Nina Caldwell
Golf Rival is a mobile golf game that has received mixed reviews. Some players have accused the game of being a scam, claiming that it is rigged to make players spend money to win. They allege that the game uses bots as opponents and that it is difficult to progress without purchasing upgrades. Additionally, there are claims that Golf Rival is a rip-off of another game called Golf Clash. However, there are also players who enjoy the game and defend it, stating that it looks good and plays well.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scamming | Players have to spend money to win |
| Players are pitted against bots that use miraculous tools and make perfect shots | |
| Players are matched against opponents with clubs several levels higher than theirs | |
| Rigged games | |
| Unfair matching of players | |
| Reused assets | |
| Lack of updates | |
| Poor ball physics |
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What You'll Learn
Golf Rival is a scam
Players have also reported that the game's physics are unrealistic, with balls bouncing off the edges of holes or the flagpole without falling in. The game also appears to be a rip-off of Golf Clash, with similar gameplay and features.
The developers have tried to justify changes to the game as being for the benefit of players, but these changes only seem to benefit the developers. For example, players have complained that the game reuses assets from previous years, and does not offer new content or updates that reflect the current year.
The game also appears to be a money grab, with players reporting that they were matched against opponents with significantly higher-level clubs, which gave them an unfair advantage. Players are essentially paying for upgrades that give them a competitive advantage over other players, rather than improving their own skills or strategy.
Overall, Golf Rival appears to be a scam designed to exploit players' competitive nature and get them to spend money on upgrades that are necessary to win the game. The use of bots and unrealistic physics further adds to the feeling that the game is a scam designed to take advantage of players.
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It's a rip-off of Golf Clash
Golf Rival, which launched in 2018, is a near-perfect clone of Golf Clash, a game that has remained the No. 1 golf game in the U.S. and U.K. top-grossing charts. Golf Rival is a clear copy of Golf Clash, but there are substantial gameplay, visual fidelity, monetization, and live-ops differences and improvements.
Golf Rival has surpassed Golf Clash in downloads, with a CAGR growth of +8% from February 2019 to February 2023, while Golf Clash nosedived by -39% in the same period. Golf Rival's success illustrates how a clone can enter the market and capture share from the market leader.
In terms of revenue, Golf Clash held a 92% market share in 2018, while Golf Rival had only 1.4%. By 2022, Golf Rival had increased its market share to 28%, with Golf Clash's share decreasing to 51%. Golf Rival's revenue has increased by 594% between January 2019 and January 2023, while Golf Clash's revenue has nosedived by 59% in the same period.
The success of Golf Rival has been attributed to its ability to tap into the competitive nature of players, encouraging them to make purchases to win. Some users have criticized Golf Rival as a "scam," arguing that it is a "pay-to-win" game where spending money gives players a significant advantage. They claim that the game is rigged, with the outcome of shots being manipulated by how much the player spends. Additionally, users have reported issues with golf ball physics, with balls bouncing off hole edges or hitting the flagpole without falling in.
In contrast, Golf Clash has generated $789 million in lifetime revenue from 64 million downloads. The game's success spurred Electronic Arts to acquire its developer, Playdemic, in 2021 for $1.4 billion. The turf war between Golf Clash and Golf Rival has now become a proxy war between gaming giants EA and Zynga, who acquired Golf Rival and its developer, StarLark, in the same year.
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It's pay-to-win
Golf Rival has been criticised for being a "pay-to-win" game, where players who spend more money have a significant advantage over those who don't. This is a common feature of "freemium" games, where the game is free to play but offers in-game purchases for real money. In Golf Rival, players can buy better clubs and balls, which give them a competitive edge.
One user complains that "it's not $10 you are spending, but hundreds. You are basically spending hundreds of dollars on a single game". They go on to say that "you show them the end goal only to make it next to impossible to get there without spending money". Another user agrees, saying that "if you don't spend money, you are opposed [in competition] with those who do and it becomes impossible to win".
Some players have noticed that the physics of the game seem to change depending on whether you've paid or not. One user says that "if you don't spend the money to upgrade your clubs, you won't win. The wind and bunkers are set up perfectly to make sure of that". Another user agrees, saying that "spend a lot [of money] and balls stop magically on greens. Don't buy anything and balls run for 20 yards off the green".
The use of bots in the game has also been criticised, as they are often used in matches that can cost you money. These bots seem to have an unfair advantage, with one user saying that "bots [...] have every kind of special club and ball". Another user says that "it's a bunch of fake pre-set matches. I played 5 games in a row where the opponent shot 2 albatrosses and 3 eagles. There's no way a player at that low level can do that so often".
Overall, while Golf Rival can be played for free, it seems that players who are willing to spend significant amounts of money have a much higher chance of winning. This "pay-to-win" model has been a source of frustration for many players, who feel that the game is unfair and exploitative.
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It uses bots as opponents
One of the main issues with Golf Rival is its use of bots as opponents. This means that players are rarely, if ever, competing against human opponents. The problem with this is that the bots play with an unfair advantage, as the wind and terrain do not affect them in the same way as human players, and they are able to make perfect shots every time.
This creates a significant challenge for human players, who feel cheated when they realise that their opponents are not playing by the same rules. The use of bots becomes a way to encourage players to spend money, as the only way to improve their clubs and balls and have a chance of winning is to pay for upgrades.
In addition, there is evidence that Golf Rival uses bots to set up matches with low-level players who make impressive shots. This gives the illusion that these low-level players are human opponents, when in reality the matches are predetermined. This tactic is particularly frustrating for players who are trying to improve their skills and compete fairly.
The use of bots in Golf Rival is a major source of frustration for players, who feel that the game is rigged against them. The more players spend, the more they are incentivised to continue playing and spending in order to maintain their upgraded equipment and keep winning. This creates a cycle of spending that benefits the developers at the expense of the players' enjoyment of the game.
Ultimately, the use of bots in Golf Rival undermines the competitiveness and fairness of the game, and contributes to the perception that it is a scam designed to take advantage of players' competitive nature and willingness to spend money.
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It has poor physics
Golf Rival has been criticised for its poor physics, which affect the gameplay experience. The physics of the golf balls, in particular, have been called into question, with players reporting that balls tend to bounce off the edges of the hole or hit the flagpole without dropping in. This can be extremely frustrating for players, especially when it leads to losing a game.
In addition to the ball physics, some players have also noted inconsistencies in the game's physics engine, which seems to be separate from the display engine. This results in discrepancies, such as wind affecting the game physics and display differently. For example, the wind and terrain do not seem to impact the bots in the same way they affect human players, with bots making perfect, computer-generated shots that seem to defy the game physics.
The physics of the game also seem to be manipulated by player spending. Some players have observed that spending more on upgrades and special clubs can result in shots that stop magically on greens, while not spending causes balls to roll further off the green. This creates a pay-to-win scenario, where players who spend more money on the game gain an advantage over those who do not.
The physics of the clubs themselves have also been criticised. Players have noted that even with the best clubs, their shots are still affected by the wind and bunkers, requiring costly upgrades to remain competitive. This further reinforces the perception of Golf Rival as a money grab, where the physics and mechanics of the game are skewed to encourage players to spend more.
Overall, the physics in Golf Rival have been a source of frustration for many players, leading to accusations of unfair gameplay and a focus on monetisation over providing a fun and challenging experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Many users have complained that Golf Rival is a scam designed to make players spend money. The game has also been criticised for its use of bots and for being a rip-off of Golf Clash.
Players have reported that the game becomes very difficult unless they spend money on upgrades and special clubs and balls. Some have also claimed that the physics of the game are manipulated to encourage players to spend money on upgrades.
It appears that Golf Rival is trying to make changes to the game, but some users believe that these changes only benefit the game developers and not the players.
Yes, Golf Clash is a similar game that some users have reported preferring over Golf Rival.
