Having watched the online poker market grow steadily for years, it comes as no surprise to see innovative companies employ similar strategies with other segments of online gaming. One such start-up is Rivalspot.com, which allows members to wager cash on console video games for the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360.
The concept is simple, and quite similar to online poker. Upon signing up, users can challenge others on Rivalspot to everything from Madden to FIFA, NHL, Fight Night, NBA 2K, MLB The Show and more. These challenges can be for free, but Rivalspot also allows their gamers the chance to wager cash, in a winner-take-all system.
For example, a Madden 11 gamer who owns a PS3 will be able to search for other users with the same title and console, and immediately jump into a match upon the acceptance of their challenge. There is also the option to create an “open challenge,” which allows any Rivalspot user to join the challenge and face the creator.
When it comes to a direct challenge, the site makes it easy to find an equal opponent, in the interest of playing a competitive match. Rivalspot’s detailed statistics page lets you check out each user’s history, so you can find out how strong they are at each specific game. Even better, users get the chance to rate opponents after each match, along with the opportunity to leave comments. This feature means you will know if somebody is a desirable opponent or not – if they’ve been cheating or glitching, you can bet the comments will tell you so. Personally, this is a key feature on Rivalspot, because there are so many different types of players and skill levels when it comes to console gaming – by including this system, it’s much easier to play a fair, honest match against a comparable opponent.
The open challenge is obviously a bit more risky, because you don’t get to choose your upcoming opponent. On the other hand, it makes it very easy to start playing quickly, because the growing user base means someone is always eager to take you on. Sure, you might not wager quite as much if you don’t know which person you’ll be facing, but it spices things up to play a random user. Plus, you might end up with a new rival who’s fun to play, but who you wouldn’t have challenged otherwise.
The gaming on Rivalspot.com is not limited to head-to-head matchups. The site also holds plenty of multi-player tournaments for each game, which is actually one of the most fun aspects of online play. Some of these tournaments are set up directly by Rivalspot, while others are open sports video game tournaments created by users.
In either case, these tournaments work in a March Madness-style bracket, with anywhere from four to 64 teams playing single-elimination. The payout structure changes depending on the tournament, and gives different percentages of the winnings to each finisher – for example, 70% of the money might go to the first place user, with 20% and 10% going to second and third, respectively. In a user-created tournament, the payout structure is up to them, so you’ll find events of every kind on any given day.
Making these tournaments even more enjoyable is the engaging format on Rivalspot.com. In each event, users will see the entire bracket, which is updated live with the scores of each game. This makes it easy to visualize your potential future opponents, and makes it simple to keep track of the games that have already been played. Each tournament also has a chat box that helps users interact and set up their games, while allowing the chance to trash talk your friends and rivals.
In fact, this chat box feature is one of the better ideas on Rivalspot.com, and is not limited to tournaments. The main lobby, along with each specific gaming arena, has a rolling chat that makes it easy to find opponents and stay engaged. Each time I’ve logged onto Rivalspot, there have been ongoing discussions about each game, along with friendly banter over which users are more skilled than others. It’s this type of thing that helps build and grow communities, as users are actively participating and not just logging into their own little vacuum. Even better, you don’t need to consistently check the chat box to stay on top of the discussion – the latest comment actually pops up on your screen regardless of your current position on the website.
The other feature that sticks out when you surf Rivalspot.com is the online blog, which includes features and articles on video games, sports and fantasy. This extensive content is something you won’t find on other competitive gaming sites, and includes everything from video game tips to industry buzz and the latest news from the world of sports. In terms of the tips section, I found recent articles previewing Madden 12 rookies, along with FIFA free kick tutorials, NHL 11 team breakdowns and even a video feature detailing the best red-zone play in Madden 11. As somebody who is always looking for the edge in each of those games, the blog is both helpful and engaging, making me spend extra time on Rivalspot even when I’m not playing.
Finally, there are so many great deals and offers on Rivalspot that I don’t know where to start. You get bonus dollars for signing up (35% on first deposit), along with countless promotions that seem to pop up every day. For example, March featured a 200% offer, in which the site matched every deposit by doubling it – seriously, where else are you going to find something like that?
Overall, Rivalspot.com is a great experience for the online gamer who wants to play competitively and put their money where their mouth is. Whether you want to play for big money or for small amounts, the growing Rivalspot community is engaging, and seemingly growing faster every day. I recommend the site for its innovative ideas, it’s peer-review system and its customer support, and will say with confidence that I haven’t experienced the same level of enjoyment at any competitor site.
If you want to try out their sports video games tournaments - please visit http://www.rivalspot.com and create a free account there.
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