we’re also bringing you a live boxing venue and a tango studio in the middle of a wheat field. As always, we love seeing all your new places, so join in the fun and share your own.

Rust

Rust is a world with a strange mix of machines, chained trees, rusty mushrooms, birds, balloons, butterflies, spiders, elephants and gear flowers. Watch as they corrode, flake and sway in the gentle breeze...

Visit in Second Life

Ocho Tango

Ocho Tango is a land dedicated to tango, with a milonga for dancing and live concerts. Fully immerse in a pampas, relax or stay with friends and loved ones. A great spot for photos as well.

Visit in Second Life

House of Champions Boxing Gym

Constantly the top ranked boxing gym in second life, House of Champions offers a unique user-friendly environment, full support and free daily events. Containing one of the largest sporting communities on the grid and holding numerous special events with prizes, there's always something fun to do. House of Champions provides a truly immersive experience.

Visit in Second Life

Virtually Real

The most exciting experiences in virtual reality are not so much the ones that totally alter the viewer's perspective of what's real as the ones that are able to expand, augment and enlarge the real. It is in its relationship with the real, rather than attempting to substitute itself for the real, that the most original use of virtual reality is found. This is Virtually Real.

Visit in Second Life

Ub Yifu Gallery Park

The Sky Sculpture gallery is open! Take a ferry to the isle for an unforgettable journey into beautiful ancient and futuristic arts. All statues exhibited in the gallery are creations of Ub Yifu.

Visit in Second Life

The Nine Art Planets

The Art Planets is an art installation to give visitors nine different emotional feelings, reflected through subconscious minds. Inspired by a variety of immersive artists, this is one installation you don't want to miss.

Visit in Second Life

We’re happy to share another great episode of Draxtor Despres’ The Drax Files: World Makers. The latest episode features Zander Greene, one of the organizers of Fantasy Faire in Second Life.

 You can watch it here if you have trouble viewing the video.

Now in its fifth year, Fantasy Faire is a fundraiser for Relay for Life, that will feature the work of some of Second Life’s top designers and merchants. Explore fantasy-themed builds and buy unique designs from the more than 140 merchants participating to support the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Second Life.

Fantasy Faire runs through April 28th - check out the official listing in the Second Life Destination Guide. Please note that the event does not open officially until 6 a.m. (Pacific) on April 20, so the teleport link may not be active prior to that time.

For more info on The Drax Files: World Makers series, be sure to check out Drax’s website at draxtor.com. If you haven’t yet watched the rest of the series, check out past episodes at the links below:

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 1: Kriss Lehmann 

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 2: Jo Yardley

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 3: Eshi Otawara

Pictured: Lorna H. and her Second Life avatar counterpart  Lollie Bigwig.

Banker by day, but intergalactic space cowboy in Second Life? We may be looking for you!

We are now casting both humans and their avatars for a new promotional campaign that will be featured on SecondLife.com and across the web.

For this campaign, we’re looking for people who are comfortable revealing their “human side” alongside their avatars in Second Life, like in the image above. Specifically, we are looking for those whose avatars do not physically resemble their owners.

This promotion aims to spotlight the diverse and creative communities in Second Life, so please apply if you’d like to share your passion for Second Life with the world!

To be considered, please fill out this application form by 11:59 PM Pacific on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. All submissions will be reviewed by the creative production team for the campaign, but no personal information provided will be disclosed publicly unless you are selected and specifically consent to participate.

We look forward to hearing from you!

We’re happy to announce a new special offer for Second Life on Amazon - a pack of virtual pets!

The Troobles have arrived and are squeaking with excitement to be the stars of our third limited-time, special promotion on Amazon. From now to April 25, 2013, you can get the Pet Pack – The Troobles (a $9.95 value) for free.

The Pet Pack includes an adorable family of Trooble Pigs including Daddy, Mommy, baby sister, and baby brother. Each Trooble has their very own fashion accessories and special talents. Mommy Trooble offers customized greetings to your visitors, Daddy Trooble can go into guard mode and teleport trespassers, and the babies are always up for a cuddle.

There is a limit of one Pet Pack per customer, and this special offer is available only to users of the free Amazon Game Connect service, which is currently limited to customers in the US.

If you’d like a little more cute and cuddly in Second Life, pop over to Amazon and grab your free Pet Pack – The Troobles before April 25, 2013.

From Draxtor Despres, here’s another great episode of The Drax Files: World Makers, which profiles creative Second Life users. The latest episode features artist, fashion designer, and Second Life merchant Eshi Otawara.

Watch the video below, and be sure to check out Eshi’s store on the Second Life Marketplace to get some of her fantastic designs!

For more info on the series, be sure to check out Drax’s website atdraxtor.com. If you haven’t yet watched the first two episodes, you can catch them at the links below:

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 1: Kriss Lehmann

The Drax Files: World Makers - Episode 2: Jo Yardley