Playboy makes Mafia II an offer it can't refuse @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on March 08, 2010

News: Classic centerfolds to appear in the Take-Two game.

2K Games and Playboy have announced they will be teaming up for 2K's upcoming mob romp, Mafia II.

The iconic men's magazine, which was launched in 1953, has partnered with 2K to include 50 vintage Playboy covers and centerfolds in Mafia II. The game is set in the "American urban cityscape of Empire Bay" in the early 50s, making it a perfect showcase for the heyday of Playboy.

This won't be the first time Mafia II and Playboy have worked together, as Bella Antonelli, one of the game's main characters, appeared in Playboy's most recent "Playing Hard to Get" feature.

УWhile most mob-inspired games' emphasis is solely on action, Mafia II features a deep and compelling narrative that is embellished with a sophisticated, era-evoking atmosphere,Ф said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. УIn partnering with Playboy, we are able to add a unique element of authenticity to the game by using vintage images from the magazine that illustrate the power of Playboy's influence on the attitudes and culture of that generation.Ф

УFor more than 55 years, Playboy has been a part of America's pop culture landscape, engaging its readers with insightful features, interviews and fashion spreads, as well as pictorials of some of the world's most beautiful women,Ф said Playboy magazine's Editorial Director Jimmy Jellinek. УMafia II is set when Playboy first came into vogue and features characters whose style and attitudes mirror content from our early issues. We're excited to bring an element of authenticity to the game that is unmatched in the men's publishing category.Ф

Mafia II is scheduled to be released on the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this year. Although Take-Two previously has hinted that it could be delayed into 2011.