Electronic Arts confirmed Friday that The Godfather II videogame will be arriving in February 2009, complete with strategy elements.

2006’s original Godfather game was heavily inspired by the free-roaming gameplay of Grand Theft Auto. Godfather II will incorporate an open-world environment as well, but also adds the “Don’s View,” which EA describes as a “strategy meta-game” that allows players to see the world of Godfather II and manage the family’s growth on a broad scale.

A press release stated, “Using the Don"s View, players will be able to build, defend and expand their crime rings, while keeping an eye on the movements and plans of the rival families. Players will also learn to master the business of organized crime by building a family of Made Men, hiring crew, handing out orders, and promoting their best men up the ranks.”

EA CEO John Riccitiello dropped hints about Godfather II earlier this year, saying that you can play the game GTA-style on the street level, or top down “almost like you’re in an RTS.”

EA"s Hunter Smith, who is credited on two James Bond games from EA among others, is serving as executive producer on The Godfather II.

Smith has high hopes for Godfather II’s Don’s View element.

“Running an organized crime family in a world defined by family loyalty is something that we felt could introduce a new strategic element to the genre,” he said. “That is what the Don"s View is all about -- laying out a strategy to pick off the competition one by one.

“The Don"s View is so unique, it could fundamentally change the rules of open-world games by blending action and strategy to create something entirely new."