Ideal Design- what would you like to see?
 

Ok guys, I think most people would agree that the game has evolved for the positive. Things like the speed of the game, smooth running boards, big custom boards, selection in bases, tweaking, decals, custom figures, stadiums....realism! But here is your chance to chime in on what can make the game of miniature football game of tomorrow even better. What would it be like, what would you change if you could. If money were no object what would you invent, or change? What element of the game could ultimately be improved to truely make it a "must have" for the masses?

I'll start it out. I think that a supremely performing base is the start. A base with MUCH higher level of performance straight out of the bag would keep newbies more interested (along with a quality mass produced board for under $100). This would enable anyone to pick up the game and get instant enjoyemnt by being able to have complete command of the movement of their players. I'd also like TTC and ITZ style bases that ran even more consistent than Pro Line rookies RIGHT OUT OF THE BAG, whereby turning the dial gave surgical precision to the change in a running pattern. And how about the "catch"? What if the guys actually did catch the ball like the video that was recently made that would be NICE. Lastly, how about a base that is programmable with remote control thmbsp$.

Feel free to chime in and remember, IDEAL designs. Don't think about whats out there now and don't constrain your ideas to what you think is feasible. Think about a design that if it could be done it would drastically change MF and gaming forever! I'm looking forward to seeing some of the ideas, lets have some fun with this one!
Regards,
Joe

A field that is wired up to a scoreboard . It keeps up with touchdown, out of bounds with time stoppage, fieldgoals, timeouts, all the accessories of a real time scoreboard . Maybe even remote controlled? Made on a stand in the endzones like a real stadium? In neon lights!! thmbsp$
Have more to follow .
Great post Michigan Joe!!!ppls$

A way to place linemen on the board automatically. It would cut down on the set up time and me knocking men around. Something like an automatic pin setter in bowling. :rtfl:
Skill players would still be set manually. You should see my fingers shake when setting those linemen in tight trying not to bump another player!

that actually might not be too hard... i have in my mind what could do it, not sure how to say it... if you had something with 2 rails, or 5 sets of pinchers that you could squeeze like tweezers that would lock the 5 bases in place untill you stop squeezing them. :confused:

I agree about strong out of the box bases. That's the biggest turn off to new players. If they know nothing about tweaking, how could they not get frustrated?

Something I've thought about for a while is sound. How about a built in speaker on boards which includes background noises such as the crowd, whistles blowing, signal calling, player grunts etc. to drown out the board noise? It would also add a ton to the atmosphere of the game.

How about this
 

So many times with front of bases tackels we sometimes think a man is down and it can cause some questions. How about a really small light to put under the base for the skilled positions or something that light up only when the front of the base is hit. Just on and off for a quick second to get rid of any doubt. . That way we know if the man is down or not instead of turning the board on and off a bunch of times (which in reality) can change the way a runner performs.
Here is a good one.In our league after when a r.b runs the ball it's just front of the base for a tackle. After ten yards it's any touch tackle. How about if we have some sort of laser that can mark a perfect line across the field so we know where the ten yards starts, and that nobody can forget because you have that beam of light going across the field. Once again ,you won't have to turn the board on and off to make sure the runner is past ten yards. The beam of light will tell you.

Idea
 

If the manufacturers of bases would include directions on how to remove flash and general info on how to tweak the bases that would cut down on discouraged beginners...just a thought.

Great ideas so far, keep them coming!

Project Dawg, I know its hard but don't get too caught up on the "hows" yet. Lets just have a brainstorming session. When you focus on the end result (the ideal design), it opens up the POSSIBILITY of creating the "what you never thought possible" break thrus.

Light up bases when touched....oh yea
A fixtured alignment technique for speed and accuracy of alignment...I like it
Stadiums with scoreboards that controlled the clock...can you imagine?

Mozeek...why should we have to tweak the bases? Don't get me wrong I enjoy this part of the hobby but can you imagine for newbies to be able to put a guy on the board and they fly straight down the field. Now thats what I would call a "rookie" base!

the only problem
 

would be that someone would have to remove flash and make adjustments to the bases prior to shipment just by the way they are produced. unless there was away that they could tweak bases for strength or speed in the factory......

Mozeek, only if you made bases the same way you currently do. What if I told you that I personally know a production method to create a base with 0.3mm (or less) thick prongs with NO flash. Guess what, I really do. Again, i think you just got caught up in the "how".

Here I'll add another ideal design:

A 2x4 foot field that was QUIET. Virtually no unpleasant sound louder than a whisper, yet still had a nice even vibration across the entire field. Oh, and it is durable and light weight.

How about this... Get away from the vibrating field and use air. Just like an air hockey table. Same players, but with new bases designed to float on air.

Newness
 

I like the ideas about better bases out of the bag. How about a better QB design on some sort of rotating base (swivel design) where you could place it exactly in the spot that the board was stopped.

I would also like to see a quiet board that I could use upstairs after the family goes to bed so I don't wake everyone up.

Wally...OMG i can see it now! Man that is brilliant. Thats what I'm talking about!

Uh oh just thought of something, you may need to propose a new weight limit with this style though :D

Computer programable radio controlled bases with a joystick option. Imagine having all your plays set into your laptop. You simply pick which play you want to run and the bases turn by themselves to run that play. Then you could pick one player that you could controll with the joystick. Imagine having a buch of guys, each with their own joystick being able to controll their own player, some on offense and the others on defense. You could play 2 on 2, or 5 on 5 or even 11 on 11! drl$$

Funny.... I had that same thought after having played air hockey with my little 4 year old. Of course, the underside of the base would have to be a lifting surface curving upward in back for forward impulse. One problem however might be stability.

Dude good idea, I think this would be rather easy to do right now. Ever see those keyfob lasers, you know they hook to your keychain or you buy them in a pet store to play with your cat. They are small, cheap and could easily be attached to a home made device that slides on the sideline rail, similar to the ball marker and chain gang that Reggie sells with his 308. There you have it, also could be good as a ball marker or LOS marker, like the graphic they use on TV.

Shabby J
 

That is a great idea. I'll have to check with our commish and see what Jeff can do. He had a similar thought on that as well. It sounds really good. thmbsp$ thmbsp$ thmbsp$

Coach SJ
 

Radio shack has all the pieces needed. The led lights battery source and wiring. This would be a plus in all FOB tackle leagues, because it takes the questions out. I'd like to see this around the field as well. Used for first downs, and TD's we have the minds on this chat board it can happen. Give it time.

Darrian