NBA 2K12: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Grace New Cover

2K Sports has announced the cover choice for the popular video game NBA 2K12.

After Michael Jordan appeared as the front image for 2K11, His Airness will grace the front of the game once again this time around.

But he's not alone.

In an intriguing marketing tactic, 2K has decided to release three different versions of the cover, and only one of them features Jordan.

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird will also serve as the cover athletes, making these versions of the already coveted game extremely collectible.

According to Jon Robinson of ESPN, stores will receive an equal one-third split of the game copies between Jordan, Magic and Bird.

With the lockout in full effect, 2K couldn't have picked a better time to once again go retro and promote the most popular legends of the game.

Most interestingly, it appears as if the video game is attempting to appeal to a new demographic that is a relatively untapped one in the gamer market.

The company sold over five million copies to date of 2k11, and that's largely because nobody had gotten the chance to play with the real Michael Jordan in a video game prior, and now 2K will provide the opportunity for its players to play with MJ and create a virtual dream team alongside Bird and Magic.

The magic of Jordan helped to captivate fans from the 90s and turn them into loyal 2K basketball players, and now the company is likely hoping that the stars of the 1980s will allow them to achieve the same.

It's really perfect timing for 2K to stick with their retro approach as the lockout looks like it will be a rather lengthy one, and no matter what happens with the labor negotiations, the game will be able to bank on the greatness of its past stars.

By using the most popular Bulls, Lakers and Celtics player in franchise history, 2K is hoping to appeal to any and every audience of the league's most popular teams.

The best part about 2K's decision is that because of the even distribution between stores, fans will be scrambling to buy multiple copies in an effort to collect them all.

I know I'll be adding all three to my personal collection.

After all, the closest we could come to an NBA season in 2011-12 may be a virtual one.