Whether the upcoming video game based on author George R.R. Martin‘s “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series and the HBO series of the same name, Game of Thrones, will end up being good or not is to be determined. We’ve seen some promising gameplay videos, but not a whole lot else is known about it, and it’s hard to know what to expect when the game is released on May 15 of this year.

Despite the fact that the game itself is still up in the air, a new deal is being offered that will surely lure a few buyers in early. If you pre-order Game of Thrones on either Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or PC (link not yet available), you will get a free hardbound concept art book titled Game of Thrones: Visuals From the RPG.

Due to the quality of this 64-page hardcover book—something more likely to be found with a Collector’s Edition—the offer is limited and while supplies last. It is only available to those who pre-order from Amazon (links above), GameStop, EB Games, or the HBO Shop.

The Game of Thrones game was well-underway before the HBO show came around, and so, from the sounds of things, there will be a mixture of developer Cyanide Studios’ own vision of Martin’s world of Westeros, as well as some inherited from HBO’s vision. A late deal was reached to include some familiar character faces and voices, but not all will be as many of us now know them.

I personally remain highly optimistic for this one, and hope with all hope that it’s a game that will, as an RPG, allow players to live in Westeros and be a real part of that world as so many fans of the books and TV show would love to do. Giving away a book like this only makes it harder not to jump in headfirst early!

What are your thoughts on the Game of Thrones game so far? Will you pre-order it?

[Source: Joystiq]