Footballguys Magazine - Not Happening in 2010 (2 Viewers)

[Horses Mouth]

Totally agree with the call. The fantasy specific information you provide is much more useful when it's fresh. The life blood of your business and what we do is having update information as things change. If people really want some good, thoughtful, different football writing with a strong analytical approach like you expect from FBG, I'd highly recommend going and buying the 2010 Football Outsiders Almanac when it comes out. Last year they had it in print form and discounted as a PDF. It's truly a tremendous read for true football fans.

 

[massraider]

no biggie, I'll just buy a different mag. Don't care or want the mobile stuff either, just my opinion there.

you are in a very very small minority. which is also no biggie.

I would bet it is the majority opinion but that you mobile guys in the minority are just a lot more vocal about wanting the crap

For now. Because it's new. So was bringing a laptop to a draft, not too long ago. Can you imagine mobile fantasy stuff going down in popularity in the future, or up? It's not a tough question.

The smart phones, the iPhones, the Droids, the Blackberrys, are going to be less of a shiny new toy, and more of the standard equipment in the future. Really, they are standard in a lot of circles already, but I'm talking about the holdouts, mostly older fantasy players. And what these things can do is unreal, and will start to seem less daunting to the less-than tech savvy (I am in this group).

The fantasy magazines have hung around for a while, but it's just a matter of time before they are gone. It's just that they've built a better mousetrap. There's a nostalgia to it, but I have fond memories of sitting there with USA Today every monday, doing the league scoring. Those memories are only fond because they have faded. That sucked.

I was thinking that the mags would always have a role for new players, but the more I think about it, I don't think so. Even new players have computers.

I've done laptop at a draft for about 6 years or so, I think. And I had a magazine with me, in the beginning because I liked having the hard copy of schedules and so forth, but I don't even bother. I have one spreadsheet now, with SuperJohn's swanky color-coded schedule on one tab, each position rankings on their own tab, all of which are hyperlinked to that players FBG page, not to mention Draft Dominator.

The mobile stuff is the future. Right now, for the hardcore player, a lot of them (I have no idea what percentage) have the laptop up and running during the games, and dash over to check scores. That's over. MFL sends text messages with score updates at certain points every Sunday. They have mobile sites for every league. I will be placing auction bids from my phone. Just a matter of time before the vast majority of serious players (and that's FBG's demographic, isn't it?) are using their phones for their league.

 

[massraider]

Let me ask you a question. Did you type that post from a computer or from a mobile phone? The whole idea that phones will replace laptops as the technology of choice for serious drafters is ridiculous. Draft Dominator is not practical on an iphone. The screen is too small and the navigation too imprecise.

I agree. Not for drafters. And I never said it will replace the laptop on Draft Day.But when draft day is over, and people are running their teams, the phones are going to be the future. I was making two points (in a really long-winded manner):1. The fantasy magazines aren't too far off from being pretty much useless, beyond the nice feeling of having a hard copy in your hands (which I think lessens every year).2. Managing teams from your phone is going to continue to rise, if not outright explode, in the near future.We aren't too far off from where the "I am going to be away from the computer" isn't going to be said anymore. Doing a draft using only a phone? I agree, don't see it being the norm, simply because having a laptop at the draft isn't a hassle. But putting in FA bids? Checking trade offers? Setting lineups and scores? The smart phone is so much more convenient, if not downright invaluable down the road. The first big change, will be the owner that keeps his computer nearby during games, to check scores. That will be over, because you can just click an app on your phone that pulls up all the scores. Heck, that's already obsolete, because MFL can send text message score updates.

 

[cobalt_27]

I fail to see any relevance of the mags, at this point. In fact, given how outdated they are with respect to new information that evolves during the preseason, they generally provide more misinformation than good information.

Other than nostalgia, there is very little that they can offer now over-and-above the other resources that are available in the web-based products.

 

[ookook]

I have been playing FF just about as long as anyone, and followed this site through several previous incarnations.

I quit buying magazines more than a decade ago. The information was so outdated by the time it evenhit the stands, that I got more chuckles than useful information.

Then I just took my money and subsribed to more websites (this and one or two competitors).

So I have never even looked at a FBG magazine once.

As far as the mobile issue, it is clearly a good move. Will I use it? Not really. I sometimes read the email updates on my phone and generally check in on a real computer for anything more. For in-person drafts, I prep with DD and print what I need.

Frankly, I never saw the potential pay-off of the magzine and marvelled how you guys could break even. Turns out you didn't.

And not sure I really care about an iPad item either. What would it have in terms of content that the website does not? Really nothing. So seems redundant and only good for one lacks internet access.

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

I have been playing FF just about as long as anyone, and followed this site through several previous incarnations. I quit buying magazines more than a decade ago. The information was so outdated by the time it evenhit the stands, that I got more chuckles than useful information.Then I just took my money and subsribed to more websites (this and one or two competitors).So I have never even looked at a FBG magazine once.As far as the mobile issue, it is clearly a good move. Will I use it? Not really. I sometimes read the email updates on my phone and generally check in on a real computer for anything more. For in-person drafts, I prep with DD and print what I need. Frankly, I never saw the potential pay-off of the magzine and marvelled how you guys could break even. Turns out you didn't. And not sure I really care about an iPad item either. What would it have in terms of content that the website does not? Really nothing. So seems redundant and only good for one lacks internet access.

All of these things offer choices. People like to have choices, some more than others. I don't really care about the Ipad stuff either but I know some people will just because they like to play around with their phone and things like that.The magazine is another choice but it's now too costly and outdates, so it's obviously not a good one for FBG. I read the first couple years and I thought the Mags were good but they're magazines, they're outdated. I actually like those Mags more to have an extra schedule around or another list of bye weeks near the bed. I also liked to see where some of the xperts were on some of their fantasy drafts. You can get all that stuff Online too but I've always liked having a hardcopy of something near the bed to look at without having to turn anything on etc....