EA Sports' Madden NFL 12 was expected on the second Tuesday in August, but studio boss Peter Moore announced in April that the title would instead arrive on August 30. However, gamers won't need to wait that long to play the football sim, as a demo for the game arrives in two weeks.

Gamers can sample Madden NFL 12 on August 9.

EA today announced that a demo for Madden NFL 12 will arrive on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network on August 9. The sampler has players reliving the 2010-11 NFC Championship, which pitted the Chicago Bears against the Green Bay Packers at Solider Field in Illinois.

In reality, the Packers won the game. However, players will have four five-minute quarters to repeat (or rewrite) history. For more on the forthcoming football sim, check out GameSpot's latest preview of Madden NFL 12.

Sony added a host of new content to its online store this week, but the main attraction is not a game but an application.

Leading the pack this week is the $100 Move.me application. Described by Sony as a software server application, the tool is intended for designers to create software using the PlayStation Move controller, PlayStation 3, PC, and PlayStation Eye.

According to Sony, the application is aimed at "academic researchers, university instructors, college students, programming hobbyists, and HCI developers." Move.me hooks up to the PC, which affords users the ability to use the PlayStation Move controller as an input device to "supply sensor data" for a PC application. For more on the Move.me app, check out the user's guide.

Section 8: Prejudice fires up today on the PSN.

Also out now on the PlayStation Network is TimeGate Studios' Section 8: Prejudice ($15). Released on the Xbox 360 in April, the game includes two new multiplayer game modes: Skirmish and Assault.

Additionally, those who purchase the game this week will score the Blitz Armor pack and the Overdrive map pack for free. Further, the first 1,000 PlayStation Plus subscribers to purchase Section 8: Prejudice will be awarded the in-game Hunter Armor, as well as a digital copy of the well-received original Section 8.

Gamers looking to add to their copies of BioWare's Dragon Age II can grab the Legacy downloadable content ($10) today. In the content, gamers will suit up again as protagonist Hawke and travel to an ancient Grey Warden prison and uncover additional details about his family history. Additionally, Hawke will visit new environments, battle new and "improved" enemies, craft a deadly weapon, and ultimately come face-to-face with a terrible horror.

Players looking for new environments to battle in inside THQ's near-future shooter Homefront can grab the Fire Sale map pack ($3) today. The DLC includes two new environments set on American soil: Spillway and Big Box.

Also out now on the PlayStation Network is Deadliest Warrior: Legends ($10). A follow-up to last summer's tepidly received Deadliest Warrior: The Game, the new installment adds a host of classic combatants.

In Legends, gamers will control deadly warriors and take on famous figures like Alexander the Great, Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, Hannibal, Hernan Cortes, Shaka Zulu, Sun Tzu, Vlad the Impaler, and William Wallace.

The last two new PlayStation 3 games out this week are Golden Axe ($5) and Back to the Future: The Game - Episode 5: OUTATIME (free with $20 season pass purchase).

A full list of the week's deals and new PlayStation Store content, including themes, wallpapers, demos, discounts, and add-on content, is available on the PlayStation Blog.

The PlayStation Store is a hotbed for new content this week, as Sony added Playdead's dark platformer, new add-on content for Fallout: New Vegas, a cooperative zombie game, and more to the virtual marketplace.

Leading the pack this week is Playdead's Limbo ($15). The game is a puzzle platformer that has players controlling a silhouette of a boy searching for his sister throughout various dreary chapters and dark environments. The Xbox 360 version of Limbo won critical acclaim when it debuted last year.

The search for a lost sister begins today on the PlayStation 3.

Also now live on the PlayStation Network is the Old World Blues downloadable content for Obsidian Entertainment's Fallout: New Vegas. Old World Blues sees gamers forced into participating in a gruesome science experiment that also offers a closer look at the Mojave's mutated-monster contingent.

Gamers will be presented with the option of battling the maniacal scientists or joining with them to fend off "an even greater threat." The game will offer new opponents such as robotic radscorpions, as well as raise the game's level cap by five. Unlike other expansions, Old World Blues will let players keep their equipment.

Gamers looking for a full-motion video game can grab Digital Leisure's Fast Draw Showdown ($10) today. The title sports a number of improvements over the Wii iteration, including high-definition graphics, online leaderboard support, a new scoring system, and Western clothing for PlayStation Home avatars.

Zombies live on today via Candygun's Dead Block ($10). The Unreal Engine-powered Dead Block lets gamers play as a construction worker, traffic warden, or a very hungry boy scout. Players are tasked with surviving waves of oncoming zombies either by force or with strategy. Additionally, gamers can fight alone or with friends in the game's split-screen mode.

The final two PlayStation 3 games now available are from the Neo Geo era. Baseball Stars 2 ($9) and The King of Fighters '95 ($10) are now available to download via the Neo Geo Station, which launched last year.

Gamers looking to add to their games can grab new content today for People Can Fly's brutal Bulletstorm in the form of the $10 Blood Symphony map pack. The other notable new piece of DLC now available is a new character for NetherRealm's fighter Mortal Kombat, Rain ($5).

Switching to the PSP download hub, Sony added three new games to that spot today, the first of which is Square Enix's Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions ($10). The other two new games added to the PSP store are Baseball Stars 2 PSP ($7) and The King of Fighters '95 ($7).

Gamers looking to pick up a new PSP mini this week have a host of options. Sony added Angry Birds ($4), Athena ($3), Guerrilla War ($3), HAL 21 ($3), Ikari Warriors ($3), Marvin's Maze ($3), Me Monstar: Hear Me Roar ($5), Ozma Wars ($3), Sasuke Vs. Commander ($3), and Vanguard ($3).

A full list of the week's deals and new PlayStation Store content, including themes, wallpapers, demos, discounts, and add-on content, is available on the PlayStation Blog.

Last month, THQ shuttered Homefront developer Kaos Studios, shifting work on the franchise to the publisher's Montreal arm. Though the game's original developer is no more, the title itself is living on with new downloadable content called The Rock.

Homefront DLC for the Xbox 360 is mobilizing soon.

THQ sent word today that the new content will arrive first on Xbox Live at a to-be-announced date in the future. It will be part of THQ's agreement with Microsoft that sees Homefront map packs arrive first for the Xbox 360. THQ did not offer a more precise release date other than "soon," and the publisher also did not indicate if or when it plans to release The Rock on the PlayStation 3 or PC.

As for the content, The Rock bears a 400 Microsoft point price tag ($5) and includes two new maps: Alcatraz and Bridge. Alcatraz takes place inside the San Francisco Bay's iconic island prison and will offer gamers close-quarter combat.

As for Bridge, that map has players battling near the North Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge and the surrounding area. In addition to the new maps, THQ said that new Team Deathmatch areas Waterway and Overpass will be included in the DLC.

For more on the core title, check out GameSpot's review of Homefront.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Halo franchise, and Microsoft is not letting the milestone go without celebration. On that day, the publisher will ship Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, a high-definition remake of the lauded original. With the game's release still four months away, today the publisher announced preorder bonuses for Anniversary.

The Grunt Funeral skull and MJOLNIR armor, Halo: CE Anniversary's preorder bonuses.

Gamers who preorder Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary--the first Halo shooter not developed by Bungie--will receive two bonuses, the first of which is Master Chief avatar armor. While a host of Spartan avatar armor is already available, the preorder outfit is MJOLNIR powered assault armor, Master Chief's iconic dressings.

The other preorder bonus for Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is the Grunt Funeral Skull. This "exclusive" game modifier makes it so whenever a grunt is killed, the lowly creature's methane tank will explode, propelling the unfortunate combatant to a fiery death.

Microsoft did not note which retailers will offer the preorder bonuses or if gamers will eventually be able to acquire either extra without reserving the game. As of press time, the publisher had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment.

Developed by 343 Industries, Saber Interactive, and Certain Affinity, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is a rerelease of the original Halo game with a fully remastered campaign, Xbox Live co-op support, and seven bundled multiplayer maps. It will be compatible with the Kinect and will allow gamers to switch between classic and updated graphics with one button press.

For more on the title, check out GameSpot's latest hands-on preview with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

Sega will mark the 20th anniversary of its zippy hedgehog later this year with the launch of Sonic Generations for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Gamers looking to celebrate the milestone may be able to pick up a premium version of the game if a retail listing proves accurate.

Sonic Generations looks like it's getting a special edition.

According to product listings at United Kingdom retailer GAME, Sega is preparing a special edition of Sonic Generations for release later this year. The product page for the Xbox 360 special edition indicates it will include the Casino Night Pinball Stage from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, a Super Sonic avatar costume, and a theme.

The PlayStation 3 Sonic Generations Special Edition will reportedly include the Casino Night Pinball Stage alone. According to the retail listings, the Sonic Generations Special Edition will sell for £39.99 (~$65).

Sonic Generations is also in development for the 3DS and PC, though special editions of the game for those systems were not listed. As of press time, Sega had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment.

Sonic Generations will look to capitalize on Sonic the Hedgehog's 20th anniversary. As such, Sega will be touching upon three different Sonic generations: the classic 2D Genesis days, the 3D's introduction with the Dreamcast, and then today's modern HD graphics phase.

Sonic Generations takes a trip down memory lane.

Sega has rebuilt a number of levels from games gone by for Sonic Generations, and players will be able to speed through these stages in 2D and 3D perspectives. Sonic's abilities will also depend on the incarnation that players choose, as the spin dash and spin attacks will be open to Sonic 2D, while his 3D persona will be able to use the homing attack and sonic boost abilities.

Though the stages will be reimaginings of classic levels, Sonic Generations will feature a new storyline. In it, a "mysterious new power" opens up rips in space time, which pulls Sonic and his crew back in time, where he battles new challenges alongside his former self.

For more on the blue speed demon's latest outing, check out GameSpot's preview of Sonic Generations.

Earlier today, Electronic Arts purchased PopCap Games for at least $750 million, opening a new chapter in the Plants vs. Zombies and Bejeweled franchises. However, EA is also ending the era of multiple games, today announcing its plan to take a long list of games offline for good.

Army of Two's online component will soon be an army of zero.

According to EA's updated Service Updates page, the publisher will turn off online capabilities for Army of Two (Xbox 360, PS3), Skate (Xbox 360, PS3), Battlefield 2: Modern Combat (Xbox 360), Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (PSP, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii), and more on August 11. For the full list of games that will have their online components shut down next month, see EA's website.

EA will continue the deactivation wave on October 1, when the publisher shuts down online functionality for NHL 10 (PS3, Xbox 360) and Madden NFL 10 (PS3, Xbox 360).

EA noted that the reason these games are going to be shut down is that they account for less than 1 percent of total traffic, and so EA's IT staff is free to focus on games users are more actively playing.

Microsoft's Summer of Arcade promotion starts next week, but gamers looking for something new this week have more than a few options to choose from.

Leading the pack this week is Ms. 'Splosion Man (800 MS points, or $10), which is due out tomorrow. A follow-up to the original 'Splosion Man, Ms. 'Splosion Man is also a fast-paced 2D platformer, in which players self-combust their way through vibrantly colored, lighthearted levels. The game includes 50 single-player stages, as well as an additional 50 levels that can be played in a multiplayer setting.

Ms. 'Splosion Man splodes onto XBLA tomorrow.

Beyond new stages, Twisted Pixel said that it has implemented a number of updates to the 'Splosion Man formula, including new gameplay mechanics, enhanced network support, and original music. The game also includes collectibles that unlock behind-the-scenes looks at the game's creation.

Gamers looking to solve a new case in Rockstar's well-received L.A. Noire can pick up the Reefer Madness (320 MS points, or $4) downloadable content today. The new case tasks players with pursuing and bringing to justice a Los Angeles drug dealer who deals heroin, morphine, and marijuana.

Two additional Xbox Live Arcade games are due out tomorrow, the first of which is Boulder Dash XL (800 MS points, or $10). An action-puzzle game, Boulder Dash XL is a remake of sorts of the original Boulder Dash, which was released in the 1980s. In the game, players are tasked with collecting sparkling diamonds and avoiding enemies, traps, and boulders.

The final new XBLA game due tomorrow is Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team (800 MS points, or $10). In the game, players assume control of a premier Space Marine unit that has been sent to take out a threatening Ork Kroozer. The interstellar ship of war is en route to an Imperial Forge World, and players will be charged with thwarting its warboss and preventing his world-consuming Waaagh.

Warhammer 40K goes downloadable tomorrow on XBLA.

Kill Team plays out as a third-person arcade shooter, and gamers will be able to assume the role of one of four classes. The sternguard veteran and techmarine offer ranged-combat options, while the vanguard veteran and librarian focus on close-quarters brawling. The game accommodates two-player split-screen.

As an added incentive, those who play through Kill Team's first mission will unlock the power sword for use in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. The weapon, which is a powerful melee energy weapon, will be available in Space Marine's multiplayer mode.

Gamers looking to try before they buy this week can grab a demo for Catherine today on Xbox Live. The trial will give gamers a first look at and feel for Atlus' puzzle adventure game, which is due out in full on July 26.

Switching to the Games on Demand hub, Microsoft added two new games to this space today, the first of which is Codemasters' racing game Fuel ($25). The other new full-game download available now is G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra ($20).

The zany, action-filled world of Saints Row: The Third doesn't open its doors until November 15, but publisher THQ is priming the release with news today of a Platinum Edition and preorder pack for the game.

The Saints Row: The Third Platinum Edition (pictured below) will include a copy of the game, the game's soundtrack, a Saints Row-themed headset, and all items included in the Professor Genki Hyper-Ordinary pack. THQ did not announce a price for the Platinum Pack, but specialty retailer GameStop suggests it will cost $100.

Saints Row: The Third's Platinum Edition sports headgear.

The Professor Genki Hyper-Ordinary pack--free to those who preorder the game at unannounced retailers--includes an array of in-game items. These include Professor Genki's Super Ballistic Man-a-pult, Professor Genki's "Octopuss" Cannon, and Professor Genki's Leisure Stunt Suit.

Additionally, THQ noted that the first 3,000 gamers to purchase Saints Row: The Third through its online store will score the Saints Row Season Pass, which includes three downloadable mission packs. THQ estimates the value of the Season Pass at $20, and it did not note if it will become publicly available at any time.

For more on the forthcoming action game, check out GameSpot's latest preview of Saints Row: The Third.