This Electronic Arts press release announces a release date for The Godfather II, saying the upcoming sequel to the movie-based Mafia game will ship in North America on February 24, and in Europe on February 27. The announcement also outlines the unusual preorder bonus of an additional member of your crew:

Players who pre-order The Godfather II at participating retailers worldwide will receive an exclusive crew member, named Tommy Cipolla, to hire into their family. While the other soldiers at the start of the game come equipped with one specialty and level-one firearms, Tommy will be the only crew member to possess two specialties - arsonist and medic - as well as carry a level-two double-barreled shotgun. With Tommy in your family, players will have a strategic advantage in the game, using his advanced skills either directly in battle, or sending him to take over and defend rackets on his own.