Madden NFL 12 continues the rich tradition of the storied franchise by bringing fans closer to the NFL than ever before, featuring all 32 teams, stadiums, and your favorite players in the league.  Madden NFL 12 transforms on-field action and core gameplay modes, driving innovation in six key areas: Playbooks and Gameplay; Presentation; Franchise and Superstar modes; Dynamic Player Performance; Madden Ultimate Team; and Online Communities.  Whether battling your rivals on the couch or online, leading your favorite team to the Super Bowl in Franchise mode, or building the ultimate dream team in Madden Ultimate Team, Madden NFL 12 is True to the NFL, True to the Franchise, True to the Game.

Having combo play withdrawals? Have the calluses on your thumbs worn off? No need to fret-Madden NFL is back. GameStop, Corp. (NYSE:GME), the world’s largest multichannel retailer of video games, today announced it will host events for the launch of EA SPORTS Madden NFL 12 at more than 2,100 of its U.S. locations on Monday, Aug. 29, 2011. Beginning at 10:00 p.m. local time, Madden fans from across the nation can sport their team colors and participate in pre-game warm-up challenges including:

• First-to-play Madden NFL 12 kiosks
• “Ultimate Football Fan” Contests
• In-store tournaments
• And, more!

The times noted in this release reflect the local time in your market and time zone. Customers are asked to contact their local store to confirm the exact time of the event. Festivities may vary by location.

GameStop customers who pre-order Madden NFL 12 will receive an exclusive bonus: the 2011 All-Star teams from the NFC and AFC. GameStop® Power Up Rewards™ members who pre-order will also receive a special Madden Ultimate Team Aaron Rodgers card that captures his MVP performance from Super Bowl XLV. In addition, customers who trade in any pre-owned games towards the purchase of Madden NFL 12 will receive 30 percent extra in-store credit.

Can’t get enough Madden? GameStop and Virgin Gaming will help players score big with the “Battle of the Gridiron” tournament where fans can win more than $100,000 in cash and prizes. The tournament will kick off on Sept. 11, 2011 and runs through Oct. 16, 2011. Players who purchase Madden NFL 12 from GameStop and register for entry between Aug. 30, 2011 and Sept. 18, 2011, will be able to compete in the online tournament powered by Virgin Gaming.

Fans interested in playing the full version of Madden NFL 12 first can get exclusive access to download the entire game, digitally, beginning August 26th at 6pm EDT as a subscriber of EA Sports Season Ticket. Once downloaded to an X360 or PS3, EA Sports Season Ticket providesfans three, full days to play Madden NFL 12 before  the August 30th in-store date (at which time the digital download will time out).  The downloadable Madden NFL 12 roster update, with all of the free agency changes, will be available to EA Sports Season Ticket subscribers on August 26th.

In addition, the EA Sports Season Ticket subscription provides full-game digital access to other EA Sports games three days before launch, a 20% discount on all downloadable content, free premium web content and membership recognition through an in-game and online EA Sports Season Ticket badge.  An annual subscription to EA Sports Season Ticket is now available through the PlayStation Store and Xbox LIVE for $24.99 or 2000 MS Points. EA Sports Season Ticket is available for Xbox 360 in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and PS3 in North America.  Benefits begin with this month’s launch of Madden NFL 12.  Moving forward, participating franchises include NHL hockey, FIFA Soccer, Tiger Woods PGA Tour golf and NCAA Football.

Key Features:

• Playbooks & Gameplay
  • All-New Collision System: Now maintain full control of players up to the point of impact – from tackling to blocking – providing the most authentic collisions in franchise history. This new system uses a player's momentum and over 100 new tackle animations, including 40 gang tackles, to provide more impactful hits, stolen tackles, and consecutive hit tackling.
  • Advanced Defensive AI: Over 100 defensive A.I. enhancements resulting in the smartest Madden defense ever. Players in zone and man coverage will properly recognize and react to plays, including the ability to break out of assignments when appropriate, resulting in a defensive team that truly works together.
  • Custom Playbooks: The #1 most requested feature by fans in recent years, allows you to build the ultimate game plan by modifying an existing playbook or creating your own by selecting up to 400 offensive or defensive plays from 75 different playbooks. Integrate your custom playbook into a game plan for use with the improved GameFlow system, which executes an authentic, situational game plan for you.
• Presentation
  • Broadcast Redefined: Experience NFL Sundays like never before with completely overhauled presentation, including 32 team-specific run outs featuring mascots and cheerleaders, over 500 dynamic broadcast cameras authentic to every NFL stadium, innovative “real” on-field cameras shot by expert NFL Films cameramen, and a network inspired new broadcast graphics package.
  • Unprecedented On-Field Authenticity: Hundreds of visual improvements across all areas of the game including: new player equipment, helmet stickers, pylon and ball physics, a player degradation system that affects uniforms and helmets based on weather and field surface, 3D grass, and new player specific animations that showcase the personalities of each NFL player.
• Franchise and Superstar Modes
  • Franchise mode includes more than 100 new features and enhancements, including expanded rosters, an all-new rookie scouting system, a free-agent bidding system, and more.
    • Expanded Rosters and Cut Days
    • Progression Tuning
    • All-New Rookie Scouting System
    • All-New Team Re-Sign Logic
    • All-New Free Agent Bidding Feature
    • All-New Cut Dead Weight Logic
    • Player Roles
    • Weather Tuning
    • Franchise Mode Dynamic Player Performance
    • All-New Salary System
    • Ability to Change User Controlled Team
    • Re-Tuned Player Retirements
    • Trade Future Draft Picks
    • Re-Tuned Player Award Logic
    • Practice Mode
    • All-New Player Portraits for Draft Rookies
    • Realistic Injury Frequency
    • All-New Depth Chart Logic
    • Realistic Injured Reserve
    • Edit Players
    • Re-Tuned Simulation Stats
    • All-New Coaching Impact
    • Import Draft Class Tuning
    • All-New Interface
    • 30 All-New Draft Classes featuring Realistic Player Profiles
  • In Superstar mode, fans can now control the growth of their superstar with an all-new progression system that allows you to earn skill points by participating in practice and games.
    • All-New Player Traits
    • Request a Trade
    • Skill Point System
    • All-New Training Camp and Practice Sessions
    • Ratings Progression
    • All-New Offensive and Defensive Coordinator Audio
    • All-New Superstar Hub
    • Redesigned Interface
    • Manage Superstar
    • All-New Equipment
• Dynamic Player Performance
  • Dynamic Player Performance is an all-new feature that creates unprecedented realism as a player's skills and confidence will rise and fall based on his performance throughout a game or in Franchise mode, just like the real NFL. No two players will play the same in Madden NFL 12, and more details will be revealed at the E3 Expo on June 6.
• Madden NFL Ultimate Team
  • The perfect combination of Madden NFL Football, fantasy football, and trading cards comes to life in Madden NFL Ultimate Team. More information on how to earn, buy, auction, and trade players will be released on June 20.
• Online Communities
  • Online Communities will provide an all-new way for Madden NFL gamers to meet and play.