In the continued effort to raise awareness of the seriousness of head injuries, Madden 12 has announced a new addition to their very popular video game. This year’s version will require any virtual player who suffers a concussion to be side-lined for the remained of the game. As an additional PSA, the announcers, Gus Johnson and Cris Collinsworth, will explain why the player is out of the game and reinforce the gravity of head injuries. The purpose of this change is twofold. First, this adds an additional layer of accuracy to the videogame. Second, there is the hope that pulling the player out of the game and explaining why, will teach kids how important it is to take extreme care in the cases of head injuries. Many are supporting the move including John Madden who said in a phone interview, “Concussions are such a big thing, it has to be a big thing in the video game”… “It starts [with] young kids — they start in video games. I think the osmosis is if you get a concussion, that’s a serious thing and you shouldn’t play.”
I think using this different channel of technology to reinforce a concept is great. I too hope that relentless enforcement of this message will make it second nature to these kids when they start playing at a competitive level. And in reality, this addition does not really take anything away from the game or experience. However it will be interesting how fans respond to Madden 13; where kids just watch a virtual conference room where billionaires bicker with millionaires. Ref. nbcsports, Youth1.com,
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