The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Sprint tipped off 2012 NBA All-Star Balloting  during a special event in Orlando, the official host city of NBA All-Star 2012. The 61st NBA All-Star Game, which will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at the Amway Center on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. Despite the lockout and the shortened season, the NBA will take a break to celebrate the biggest names in basketball. Gamers won't have to rely on 2K Sports' NBA 2K12 to simulate the celebration of basketball this year. Traditionally, EA Sports, 2K Sports and Sony PlayStation have all taken part in the All Star festivities.

EA Sports has used its NCAA Football 12 video game to simulate the big match-ups during Bowl Week. Kicking off with the Rose Bowl between Oregon and Wisconsin and culminating with the National Championship Game in New Orleans between LSU and Alabama. Check out video of the key match-ups below.

EA Sports rolls out the red carpet on February 2nd in Indianapolis, Indiana for Madden Bowl XVIII. One of the biggest parties of Super Bowl week gets things started before the official kickoff on Super Sunday for Super Bowl XLVI. Nas and The Roots will perform live at the party, which will take place at the Bud Light Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. Once again, EA Sports will use the 3-on-3 format to allow teams of NFL pros and celebrities to face off on Madden NFL 12. The party is expected to attract NFL pros, NFL legends and many celebrities. Check out some video interviewss from past Madden Bowls below.

The Spike Video Game Awards have officially wrapped, and while it's still a ways off from being considered a legitimate awards program like, say, the Oscars, there were plenty of entertaining moments that helped it beat out last year's ceremony.  And no sign of Olivia Munn...whew.  So what went down during the event?  We've got the full recap!

With his alma mater marching to the BCS Championship game in New Orleans January 9, 2012, Arizona Cardinals rookie Patrick Peterson is blazing his own amazing trail. The 2010 SEC Special Teams Player of the Year for LSU has already returned four punts for touchdowns in the NFL, tying an NFL record with a few more games to go to break it. Peterson talks about his videogame skills on Madden and NCAA Football in this exclusive video interview below.

Tim Tebow did it all on the college football field for the University of Florida. Now in control of the Denver Broncos offense, the two-time Heisman Trophy winner has fans excited about football again. Tebow, who was the cover athlete for NCAA Football 11, talks about Madden and his gaming habits off the NFL field in this exclusive video interview below.

Association football is a popular sport, and FIFA 12 a popular game. Such was the core of the message offered by Andrew Wilson, head of EA Sports, at the company’s Winter Preview Event last week. Along with the two other professed pillars – investment in gameplay and authenticity to the sport – it is social connectivity that made 2011 a standout year for the franchise.