Molly Ayala
Electric Football is a tabletop American football game played on a vibrating metal field. The game was invented by Tudor Metal Products Corporation in 1948 and has since sold 70 million units. The game is played by two teams of 11 football players each, who face off on a vibrating field. The players are detailed, plastic figures placed on the field in different formations, and they react to the vibrations of the field. The game has a variety of innovative features, including Invisibase Cleats, SpeedTurf Metal Fields, and PlayAction Remote Controls. The game is simple and easy to understand, but there is also a deeper level of strategy and skill involved in tweaking the bases to perform better.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game type | Tabletop American football game |
| Playing surface | Metal vibrating field |
| Playing pieces | Detailed, plastic players on bases |
| Ball | Felt, rubberized foam or leather |
| Playing style | Players are the coach and set their own plays |
| Number of players | One, two or more |
| Control | Handheld remote control with speed control knob |
| Scale | 1:72 scale or 1"=72" |
| Size | 24" x 13" up to 61" x 27.5" |
| Leagues and tournaments | Local, regional, national, international and World Championship |
| Manufacturer | Tudor Games |
| Year introduced | 1949 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Electric Football's history and its inventor, Norman Sas
Norman Sas, a mechanical engineer and former Tudor Games President, invented Electric Football in 1948 and debuted it in 1949. He developed the game by applying the technology of Tudor Metal Products' tabletop car and horse-racing games, which used vibrations from a motor to propel figures across a metal surface. Sas recalled his inspiration for the game:
> Watching these horses run, I thought, 'Gee! If we could come up with some football figures and get them running against each other, we’d have a football game.'
The game features 11 plastic players on a rectangular stand on each side, with a metal playing field that vibrates the players into action when a switch is flicked. The unpredictable vibrations cause the players to move around chaotically, with the player holding the ball occasionally finding one of the end zones.
For nearly two decades after its debut, Electric Football remained largely unknown. However, in 1967, Sas entered into a licensing agreement with the National Football League, allowing the use of team colours and player names on the game's figures. This deal propelled the game into mainstream popularity, and it became a commercial success in the 1960s and 1970s, with young football fans strategising with their players and formations. In 1978, Tudor sold out their Super Bowl line and earned their first Sears Excellence Award since 1974.
Despite its enduring popularity, the emergence of electronic games in the early 1980s quickly eclipsed Electric Football. Sas sold his company to Miggle Toys in the 1980s, and the game eventually ceased production. Sas retired in 1988 and passed away in 2012 at the age of 87. Although no longer in production, Electric Football maintained a following, leading to the formation of the Miniature Football Coaches Association, which inducted Sas into its Hall of Fame in 2012.
Marucci Electric Fog: Unveiling the Mystery Behind the Name
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The game's rules and how to play
Electric Football, invented in 1948/1949, is a tabletop American football game played on a vibrating metal field. The game is played with two teams of 11 football players each, with the players controlling the action by setting up their plays. The objective is to advance the ball down the field and score by running, passing, or kicking the ball, just like in real football.
To start the game, the offensive and defensive coaches set up their formations on the field. Once the formations are complete, audibles in the form of pivots or motions are made to try to gain an advantage. The players are attached to bases with "prongs" or "brushes," also known as "cleats," which allow them to react to the vibrations of the field and move around. The bases are key to winning the game, as they determine how the players move, so learning how to manipulate them is an invaluable skill. Modern bases and players are separate and interchangeable, allowing for a more customizable and predictable gameplay experience.
After the formations and bases are set, a switch is activated, turning on an electric or battery-powered counterbalanced motor that causes the field to vibrate and the players to move. The amount of vibration can be controlled with a speed control knob on the remote control, affecting the speed of play. Passing and kicking the ball are unique features of the game, with the iconic Triple Threat Quarterback (TTQ) being able to perform both of these actions. To pass the ball, the throwing quarterback's extended arm is bent backward to flick the ball off to the intended receiver. If the ball touches the receiver figure or its base, it is considered a complete catch. Kicking the ball is done with special players that have spring legs; pulling them back and releasing them kicks or punts the ball.
The game has evolved over time, with newer features such as Invisibase Cleats for easier activation of player routes, SpeedTurf Metal Fields for improved performance, and PlayAction Remote Controls for adjusting the game speed during play. There are also different base types to choose from, such as Rookie, Total Team Control (TTC), Pro Line, and Invisibase, each offering distinct advantages.
Electricity's Supply-Demand Dynamics: Understanding the Market Balance
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Electric Football's popularity and cultural references
Electric Football is a tabletop American football game played on a metal vibrating field. The game was invented in 1948 by Norman Sas, who was then the president of Tudor Metal Products Corporation. Sas based the game on a vibrating car race game made by Tudor. The early #500 Electric Football models were the first tabletop football game to feature actual moving players, with unique passing and kicking capabilities, as they reacted to the vibrations created by the electromagnet motor under the metal field. The game was an immediate success and maintained its popularity throughout the 1960s and 1970s. To date, Tudor has sold 70 million Electric Football games, leading other toy companies to develop similar games.
The popularity of Electric Football has resulted in the creation of local, regional, national, and international leagues and tournaments, culminating in a World Championship tournament and convention. The game has also inspired digital versions, such as the "Super Shock Football" app released for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad by Steamroller Studios and Chillingo in 2009-2010.
Electric Football has also made its way into popular culture, with references in films and television series. In the 1991 film "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey," the main characters parody "The Seventh Seal" by challenging Death to a series of games to escape Hell, with electric football being one of the games Death loses. In an episode of the animated comedy series "The Critic," a clip from a Ken Burns documentary about electric football includes an elderly man who compares the game to America, saying, "electric football is a metaphor for America: always shaking, always noisy, never really knowing where it's going," before abruptly changing his mind and dismissing it as "just a stupid game that doesn't even work!"
The game has also left a lasting impact on its players, with dedicated YouTube channels, forums, and even an annual convention, TudorCon, that brings fans together to celebrate their passion for Electric Football.
Understanding Electrical Resonance: A Powerful Concept in Electricity
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Different models of the game
Electric Football is a tabletop American football game played on a metal vibrating field. The game was invented by Norman Sas, who based it on a vibrating car race game made by Tudor. The early #500 Electric Football models were the first tabletop football game with actual moving players, reacting to vibrations created by the electromagnet motor under the metal field. The game also featured passing and kicking, which was a unique design element at the time.
Over the years, several models of the game have been released, with new features and improvements. Here is a look at some of the different models of Electric Football:
The #500 Model
The #500 model was the first Electric Football game released by Tudor in 1948. It featured a metal field, plastic players, and a vibrating motor. The players reacted to the vibrations and moved around the field. This model was a huge success and maintained its popularity throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
The #600 Model
In the 1960s, Tudor introduced the #600 model, which included figures in five different poses and painted in NFL uniform colours. This model set the standard for Electric Football and featured more realistic player designs.
The Model 620
In 1967, Tudor released the Model 620, which became the new flagship model. It featured a metal playing surface, a cardboard backdrop scoreboard, NFL-style goal posts, and NFL painted teams. This model further improved the player designs and added more realism to the game.
The Total Team Control (TTC) Model
Tudor later introduced the Total Team Control (TTC) model, which included a directional dial for finer route control and new capabilities. This model allowed for more strategic gameplay and the ability to control the players' routes more precisely.
Modern Models
Modern Electric Football games have innovative features such as Invisibase Cleats, SpeedTurf Metal Fields, and PlayAction Remote Controls. The Invisibase Cleats make it easier to activate player routes, while the SpeedTurf Metal Fields provide a smoother and faster playing surface. The PlayAction Remote Controls allow players to change the speed of the game during play, adding a new dimension to the strategy.
Digital Versions
In recent years, digital versions of Electric Football have also been released. In 2016, an app called Electric Football Challenge was created, serving as a digital scoreboard with configurable timers matching the flow of a real football game. Additionally, in 2009, Steamroller Studios and Chillingo released "Super Shock Football" for the iPhone and iPod Touch, bringing the classic game to mobile platforms.
Electric Skateboard Q Factor: Understanding the Technical Term
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The National Electric Football Game Museum
The museum's collection includes various electric football game sets, from the early #500 models, which were the first tabletop football games with moving players, to the modern sets with separate and interchangeable bases and players. The museum also has a range of game boards, from the simple metal vibrating fields of the early games to the more realistic fields created by industrial designer Lee Payne, who introduced a softer plastic material for the player pieces and added features like crowd backgrounds and scoreboards.
In addition to the physical game components, the museum has a rich media library with printed and digital materials related to electric football. This includes instruction manuals, strategy guides, and advertising materials from the various companies that have produced electric football games over the years. The museum also curates digital content, such as videos and websites, that showcase the game's history and provide a platform for the electric football community to share their passion.
Understanding the Electrical Acronym 'STJ': What Does It Mean?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Electric Football is a tabletop American football game played on a metal vibrating field.
The scale of most miniature electric football figures is 1:72 scale or 1″ = 72″.
The metal vibrating field can range in size from 24 inches long by 13 inches wide up to 61 inches long by 27.5 inches wide.
The objective of the game is to advance the ball down the field and score by running, passing, and kicking the ball, just like in real football.
There are four main types of bases in Electric Football: Rookie, Total Team Control (TTC), Pro Line, and Invisibase.
