By Quinton Miles

[i]Playboy: The Mansion[/i] has officially been shipped out stores, according to an announcement by Hip Interactive today. Living the life of a virtual Hugh Hefner, gamers will now have their chance to see what life is really like behind the hallowed halls of the Playboy mansion. Along with creating your own network of celebrities and playmates, a vast amount of luxury items and as many as 83 music tracks will be at your fingertips for the penultimate bunny experience.

“‘Playboy: The Mansion’ has been three years in the making and it has finally come to life, thanks to our great partnerships with Playboy Enterprises and Cyberlore,” said Jon Walsh, CEO of Groove Games. “We’ve been fortunate enough to get a taste of what living the Playboy lifestyle is all about, and we can’t wait for gamers around the world to share in the experience.”

“Since the beginning of Playboy Magazine, I have looked for new ways to expand the Playboy experience, and video games are the next logical step,” said Playboy founder and editor-in-chief Hugh M. Hefner. “‘Playboy: The Mansion’ is a fascinating game, and it lets players step into my slippers, putting out the magazine and throwing the parties.”

Rated M for mature, [i]Playboy: The Mansion[/i] is available for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC for $39.99