is this hobby dying ?

[MplsTom]

Is this hobby dying?

1) Because of this last go-around...no. One of the challenges/beauties of this hobby (depending on your perspective) is that it has so many different ways of playing and sets of possible rules. There is no governing board and when pure, unregulated free market happens, well we saw how well our large financial companies police themselves the past 8 years. Same concept here...people will do their own things, form their own groups depending on their point of view and vision, and try to convince the masses. That usually doesn't work.

2) Overall, absolutely. We are an aging group of players with very little interest amongst the youth - save a few children of coaches or league players. I've said this before and I'll say it again...the youth of tomorrow will fondly get together and have Madden tournaments when they are 40 and their kids will be playing the 3d virtual reality something or other.

It isn't a secret in the hobby that before I started my consulting business, I looked at acquiring one of the major manufacturers. In doing so, my marketing plan was basically a 5 to 10 year cycle. We can get the youth interested for a short amount of time if we have TV tournaments, etc with sponsors and the like. That will de facto set the "standards" in the hobby as guys will want to be preparing that style because that's where the recognition and $ is.

Having said that, it would be unwise to consider the business venture anything more than a short-term, grow the business and sell proposition. The youth are fully invested in the video culture and we would be marketing toward an aging group using the nostalgia angle.

In my eyes, at that time, the manufacturer had to take the lead in driving that type of strategy. It requires a ton of energy and some initial $ / risk to do so. The business is theirs and I respect their ability to do with it what they like. It is their business model to be a niche player, comfortably servicing the existing players and generating a nice side income and allow for some decent tax benefits. That is their perogotive and I do not fault them at all for that. Again, it is only my opinion as to how this hobby can get a serious bounce.

[Coach K-LO]

Hulk,
we are just going thru the growing pains of our generation, as Tom R. stated in his post.

but you always have to ask yourself - what else can I do to move us along the trail.......

Fellas,

Electric Football has reached an all time high! We have gone fromTudor/Miggle to Buzzball/Foot Figures. No longer do we accept wierd helmet logos from the manufacture's, we make our own! We build our own boards and stadiums. We have instrutional dvd's and videos of our championship & league games! We have several distinct styles of playing the same game. We have been given the opportunity to enjoy a very good piece of our childhood. Electric football is our common bond. People will come and go. There will be arguments and disagreements, but there will also be good times and friendships established. Nothing ever truly ends. It justs adapts and evolves. In August of this year, we will descend upon Canton, Ohio. A tournament will take place combining two or three different playing stlyes. There may or may not be national coverage, but this is big. I am truly sorry that I cannot be apart of this epic event. Sometimes, you have to be the big man and let your opponent win a call, no matter how big the call! Sometimes you have to wait a little longer for your products to arrive than you want. Sometimes, you owe that man a real ****** kising because you know, you took his money! Man up and give it back with something extra! The problems aren't about electric football it's about each and everyone of us as indivduals. Look at that man in the mirror and ask what can you do to make electric football fun for somebody else for a change!

Today I highly recommend, Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror! Just listen to the words and I can assure you the start of a better life!!!!


Tron ascends to the Fortress of Soltude until called upon again!

I don't think it is dying but I do think it is at a state of minor dismay. This forum helped spark my interest to get back into the hobby. While I read most of the posts which were 95% positive the last couple weeks were not good for the forum. I don't know anyone personal but I do know beef. It is a fun hobby that does not need drama in it. I hope this is not the type of drama that I will see in league play especially being a new road warrior. I think the negative posts will cost the forum of new potential members but I think those here will stick through it. I myself will stick with the forum and the hobby and look forward to putting the names with the faces at the leagues and tourneys coming up.

No I don't think its dying.

[kingATL]

This hobby is getting better better by the day. Looking at new board designs. The different figures, new style of play , and look now with useing the internet to watch miniature football games live. All the great tournaments you have a chance to play in, come on coaches. The only problem I see there is a lot of coaches who " talk the talk but can,t walk the walk" . If you,re part of a league help make that league stronger by being committeed to the league ,enjoying your fellowship with coaches and being postive to help it succeed. Don,t try to bring negativity to something others enjoy special if you didn,t help build it. Where I see it the DSEFL is growing we have our problems along the way, but by me being Commissioner no one is going to stop me or our dedicated members from being a successful league for coaches or our young kids to enjoy. I saw the youth league photo for the NEFL deuces. That was great fellowship among kids. The summer league Coach Karim Cambell started great for the hobby. I just had my first grandchild born and I thought man we need to keep this hobby hot for the youth , they would love it just as much as the adults. All you coaches who have a personal problem with the hobby GROW UP!!!!.stop the complaining be happy that there something eles to do without your wife or love one complaining you a couch potatoe. My family love the fact we have tournaments, leagues, conventions they said it keeps peace around the house. If I get upset I paint figures or practice with the teams. Let keep enjoying ourself it only a HOBBY for us to enjoy.


Peace

[artlax]

Great post. Great Post!

Keep it fun - keep it positive!

[dallcow4life28]

Originally Posted by kingATL

This hobby is getting better better by the day. Looking at new board designs. The different figures, new style of play , and look now with useing the internet to watch miniature football games live. All the great tournaments you have a chance to play in, come on coaches. The only problem I see there is a lot of coaches who " talk the talk but can,t walk the walk" . If you,re part of a league help make that league stronger by being committeed to the league ,enjoying your fellowship with coaches and being postive to help it succeed. Don,t try to bring negativity to something others enjoy special if you didn,t help build it. Where I see it the DSEFL is growing we have our problems along the way, but by me being Commissioner no one is going to stop me or our dedicated members from being a successful league for coaches or our young kids to enjoy. I saw the youth league photo for the NEFL deuces. That was great fellowship among kids. The summer league Coach Karim Cambell started great for the hobby. I just had my first grandchild born and I thought man we need to keep this hobby hot for the youth , they would love it just as much as the adults. All you coaches who have a personal problem with the hobby GROW UP!!!!.stop the complaining be happy that there something eles to do without your wife or love one complaining you a couch potatoe. My family love the fact we have tournaments, leagues, conventions they said it keeps peace around the house. If I get upset I paint figures or practice with the teams. Let keep enjoying ourself it only a HOBBY for us to enjoy.


Peace

I gotta agree with Jasper on this--there's nothing wrong with the sport, some people just take it a little too seriously, in my opinion. Too much back-biting, hating, and plain childishness. Playing my first season in the DSEFL was the most fun I have ever had playing the game. Learned alot, and met some great guys. All this sport needs is exposure, which the NFL seems not to care about, which is sad. We need TV exposure more than anything, and the kids will follow. This is not to say that they will put down their XBoxes, overnight, but with all the innovations that some of these great painters, and coaches are making, it would be appealing if presented the right way.

treat one another with respect and dignity. treat one another with respect and dignity. treat one another with respect and dignity. treat one another with respect and dignity. The hobby will take care of itself.

[Rickster]

I found this place about a year ago, and I was so excited to know that others were out there just like me! Electric football will always have the hands on value that no video game does. The little things we can do to our teams to make us feel good about them. Electric football has so many imperfections that make it great, its not flawless like a video game! Life is imperfect, and like electric football, that's really what makes it great.

[eflfanatic]

No. It has gone through some major changes since 1997 when I got back into it. Honestly, I have looked for Miggle to go out of business in the near future and wonder what will happen when the Landsman's decide to retire. Excalibur proved that there is no longer a major market for the game through conventional retail even with NFL licensing and I believe that for Miggle to survive they need to regain their NFL licensing. The trend now is in custom figures and gameboards and there are very good sources for them but how long can they survive?

The hobby needs national media coverage. TV is in my opion the best way. Look at the defunct pro football leagues. All failed primarily because they did not have major TV contracts. Look at some of the things that are on TV now. I wonder how some of these things get on TV. Our hobby would definetly make for some good reality TV. But what does reality TV rely on? Often it is controversy. Well we certainly have our share of that.

I can envision TV coverage of regional and national tournaments. But it will take one standard set of rules and sanctioning by a governing body or association which is what I hoped the MFCA would do, but I do stand by the mission statement of the MFCA which does ackknowledge the diversity of the hobby. Everyone says look at Madden Football, they have TV coverage for their tournaments. Well why is that? Because they play by one set of rules set by a video game. you don't see people in one region playing by different rules than another region. They have TRUE UNITY in the way they play the game.

I will, as long as I am able. support this hobby in whatever form it is available. I am primarily a collector and solitaire player but I do enjoy the fun and fellowship of this community and hope that it last for many more years to come.