German publisher What’s Your Game? has granted exclusive distribution rights in the U.S. for its two new games Nippon and Signorie to ACD Distribution.  Both games will release in December.

Set during the Meiji Era of Japan, Nippon challenges players to guide the development of one of the “Great Four” Zaibatsu - massive economic conglomerates that would dominate the Japanese economy - as the country tries to absorb Western ideas and develop into a modern industrial state.  Players must invest in new industrial technologies, build a network of international trade while satisfying local demand, and expand their influence and power in Japan.

Nippon was designed by Nuno Bizarro Sentieiro and Paulo Soledade (who also designed Madeira and contributed to Panamax), and features illustrations by Mariano Iannelli.  The game includes a game board, 4 smaller player boards, 48 wooden worker markers, 90 wooden cubes, 5 wooden discs, more than 200 game tiles, a cloth bag, and play money.  Nippon is for 2 - 4 players, ages 12 and up, and plays in about 90 minutes.  MSRP is $60.00.

In Signorie, players are the heads of powerful families in the Italian Renaissance, seeking to expand their control over Italy.  Each turn, players draft dice from a common pool, spending them to perform various actions.  But, valuable rewards can be gained only by spending lower-value dice.

Signorie was designed by Andrea Chiarvesio (Kingsburg) and Pierluca Zizzi (Asgard) and was illustrated by Mariano Iannelli.  The game includes a game board, 4 player boards, 108 wooden figures, 60 wooden discs, 78 tiles, 30 dice, and 13 coins.  Signorie is for 2 - 4 players, ages 12 and up, and plays in about 2 hours.  MSRP is $60.00.