Dragon Age: Origins Editions and DLC Broken Down

With two different editions, a variety of pre-order bonuses, and three pieces of DLC that span different retailers, where exactly should you buy your copy of Dragon Age: Origins to get the most out of your money? That’s the question posed and answered by two different websites this weekend.

GreyWardens provides us with a quick summary, along with some additional commentary:

Alot of the arguments about the DLC coming out on Day 1 revolve around the idea that BioWare/EA are releasing a game without all of the content and forcing users to pay for the rest of it. This isn’t the way it is though; The DLC are extra content that do not detract from the main story line/quest line if you do not have them they are nifty little ‘˜cookies’ that can enhance the game, or not your choice. The timing is also something that people are focusing on but it seems that many forget that the game was set to be released in early October to start with, the release date was pushed back (for polishing I believe) and just happened to fall into line with a date that the DLC would be ready.

Now I can see some of you out there nodding your heads and forming the word ‘˜But.’ well let me head you off. You will not have to pay extra for this DLC if you don’t want it (I covered that above) and pre-orders and new game purchases receive 2 to 3 of the DLC’s for FREE! Digital Collector Edition (CE) purchases get the best deal receiving all 3 DLC’s (plus any pre-order bonuses) when they purchase the game ‘˜Wait, why do they get all the DLC free’ some may ask.. well, you can’t download a cloth map or tin case now can you?

While GearDiary does the same, with the added bonus of a reference chart:

…for console gamers the choice is pretty simple: if you pre-order you get the ‘˜memory ring’ DLC which helps you gain in-game experience faster; the standard edition has the game and the ‘˜Stone Prisoner’ DLC. The Collector’s Edition adds a cool tin case, cloth map, ‘˜making of’ DVD, soundtrack CD, and 3 extra DLC items.

For PC gamers it is exactly the same if you order the retail versions, but EA and Bioware have partnered with each of the major Digital Download sites (Steam, Direct2Drive, Impulse, and GamersGate) to deliver the ‘˜Deluxe Digital Edition’! Apparently they have allowed each of the sites to add a special in-game exclusive item as an enticement to buy from them. These items are fairly minor, typically a wearable item to boost your character’s stats, but they are a nice little add-in if you plan to get the game anyway.

Thanks, CaK.