Take-Two Interactive's Gathering division, Pop Top Software, and developer Frog City Software have today announced that Tropico 2: Pirate Cove has gone gold. The game, which is currently being prepared for retail, is the sequel to the Caribbean strategy game Tropico, in which players took control of their own banana republic.

　　"The original Tropico received worldwide acclaim when it hit store shelves in 2001," said Kelly Sumner, president of Gathering. "We wanted to preserve the light tone of the original, and found that the pirate theme in Tropico 2: Pirate Cove allowed us to do just that. Pirate Cove retains the tongue-in-cheek humor and island setting of the original, while providing compelling new gameplay."

　　In Tropico 2: Pirate Cove, players assume the role of an all-powerful 17th-century pirate king who must turn his island into a haven for the pirate population. Making a success of the island's plunder-based economy will be possible only if the pirates are able to enjoy life on the island in between missions and there are plenty of captives to put to work or put up for ransom.

　　Tropico 2: Pirate Cove is currently scheduled for release on April 8. For more information, check out our previous coverage of the game.