First off, Megawatz....I agree with you, but here's the rub. And I'm playing devil's advocate here. Let me take a wargaming example...World War II is a very popular war to simulate on the tabletop. There are many rules sets out there that simulate this game...some in boardgame form and others in miniature game form. Let's just take boargames. Right off the top of my head there is: Band of Heroes, Advanced Squad Leader, Tobruk, and Conflict of heroes to handle platoon to company level engagements....they are all VERY different rules sets with many different PHILOSPHIES on HOW to simulate this level of WWII engagement. Some are more gritty with attention to minute detail, others are a little more abstract and focus more on the flow of the game and the end result. Some get down the actual thickness of the armor on a tank, some worry more about the morale of troops, etc. NONE of thse games are compatable with one another . . . and every one of these games has dedicated followings. Believe me, we get into the same kinds of arguments, because we want people to play the way we like to play.

Likewise, there are many ways to simulate the game of football. And people will have differing opinions on how to do this. Some want to interject the actual skill of passing and kicking using the TTQB, some (like me) are a little more interested in the X's and O's - the coaching - of the game. Some see the game of EF as a pure, simple thing that shouldn't be tainted with complex simulation rules - just tweak your guys and let 'em run . . .some will see it as a means to give a deep reenactment of football.

The key here is whether you see electric football as a means to simulate football or as a sport unto itself. If it is the former, then you will always have a fractured fanbase...if it is the latter, then you MUST have an agreed upon set of rules. But hey...even football has numerous leagues with different rules. The USFL is making a comeback in 2010 - with some interesting rules by the way - like a 4 pt field goal past 50 yards. There's the IFL, AFL, and the AAFL (All American League.) The issue I see is the fanbase for EF is too small to allow itself to be fractured in this way...that is if it wants to gain momentum as a more mainstream hobby. Which I think it is more than capable of being.

My two bits.

Mike