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.

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.

The New York Giants captured their fourth Vince Lombardi Trophy, defeating the New England Patriots 27-24 in Super Bowl XLVI, according to the annual EA SPORTS Madden NFL Super Bowl simulation powered by Xbox 360, the official console sponsor of the NFL and NFL PLAY 60.

Kicker Lawrence Tynes kicked a game-winning 40-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Giants past the AFC Champion Patriots, bringing home the Giants’ second Super Bowl championship in four years.

The exciting ending was reminiscent of what took place in the title game four seasons ago when the Giants stunned the Patriots 17-14 after a heroic game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII.

Giants Quarterback Eli Manning was named the game’s MVP, completing 25 of 39 passes with two touchdowns and an interception. New England’s Tom Brady also had a big day, throwing for 327 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

Most of Brady’s best moments came late in the game.

Trailing 24-10 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Brady led New England on a furious rally, scoring two touchdowns to tie the game 24-24, the second coming on a 14-yard pass to wide receiver Wes Welker with 1:50 left on the clock.

Unfortunately for New England, there was still plenty of time left for Manning and the Giants’ offense.

Mixing in short passes to wide receivers Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, and with key runs by running back Ahmad Bradshaw, Manning drove New York down the field and into New England Territory, setting up Tynes’ second game-winning conversion in two games.

Dating back to Super Bowl XXXVIII, EA SPORTS has conducted the annual Super Bowl simulation using the latest iteration of the Madden NFL franchise. The Super Bowl XLVI simulation was conducted utilizing artificial intelligence powered by real-life data from each team to determine player ratings, and includes variances, such as injuries, to predict the outcome. Six out of the last eight Super Bowl champions have been accurately predicted by Madden NFL. Previous results include:

• Super Bowl XXXVIII – Patriots 23, Panthers 20
  • Actual Score: Patriots 32, Panthers 29
• Super Bowl XXXIX – Patriots 47, Eagles 31
  • Actual score: Patriots 24, Eagles 21
• Super Bowl XL – Steelers 24, Seahawks 19
  • Actual score: Steelers 21, Seahawks 10
• Super Bowl XLI – Colts 38, Bears 27
  • Actual score: Colts 29, Bears 17
• Super Bowl XLIII  – Steelers 28, Cardinals 24
  • Actual score: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23
• Super Bowl XLIV – Saints 35, Colts 31
  • Actual score: Saints 31, Colts 17

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.