Last week we reported that Electronic Arts was offering a special pre-order bonus for "Dragon Age 2": Get your order in before January 12 and you'd get a free download code for "The Exiled Prince" DLC, which will also be available at launch for $7. The deadline for that offer is passed as of today, but fortunately you've got some other options if you're looking to get some free stuff along with your purchase.
EA revealed on the "Dragon Age 2" product page that pre-orders placed before March 8 -- the day of release -- will net you some in-game bonus items: The Lion of Orlaias Shield and The Fadeshear Sword. Those should prove handy when the Darkspawn hordes start to crowd in. The sword boosts your XP gains and provides a damage bonus vs. undead and demons while the shield sports two rune slots and bumps up your total health and XP gains.
But wait! There's more! Buy the game new, either as a pre-order or after the March 8 release, and you'll get another DLC bonus, The Black Emporium. In addition to having access to exclusive magic and crafting stores, you'll also get The Mirror of Transformation -- allowing players to change their character's appearance -- and a summonable Mabari Warhound.
The Black Emporium is part of EA's Project Ten Dollar, the same program that birthed the Cerberus Network in "Mass Effect 2" and gave bonus content to buyers of new copies of the original "Dragon Age." Project Ten Dollar exists to add incentive to the purchase of new games over used ones; used game buyers can still access the content, but only with the purchase of an online pass that costs -- you guessed it -- $10.
It's an elegant solution to the problem publisher face with the used game market, a way of bringing added revenue for twice-sold games. I'm a fan of it myself. How about you?