Does Madden football hurt EF popularity?

[LARamsfan]

Dear EF coaches,

I know that Madden video game football isn't talked about much in these forums, but we can't deny the fact that Madden 08 was released yesterday to much fanfare. Many football enthusiasts across the country, who are video game players, waited in line until Tuesday morning at 12 a.m. to purchase the latest Madden game.

Many of these Madden players are of course, 18 years old or under, but a lot of them are in their 20's and 30's and even 40's. A lot of these guys who don't know about electric football because they were in raised in the Atari, Nintendo, Sega & Playstation/Xbox era. Or if they knew about EF, they simply dismissed it and were more attracted to Madden or ESPN 2K video games. For me personally, I grew up playing EF w/ my friend, but we moved to Intellivision football as our game of choice when we 12 years old.

What I'm trying to say here is that how do you guys plan to promote EF or miniature football to those who play Madden? How do you say that EF creates more realism than Madden? Does EF have a chance to be as popular as Madden one day?


Your thoughts, please. And please note that I'm not trying to stir anything. I am simply posing a question. After all, EF almost became extinct because of football video games.

People pay $40.00 every year for the exact same game?

[Reginald Rutledge]

Ed,

I think that is an outstanding question! Like you, I saw the rush to get Madden the other night. I can't say that it didn't bother me because it definitely did. To me, I think several problems cause the interest more in Madden than miniature football and they are as follows:

1. The name of Madden is synonymous with the NFL,

2. The realism of the players,

3. The ability to show the plays looking realistic in nature,

4. Graphics such as stadium and sound effects,

5. The speed of the game,

6. The stigma of no skill in the game plus the myth that "all they do is run around in a circle", and

7. No concerted effort until recently to hype the game up.

Anytime you take the name of a legendary coach, who understands how to win, people are interested in what he has to say.

If you can not create life-like images, that may take away from a game for the 21st century. People are definitely more visual nowaday so having players with custom paint jobs and hair coming out of player's head gives it a a very nice look.

If you can not successfully execute what you talk about, then people will move on to the next guy. However, if you can show the timing of linemen blocking out and guards pulling, you've got something they will say "Wow" if they are hobbyist.

Guys in this hobby underestimate the power of the visual. I know many people who don't care for me have potential recruits for their league to go to my site when they are trying to recruit them. Yet, these are the same guys who think the stadium is useless. To me, it lends instant credibility to what you are doing. It always helps when you can put thousands of figures in the stands.

The speed of the game is vital. When its slow, people lose interest, PERIOD! They go somewhere or watch something else. When you're only getting 40 plays in a 3 hour game,l you may just lose your own league members.

For me, owning an EFL company means I need to know everything there is to know. I should be able to diagram a play, make decals, customize figures, build a stadium, and talk competently about the hobby.

Finally, there is some effort to join forces among people within the hobby. However, many feel that if a name brand company does not lead the charge, it won't happen. That's alone defeats the effort. I am skeptical of the passion of others that it takes to get things happening. Plus many do not honestly have the marketing skills to understand how to market the game.

That's just my opinion.

Reginald

[Raven maniac]

....I do play Madden, but as Peoples Champ stated it's the same game each year. That's why after playing Madden for years I needed more from a game I enjoyed. So the Coaches DVD started me down the road to "MF". Now I still have the Madden series, but I don't play as often, but I will use it for idea's to customize figures with poses, hair styles, and different uniform variations for teams. So it only takes away if you allow it too. And I Don't anymore. Great post.

Darrian

[pit couture]

I like electric football. Building boards, tweaking, preparing different teams etc. It takes time. It is fun but it takes time and it cost money.

Computer sport games are there to stay. You pay around $60 and you have a game with all the teams, you can manage, play a season, customize your own player at no extra cost.

I think electic football is a great game but I don't believe it will become a best seller in the game world. There is too much work to do before you can really appreciate the game.

When i first receive my 620 board, the first thing that came to mind was I got to have a bigger field. So I have build one. Before my Green Bay Packers could do anything worth talking about I had to tweak them and even now I don't know how they would defend themselves against a strong opponent.

With a computer game in a matter of minutes you can run plays, have access to all stadium, play online, etc. For a young players point of view the choice is not hard to do.

I still think there is a future for electric football but there is no comparaison to make with a computer game. it is not the same thing. The definition of what is fun is not the same. EF is a sport board game, it is in the same category as subbuteo. These games are fun partly because they bring people together. That is what gaming should be all about.

[NATIONAL]

It's mostly a different crowd. Dre is right, it's mostly the same game, but the price is now $60 (ps3&360) I play online, that is awesome, with a headset, you can actually talk to the guy you are playing. But I would never attend a Madden tourney. There it's about the money. With MF/BB/EF it's about the people, and friends you make during a game. Our game is more hands on, that's a big part of the finish product. You started with plain white figs, untweaked bases, a sheet of metal, or fiber board. And you transformed all that into something, something you can cherish. Can you put a madden game in a case for others to view? And once you have your team, that's your team, nobody else in the world has your team! Madden I use the same 49ers team that anybody else could use if he/she choose.

I like playing the video games, but in noway does it compare to the enjoyment I get from MF/BB/EF!

If anyone has PS3, and is looking for an online game, LMK!

Both games are here to stay!!!!!!!!!!! But remember, we have to reach the younger crowd, most of us are in our late 30's & higher, we need to make sure there is a future. Support anyone trying to get the kids involved. Big props to RM, his H-burg college league is made up of mostly teens! Coach Karim, also teaches the game of MF/BB.EF to kids.

NATIONAL

[5-13 Studios]

i don't think that there is much comparison between miniature football and madden, ncaa, all pro football or tecmo bowl (will be re-released in the near future) video games. the only comparisons they share are the word football, the basic knowledge of football and teams. video games are instant gratification.. miniature football takes a lot of time and attention to put together a team and learn how to run them well.
i have come to view this hobby as more like model trains or slot car collectors.
i think that it is like reggie was saying, you can talk to someone about it all you want, but the proof is in the pudding. when i have told people about this, they always give me the smirk, and i know what they are thinking, running in circles and the quarterback shooting the ball all the way across the room. but once they've seen it, the custom figures, boards, etc...they were ready to play right then and there!
i think that everyone should be extremely proud of what has been accomplished with this hobby! don't worry about video games popularity, there's bound to be something brighter and shinier in the future that will steal some of their thunder.

[artlax]

My son has been playing Madden/NCAA for a couple years and he loves it. This past year he saw an EF game in a store and mentioned that he hoped Santa would bring one - and the big guy came through!! We started playing right after opening the game, set up a website (http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=ndefl) and have our next season in place to start very soon. We found our way to this board and many other great sites. One special coach here sent us some figures and teams to add to our league and an old friend and former coach sent along his old and no longer used teams - which inspired me to order some decals and put some old painting skills to use. One specific thing I have noticed with my son - he will sit down and play Madden by himself, create new teams, uni's, etc... but when it comes to EF he might practice some on his own - but he really prefers to play with me or a friend.

I play Madden also, I have been since '91 But its almost anti-social as video game's can become. Where as EF games are more socially structured Provided
you have coaches to play against.Just my 2 cents worth.
Erick

[larue]

The answer to the question of why most of the younger guys or kids are not playing Electric Football is the same as it has been almost since the games inception.They don't see it displayed in stores or hobby shops and by that I mean the game set up with players on the field and all the trimmings used to create a realistic looking football field. I have done this at toy shows and almost every kid or male adult stops to ask about the game. Many think it is no longer made or the old "I remember that game and how all the guys ran around in a circle" comes out.They are surprised that you can still buy the game, surprised By the field covers, the logos and printing on them. Surprised by the detailed figures and all new posses.They draw lots of attention from anyone who loves football or the world of miniatures.Then they ask me where they can buy the game because they don't see them in stores....why not? Why not the fields,teams and everything else you need to play the game or detail the players? Seems to me that every other hobby is displayed as are the parts or materials to build or detail them. I can't imagine how many more teams and parts Tudor (Miggle) and the rest would have sold if they were displayed next to one of their games or stadiums that is set up for everyone to see.Sending away for stuff is a pain for most kids and has the added extra expense of postage and handling. Kid want to see it, buy it and take it home today.They game makers never understood that in the past and don't now.
You want new people in the game so you can sell more of your product and also keep all of your old faithful players happy too? Then it ain't hard..... "ADVERTISE and DISPLAY IT WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE IT AND BUY IT!
The kids today respond more than any other generation to advertising and display...........Time to change the old ways of doing things! We need one or two of the people creating the game and it's accessories to take a chance and go... "BIG Time" Just like Madden!