spreading worldwide

[the french guy]

Hi,

Today, thinking about Weirdwolf interview on sports blog, I had a new idea

You probably know that I'm trying to create interest in miniature football in France. I post and discuss about it on several major websites (american football websites, miniatures games websites, etc...).

But I believe we should go deeper. I'm thinking especially about 2 countries : Germany and Japan.

These 2 countries have a solid modelling experience (germany railroad modelling is world known, and japan is a inovator in miniature world too, perhaps due to the lack of space in their country). The other major reason is the solid football knowledge here.

Germany had 7 or the 8 franchises in former NFL europa spring league, and Japan has played football during the last 70 years. Today, the national leagues in these countries are strong and really competitive (search for GFL and X league on youtube, it's impressive for non american countries).

You also find italian leagues, and even a new portugese league


The idea is to keep in touch with major football and miniatures wargames blogs, forums or websites of these countries. So we need people speaking foreign languages : german, italian, or even japanese.

If people want to participate to that idea, post here.


PS : I know that some guys probably don't give a *** about foreign miniature interest. But think of it in an other way : more miniature football players = more audience = more customers for bases, figures and stuff. More customers, more pro business around MF, keeping the game alive. More audience, means more internet visilibity, wich will have an incidence on your local MF events/work/whatever too.


See the table hockey example : stiga (european) did everything to be present in a lot of countries : eastern europe, russia, north america (usa and canada), northen europe. All hockey nations. That company sells millions of games and accessories.

Do the same for miniature football. Touch the miniature addicts around the world. ALso the strong non-american football countries. On the business pro side, try to adapt and indicate on your websites that you accept foreign orders, with fair shipping prices. ANd we'll see what will happen.

[detroitchild]

Great points D.

Like I've always said...I wish we had about a dozen guys like Dmitiri on this side of the Atlantic.

[eflfanatic]

You definetly have my support and I will do all I can to encourage the rest of the BOD and MFCA members to support this effort as well.

Not much I can do since I don't speak a foreign language.

I have painted and sold NFL Europe teams in the past (even sold a couple of teams to someone in France). I am always looking for other teams to paint since I seem to be a UNIFORM GEEK. Don't know why put uniforms just seem to fascinate me.

Anyway great idea!!!!

[Cookie]

Bonjour Dimitri,
speaking of Germany I am pretty busy to make this hobby known.
Right now I am working with issue of the tweak (to show arround), my new board and the first miniatures I have.
Therefor I went to a local Games Workshop Dealer who is a real good friend of mine.
I founded a hobby club a couple of years ago called the South Side Warriors.
Now I am working on a presentation for a workshop ´cause he gave me the chance to choose any Saturday I like to bring the hobby closer to our local table top enthusiasts.
Maybe I will use a day when I suppose to hold a paint workshop to reach a bigger facet of gamers and customers.
Also I have 5 team- mates of my football team the Berlin Thunderbirds (we won the championship this year by the way and run up in leauge) interested and bring them the game closer by playing a little tournament in November combined with a nice grub on.
I am open for any constructive help.
It will be easy to establish miniature football over here but for right now the availability of any products here in Germany will be a problem.
No doubt Germany is a very interesting area/station to make this hobby expand over the globe.
If I had the knowledge to build a www page for Germany as you did in France I already would set one up.
As a motorcycle mechanic everybody knows that I will have more free time until February. In the past during the season I worked my ** off.
That´s why I was pretty passive.

Happy Gaming

Mike

[detroitchild]

Originally Posted by Cookie

Bonjour Dimitri,
speaking of Germany I am pretty busy to make this hobby known.
Right now I am working with issue of the tweak (to show arround), my new board and the first miniatures I have.
Therefor I went to a local Games Workshop Dealer who is a real good friend of mine.
I founded a hobby club a couple of years ago called the South Side Warriors.
Now I am working on a presentation for a workshop ´cause he gave me the chance to choose any Saturday I like to bring the hobby closer to our local table top enthusiasts.
Maybe I will use a day when I suppose to hold a paint workshop to reach a bigger facet of gamers and customers.
Also I have 5 team- mates of my football team the Berlin Thunderbirds (we won the championship this year by the way and run up in leauge) interested and bring them the game closer by playing a little tournament in November combined with a nice grub on.
I am open for any constructive help.
It will be easy to establish miniature football over here but for right now the availability of any products here in Germany will be a problem.
No doubt Germany is a very interesting area/station to make this hobby expand over the globe.
If I had the knowledge to build a www page for Germany as you did in France I already would set one up.
As a motorcycle mechanic everybody knows that I will have more free time until February. In the past during the season I worked my ** off.
That´s why I was pretty passive.

Happy Gaming

Mike

[the french guy]

thanks for the answers

Mike, what you're doing in germany is already impressive. It's already a way better than anything I tried in France

For the website, I'm sure Weirdwolf could open you a writer account on MFCA.org, and create a "mfca germany" section like he did for me (mfca france here : http://miniaturefootball.org/category/mfca-france/ ).

With that, putting articles online is as simple as using a forum. You would be able to add german speaking articles (tournament annoucements, newbie FAQ, etc...), especially for our german audience. Meaning also better google referencement for german speaking people.

You should also spread miniature football information on football related websites (there is always a contact form), forums and blogs you maybe know.

Germany, Japan and Canada have the best potential for "foreign" miniature football for sure !

And of course....congrats for the title

I have painted and sold NFL Europe teams in the past (even sold a couple of teams to someone in France). I am always looking for other teams to paint since I seem to be a UNIFORM GEEK. Don't know why put uniforms just seem to fascinate me.

Perhaps you still have this guy email adress ? If so, give it to me via PM, and I'll try to contact him.


Concerning exotic uniforms, if you want you can have a look here :

http://www.elitefoot.com/

you'll see the elite french league (click on the team logos to see the pics and web links), and also the french national team uniform (we made 2nd on european championship, opening us the world championship 2011)

I plan to make future french teams too, as soon as I'll finish my current projects.


Returning to main subject, I tried to google for japanese football websites, but it's really hard since I don't know how to google japanese language

i'm also planning to contact the national football federation in France. After all, that federation covers flag, cheerleeding, why not miniature football ?

[eflfanatic]

Thanks for the website link. Will check it out further later today. (Titans game about to start!!!)

Sorry don't have the guys email or information. It was probably 4 or 5 years ago.

[Hoop27]

Germany would be target #1 for me if I was looking at a serious foothold in Europe.

They did a very good job of supporting the World League.

[FrustratedFinFan]

Hey French Guy,any chance of getting this hobby some print time in French wargaming magazines? Vae Victis has great color pictures and it would be a marvelous way to show off the hobby and Dmitri's art work.

That might work in Japan as well....we need a Japanese connection. They have good color magazines and a huge hobby community enthralled with tiny stuff!!!!!

[the french guy]

I don't know if vae victis could be interested, since it's an historical wargaming magazine...but I remember had seen some cowboys and western rules one time...

I'll try that this week, if I can find their email.


I believe there is another magazine on the market, more fantasy related, I'll make a try also.

good ideas