Ultima IX: Ascension (Dragon Edition)

Dragon Edition box

The Dragon Edition was a special edition of Ultima IX, released in 1999. It was named after the Ultima Dragons fanclub and was mainly released in the United States with only a few copies available elsewhere. Its original retail price was significantly higher than the standard game and it is now often resold for high prices on auction sites like eBay, if in good condition.

The Content

Compared to the normal edition, the following items were different or added:

• Larger box measuring 31 x 38 cm. Its colors were also improved.
• Ultima Collection CD, identical to the original, containing all of the original content.
• Ultima IX Soundtrack CD, although it is a cropped version, with some of the tracks missing.
• Ankh amulet trinket, although not identical to the one from Ultima IV.
• Poster of the Ascension cover, where the ascending Avatar is grabbed by the Guardian’s hand.
• Certificate from Richard Garriott, thanking for the purchase and hinting at his future plans.
• The Journal and the Spellbook bound in synthetic leather, with the cover illustrations pressed into the material.
• Mini illustration of the Tapestry of Ages.
• Deck of Tarot cards based on Cards of Virtue

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  The leather-bound manuals

Asia-Pacific Edition

For the Asian-Pacfic market, specifically Australia and New Zealand, the Dragon Edition was slightly different, apart from a slightly different box design. In this edition, the cloth map is replaced by a paper map, as these markets never got a cloth map in the first place.

Ultima IX Premium Edition

Premium Edition box

Japan also had a special Premium Edition release of Ultima IX.

Differences from the standard Japanese edition include:

• A solid cardboard case that opens on the back spine, instead of the standard thin glossy case overlying a cardboard box.
• Hardcover copies of the Journal and Spellbook.
• Certificate from Richard Garriott, thanking for the purchase and hinting at his future plans.
• Ankh amulet trinket
• Codex amulet trinket
• Ultima IX Soundtrack CD

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  Premium Edition Contents