EA recently released its remake of NFL Blitz, a game that drained me of a college education’s worth of quarters in the ’90s.

Very likely due to restrictions placed on it by the National Football League, EA removed one of the most enjoyable parts of the game: late hits.

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.

Spike TV’s Video Game Awards serve as the time for all sorts of industry reveals. EA Sports chose the December 10 event to announce the cover athlete for its new version of NFL Blitz. Ray Rice, star running back for the Baltimore Ravens, earned the honor through a fan vote. Blitz will actually be a download, not a full retail release. EA will use Rice’s image to promote the game in marketing materials. He defeated San Francisco 49′ers linebacker Patrick Willis and Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White for the privilege…

Should we believe the numerous reports about a new Xbox coming in 2012, the 360 is late in its lifespan. It’s still racking up endorsement deals, however. The NFL and Microsoft have announced a multi-year sponsorship deal naming the Xbox 360 as the league’s official video game console. Microsoft will team with the NFL to promote the “Play 60″ campaign, that encourages kids to engage in 60 minutes of physical activity a day. The Kinect motion control system is at the heart of this deal. Microsoft is touting the Kinect’s controller-free gameplay as a way to be active on days when the weather doesn’t allow outside play.

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.

This week’s downloadable PlayStation 3 game is Scott Pilgrim vs the World for $9.99. Based on the graphic novel comic Scott Pilgrim and the recently released movie of the same name, players must help Scott Pilgrim be with his true love, Ramona Flowers, by defeating the League of Ramona’s Evil Exes in old school 8-bit style. This week’s PlayStation Portable Download is Madden NFL 11 PSP…

Lawsuits against Electronic Arts are becoming as much a Madden NFL rite of passage as midnight launch parties and mass sick days after the game launches.

This time IGN reports former Cincinnati Bengal running back Tony Davis has filed a class action suit on behalf of 6,000 retired players, saying their likenesses appeared in Madden NFL games without compensation.

This week the PlayStation Home has partnered with EA Sports to create exclusive virtual items to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At the mall gamers will find interesting items featuring the art work of Jon Burgerman, a UK based artist who brings unique and exclusive art items such as virtual clothes and tattoos for avatars as well as future art for in-home virtual spaces to the PlayStation Home.

Also, the Pixel Junk Museum just opened its virtual space filled with all things Pixel Junk to include videos, displays with descriptions of the creatures or vehicles found in games including Pixel Junk Shooter, Pixel Junk Eden, Pixel Junk Monsters and Pixel Junk Racers.