Unprecedented Campaign with ESPN.com and SportsNation Results in
Record 12.7 Million Fan Votes
New Features Unveiled for Madden NFL 12 During Kickoff Event in
Times Square
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced today that Peyton Hillis,
running back for the Cleveland Browns, was selected by millions of fans
across the country to grace the cover of Madden NFL 12. Hillis, a
No. 10 seed, defeated former Madden NFL 04 cover athlete and No.
3 seed Michael Vick (QB, Eagles) in the finals of an unprecedented
campaign with ESPN.com and SportsNation that allowed fans to
determine, by an online vote that was open to the public, the player to
be featured on the cover of Madden NFL 12 when the game launches
on August 30.
More than 12.7 million votes were logged overall in the campaign which
ran from March 21 — April 27 through ESPNSportsNation.com online and via
the mobile Web, the most ever for an ESPN poll or vote. With deep
integrations across multiple ESPN platforms, including TV, radio,
online, mobile, social media, ESPN Deportes and more, Hillis defeated
Vick by a final margin of 66% to 34%. Fans rallied behind Hillis as he
continually ousted higher seeded players in the bracket-style voting
campaign, including No. 7 seed Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens), No. 2 seed
Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons), No. 6 seed Jamaal Charles (Kansas City
Chiefs), and No. 1 seed Super Bowl XLV MVP Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay
Packers).
"Our fans have responded in record-setting fashion to honor Peyton
Hillis, and we're extremely pleased to welcome him into an exclusive
fraternity of NFL players to appear on the cover of the Madden NFL
franchise," said Anthony Stevenson, Senior Product Manager of EA SPORTS.
"This year's cover voting campaign with ESPN has sparked incredible
debate and conversation amongst fans and NFL players, which is a
testament to the interest in and anticipation for Madden NFL each
year. The amount of support that Hillis generated nationally and within
his home market of Cleveland was truly impressive."
"This has been a humbling experience and I want to thank all the fans in
Cleveland and throughout the country that got behind me and voted each
and every week," said Peyton Hillis, running back for the Cleveland
Browns and the fourth running back to appear on the cover of the Madden
NFL franchise. "I've been playing Madden NFL for ten years,
and it's a dream to know that I'll be on the cover of this great game.
I'm looking forward to another big season with the Browns to show fans
how much we appreciate them."
In celebration of Hillis' victory and to officially kick off the Madden
NFL 12 season, EA SPORTS hosted an event for fans in the middle of
New York City's Times Square today featuring a photo shoot and a first
preview of Madden NFL 12. One image from the photo shoot with
Hillis will appear on the cover of this year's game.
Madden NFL 12 launches on August 30 and 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.
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.
-
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. More details on
Franchise and Superstar modes will be released on May 16.
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. More details will be released on July 25.
Since its debut in 1989, Madden NFL has over 90 million units
sold-in to date. Starting today, fans can visit www.maddenNFL.easports.com
to learn more about Madden NFL 12 pre-sale opportunities.
Madden NFL 12 is developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon. EA
SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world,
with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive
technology, global videogame competitions, and breakthrough digital
experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports
through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden
NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA JAM,
NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA, Tiger
Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active.
All player participation has been facilitated by National Football
League Players Incorporated, the licensing and marketing subsidiary of
the NFL Players Association.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is
a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in
1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive
software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless
devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under
four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA Mobile™, and POGO™. In fiscal
2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that
sold more than one million units. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com.
More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can
be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Active, EA Mobile, and POGO are trademarks of
Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, FIFA, NHL, NBA, NCAA, Tiger
Woods, and PGA TOUR are trademarks of their respective owners and used
with permission. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
© 2011 NFL Properties LLC. Team names/logos/indicia are trademarks of
the teams indicated. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of
the National Football League.
Officially Licensed Product of National Football League Players
Incorporated.
Electronic Arts Inc.
Rob Semsey, 407-386-5337
Director, Public
Relations
rsemsey@ea.com
Julie
Foster, 407-386-5184
Senior Publicist
jfoster@ea.com
or
Fleishman
Hillard
Steve Hickok, 212-453-2353
hickoks@fleishman.com
Source: Electronic Arts Inc.
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