Pottstown Afflicted With 'Maddenitis'

At exactly midnight, hundreds of area residents -- some who had been waiting since 6 p.m. -- were rewarded for their patience with a brand spanking new copy of “Madden 12.”

Local stores in the area held “Midnight Launch Events” to release the new game.

 “You have to talk smack. That’s what Madden is all about,” said Aaron Blackwell. He and his brother Josh got first and second copies for five years running at the Game Stop store on 501 Schuylkill Road in Pottstown. “My brother an I have been here every year since they started holding these events. They do a great job here. We will be up all night playing.”

A video game legend, the “Madden football” game franchise has sold more than 85 million copies since its inaugural release in 1988 and generated more than $3 billion in sales as of the game's 2010 release.

Despite the sagging economy, gamers have found ways to save and get discounts on this year’s version by either by trading old games or competing in contests held at local stores.

“It’s like Christmas morning to us,” said Josh Blackwell of Pottstown. “The game evolves every year. They always have the most recent rosters and the graphics are amazing and somehow get better every season. I have six friends waiting to play online tonight. We will be up all night playing, I can’t wait.”

 “We have always had great support from our customers,” Game Stop manager Glenn Wills said and thanked patrons that filled the Schuylkill Road store. “We want to beat everybody else out, so we can have the biggest midnight release events possible.”

Although the NFL lockout is now ancient history, its aftereffects are still being felt. Madden 12 was delayed three weeks because of the ongoing lockout.

While the free agent frenzy occurred last month, the Madden team had to scramble to create new teams.

The game's ability to download the updated NFL rosters will allow gamers to employ their favorite players.

In addition to the regular issue this season, Electronic Arts released a "Hall of Fame addition"-- only 125,000 copies will be shipped to stores -- and the run will be limited to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and retail for $89.99.

In addition to the bronze cover featuring Marshall Faulk -- instead of Peyton Hillis -- the special edition will include an autographed card by Faulk. 

Madden 12 also includes a grand prize: An 18k gold autographed card will be randomly inserted into one Xbox 360 and one PlayStation 3 copy. It's estimated the card will be one of the most valuable pieces of memorabilia currently on the market.

As of early Tuesday, Madden 12 was available in hundreds of retail outlets across the county.

“I am too competitive to play with my friends,” said Douglassville ‘s Matt Evans, a Daniel Boone School District 2011 grad. “My friend Anthony (Covatta) who is here with me tonight, beat me back in 2006 on a two point conversion with Jake Stinkin Plummer. To this day we still talk about it, that’s what Madden is about. We have so many stories over the years.”

Pottstown’s Zach Cook, (a 2008 Pottstown High School grad) and his classmate Jake Level arrived at Game Stop early early to participate in the store's fun and games.

Upcoming midnight launch events include the launch of Batman “Arkham City” on October 18 and Call of Duty - “Modern Warfare 3” is set to be released on November 8.