Clubs on the main grid are known to be great places to meet other people and party. Most of them carry pornography. Thankfully, the teen grid isn’t like that. Our lifestyle is very similar to the main grid. On the main grid, clubs rule the land, but on the teen grid, these so called “malls” are almost like the backbone of the teen grid lifestyle.

Malls started out way back when the teen grid was in beta. We used to call these things “towers.” There were only two main towers: Spectrum Tower and Trent Towers. They both attracted many people (Many people in one place wasn’t much). Yes, a lot of people in one place would be about five back in the day. Sadly, both of these towers died. Then some people tried making look alikes, but none of them had a huge success. The towers fad then died out.

The first REAL mall began right around the time Trent Towers opened. A teenager by the name of Tin Bling began his mall and called it Cascade. It wasn’t a huge success until he bought land in the sim coincidently named Cascade. Right around that time, the mall fad began growing. Malls in the snow sims became hits like Mega Mall Snow and Cascade. Even though there were only two malls in the snow sims, they were seen as the only place to go when you have to shop.

As the malls in the snow sims got started, it was under fire by heavy criticism. People began talking about how and why they were able to build their malls very quickly. One person, who should not be named, brought this issue up in a forum thread. The Lindens acknowledged that the teens were starting to realize what had happened and they responded. Blue Linden had announced that certain people were given land in the snow sims before they became public. Linden Labs had to find a way to make money and they had thought that by selling land to people who had huge tiers before the sim became public could bring in money. The Lindens apologized for this and in about a month or two, it was forgotten.

Now, malls are quickly popping up from one place to another. We are also seeing some “changes.” One change, for example, is the new Highland Mall. Originally, Highland Mall was known to have a very generic design. Highland Mall changed its looks so that it can look like an actual mall. Sasha Solzhenitsyn, the founder of Highland Mall, wasn’t available for an interview because he was offline. So, instead the interview was held with Aniam Ingmann, the co-owner of Highland Mall. Here’s the interview:

The Second Age: Alright, why did you guys decide to change the look of Highland Mall?
Aniam Ingmann: Well, we’ve remodeled 7 times ( yes it’s alot) and we’ve always done it if we move land, buy more land or think up a new idea. This last time, we made an expansive indoor mall instead of an outdoor one.
TSA: How do you feel about your competitors and what are you trying to do to attract more people?
AI: Well, us at Highland feel that our compeditors are usually not worthy of their status; as they use cheap ways to attract people such as money chairs. We try to always think up new ideas to attract people and we also hold events.
TSA: How are you guys trying to cope with the changes that are happening in SL (the increase in malls, the increase of citizens, etc.)?
AI: Well we just brainstorm for new ideas. You could call me and Sasha the “idea guys”; me and him are constantly thinking of new, original things to set up at our mall. he actually is a good friend in RL so we have time totalk at school.
TSA: Do you have any future plans?
AI: well, we are currently wanting to set up a movie theater, annd possibly another attraction such as our old sewer safari (that was one idea that was a large success)
AI: Okay, thanks for the interview
TSA: no thank you

Another example is Tin Bling’s departure of the mall business. It was very surprising to say the least. Although he had sold off his mall to Mega Mall’s owner Alex Harbinger, there’s have a feeling that he will return. Tin’s decision to sell it and Alex’s decision to buy Cascade didn’t have a major effect on TSL. A huge change on how people controlled malls was expected. Even though Alex is controlling two major malls at the same time, he is still doing an outstanding job mantaining them both.

As malls are starting to pop up everywhere, people are trying to cash into this. Some people are seeing this mall fad as uncreative and an idiotic way to use your land. Most malls are generic and ugly, but the creators of these malls will eventually find out the secret of making a great mall. As long as a mall don’t have freebie selling and people shooting up other people, then that mall is fine. Let’s just see what will happen to the future of malls and what changes it will make to TSL.

By: Trent Davis

((Editors note: This is the first of many articles that will hopefully be coming from our new staff of writers for TSA. Please post comments!))