Fixing Foosball Episode 3

Think Differently

[@Niarfor]

I have to be honest and say that I'm not really into foosball, but please read this comment. Why I'm even subbed to this channel is kind of a long story. Anyway, my friend's in-laws are into foosball big-time, and they play all the time and regularly do tournaments, etc. Two in-laws are a dude and his 20-something son. They have a YT channel where they regularly post videos of them playing that literally get like 1 or 2 views. The son doesn't talk much, but earlier today I was at a family party and he was sitting alone on the back porch. I can talk to anyone usually, so I go out there and I ask him if he's been playing recently, etc. and he mumbles a few words. Not wanting to give up the convo just yet, I told him how I'd seen this video recently talking about how to improve foosball and comparing the sport to darts. I said the video was basically saying look how popular darts is with thousands of people at the big matches, and then you have foosball with Tony S. playing a champion match and there's literally like 3 people watching. His response was, "Hmph, it wasn't like that this year in France (I think he said), there were a lot of people there." He was talking about wherever the big tournament was played, IDK about it. I said, "How many you think?" He said, "At least a thousand." I was like DUDE, first of all I didn't even say any of this, InsideFoos did, I don't even care! The point is, even if there was a thousand people, go watch footage of those big dart matches. And I told him I've seen quite a few of those Tony S. videos with my own eyes and YES, there are like 5 people there. But he didn't want to hear it, he just wanted to argue and say that the sport is "not that small". LOL, is he delusional??? So, people like him MIIIIGHT be part of your problem! Like I said they are HUGE foosball players and fans (I guess they are fans??). They play and post videos all the time. Sorry for the long comment, I just thought it was interesting.

[@perfictlightning]

What makes you think foosball has a problem? It is similar to chess, in that unless you play the game yourself you won’t get much out of watching it. Quite different then darts or most other sports. In France I saw what was probably over 1000 competitors, and plus they were charging admission to the spectators. Again, like chess, perhaps it looks small locally but globally a respectable size. As far as Tony’s games go, you’re missing the context. Some games are popular to watch, others not so much. Was the game played early in the event, when he was playing an easy opponent and he wouldn’t really have to play at his best to win, and the other players had matches of their own to play so had no opportunity to watch? Or was this the finals, where a lot of competitors were out and had some time to see a tight contest between a couple of hot players? It would be nice if more people watched, but the only way to get that is if more people played.

[@Niarfor]

​@@perfictlightning Foosball has a problem because-like I clearly stated in my original comment, AND the reason for this very video (part of a series released by this very channel) that you, yourself watched-no one outside of foosball players seems to GASHT about it. Name for me one other "sport" that can only be loved by people who actually play it! LOL. Clearly foosball isn't NEAR as popular as even darts (?!?), which is shown on ESPN. Is foosball shown on ESPN? Maybe it is, but I've never seen it! You can even find multiple videos about the decline of foosball, why it "died", etc. And you really ask "What makes you think foosball has a problem?" Also, many, many more people play chess, know about chess, think about chess, and LIKE chess. Surely you would never try to argue that, I mean come on. There are quite a few good movies that even the general population like that center around chess. Name for me a foosball movie (or even TV show), one that regular people would know. LOL, go ahead... Other than the people I mentioned in my original comment, I don't know anyone else who GASHT about foosball, much less plays foosball. You really should ask InsideFoos why they are making this series of videos, no? Or are these videos just a joke and I'm missing the punchline? I think not, but maybe. I really don't care about foosball, BTW, as I stated in my original comment. I got into it for about a week (literally), which is why I even subbed to this channel in the first place. Again, long story. I can name ONE, count em, ONE pro foosball player, and I can't even spell his last name which is why I wrote "Tony S."...

[@perfictlightning]

France last month, over 1000 competitors, biggest chess tourney I’ve ever been to, maybe 100. (I’m not sure) but they never charge admission to spectators like in France. I just got invited over to a guys house to participate in a 5 day tourney he’s running in his basement. Never heard of anything like that in chess. Maybe the fact you are not familiar with the community is why you underestimate it’s size. Some places will have a chess club but no foosball, but when there is both, the foosball players will often outnumber the chess players, especially among women. Foosball never died, it was a company that made tables that died. And yes, there are foosball movies, not as many as chess. But even so, why do you see that as a problem? What’s wrong with doing something just because you enjoy it? It’s not my responsibility to turn my activity into something you enjoy. You could say foosball is like quantum electro dynamics, it’s not for everyone, so what? That’s not my problem.

[@perfictlightning]

Swimming is the first sport that comes to mind as something only those who do it can actually say they love watching it. Sure, like foosball you may or may not enjoy watching it a bit, but to truly love it, no, only the players. There are tons of games, even simple games like go or bridge, that even if you know how the game is played, you will not enjoy watching it unless you play. But again, if you enjoy an activity, why is the lack of spectators a problem?

[@Niarfor]

@@perfictlightning My dude, chess is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY bigger than foosball. It doesn't matter what "tourney" you went to. Chess is a world-renowned game that is LITERALLY played by MILLIONS and maybe even BILLIONS of people. There is no arguing those FACTS. Give it up, the comparison of foosball and chess is just RIDICULOUS. I mean, SURELY you know this. As for the rest of your comments: "the foosball players will often outnumber the chess players". Pure BS. "Foosball never died, it was a company that made tables that died." Pure BS. "And yes, there are foosball movies" Pure BS. "Swimming is the first sport that comes to mind as something only those who do it can actually say they love watching it." Are you REALLY trying to suggest that there are more foosball players than SWIMMERS?????????? LOL, you are completely DELUSIONAL. How many HOMES in the world have a freakn POOL compared to the ones that have a freakin foosball table???? LOL!!!!! "There are tons of games, even "simple" games like go (GO isn't a "simple" game LOL, especially compared to foosball!!!) or bridge (same for BRIDGE LOL), that even if you know how the game is played, you will not enjoy watching it unless you play." Name those "tons of games"... Go ahead. The POINT, that you still are avoiding, is if DARTS can be shown on ESPN, why isn't foosball? Hmmmm...??? The answer: No one GAF about foosball, no matter how much BS you type. LOL, it's obvious that YOU and people like you are why InsideFoos made this video series in the first place. Ask InsideFoos why they made this video series!! I guess InsideFoos, ya know, one of the ONLY channels actually DIRECTLY involved with foosball (LOL!) just doesn't know what they're talking about, riiiiight???

[@perfictlightning]

It is not the responsibility of the world to tip toe around a businessman’s needs. Changing the distraction rule may well change the type of audience but not necessarily increase it’s size.Like, do you think more people would watch golf if competitors were allowed to shout slurs while their opponents are putting? I don’t think so. I’ve seen a hole in one live and it was amazing, I’d like to see another one. That’s why I watch golf, I want to see nice shots. Same in foosball. If disallowing distractions increases the chances of good shots being made I’m all for it. I’m a sports fan. I want to watch the sport itself played well. I think allowing basketball players to distract their opponents during free throws will not increase the number of viewers. It will take some fun out of the game, stop some people from taking the game up in the first place. Totally destructive to the sport. (And the idea that players could ‘self regulate’ by only saying what they would say on TV is very naive ). If you don’t play foosball you won’t get much out of watching it. The best way to increase the player base, and in turn the viewers, is to continue to make playing the game as much fun as possible. Don’t allow distractions.

[@perfictlightning]

There are anti-distraction rules in many sports, and for good reason. Golf, or during basketball free throws ect. Viewers want to see the actual sport played as well as it possibly can be. New player want do do something that is as fun as it can be. Allowing distractions degrades the sport, ruins the fun. There is nothing wrong with doing something just because you enjoy it. If some company is struggling to make money off you, that’s their problem, not yours.

[@fskplzen4735]

during last world cup there were moments, when the livestream was being watched by more than 11000 people.. of course it was because the Germans were playing.. I think it starts with the amount of active players, changing rule would not increase views I guess.

[@HelloIamClay]

I know it's not really popular to share facts around this, but that viewership of 11000 had nothing to do with who is playing and everything to do with being on the front page of Twitch. It's unfortunate how dishonest a lot of people are being on that topic. Go find the channel where these "millions of views" are and then holler back at me.