Dragon Age II preorder upgrade for Aussie gamers

With worldwide sales topping 3.2 million in the quarter of its release, EA's Dragon Age: Origins was one of the publisher's best-selling titles of 2009. EA hopes to mirror that success with the release of Dragon Age II, which will see players transform protagonist Hawke (a human-voiced character) from a penniless bum into the most revered hero in the land.

Now, BioWare and EA have teamed up to give gamers who preorder Dragon Age II a little thank-you gift in the shape of a limited-edition pack. Anyone who preorders the game from EB Games, JB Hi Fi, or GAME stores by January 11, 2011, will receive an automatic upgrade to the BioWare Dragon Age II Signature Edition, which includes the full version of the game; a download code for additional playable missions and a new character; the game soundtrack; and an in-game digital armoury featuring weapons and other items.

According to EA, the limited-edition version will be available only for the preorder and online purchase on or before January 11, and not after.

The Dragon Age II story spans a decade in the Dragon Age universe; unlike in the first game, players will not have access to the character creation system or origin stories, instead focusing on Hawke's rise to power. The game will be released on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC in Australia on March 10, 2011.

For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.