[quote][b][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/b]
Gold Defence is an asset flip, or what Valve calls a "Fake Game". The "developer" paid for/pirated someone else's example/template/tutorial game, changed the name/reskinned a couple of things, and submitted it to Valve as if it was their own game.[/quote]
This is another asset flip from the (now banned) Atomic Fabrik scammer/fraudster, dumping yet another asset flipped fake game onto Steam with fake reviews to defraud gamers. This time it's a GameMaker Studio tower defense game template, and they're using another one of their fake/shell accounts (Gamesforgames) in this case, but make no mistake, this is just Atomic Fabrik evading his Steam ban.
Gamesforgames have shown a repeat pattern of unethically dumping other people's work onto Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab, through this account or through closely linked/alt accounts. Here's some examples so you can see for yourself:
[list]
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2862030]Lunatic Taxi Driver[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/offroad-taxi-driving-city-taxi-sim/]Offroad Taxi Driving Sim[/url] developed by Sim Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2387820]Beach Gas Gas[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/highway-racer-traffic-car-race/]Highway Racer Traffic Car Race[/url] developed by Unity Boy
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2833830]Gas Gas Rocket![/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/hovershift-107789]Hovershift[/url] developed by SgLib Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2999780]Skeletos Sword[/url]" = [url=https://unityunreal.com/unreal-engine-assets-free-download/ue-props/1947-gothic-island.html]Gothic Island[/url] developed by UnityUnreal
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2862020]Let's Park Bus Edition[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/smart-bus-parking-games-bus-driving-simulator-2021/]Bus Driving Simulator 2021[/url] developed by The Armor Gaming
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3461200]Matchmania Donate[/url]" = [url=https://gamemaker.io/en/blog/match-three-gamemaker-template]Match 3 GameMaker Template[/url] developed by YoyoGames
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2864300]Zombodesert[/url]" = [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cXnw-32BjA]Macho Dash[/url] developed by TAPP Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3807920]Summoner's Automata[/url]" = [url=https://lyaseek.itch.io/minifhumans]Minifolks Humans[/url] developed by LYASeeK
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2833820]Fox Golf[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/golf-royale-104938]Golf Royale[/url] developed by Code Master Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2805630]Botmobile[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/car-stunts-48972]Car Stunts [/url] developed by Ace
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2805660]Fight Till The End[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/squid-7-challenge-top-trending-game/]Squid 7 Challenge[/url] developed by Flexy Gam
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2124660]Fix My Cat Doc[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/kitty-cat-doctor-pet-vet-doctor-game/]Kitty Cat Doctor Pet Vet Doctor Game[/url] developed by Fast Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2862060]Wild Animals Transporter[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/wild-animal-transporter-truck-game-2021/]Wild Animal Transporter Truck Game 2021[/url] developed by Zoobs Man
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3592350]Happy Piggy[/url]" = [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IXQGJuLFvI]Unity C# Tutorial[/url] developed by Unity No Code
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2805620]Animals vs Animals[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/animal-racing-complate-game-racing-game-support-unity-5-5/]Animal Racing[/url] developed by SplayGame Official
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2805640]Desert Special Forces[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/frontline-army-commando-war-battle-games/]Frontline Army Commando War[/url] developed by Deeko Games
[/list]
Gold Defence didn't appeal much to the people who own a copy of the game, either. It has achievements, and they show us a very clear picture that the game didn't really capture any interest from gamers. The most commonly and easily attained achievement is "Complete 3 wave!", actually playing the asset flip, trivial to get, but less than 20 percent of players bothered to get that far before uninstalling the game. Hardly a success story, even the people who own this game weren't interested in it.
The poor quality of this game is also reflected by how many people spent time with it. At the time of this review, SteamDB shows the all-time peak player number was [b]only 3 players[/b]. This is a remarkably low number, and now, the only player activity occurs once or twice a month, presumably someone loading it up to see what it is then quickly uninstalling it. Considering there's over 120 million gamers on Steam and well over 130,000 games for gamers to choose from, the overwhelming lack of interest in this low quality game is to be expected.
[quote][b][url=https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/federal-register-notices/16-cfr-part-465-trade-regulation-rule-use-consumer-reviews-testimonials-final-rule]Warning: Review Manipulation![/url][/b]
This game features a number of fake positive reviews from accounts known to be in the business of review manipulation/paid reviews. They're all written in either Russian, broken English or ChatGPT AI slop, appear at almost exactly the same time, very shortly after the game launched on Steam, all have a direct Steam purchase of the game, and the accounts are used consistently to write fake reviews for asset flips and other cash grabs/scams. The "Positive" review score on this game should be disregarded due to this blatant, unethical review manipulation. This is done to deceive and scam gamers into paying for a bad product.
Due to the 2024 FTC ruling (16 CFR Part 465), these fake reviews are a violation of US Federal Law.[/quote]
This kind of asset flipping isn't harmless. It makes it harder for gamers to find genuinely made games from ethical developers. It makes it harder for genuine indie developers, who put hard work into trying to make real games, to find an audience for their products. It gives indie developers a bad name.
So, should you buy this asset flip? Is this better than any of the 130,000+ genuinely made games on Steam? Of course not!
Gold Defence has the pathetically optimistic price of $10 USD, for which you could easily get any number of older AAA games. Given the defects and quality issues with the game, coupled with the unrealistic price, and the questionable ethical nature of the developer and/or their associates (as outlined above), this is impossible to recommend.
For comparison, the $10 asking price for this game could get you games like "The Elder Scrolls Online", "Alien: Isolation" or "Ghostrunner". Quality, professionally made games like those are frequently on sale cheaper than this scam.
[quote][b][url=https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/marketing/profile]Profile Features Limited![/url][/b]
Valve have marked this game as "Profile Features Limited" at the time of this review. This is usually caused by poor sales figures and low community acceptance for the game (to date). Until this status changes, this game will not give you +1 to your Game Collector badge count, appear in profile achievements or any other Steam meta-accomplishments, nor can it be displayed in some profile showcases. If these factors are important to you, it may be worth holding off before buying this game.[/quote]
