Please Educate Me

[Reginald Rutledge]

I was wondering if any other leagues will get the chance to do live broadcast on the Internet? I would definitely like the chance to see some other methods of play. I always use to try to get all the methods of play in one room so everybody could see for themselves the differences in styles of play.

Since we've discovered the luxury of Internet TV, how many different leagues have taken the time to broadcast games online, or is it too much of a hassle to do it? I always wanted to see the Mid-Ohio League, the Down South League, the New Orleans Leagues, the Philly League, the Dixie League, the Baltimore League, or Washington League, the Conneticut League, or any other league with a different ruleset to show us your games.

Something like this would be educational and fun. When this streaming video availability was discovered, the thought was to create a "All Sports Channel" where leagues from across the country would show games on TV. Some of us were willing to pay handsomely to be put on reality shows to show them in prime time. I tried to provide a more economical method but no takers?

There was once the debate about Rules 2000. It would have been great to see games on TV. You want to grow the hobby, right? This is one of the ways it is done! Believe it or not, this is our "mass media".

Maybe things that I do in the game may never be fully appreciated but this was one of those things I envisioned "WE" as doing. Maybe if someone else would have thought of it, it would have flown??? We set up coaches throughout the country like Rick Garrison, Ken Allen, Joe Greco, Morgan Scott, Greg Hardmon, and a few others who would be willing to stay up late hours trying to figure out a system so "WE" as a whole could have that vehicle. The only takers thus far have been Shootout-dominated games!!! Even I don't want that. I wanted to see "WE" have diversity in play! That was the idea.

You know, we can "whew and awe about all the great stadiums, gameboards, and any other accessories we've got" but where all the real innovators and creators who are willing to risk a little time and effort to take the game to the next level? Who inspires you? What inspires you? Who challenges you to do some greater than yourself? Maybe I am expecting too much? But I want to be educated!!!! Coaches who play under the Shootout (I venture) would love to be able to ask the questions of how things are done in other leagues. Then just maybe, when you write rules sets, it is not just in theory but more in principle. I am a man who comes from the scientific world. Theory is the "father" of ideas but practicums/practicality is the result of experimenting with those theories. Please educate me on the different methods of play. Let's see a "Allsports Miniature Football station" showing this!

Just an opinion who sees past the little toys into something much greater.

Reg

[NATIONAL]

gets started.........

With all the hoopla over the championship game that me and kenny played during the mfca conv...and guys like Wolf, Baxter, Greco, RayF, and even Ken Allen saying it is one of the best styles they've seen I think we have some interest generated.
I know I watched a few games, and even more enjoyable than watching the actual game (to me) was all the talk from the peanut gallery & the other coaches logged on.

So with the help of Morgan & Joe, hopefully we can get some of our better match ups on the internet.
We did broadcast our Super Bowl between Al Harvey and Adrian. And that was seen by Ed Roche while he was on his cruise in int'l waters!

Nat'l

[Joeram57]

Reg,

It is my goal to learn how to do it, just need some time and money to get it set up.

I am going to give it a try perhaps over the holiday from home...have to finish rebuilding a laptop.

Question, I plan on loading Windows XP Pro, is that a problem?

Give me some of the "gotcha's" that I might encounter. I think you saw the camera I had, the Sanyo 1080p HD. It can hook via USB to the laptop...do I recall you saying laptop and camera require firewire connections?? If so, that could be a problem as I don't think mine have firewire.

Anyone else who has gotten this to work, feel free to chime in on gotcha's you ran into...

[Joe Greco]

Following up on what National said, last year we got the Wi-Fi security "Code" that gave us internet access at the Perzel Center to broadcast the NEFL Super Bowl.

I just so happened to have saved that code so we can broadcast some of the great matchups that the NEFL has to offer.

NEFL starts in February.

Joe G
Coach #31 per the Jim Davis ranking system

[sweetka]

Originally Posted by NATIONAL

gets started.........

With all the hoopla over the championship game that me and kenny played during the mfca conv...and guys like Wolf, Baxter, Greco, RayF, and even Ken Allen saying it is one of the best styles they've seen I think we have some interest generated.
I know I watched a few games, and even more enjoyable than watching the actual game (to me) was all the talk from the peanut gallery & the other coaches logged on.

So with the help of Morgan & Joe, hopefully we can get some of our better match ups on the internet.
We did broadcast our Super Bowl between Al Harvey and Adrian. And that was seen by Ed Roche while he was on his cruise in int'l waters!

Nat'l

Once I got the hang of it that was a lot of fun. I really think that's what makes the Great Lakes coaches so great! Not to take anything away from anyone else but we love trying new things and playing other styles. It's the most innovative way to improve your play.

Reginald,

I don't think the apathy has anything to do with you personally. Some people just don't have the resources or inclination to do this. I think it's more about whether they feel their level of play is fit for TV.

Believe me, it is! When you complain about the presentation of miniature football just look at that last clip we saw for public consumption. That's a guy named Easy 8 who has a bunch of old videos similar to the one in that commercial.

We need to get more "REAL" MF action out there to off set the offerings.

Just my thoughts.

[Reginald Rutledge]

One of the things that made me have such a "hankering" to the Great Lakes coaches were their willingness to try new things. When I first spoke to Ken Allen about doing this broadcast thing, he took the lead. He went out of the way to figure things out, to get online with the streaming. Greg Hardmon asked me what he could do to make things possible. He even found a second camera and went got more software to make it happen. Steve Martin, one of the most innovative guys in game, had his camera repaired to do this. He then talked with (I guess) Ken or Greg and figured how to broadcast from his house. That was fantastic!

Greco and I stayed up some nights around the clock figuring things out. That firewire thing, he discovered while talking to me on the phone. Every camera setup is not the same. Special settings need to be done, based on the brand of camera. Mozeek went out and bought about a hunnad' wires to make it happen in NY.

It would be good to see Philly do this. Down South, JoeRam is a computer geek who can do some things. JoeRam, your camera should work but it comes in the testing. That needs to be done. We need to see if a signal can be shown from Atlanta to New York to Dallas to Detroit. Things like that will pave the way. But you can't be alone. Others got to want to get involved. I know Marlon is hyped up and want innovation in the game. Rafiyq is a soldier. He'll run through a brick wall for the game.

Shamefully, no one in the DFW ever saw the use of "nationalizing" their league to the point of learning anything from me as far as broadcasting is concern. Thus, you will never get to see the characters of the DFW.
Yeah Mantaraye, go at Anthony. Help Ant understand no one's trying to steal his idea. Guys just want to learn from his ideas and sit in on games. This is what makes the hobby that more interesting.

If we can get Dimitri to broadcast from the Eiffel Towers , that would be great! But the technology is here to do some amazing things and we've just got to do them.

For solitaire coaches, it can be done too. I am at a major breakthrough on how to record games on video and replay through streaming video after editing.

I know we had talked about putting together some instructions for the different formats of brand name cameras. What I work with are Sony cameras. I am not sure what type Ken or Greg or Mozeek or Steve have.. Some guys used their PC webcams but those do not do the trick well (no disrespect to those) but their use is for stand still viewing. Game play has different angles that have to be shown so that people can get a clear view of what's happening.

Camera angles in my opinion gives the best view from sideline with some height. Some guys scoff at the idea of you putting a camera on their sideline in their way. They can't see the bigger picture. Sometimes, it should not be about us. I always remember Mozeek saying he watched a game here in the DFW on his 72 inch flat screen at home and it was high quality. His wife comes in and ask him, "Who's playing tonight?" He replies, "The guys in Texas are playing". She says, "Get out of here, I thought that was real football". In Mozeek's eyes, it was. Arlene walked away, shaking her head with laughter. That's what you want!

Most of the people who frequent this board want something on a national scale. Everyone (and I have to understand this) is not looking to go national (no pun intended Mr. National ). But for those who are, this would be an amazing way to get your message over to literally thousands of other hobbyist who see this as a joke. When you start bringing out broadcast and realistic stadiums and shows, then you are on to something bigger than yourself.

[Megawattz]

One thing I feel that will help give your concept life Reg, is a set of protocols put in place that would enable viewers to follow the game. I think the biggest obstacle at this point, is the entertainment value, every game Ive watched, it was hard to follow. An overhead camera has to be there, filling the frame with the field, like billiards, u can see strategy from there, cant be blocked by the coaches, flagging the ball carrier, put a red flag on him or something to that effect. Players pointing out there intentions, scoreboards large enough displaying down distance ect., whos ever ref. giving critical info to the viewers, I must admit after awhile the games get to hard to follow. Nothing that cant be overcome, these are live broadcast, participants has to be aware of the viewers from the outside, with protocols in place to enhance their experience. We have at are disposal a wide array of technology, if applied correctly, with purpose we can build something worth while! Its easy to toss around ideas, making it happen is the real test. Im game, let me know what I can do to help hommie.

[the french guy]

If we can get Dimitri to broadcast from the Eiffel Towers , that would be great! But the technology is here to do some amazing things and we've just got to do them.

I'm far from Paris ! I'm more near Spain than Paris. In fact, my aera looks like south states in USA : Few people, corn fields, swamps, forest, lakes, ocean, and then the moutains and spanish frontier. Does it sound familiar to you ?

An overhead camera has to be there, filling the frame with the field, like billiards, u can see strategy from there, cant be blocked by the coaches, flagging the ball carrier, put a red flag on him or something to that effect. Players pointing out there intentions, scoreboards large enough displaying down distance ect., whos ever ref. giving critical info to the viewers, I must admit after awhile the games get to hard to follow

True. The 2 major problems are :

1)how do you do technically to broadcast a game with decent quality : you need computer knowledge. Some of us are not comfortable with that. The other thing is to have material needs : a good computer, decent camera, fast internet access.

2)problems directly the result of the 1) : make the games easy to follow, with score boards, good camera angles, light, sound.


I believe as you said we need some "protocols". And tutorials to explain how to do.

Personaly I'm experimenting some things. I had pretty good results but with much latency (about 1minute). A friend of mine also spoke me about Skype, wich is not a internet broadcast, but allows video conference. Can be another solution for private games.

The last solution I see is to use directly VLC to broadcast, using our PC as a server. So you don't have the "bottle neck" between your PC>internet tv distant server>broadcast. I'm pretty sure to make it, but it will be a way more complex I believe.

Anyway, I'm working in the dark and as soon as I 'll find something, I'll share.

[Reginald Rutledge]

already. The problem is portability. When I broadcast games from the comforts of my home, I've got the entire setup where the broadcast is clear and to the point. I've got 6 video cameras that show different angles, even the overhead camera that gives you that angle.

I have the video switching system that can easily switch from angle to angle to give you the best shot, from the side line shots to overhead to the various angles.

I think I had played a game last year against one of my friends, Pep, and many of the viewers said they saw everything very well. It looked good and the play flow was easy to understand (but this was from Shootout versed people).

Bruce, I do agree, there needs to be protocols on equipment and that's why I had asked guys who had previously used the network to write up their "How to" document on connecting and getting on to stream. For the viewers coming on to watch, it's simple as linking on to the subject feed and then watching.

As I said, I have done broadcast from my house and have shown high quality games. However, I've got decent equipment to do that from professional cameras to high quality computers.

One day, what I will do is have another game here to demonstrate that. Not only do you have to have the technical equipment in place, but I believe equally important is having broadcast teams capable of explaining what is happening in the game. You really need a good color guy and analyst to explain what is going on. Hopefully, at least, at the Texas Shootout, I will have that.

I am not sure to what extent we can have that in Vegas because my equipment probably will not be traveling like that anymore. That's where investments in the product comes in. High quality leagues need things like professional cameras and guys willing to broadcast and analyze games in a professional manner. These things can be done if put together in the right way.

A design for the CBSMF (at least) is in place with the stadium being the centerpiece. If the center in Ohio would have had all the things needed such as Internet connection in the gym, televisions, etc., I definitely would have pulled it off like a professional production.

All that is really needed at this point is just a "How to" manual on the various camera products out there to make this happen. Everything else has been tried, tested, and true.

The internet does work. You just need a high quality PC with few memory issues. As long as there is the Internet, there may be some bandwidth issues but those little gremlins probably will be minimized by sound equipment.

Next week, what I will do, is get RJ and hopefully Barry Stephenson or RD over here and we will play a game on the Internet. I will see if they can do this just to show what I am talking about (I have no idea why I still do this for the game???? ).

Reg

[the french guy]

You're right !

Last thing : the biggest piece of equipment a league needs...is a league member interested in video and technology stuff also ! Even with good hardware and internet speed, if anyone in the league like that type of things, it will be difficult.

See yourself, Jeff Ebby, Electric coach, and I forget other ones but these are the first names coming into my mind : you make good videos because it seems you like to make these videos.