So You Want To Own A Neighborhood Eh!

By Julia

 

So you decided to become a land baron in There. A There neighborhood, its evolution from purchase to full operation in a virtual life community setting will test every fiber of your being.  Before considering neighborhood ownership it’s advisable to research the many elements necessary for success.  I believe there is a formula to obtain the desired community.  Your neighborhood and its success will lie with you and you alone to start.  Keep in mind the term success is a subjective term. It varies from person to person. By definition success is: Degree of succeeding, favorable or desired outcome, the attainment of wealth, favor or eminence.  

My personal preference is desired outcome.  My co-owner and I targeted a specific age group.  We applied our agreed philosophy.  We decided on a specific theme.  We opted to dictate the theme to those who decided to live on our hoods. We built what we loved and hoped the future residents would love it as well.  We hoped our amateur skill sets were enough to carry us until we learned more about human nature, building, daily operations, layout, events, leadership skills and the list goes on. We believed in, and bet on ourselves. 

Where do you start? To start, ask your self a few questions and answer them with the utmost honesty. Why do you want to own a neighborhood? There is no right or wrong answer to this question but you should have an idea of why you’re taking on this monumental task.  Do you have the funds to start up a small business? Do you have the skill sets necessary to manage a community? Do you have the time? You will be in game for many hours each day. Can you readily accept different cultures and diverse convictions? There are many personal characteristics you personally possess that will contribute positively and negatively to your neighborhoods success.

I’ve noticed there are extreme differences in opinion regarding the purchase of a neighborhood. When to bid on it, how much to bid on it?  It can be very confusing and quite frustrating. For me, it was simple.  I waited until the perfect neighborhood became available containing the elements necessary to my vision.  Then I bid all my available t-bucks on it. If you have a group of friends all lined up ready to get into a neighborhood the pressure to buy one can be very intense.  Some people can’t quite wrap their heads around the word no or wait.  I would advise waiting until you, the owner, the one who will ultimately be responsible for its success or failure is comfortable with the location, the terrain and most importantly, if it meets the needs of your vision.  Don’t jump at the first neighborhood because you want one now, you may find that your theme doesn’t work with it and ultimately your original vision may be lost or traded for one you love a bit less. 

Before you purchase a neighborhood, have a plan, a theme; a vision for your hoods growth. With your theme in place you can better sort the available options when purchasing a neighborhood such as terrain, water, cliffs.  Many purchase neighborhoods with no clue about what theme they’re going to apply then frantically search for somewhere to start. Remember rent comes due quickly with or without residents.  

I feel that it is necessary for the owner to have some direction in mind that he/she can build from.  It does not have to be actual builds as many builds and neighborhoods for that matter take on a life of their own as the builder becomes more inspired. Personally I knew my theme and built certain lots before the neighborhood was purchased.  Be careful when doing this, new items may be released that you may have wished you waited for. When your theme is solid all the builds should revolve around it, supporting it, complimenting it.  Your theme should tell a story to those visiting your neighborhood for the first time.

 

When you decide on a theme, choose one that you have great passion for, something that fires your imagination and will continually hold it as time goes on. If you believe in your theme it will shine to all those who visit your neighborhood and compel residents to live there.  

 

How to pick a theme? All of us experience wondrous things in our daily lives that can inspire our imaginations in There.  What are you into to? What do you dream about? What places in the world have captured your interest even if you’ve never actually been there? There is a place for dreaming! We can build amazing things and live out a fantasy of sorts in an environment that came right from our imagination. Allow yourself to go wild! As you start building your vision and creativity will expand.  The Disney World engineers are not termed engineers, they’re termed imagineers.  They’ve been given free will to dream and create the most outrageous things to excite and thrill the millions of visitor’s each year. In There, when you own a neighborhood you’re given the same gift, you’re now an imagineer! You have an open door to imagine and build your vision with great passion, personal creativity that originated straight from your mind! How frickin’ cool is that!

  The creation of a neighborhood and the community residing within is truly a remarkable accomplishment. With a great deal of pleasure I will put pen to paper offering bits of my experience in the hopes that all the new and current neighborhood owners in There may find something of value to take along on the exciting journey of neighborhood ownership in There. 

Cheers!