Xboxist

Gamestop, Virgin Gaming and EA SPORTS team up for Madden NFL 12 'Battle of the Gridiron' tournament

Madden NFL 12, the latest title in the award-winning video game franchise from Electronic Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), will be quick off the line when it launches on Aug. 30, and GameStop and Virgin Gaming will help players score big as they present the "Battle of the Gridiron" tournament with more than $100,000 in prizes. The tournament will kick off on Sept. 11, 2011 and runs through Oct.16, 2011. Players who pre-order or purchase Madden NFL 12 from GameStop and register for entry between Aug. 30, 2011 and Sept. 18, 2011 will be able to compete in the online tournament powered by Virgin Gaming.

GameStop (NYSE: GME), the world's largest multichannel video game retailer, and Virgin Gaming, the premier online destination for competitive console gamers, formed a partnership earlier this year to power online video game tournaments for featured console games sold at U.S. GameStop locations. The upcoming "Battle of the Gridiron" tournament for Madden NFL 12 marks the inauguration of the partnership, with more than $100,000 in prizes on the line, including:

* Grand prize: Four winners will receive a VIP trip to LA and the $5,000 entry into the EA SPORTS Madden NFL 12 Challenge Series live final for the chance to win up to $1 million in prizing.
* Runner-up prizes: Four runners-up will get a VIP trip and package to LA to watch the finals of the EA SPORTS Madden NFL 12 Challenge Series
* Additional prizes include: EA SPORTS Madden NFL 12 Challenge Series tournament entry fees and Virgin Gaming credit to be used towards future tournaments

Madden NFL 12, which launches on Aug. 30 , continues the rich tradition of the storied franchise by bringing fans closer to the NFL than ever before. 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. Madden NFL 12 is available on the Xbox 360 video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3, Wii™, and PSP (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system.

For more information on upcoming GameStop/Virgin Gaming tournaments, contact pr@virgingaming.com or visit www.GameStop.com.