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Ubi Soft has issued a press release announcing that the promotional pre-order box for its upcoming MMORPG Shadowbane has begun shipping to major retailers. The box, which retails for $10, contains a special pre-order CD that includes various goodies such as wallpaper, a screensaver, and video trailers. The $10 purchase price will be credited back to gamers when they purchase the final product.

The main draw behind the pre-order box, however, is the special code that comes with it. This code will allow players to unlock three restricted races when the actual title ships, including the Minotaurs, Centaurs, and Aracroix. Ubi Soft notes that the restricted races are no more powerful than any of the others available, but that each race comes with its own unique abilities and skill sets.

Though the pre-order box is undoubtedly PC-centric, Mac gamers have certainly not been forgotten, and will in fact be able to place their own pre-orders as well via Apple's website:

Customers who pre-order Shadowbane online at EBworld.com, Gamefixx.com and Gamestop.com will only receive the code for the restricted races through those respective online retailers.  Additionally, Mac gamers will be able to pre-order Shadowbane from Apple.com/games, where they will receive a promotional code to unlock the restricted races.

For those unfamiliar with the title, Shadowbane, being developed by Wolfpack Studios, is an MMORPG that focuses heavily on player vs. player combat, guild-based governments, and a philosophy that the persistent online world be shaped by players rather than designers.

Shadowbane - Pre-order program information

Ubisoft

Wolfpack Studios

Shadowbane

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