Patrician II goes gold

Strategy First has announced that its latest real-time strategy game, Patrician II: Quest for Power, has gone gold and will arrive in stores next month. Players begin the game as a small-time businessman in 14th-century Europe, and they can build their prestige and reputation in their community by turning a good profit and completing specific missions. In addition to straightforward business deals, players can use bribery and piracy to undermine their competitors. The game includes more than 20 tradable commodities, ranging from common goods such as salt to more exotic goods such as wine and pottery.

Patrician II: Quest for Power was developed at Germany-based Ascaron Software, and it will be available in stores in October for an approximate retail price of $39.99.