Madden NFL 12 Changing Its Concussion Rules

As the NFL and its players' association continue to work out their many issues during the NFL Lockout, concussions remain one of the most hotly-debated. As the league and the players continue to improve real-life conditions and safeguards against concussions, the same can be said of video games.

NFL Players Association assistant executive director of external affairs George Atallah tweeted Monday, "Good for EA Sports. Concussed players in NFL Madden prevented from returning to play. Culture change is important."

He's referring to EA's decision to sidelining players who receive in-game concussions. Past versions of Madden included a coaching decision to put players back into the game who have suffered concussions. Now, that decision will not be allowed and game users will see the concussed player being carted off the field, unable to return.

EA Sports President Peter Moore told the World Congress of Sports that it was "wrong" of the company to allow players to return so quickly from concussions.

Ultimately, we're talking about a video game and not real life, but if perception is reality, then a generation of football fans will be perceiving concussion injuries in an entirely new way. Only good things can come from that.