Hello Residents and Friends,

Linden Lab has implemented an openspace/homestead region pricing and policy changes. For reference, see M Linden’s blog entry: http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/11/05/a-letter-to-second-life-residents/#more-2778.

Before we continue any further, we would like to say that the Costa Rica Sims is a successful, viable, and profitable Estate, and will not be leaving Second Life as a result of this change. So we will all continue to be able to live in harmony with nature and enjoy our lifestyle here in the Costa Rica Sims, just as we have in the past.

Many of our residents make their homes here on homesteads, so we will answer some of the questions that have come up from the Costa Rica Sims residents about these changes from Linden Lab, how it impacts openspaces residents, and how it will impact everyone living in our Estate. Just to clarity one main difference between a homestead region and a full region. A homestead region has 3,750 prims available, as for today, while an full region has 15,000 prims available.

First, a quick summary of changes made by Linden Lab:

Maintenance fees for Estate owners are increasing by 27% effective January 5th, 2009.

Maintenance fees for Estate owners will increase again by 32% on July 1st, 2009.

Separating the use of openspaces into 2 distinct categories: Openspaces and Homesteads. Openspaces will have 750 prims, with 10 avatars max and script limitations. Homesteads will have 3,750 prims, with 20 avatars max. Homesteads can be used for residences. Openspaces cannot be used for residences.

Impact to openspace residents in the Costa Rica Sims:

First note that all openspace regions in the Costa Rica Sims where residents live are merely being renamed as Homesteads. We are not adding regions, just re-branding them in accordance with Linden Lab.

Costa Rica Sims will need to increase the tier rates for open space regions, which will now be referred to as Homesteads, since tiers are based on what Linden Lab charges the Estate. We will increase tiers to maintain our current profit margins and cover our costs. This means that even though the tiers are increasing, the Estate will not be making any more profits as result of this change.

The follow are the estimated tier pricing changes which are based on the current value of the Linden dollar, market conditions, and information from Linden Lab. Given the number of variables involved, there may be mild changes to the amounts between now and when the new maintenance fees take effect.

As for today our tier rate is based on 8.22 L$ per prim. This means that is if you own a parcel in one of our homesteads with 1,172 prims your tier has been 9,670L$ per month.

Tier prices from January 5, 2009 through June 30, 2009 for Homestead regions will increase by 1,910L$ a month. In other words, the price per prim will increase to 9.88L$, so your new tier will be 11,580L$ a month.

Tier prices from July 1, 2009 onward for Homestead regions will increase again. The new increase per parcel with 1,172 prims will be 2,370L$ more per month for a total of 13,940L$ a month or 11.90L$ per prim.

Options for current openspace/Homestead owners:

There are some of you who will not find the increase in tiers as a burden. This means you can live on your Homestead without having to downgrade. However, the Estate may have to move the position of your region in order to maintain the organic shape of the Costa Rica Sims and to ensure regions are all connected.

There are some of you who will find the increase in tiers to be a burden. The Estate is offering to move you to another parcel in a full region, at no cost, that fits your needs. Any tiers that you have paid on your current parcel will be credited to your new parcel. For those of you interested in relocating to a new parcel, please contact us, Giancarlo Takacs or Ryker Infinity, by sending a notecard describing your needs and we will make the necessary arrangements and answer any questions you may have.

For those of you who do chose to be relocated, the Estate will move you to a parcel on a full region with the same amount of prims at no cost. We will work hard to terraform the land to make it as beautiful as possible in accordance with all of our other regions.

If you are interested instead in selling your land, you can visit our website http://costaricasims.com and look under the Land for Sale section. Here you will find detailed instructions on how to put your land for sale and advertise it on our website. Additionally, for those of you interested in seeing what land is coming up for sale, this is the best place to monitor land sales.

Although you do have some time before the tier changes take effect, the Estate requests that you decide sooner rather than later if you can afford the changes in tiers. The reasoning for this is that we are working very hard to adjust to the impact this has on the entire Estate and will need to make decisions based on your actions.

Impact to the entire Estate:

There will be no change to the tier pricing for residents who live on full regions since Linden Lab has not announced any changes to those maintenance fees for Estate owners. Tier on full regions such as Alajuela or Puntarenas will no be affected keeping the tier based on 8.22 L$ per prim.

We have already started to relocate some owners of openspace/Homestead regions to parcels on full regions. In addition, we are converting some of the openspace/Homestead regions the Estate owns into full regions. This allows us to maintain the options available to residents and the ensure stability of the Estate.

In the next few weeks, the design of the Estate as a whole will begin to change as we convert more openspace/Homestead regions into full regions. This may mean some openspace/Homstead owners will need to be relocated, even if you are still able to afford the increase in tier prices. Note that the Estate will absorb all costs associated with moving around regions and will do its best to keep the inconvenience to residents to a minimum.

There are two main reasons for this change in the position of the regions that make up the Estate:

The first is maintaining the Estate’s organic shape and keeping all regions connected. Many of you enjoy being able to sail, swim, walk, fly, etc…across regions and we plan on continuing to provide you with this enjoyment. As a result, we will need to move regions around.

Secondly, we will have to adjust the number of amenities that the Estate provides, meaning some regions will have to move around to adjust for this change. Currently, the Costa Rica Sims absorbs the costs of regions where residents do not live. While we are not removing all those regions, there will be some that we can no longer provide given the costs to the Estate. We will do our best to keep the most popular amenities that add value to all residents.

Future of the Costa Rica Sims:

The future of the Costa Rica Sims is a bright one. We foresee this change in the layout of the Estate as a positive one. Many have remarked that living in closer proximity to other residents will increase our ability to get to know one another and foster an even stronger sense of community. We completely agree with this line of thinking. In addition, our community will continue to be vibrant and diverse, with the Estate offering a majority of the services and amenities that most of you have come to expect and love. Finally, we view this as an opportunity to bring new residents to our Estate as the landscape of the grid changes, meaning new faces and friends to enrich our lives.

While all of us find the changes implemented by Linden Lab frustrating, we believe and value what we have created here in the Costa Rica Sims foremost. As such, we welcome any questions or feedback you may have during this time of change and look forwarding to embracing what the future has in store for all of us.

Please send all questions, feedback, suggestions, etc… via a notecard to Giancarlo Takacs or Ryker Infinity and we will respond to you as soon as possible. Finally, we will need your cooperation in implementing these changes as we are one of the best communities in all of SL and plan on staying that way.

We will keep you informed as more information becomes available and as we make decisions that impact us all.

Love & Light,

The Costa Rica Sims Executive Team