'Madden NFL 13' game sets sales record

Electronic Arts says its newest NFL video game series entry, "Madden NFL 13," set a franchise record for launch-day sales, shipping 900,000 copies Tuesday. Associated online activity and downloads on the game's first day of availability also were at record levels, USA Today reported. Sales increased 7 percent compared with last year, when "Madden NFL 12" sold 1.4 million copies in the first week, Electronic Arts said. "'Madden NFL 13' is the most innovative entry the franchise has ever seen and we're thrilled that fans have embraced it with such a huge first day," EA Sports Executive Vice President Andrew Wilson said in a statement. The newest version features several significant changes, with an overhaul in the programming technology to simulate tackles and an updated career mode by which the game user can play as a coach or a player over multiple seasons.