The Great APBA Fan Survey: How to get youth involved in APBA

I’m nearing the end of my run of disclosing the results of The Great APBA Fan Survey I did a couple weeks ago (here are the responses I’ve posted so far).  Tonight, I ‘m going to post the answers you gave about how to get more youth involved in the game of APBA, a question APBA CEO John Herson probably racks his brain about all the time. 

Here was the exact question asked in the survey:

In your opinion, what would be the best way to promote APBA to get more younger people involved?

Before I display the answers, a couple of points:

One, I was impressed by the different of perspectives.  Some had a more modern solutions (online advertising, apps etc) while others hearken back to what got them interested in the game (ads in sports magazines, traditional brochures).  Honestly, I see a need for both. 

More importantly, I was impressed how a lot of these ideas weren’t a just call to the APBA Company to solve the problem alone.  We as fans, can do our part by getting young people more interested in the game we love.

Finally, some of respondents admitted they just didn’t know, proving this is not a simple problem to solve. 

To the responses! 

APBA sponsored tournaments

online advertising (especially facebook), bringing the game to gaming conventions, sending reps with the game to MLB stadiums on fan days to try and promote the game (maybe goto a redsox game and give away sets of sox and yankees to anyone who rolls an inning or something?)

Become connected with MLB. Set up tournaments throughout the country.

Teach it to grandchildren.

Advertising in publications they read.

produce an on-line game

I keep requesting an iPad version or iPhone version for many years but nobody is listening. I know younger people would jump all over it. Speaking for myself a 52 year-old whose life is mobile and I don’t have time to sit with the cards like I used to, if I could take APBA with me on a tablet, I would be energized.

I am an old timer and prefer the dice and board games. There’s a tranquility about rolling a game. However, kids need video and quick-paced stuff, so I’d guess an APBA game for Wii, or some type of phone app for their smartphones could draw them in.

Not really sure. It doesn’t hold to their standards at this point. Needs to be computerized (all sports) at a minimum

sell it in stores

Advertise more

Online fantasy sites for those that might like Sim action rather than wait to see results next day. I do both, but prefer ABPA. I think fantasy would like competitive leagues and ownership, but would want an automated stat product as a time saver

introducing the game to kids face-to-face

demos and giveaways at ball games for kids. Kids could set a lineup and play 3 innings with basic instruction. I will volunteer at my local stadium ( Angel stadium).

Advertising

actually marketing. No one in new jersey knows of APBA and they lack interest because it isnt shown to them young and doesn reach anyone if they traveled to schools for a day and let the kids play it will grow at some point or have a few signs for it.

That’s a good question. I wish I had a good answer.

APBA is more involved, you have a more intimate relationship with the player cards and the game itself. But I really don’t know the answer since I’m now a couple generations older. I don’t understand the attraction of many computer generated games, x-box etc.

more ads in magazines

School Clubs for Math or Statistics type classes or maybe School clubs promoting board games.

It’s tough in the video game world

Advertise like in the old days. Almost everyone I talk to said that is how they got started, the ads.

Social media and Facebook in particular. A Facebook game or iPhone applet similar to what SOM does with its ‘blitz game’ might help.

Stress the "retro" coolness of board games. Make the computer version more attractive and interactive.

Develop an APBA app

This is a tough one. Kids today have too many video games and online games to want to sit down and play a board game. I think the best chance to draw a young audience would be an interactive online game where kids could play against friends or other players in organized leagues.

Baseball websights

Target youth groups such as the Boys Scouts,

send some games to the military. seitz played in the barrracks. may be good to send those leftover 1980’s years left in lancaster overseas

Yahoo sites, online options.

a 20 & under tournament with good publicity pre and post event

Through kids sports magazines. Maybe publish something through the Scholastic Book Club

Get out an updated computer version

Don’t know. I’m not a marketing person.

Have children and help them learn to love baseball.

Social media outlets

APBA needs to be at the Major and Minor League ball parks. That’s where you will find the fans. Put up a booth at the ball park and sell the game there – have someone playing the game while people walk by on their way to get a hot dog. Games would fly off the shelf.

Upgrade the computer games

Put ads back in baseball magazines. Send out the brochures from the past. TV ads probably out of question, but what about high profile web sites associated with baseball.

Not sure I have tried to get my son interested (12 yo) same age as I was when I started apba, but he is not that interested. He’ll play a game or two with me and then gets bored with it. Once in a while he will surprise me and want to play if he has nothing better to do on a rainy day. So basically I don’t have an answer to this question

young people are hopeless, sorry. they can’t get their little minds past video games.

Wish I knew! I will do my best with my little girl when she’s older.

have them play a game.

BETTER WINDOWS GAME

Update the website

Advertise online and on tv.

Advertise on IGN, gamestop, etc….sites that cater to video game reviews/products

Get the website updated & maybe interactive like strat has with their three minute baseball. Get the games more public exposure.

Sell APBA games in hobby/game stores. With an online-only presence, you almost have to know what ABPA is before you could buy it.

APBA would need to have an online game to attract the younger generation. This generation is fascinated with hand-held devices and apba would need to become compatible.

Hold APBA Days at schools, civic associations, fairs

T.V.

I’ve got no idea. I feel like I’m from another planet when I see all the stupid shit youngsters are into.

Focus on computer versions for young people but keep cards and dice also.

Internet ads on sites frequently visited by younger kids.

Make the website more detailed in how it explains the game (and how they are played), downloadable pdf game brochures like the one’s from the 1980s, detailed season card writeups so that younger generations can learn a little about a season before purchasing it, and finally get BBW updated with current announcers to listen to.

I mention it, describe it, and play it with the kid if he shows any interest. I’m strictly one on one, though I’ll sure teach the kids’ family members if any are interested, and I abide by any restrictions that family has set up. I guess I’ve introduced APBA to three or four kids and a couple of adults this way.

Advertise as different from video games

Online advertising and sports magazine advertising. And bring the color brochures back or at least post them online.

Best bet in my opinion is to reach out to those that grow tired of ridiculously unrealistic results. Preach realism.

Play with kids!

Gradually go to sophisticated computer games and dump the cards, otherwise when this generation dies out you will have no market

Make an online version available that would still keep the heart and soul of the game intact. As in making a video connection a priority but not a mandate to play online. Make versions available that can cut the overall playing time if the customer so desires.

Modern computer game(s). XBox, Ipad, phone apps, they will try these things just to use there phone if nothing else. Plus it is what they expect from a game. They will spend 20 minutes setting up an app to order a pizza, rather than a 1 min phone call.

sell a classroom version

Play the game with the young ones, buy the game for a Boys Club, YMCA etc

Just play it with them. I have shown it to my children and they like it. Just have to put it in front of them rather than the ipod, or xbox.

Boys and Girls clubs School Clubs Little Leagues???

i wish i knew the answer to that one

Math teacher with an APBA club in school

Internet advertising.

Online play with graphics.

Baseball card shows, maybe Little League groups

When you sell the basic game include players that these kids would know, not the 1953 Yankees and Dodgers.

advertise in teen markets

Organize regional tournaments. Make it a known commodity, that there are APBA Tournaments around, for people to meet other APBA enthusiasts, etc, without needing to travel across the country.

Online advertisement

By creating even a basic online game, perhaps by creating a facebook game. Maybe even creating a new game using the APBA model. I have long thought it would be a great business model if a company like APBA partnered with a baseball card company like Topps. You could have a player picture on one side of the card and the game card on the other. You then were forced to buy packs to create your team. It makes the game a collectors hobby, but also makes you want to keep collecting to improve your team. Maybe create an online component for this as well where you can take the players to an online game format.

Teach the game to our children. If there is a love for baseball, a love for APBA could develop

BBW online.

With youth tournaments at area recreation sites.

online advertising

On-Line advertising, with an on-line example of the game (perhaps a few innings worth).

Don’t know if it is possible. I see from the "age survey" at APBABTL that the population is aging at a normal rate. The average survey age in the 1970’s was about 17-18(?) and 40 years later the ABPABTL average survey age was in the late 50s.

Incorporate it into Facebook like Farmville.

Have APBA donate extra/outdated games and sets to Boys and Girls club organizations. If APBA does that, I’ll volunteer down at my local Boys and Girls club to teach the kids how to play APBA games.

In favor of young participation but will leave it to the experts as to how.

Internet advertising.

I play with my grandkids

Take it out to games, sports collector shows, etc…

create a dazzling website with a sample download interested kids can actually play with to get idea. then advertise like hell at yahoo google etc portal sites that everyone out there uses.

advertise on media they use, Facebook, twitter, on web sites they frequent.

The website MUST contain a colorful brochure (or slide show) of the cards and charts and take the potential gamer through a inning or a football drive, or a couple of minutes of hockey or soccer.

not sure as table games are just not "in" with very many people under the age of 50

Honestly, I don’t know if you can. I have asked my brother about getting his boys involved but he doesn’t think they’d be interested.

don’t know. They have to have a love for baseball first then the game will come naturally

Finding the fountain of youth to make us oldsters younger. Realistically with video games and "fantasy" sports leagues I don’t have much hope of many younger people ever playing APBA or other board games.

bring back the brochures, promote APBA at schools

An updated computer game. I don’t think you can reasonably expect to get today’s kids to play a card and dice game.

This a great question. I only wish I had a great idea so I could give you a great answer. There is one idea I’ve had in my head for many years. I think there should be at least one APBA Baseball Game and APBA Football Game on every sea going freighter ship. The crews on these are out to sea 10-12 weeks at a time. I’m sure they don’t work 24 hours a day. What a great way to to be entertained out there. I also have often the APBA Games would be great thing for fire stations to have.

conventions in areas

it’s not the type of game younger guys want to play….I fear our generation may be the last players

Advertise, Advertise, Advertise! Stress benefits of Brain over Brawn… or at least brain over Hand Eye coordination… and "Realism" as opposed to out of proportion video game results… maybe make product more Visually appealing (?)… Player Photos/Logos on cards (probably "Cost Prohibitive"). Promote that this is NOT just a Game… which it Never was to most of us…

More advertising. The updated computer game will go a long way in determining if APBA will be able to get more young people involved.

word of mouth – i.e. current players introducing the game to children, grandchildren, friends, co-workers, neighbours etc. – however, having said that, I can’t recall ever showing it to anyone other than my wife, who basically tolerates it because it keeps me in the house and handy!

1. We have to spend time playing the game with our kids. 2. Improve the computer game. My experience is that it is difficult to set up and customize. The graphics are poor and you have to buy stadium backgrounds separately.

Sell products at sporting good stores

internet

We just had a younger person (my 20-year-old nephew) join our face-to-face league. He enjoys the camaraderie of coming out on "game night" drinking beer, playing his game while 7 others are going on, talking trade and shooting the bull. If you could get that aspect of the game across to the younger generation, perhaps they would find it fun.

If I knew I’d tell you. APBA isn’t the problem it is too much of an ADD society with little or no imagination.

I dont know

A program for customers to donate to. Games could then go to childrens hospitals. Something along this train of thought.

Just play it with someone.

Tie it in with fantasy baseball online, somehow?

Do not know. I don’t know if we can compete with technology.

A few years ago APBA had "coaches" going to places that they wanted to sell the game, i.e hobby or card shops. The reception was great and I know I got them some good orders from young kids. One mom bought the game, then came bck and bought one for her husband.

not a clue

1. Improved website. 2.Offer a sample game with 4 to 6 current teams included. Give customer the choice of which teams are included.

computer game

promote the game on MLB Network and some strictly baseball websites

wish I had a good answer for this but sadly I think it must include a computer is some way…..C and D just does not do it for kidos.

Tough call, but there is NO marketing in this area. Get it out to baseball card shops. Kids do play card games, it can be done but the current marketing model will not work for this question

I don’t know…

just teach your kids. It teaches young people the game and the imagination is great as a kid. I loved playing replays with my friend and his dad one summer of 7th/8th grade. I’ve been playing ever since. I have been in 2 leagues since I was 21. I am now 36.

Social networking sites Associate with MLB Baseball Media (e.g. if they are watching MLB or at an MLB game, that’s probably where your potential target is going to be)

Capture stat-heavy young people by advertising heavily on Baseball Reference. Also get into the table-game crowd with other gamer conventions.

Provide games to schools for club play, develop a marketing partnership with online or print media outlets

Make it more affordable

Don’t know

Online advertisements

tv

Advertise and make the cards better!!!! Also, update the computer version.

Difficult to do as kids like the Playstation, X-Box type of baseball sim–if they like that at all as they might rather be playing Guitar Hero or Call of Duty. Maybe APBA for X-Box, etc., might be the way to go. When I was a kid, an APBA-type *board* game was the only one in town. It’s not like that anymore and APBA might either have to take the X-Box route or wait for the kids to get older and their tastes change.

Word of mouth from current APBA players.

create an online commercial. Even a youtube video

advertise on video games!

Create a version for the sports console game systems

That’s the conundrum isn’t it. I have tried on many occasions to get my children (10 and 7) to play all type of board games. I love Euro games as well as sports games and have had little success cracking that nut.

Advertise on video game boxes and run ads during the halftime of games !

Form a club in the schools.

Put all the games on PC.

Anything is going to cost money, and I realize that. One suggestion I’ve publicly made on the Yahoo Group was to have APBA set up a booth, or partner with someone else for a booth at the New York Toy Fair. The kids don’t go there, but the retailers do, and I think that’s one area that they need to explore. Another way would be to partner with MLB and somehow do active displays (guys actually playing) at the ballparks. Maybe something really grass roots like doing the above at little league parks. Promote it as a "family time" activity for dad’s (and mom’s) and kids.

Advertise in daily newspapers and on tv. Hold conventions around the country.

HAVE SOME TYPE OF APBA DAY, INCLUDING SOME TRIAL GAME GIVEAWAY AND DEMOS, AT SOME MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAMES.

Show them the realism of the statistics of playing APBA

A lot more advertising, like in the "good old days."

Maybe get some games into boys and girls clubs.

You would need to have a first rate video game with video and Stat based options

Play with your kids. Donate sets to Boys/ Girls clubs.

Better advertising like the old brochures

I really dont know.

New computer version of master game

Develop an Internet game

It would have to be something with either the internet or other electronic media.

Retail Sales

computerize everything…kids today have no interest in sitting down to play a tabletop version of anything

I have thought about that a lot…it seems computers have taken over the gaming industry…kids do not want to roll dice…no one plays RISK anymore either.

On line ads: Strat-O-Matic advertises on the Sporting News web site

It would be for MLB to stop the silly draconian licensing fees and allow companies to create games

I have no idea.

Online tournaments

Update the computer game

Not sure what drives the younger crowd. To get the visibility, maybe events done in conjunction with MLB franchises?

Improve the appearance of the products

don’t care

Develop a computer baseball game that includes some kind of animation.

Sell a game and allow the kids to pick the 2 teams they want to play. Make it affordable, kind of link SOM kids game

Display the game to Boys clubs or church youth groups, similar to what was done at the APBA Convention and Tournament last summer. The kids who attended had a great time and were excited about the tournament and playing with other APBA fans.

Not clear. I have tried to get my boys interested in playing and they have shown little interest

You have to dance with the one that brung ya!!! Sports magazines, word or mouth..

Colorful Brochures; interactive website; sell game in toy/hobby/game stores. Advertise in the media to some degree, even small. Updated computer games that are fully the current standard.

In the basic baseball box, they should have recent teams! The players born in the 50’s, the two standard 1953 teams they include might be okay, but the younger players, unless they are really into history, have no idea who Duke Snider or Johnny Sain were. They should include some recent teams with current players like Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, Prince Fielder and Ichiro Suzuki. It might be a pain to box and stock but if you want to appeal to the younger players, the game should have players they are familiar with.

In my opinion I think that to promote the game would be to have APBA sponsored tournaments around the country. That would showcase the game. If people can walk into a store that has people playing Warhammer it may work for people looking for a sports game to play. I know when I was young one the highs was being able to control players that I liked and if I wanted to trade them or bench them I could. The ability to control the aspects of the game were exciting and if you could showcase that aspect would go a long way to show the game to a younger player.

Not sure…thats a tough one, so much competition for their time. I remember playing a lot of apba and strat in highschool during home room, but they dont give the kids that kind of free time anymore.

Start leagues at schools or community centers

on line presence – I got into Strat by playing their on-line version. Got hooked

This would take a good deal of advertising on the computer

have the actual game on the shelves of a say, a target or a dedicated toy store like toy-r-us. also, the box design could use a overhaul……to compete with video games, kids have got to know that the game has substance AND style. APBA needs to add a little flash to compete with the Madden games. Real game photos maybe? I know that’s what sold me when I had a choice between a sega genesis and APBA….the APBA football game just looked way cooler with that picture of the cleveland browns and pittsburgh steelers on the cover of the box. also, pitching a family friendly environment might entice parents to spend some "quality" time with their kids. maybe working with local hobby shops and have them introduce the game to kids who play other games….the kid who is already interested in table top games, like dungeon and dragons, or collectable card games like Magic the gathering, should be a priority audience for APBA.

Offer on-line, advertise in magazines

Get it into the schools. Promote it as an available after-school activity. We have done this with Subbuteo and it led to some of the youth growing up to be the best players in the country.

Give them a free starter set at a MLB baseball game

With the fast action software era we’re in I don’t believe you can change young people to get involved. To me it’s something that’s in your soul to want to play sport simulation games.

Word of mouth. Fathers to sons. Friends to friends. Hard to compete with HD Graphics and Video games. I grew up with board games, but I like playing versions of these on my phone or iPad. A simple computer version that can work easily on all OS platforms might attract a young baseball/football fan.

I became interested in APBA at the age of 12 from an ad in Baseball Digest. Suggest doing the same in similar mags.

I would think a version of APBA baseball designed to play on PS or Xbox might have the potential to reach some younger users. Especially if you could include a mix of games: baseball, golf, horse racing for example.

Unsure.

Upgrade the computer version of baseball

computer version of the basic game. Keep it simple. Simulated games with too much strategy would not be desirable. Younger people seem to strive for instant gratification.

I don’t think younger people can sit down longer than 5 minutes to play a game. It has to flash, have loud music, rap about ho’s and pimps, and wear it’s pants down to their crack. I wouldn’t promote APBA to younger people. Let it die with us older folks.

promote the leagues , the friendships, competition and longevity. APBA has brought me together with and extended my family.

Promotions with local professional teams, local card shops, game shops, etc. And not just the BIG cities.

develop video type games. some might try board games later in life.

Online ads, advertising during network sporting events, magazine ads in preview magazines, Twitter, Facebook

A more detailed website.

I wish I could tell you.

have it in more stores than they do now

Change the culture and mindset of America from visual immediacy to intellectual patience (and good luck with that!)

Stats always suck in stat geeks, even young ones.

Put ads in different sporting magazines/newspapers

i dont know

Turn it into a first person shooter and sell it on game consoles?

It would have to be virtually, most likely via the internet…younger generation loves their "Madden".

Promote at ballparks minor league, major league, little league.

Holding kids only tournaments.

I really have no idea. Obviously, some online/computer version is probably important for this. I think people passing it down to their children is probably the most effective thing, so keeping current players happy is a must.

Internet advertising. Yes, I sell Internet advertising, so I guess I have a vested interest in saying that, but that’s where the younger generations are. The company needs to advertise on the Internet and Smart Phones if they want to survive.

Get the game on Steam and on console systems. Heck it would be nice to see APBA or another baseball sim be combined with the nice graphics of MLB The Show for an eye catching baseball sim.

get them off the computer

A beautiful website with exciting customer endorsements; the kind of superb ads on your website as the glossy brochures Apba put out in the 60s and 70s.

very good question with now answer–outlaw computer games—i have played apba since 1960 and have a son who is 37 and i could not get him into apba—and he loves baseball—i dont know

Word of mouth is, of course, best. Maybe booths at sports related conferences–SABR and alike–might be productive.

you just have to get them to play it

Make a really look online game true to the basic game where the participant could see under the hood while the game was in progress. 22-5 home run!

Computers !!! that’s what they do. Facebook is what got me back into it….

Try to develop computer simulations that have enhanced/improved Visual and Audio effects without sacrificing statistical accuracy

Playing the basic game where groups of young people are (i.e., schools, churches, boys/girls clubs, etc)

Hard question. Kids today like video games, games of movement, not really stat guys like we guys of old. The first season I ever played was the 1961 season and I’ll always remember Roger Maris’ card, 3 ones. My last modern day season bought was in 1990…main reason, too much expansion…I’ve never seen the Bonds, McGwire, Sosa cards(tho I’d like to peek at em")

Great Question!!! I didn’t get hooked until I was in High School…. I saw the add in Street and Smith and ordered the brochure with sample card and after reading the brochure I had to have that game…. I think if you are a baseball fan you can’t help but not love this game…. if you don’t know the players or don’t care then this game isn’t for you.

If you know a young person who’s a sports nut, show it to him.

It has to come from Major League Baseball. Pick up the pace of the game. If you don’t love it on the field, you won’t play the game.

Design an electronic version of APBA that plays on the Apple iPad.

With the internet as popular as it is now. Advertising on sports websites would be the way to go. (Sporting news, espn,mlb.com, baseball-reference etc)

Maybe a return back tot he master charts with all the information right there. All the page turning has to be a negative in this generation’s mind.

You have to find someone who is younger and "cool" who plays it (like a Derek Jeter) and promote that

Go to the schools or recreation centers if they still have them

I think there has to be a better computer version.

Via the web, that is where so many people are these days. However, the paper ad may still produce results. It has been a long time, perhaps it is time to try it again.

Color brochures like Seitz did Describe all the advantages of a more complete game to the millions of fantasy baseball players, Something that included player arms, fielding, etc. Sell from the marketing standpoint that it is the next step up to playing adult games rather than clueless joystick games. Cerebral rather than simple skill with a joystick

Internet, TV and/or radio commercials

Relationships with kids baseball products (SI for Kids, Topps, etc. )

television and internet ads

Home school market – tie it into math and problem solving (how to draft a team, etc.)

well when i was young i discovered APBA by reading Magazines the internet is now the main way people find out about sports so advertise online

Only computer, then a pure emphasis on stats, being willing to go anti-graphic as a selling point.

Ads online and in sporting publications.

Social media. Use online sites to promote the board game.

Hard to say since young people prefer visuals to statistical replays.

advertisement on young people web sites, some way to attract kids to actually play the game and get interested;heavy exposure at baseball, football camps.