Written by Andy | 23 March 2011

Lian Chang/FlickrEA Sports has announced Madden '12 will be the first video game pertaining to a work stoppage in professional sports, allowing gamers to play as NFL owners, initiating a lockout when the NFLPA union decertifies, or as NFL players, filing a lawsuit against the league in district court citing unfair labor practices.

"Our Madden series continues to break new barriers in authenticity every year, and we are excited to launch the original video game to feature the realism of an NFL lockout," said Owen Neimann of EA Sports. "The true to life game play of Madden '12 will let gamers feel as though they are actually in district court, insisting the salary cap and the franchise tag are a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act."
 
Madden '12 "The Lockout" will introduce new "Mediator Mode", allowing gamers to help negotiate a fair collective bargaining agreement as a neutral third party.

"Sit at the bargaining table and assist in determining the revenue sharing structure between NFL owners and players," said Neimann, rattling off several new features available if this game play option in league franchise mode were selected. "They can also help determine the length of the schedule, the number of mandatory off-season workouts, and increased pension benefits to retired players, making this a must-have for anyone interested in pro football and labor law."

If negotiations are unproductive and take too long, your game console will freeze up and shut off, forcing you to go do something else with your time.

Fans of the video game series can go online and cast their vote to determine the cover of Madden NFL '12, choosing between NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, and United States District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson.

< Prev		Next >