Mass Effect 3 pre-order bonuses lock and load

A assortment of in-game weapons and armor are up for grabs if you pre-order BioWare's trilogy-capping sci-fi RPG Mass Effect 3, publisher Electronic Arts has announced. As ever, exactly what gear you'll receive depends on who you give your money to.

No matter where you pre-order ME3, you'll get the burst-fire M55 Argus Assault Rifle. Buying the PC edition through EA's own Origin nets you an AT-12 Raider Shotgun, which EA says spits out a wide spread in rapid fire.

The big fancy bonus, of course, is exclusive to GameStop and EB Games, because GameStop Corporation has enough retail muscle to make demands. Pre-order from either store to score the N7 Warfare Gear, packing fancy N7 Defender Armor (with extra shields, health, and ammo capacity, plus amplified weapon damage) and the N7 Valkyrie Assault Rifle (fires two "superior high caliber rounds" with "deadly accuracy"). Of course, if you don't pre-order from either, you can always take comfort in knowing they're probably overpowered and make the combat a bit boring.

If you've already pre-order Mass Effect 3, fear not, you'll get your gear too. Details on where the N7 Gear will be offered in other countries are promised "soon." Check out BioWare's own pre-order page for further information.

Mass Effect 3 is coming to PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on March 6. If you want even more in-game goodies, you can slap down $80 for the N7 Collector's Edition.

Now, here's some boring shaven-headed chap who's in for trouble when Shepard discovers this git's nicked her N7 Warfare Gear:

And here's the same lout armed with an M55: