'Wine Tycoon' Pours Onto Retail Shelves Across North America

WESTON, Conn., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Wine experts predict that the 2009 Bordeaux vintage could be one of the best on record, thanks to September's perfect weather conditions. How do weather conditions affect wine? How do you make a successful wine? If you've ever wondered what it would be like to own your own vineyard and make your own wine, you can now do so from the comfort of your home and for just about twenty bucks with Got Game Entertainment's "Wine Tycoon". In this just released simulation game for your PC, you can create the vineyard of your dreams in the famous wine regions of France. Commanding operations from your very own French chateau, you must build your winery, plant and tend your vines through all four seasons of the year, and hire staff to harvest and process your grapes to produce French wines such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Pinot Gris and Champagne, all in the ultimate goal of becoming a wealthy wine baron.

Published in North America by Got Game Entertainment, and developed in the UK by Virtual Playground, makers of popular "tycoon" games, "Wine Tycoon" derives its authenticity and accuracy from enviable research done by Virtual Playground's Colin Courtney, the company's development director and CEO.

"Over the years I have gained a passion for wine, and had the opportunity to travel throughout Europe, visiting top vineyards and Champagne houses," said Courtney. "With the help of two other researchers, we have pulled together the information needed to make this game as accurate as possible, while keeping the game flowing and fun."

With two levels of game play -- Career and Free Play, both with a tutorial for those who want it -- "Wine Tycoon" allows you to either patiently develop your gaming and wine-making skills, or roll up your sleeves and jump right in with just the funds to start a vineyard from scratch. "Wine Tycoon" also features an interesting and informative bonus Wine Encyclopedia with a glossary of wine terms and concise descriptions of French wines, grape varieties and wine regions.

After your grapes are harvested, sorted, and pressed, it is then, during the fermentation process, that you can control the flavor and quality of the wine, by blending different wines together. Further, some wines will command a better price if they are aged while other wines are best drunk young. As your winery grows in size and reputation, you will get a steady stream of buyers knocking on your chateau door with offers to buy, but is their offer the best? That's for you, the wine tycoon, to decide!

"Wine Tycoon" makes its retail debut at $19.99 (USD) and is rated "E" for Everyone (Alcohol Reference) by the ESRB.

For more, visit WineTycoon.GotGameEntertainment.com.