Madden Bowl, EA’s marriage of competitive gaming and celebrity appearances, will air 9:00 p.m. (ET), February 2, 2012, on ESPN 3. Xbox Live features the sports network on its dashboard, so Gold members will be able to watch from their consoles.

Believers in the “Madden Curse” had more evidence in 2011. Reversing course from numerous denials, Madden 12 cover athlete Peyton Hillis now thinks he’s been cursed.

Madden NFL is one of the most successful franchises in video game history, but its creator now alleges EA conspired to cheat him out of promised royalties. Robin Antonick created the 1988 version of Madden released on the Commodore 64, MS Dos and Apple II computers. Antonick was on a developmental contract that promised him royalties from later versions. No one could have foreseen Madden NFL becoming an industry juggernaut, a game that’s become part of the American pop culture fabric. Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledges the game’s impact on the league. In the 90s, EA replaced Antonick with Park Place Productions as consoles became the means of spreading the Madden gospel. Antonick said EA told him the Sega Genesis game would be arcade based and not use his intellectual property.

Lovers of Madden NFL’s addictive Ultimate Team mode have a bunch of new things to collect after the season’s first update. The game within a game challenges players to collect the most powerful team possible through cards. Tracking down those cards gives you the right to use the players pictured. Hunting cards through auctions, unlocks and trades ( a feature added this year) is arguably more fun than playing with them. Completing collections of entire NFL teams earns coins and exclusive cards.

EA Sports’ executive exodus continues as former Madden NFL executive producer Phil Frazier has resigned. Since April 2011, EA Sports has lost the producer of troubled basketball sim NBA Elite, Madden’s creative director and EA Sports’ Chief Technology Officer and EA’s chief operating officer John Schappert. Ian Cummings and Richard Wifall joined social media startup Row Sham Bow, while Schappert headed to Zynga. Frazier hasn’t yet said where he’s going to land.

Members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will now be able to play Madden NFL 12 with a clear conscience. Cleveland Browns runner Peyton Hillis won fan voting to appear on perhaps the most well-known cover in gaming, defeating Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick.

ESPN’s SportsNation made the announcement April 27, 2011 with Vick and Hillis on hand. PETA had already voiced its displeasure with Vick, who went to federal prison for his role in a dogfighting ring, being included in the voting.

Despite the protests of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, admitted dogfighter Michael Vick is one round of voting away from the cover of Madden NFL 12.

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback will battle Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis for the honor of appearing on the cover of the league’s only licensed football game. Hillis plays for the unheralded Browns so Vick is not only in the finals but could be considered the favorite.

There are huge changes going on EA Tiburon, the studio responsible for developing Madden NFL.

Madden NFL creative director Ian Cummings and EA Sports Chief Technology Officer Richard Wifall have both tendered their resignations. Cummings confirmed his departure on the official Madden blog. He had worked at EA for 11 years. Cummings’ blog said he decided to “seek opportunities elsewhere.” Sites including Joystiq are reporting that those opportunities will take Cummings to Row Sham Bow, a new social game studio started by former EA Tiburon General Manager Phillip Holt.

For the second year in a row, gamers will determine which athlete will grace the cover of the latest Madden NFL game.

That way if the cover boy’s leg breaks in six places, he’ll have only his own fans to blame.

This year’s vote is part of an extensive promotion with ESPN. Although Madden NFL is a football game, the contest has a March Madness basketball-style theme. Each of the 32 teams has a representative and they will face off in a bracketed tournament.

Madden NFL 12 will ship on time regardless of what happens with the National Football League’s now tenuous labor situation.

EA Sports spokesman Rob Semsey confirmed to Gamertell that the league’s labor problems don’t affect the completion or shipping of Madden NFL. Semsey said the game will have real teams, the proper players and receive in-season updates.

The NFL Players Association has decertified as its battle with league owners continues.

The NFLPA’s deal with EA Sports still allows the company to use real players on their real teams. Team and league symbols are also licensed separately and the NFL lockout won’t prevent their usage in Madden NFL 12.