This has some pretty serious novelty value: the world's first avatar-owned credit card?
The MetaCard works in the same way as a normal first life credit card works. Applicants are provided with a credit limit and present the card when purchasing goods at merchants who accept the card.
MetaCard comes in two flavors: Basic and Gold. The Basic card is subject to a avatar check and provides a credit limit of L$5000 ($18.60) per month. A Gold MetaCard offers a credit limit of L$10,000 ($37.20) per month and can only be obtained by providing real world credentials and a real life credit card for automatic payments.
Just don't actually use it, if you're into Second Life: the APR is a shocking, thieving, 54%, according to Tech Crunch. Actually, I wouldn't even get it to just frame and stick on the wall:
MetaCard holders must also spend L$500 ($1.86) per month or face a monthly maintenance fee of L$300 ($1.12).
What a farce.
That's OK for Linden. A good proportion of Second Life users are drooling morons anyway. They'll be jumping at the chance to get this card so they can spend their money on furry child avatars to yiff until their hearts are content.
Seriously though... What's the point? Surely pretty much anyone can get a proper credit card these days.
Posted by: Tom | September 05, 2007 at 07:24