On Monday, October 9th, Linden Lab sort-of formally launched the new Linden Homes Store for Second Life, showcasing all the Linden Home types and themes available to those users holding a qualifying subscription account (at the time of writing, Premium / Premium Plus), and which had been previously semi-previewed in a September 27th official blog post.
The new Linden Home Store is part of a project to completely overhaul what Linden Lab calls the “Land Journey” in order to provide a resource hub for all matters pertaining to land holdings in Second Life: how to lease one or more regions from Linden Lab, types of regions available, how to obtain Mainland, even how to go about locating and renting land from private estates / land providers.
The first part of this work actually launched in February 2023 in the form of the Land Portal, the core of the new hub. At that time, the Portal was little more than a “front page” showing what was to come, so rather than devote a full post to it, I covered it in one of my Web User Group meetings, as it was at one of those meetings where the launch of the portal was announced. While it does gather together information related to buying / renting land from existing sources, the Linden Homes Store is really the first major piece of meat on the bones in terms of a new suite of pages for the Portal – so what’s been done and how does it look?
General Overview
Store Home Page
In terms of looks, the first thing that hits the eye is that the store has – unsurprisingly – been produced using the new general page style and colours which have started to roll out across the Second Life web properties, as was the case with things like the Destination Guide. The Linden Home Store also borrows from DG in some elements of its look and feel, thus helping to further instil a sense of platform identity in to the pages whilst encouraging a degree of familiarity to help promote confidence of use.
But to get down to specifics. The Store’s home page offers two slightly different layouts, depending on whether a user is either logged in our out of their secondlife.com account and / or has a qualifying subscription account with a Linden Home already associated with it or not, per the images above and below.
The What Next? section of pages displayed for qualifying accounts has some curiosities within it which raised my eyebrows:
- The “Your home’s content pack” links to third -party purchasable add-ons for “2019+” Linden Homes. Whilst these are a handy resource, they actually have bugger all to do with the Content Packs actually supplied with the various themes – so why name the link thus? It’s unnecessarily confusing for those interested in seeing the different selections of items supplied with the various Linden Home themes.
- Why on Earth utilise a video from 2010 which has nothing to say about the far more recent Linden Homes themes, which are liable to be of the most interest to recently upgraded account holders? Could not a more up-to-date video have been produced prior to the launch? If nothing else, a video that properly encompasses all of the Linden Homes products also lends itself to acting as a promotional tool aimed at anyone accessing the Store, regardless of their account type.
- Why on Earth is “Choose a different home” so called? It’s a link to the SL wiki page serving to introduce and describe “2019+” Linden Homes – so why not call it “Introducing Linden Homes” or something? As it is, the title suggests that by clicking it, the user will be magically whisked to where they can swap their existing home without the need to scroll further.
Beneath the What Next? / Amenities section of the page, is the main store listing. This comprises information panels for all Linden Homes, 2019+ and 2010., with panels listing slightly different information:
- 2010 Linden Homes only provide a photograph of the house type, the name of its theme (e.g. “Tahoe” or “Meadowbrook”), and the parcel size.
- “2019+” Linden Homes are listed by theme name (e.g. Ranch, Log House, Silt House, etc.), provide a photograph of one of the styles from the theme, number of layouts (styles) within the theme, location and parcel size.
This listing is periodically updated to reflect the current status of all Linden Homes: available themes / types are listed firt in the order Premium Plus Homes then Premium 2019+ Homes then Premium 2010 / 51w sq m parcel homes. And themes or types currently unavailable are then listed in the same order and labelled NOT AVAILABLE.
For those on non-eligible (for Linden Homes) accounts / who are not logged-in to the SL web properties, the Store will go on to display additional useful information on Linden Homes below the index list.
House Panels / Information
Clicking on a specific house / theme in the Store’s index list will refresh the page and display expanded information on the selected house / theme that the top, with the more recent Linden Home themes having more information available than the 2010 Homes, per the images below. The listing of homes will then continue below this expanded panel.
That the “2019+” homes have more information associated with them is not surprising, simply because they have more to offer. however, it did again give rise to some niggles:
- The text “Includes X layout versions to choose from” (where X is a number) is followed by a link called Learn More. This gives the impression that clicking the link will display further information directly related to the theme (such as what the layouts are). Instead, it takes the user out of the Land Store and to the 2019 Linden Homes wiki page.
- While this does contain some information related to the various themes, it’s hardly more informative that the information displayed within the Store and totally disrupts what has thus far been a relatively contained, seamless experience.
- Given the effort put into the Store, it’s a shame time wasn’t taken towards building more detailed pages (with images) for the themes ahead of any launch.
- Similarly, the text “Customise the colours of this home’s surfaces” is perhaps mis-labelled, and would be better called “About the Linden Homes Controller”, given it links to the section of the SL wiki page devoted to all of the Controller’s options, not just decorating.
Some have also commented that listing the “2019+” Linden Homes within the Store in terms of their collective theme (e.g. Houseboat) rather than style (e.g. Windlass, Barnacle, Jolly Roger, etc.), and doing the reverse for the “2010” Homes, listing them by style (e.g. Aspen, Birch Cedar) rather than collective theme (e.g. Tahoe) is further confusing.
However, while I can understand thinking this way, I’d actually point out that it does in fact make sense: all “2019+” Lindon Home styles within a given are available through a rezzing system on the parcel, allowing the user to swap between them whenever they wish. However, this is not the case with the “2010” homes; regardless of the over-arching theme (Tahoe, Meadowbrook, etc.)., the only way to swap from one theme to another is to physically swap homes through the Store – ergo, listing them by style rather than trying to group them by theme does in fact make sense.
General Observations
I will confess, other than kicking the tyres of the new Linden Home Store as described above, I’ve not taken it for a drive in terms of using it to obtain a Linden Home; frankly, I’m perfectly happy with the location of my current Linden Houseboat, and I have no desire to pack-up and be randomly moved for the sake of a test. Sorry.
That said, it should be noted that whilst you can see the various types and themes of Linden Home currently available when browsing the Store, while the actual house type / theme you pick might be in-world is still down to a random selection from the available stock; you cannot puck a specific parcel in a specific region. Nor should this be expected: building a system to list all the locations of a given house type / theme when these could run into the hundreds just isn’t reasonable; thus Support ticket remains the means but which to request a specific location.
I do find several other points in the design niggling / confusing. Why, for example, are “2019+” Linden homes on 512 and 1024 sq m parcels listed as “Free with Premium Membership” when they are in fact available to both Premium and Premium Plus? Why do Basic and Plus members who might not realise have to get half-way through the Choose This Home before being told they are not eligible? Would it not be better to divert them to the account updates page on clicking the Choose button, rather than displaying angry red text when they try to Confirm Their Choice? Why wasn’t the store hooked into the Linden Homes widget in the top right of the secondlife.com dashboard for Premium / Premium Plus members from the outset (and which currently still links to the “old” Linden Homes store)?
These are all small points, and to be fair, LL does have a long history of releasing not-quite-baked features and updates into the wild and then tweaking them after the fact. As such, there is the potential for all of these personal annoyances to be be address as a natural part and parcel of that work. However, the fact that there are all these little niggles and potential points of confusion does negatively impact first impressions. Which is a shame, because overall, it has to be said this new Linden Home Store is a significant and welcome improvement to to previous version.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 
Thanks for your fair and honest appraisal of the Home Store pages. I would hope for some more refinements going forward since they missed the boat before the “official launch” of the shiny and slick layout. Linking to a wiki page seems like a lazy way to add content.
LikeLike
Since you are seldom as critical of the Lindens as I am, I was surprised at how vehement this review is. I suppose it’s because you think you can get action by publicizing some of these criticism, some of which seem niggling. To me, the page accomplishes the job — most people don’t scroll much “below the fold” (as in old newspapers) and so the mission is accomplished to show the homes with large pictures, easily accessible. Some have criticized the use of RL clip art to show what LH living is like — but who has not wished themselves to be Chekhov’s “Lady with the Little Dog”? It’s fine. It says in big type that the homes come with Premium and Premium Plus — so I don’t get the confusion indicated. I’m also not seeing the 2010 video but I’ll hunt for it — you have a point there but maybe it was a time/staff/expense issue. My only beef is that the option of buying on Mainland is pushed so way down the page that no one will ever see it.
LikeLike
Whether I’m “seldom” critical or not, or if this is “vehement” or not is perhaps subjective. I try to look at things through an objective lens and write from that perspective – hence why any critiques I offer that are from a completely personal viewpoint, they are couched in intentionally subjective terms. I’m not looking for action on anything; that’s the job of the Jira (and one on the page will be getting submitted in due course).
The 2010 video is this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA_ftLvbCEw. Not sure if you are not seeing it at all, or seeing something else; if the latter, I’d b interested in what video you are seeing. As to /mainland – this is the Linden Home Store, not the Land Portal itself, so Mainland land is not the focus; I assume that, based on comments made at the start of the year that following the launch of the initial Portal, Linden Home would be “the next” aspect of the “Land Journey” to be tackled, Mainland and Private islands, etc., has yet to be tackled. But this is an assumption.
LikeLike
Rather, I would say “Good review” (considering as noted that a ‘test drive’ of the system wasn’t done ((for very appropriate understandable reasons ;/ )) and the criticism hopefully will be take to heart by LL and things fixed ((doing common ‘graphics’ etc. to provide a seamless, smooth web experience is nothing but being ‘professional’ at this point in time of LL, SL, and the internet in 2023.))
However – I think the one ‘pass’ given to LL on house selection – I have to quibble with – that is SPECIFIC SELECTION OF A SPECIFIC HOUSE – that should be a requisite – since picking a specific house is like picking a RW apartment – I DO want that one on the corner and NO I do not want someone else picking that.
So – here’s the quote I have a thought on:
” …you cannot puck a specific parcel in a specific region. Nor should this be expected: building a system to list all the locations of a given house type / theme when these could run into the hundreds just isn’t reasonable; thus Support ticket remains the means but which to request a specific location.” [<- heartily disagree with this 'pass'- but pls read on]
Simply – there is already a working process for doing EXACTLY THAT. I will explain [per my experience ordering something similar – selecting from a group of items, each very specific all the while others on the internet can also order those same items.
LL homes *could* follow this exactly model – a specific pool of items – each unique – and the 'selector/purchaser' is having to choose one all the while others online are doing the exact same thing.) The conundrum here is how to let someone select a specific LL home all the while someone else may be doing the same thing – at that same time.
There is an answer to that – the 'Ticketron process'
I just got offline ordering some tickets online for a show at a theater, and guess what? The seating arrangement and those seats available were clearly shown. One can pick a 'vacant' seat and then have (1 minute, 2 minutes, etc.) to make that final selection. Finalize that selection and done. Obviously, as soon as one selects the item one wants – that particular item is now NOT available to anyone else 'shopping' for that limited time – otherwise back into the available pool.
So – LL could use a similar process – being able to select a very specific house has been done before for other similar items on the internet.
Why have this procedure – the ability to choose THE EXACT MODEL IN THE EXACT LOCATION one would want? Easy – see comment above vis-à-vis apartment selection in the RW – I see SL as being NO different.
Bottom line – why such a (granted) lengthy reply. Because I find the RANDOM selection rather annoying. Have to put up with it, of course. But, really – this is about 'customer service' is it not? Going that 'extra mile' by allowing a SL resident choosing the EXACT model AND location empowers that resident, rather than going away with the feeling that – behind everything else – there is the all-powerful overlord who will – in the final analysis – make personal choices [which should be 'personal'] impersonal. If Ticketmaster can do it – LL can too.
ok
LikeLike
Thanks for the feedback. I’ve no idea if your idea could be implemented – however, if you break it down into a series of steps in terms of selecting a location (remembering that at least in the case of the “2019+” homes you don’t need to do anything other than select the theme, as all styles within the theme are available trough the parcel rezzer, whilst the “2010” are already listed by style) as an a working example within a Feature Request Jira – it might get some traction at the Lab (even if it only initially acts as something for folk their to mull over.
LikeLike
Great suggestion – so followup – check out – Feature suggestion per advice!
https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/BUG-234538
LikeLike
Kudos and thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person