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Ciconia no Naku koro ni, Umineko Games' Videos Streamed

Game developer 07th Expansion began streaming a teaser video for its Ciconia no Naku koro ni (When the Ciconia Cry) game and the opening video for its Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku game compilation on Thursday. The latter video previews Zakuro Motoki's opening theme song "Shirogane no Empireo" (Silver Empyrean).

Ciconia no Naku koro ni teaser video

Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku opening video

Ciconia no Naku koro ni is the newest installment in the Naku Koro ni (When They Cry) franchise. Game creator Ryukishi07 is credited with the original designs and scenario for the game, which was previously announced as ●● no Naku koro ni and previously listed as Shin Naku Koro ni. Nakao Bōshi is the main scriptwriter, and Remotaro is in charge of the main graphics and coloring. Maria Sawada is performing the opening theme song, which shares the game's title.

Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku, which has also been listed as Umineko All in One Package, is a compilation disc of all previous Umineko games plus a new scenario. The included games are Umineko no Naku Koro ni, Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru, Umineko no Naku Koro ni Tsubasa, and Umineko no Naku Koro ni Hane. Ryukishi07 is credited with the original designs and scenario.

Witch Hunt's ChronoTrig and Klashikari are in charge of the games' English translations. Klashikari noted on Twitter that they are prioritizing translating Ciconia no Naku koro ni at Ryukishi07's request.

07th Expansion has not yet announced platforms for either title. The games were previously planned for a simultaneous winter 2018 release, but 07th Expansion announced in October that they were delayed to summer 2019.

07th Expansion launched the first chapter of the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni visual novel software in 2002 at Comiket. The story revolves around murders that coincide with an annual festival in a quiet rural village. The software inspired two television anime series, several video anime projects, a live-action television series, two live-action films, and manga adaptations by several artists.

Entergram released a Nintendo Switch version of Higurashi: When They Cry Hou, a remastered version of all previous Higurashi no Naku Koro ni releases plus new and unreleased content, in Japan on July 26.

MangaGamer released the original visual novel in 2009, and has been releasing Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Hou as 14 individual chapters on Steam. The company released the sixth chapter in June.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Hou will get a PlayStation 4 release in Japan in January.

Umineko no Naku Koro ni, which debuted at Comiket in 2007, also inspired a television anime and manga. In the story, 18 people set foot on the remote island of Rokkenjima in October of 1986, when a spate of murders takes place.

MangaGamer released the Umineko - When They Cry -Question Arcs- visual novel on Steam in July 2016, and released the Umineko - When They Cry -Answer Arcs- on Steam in November 2017. The company released the Golden Fantasia fighting game spinoff in December.

Catbox Creative announced earlier this month that its Kickstarter campaign for an English dub for 07th Expansion's Umineko - When They Cry (Umineko no Naku Koro ni) visual novel has been "slightly" delayed "due to a health emergency affecting an essential member of [the campaign's] launch team." The company plans to launch the project as soon as the affected team member is "out of the woods."

Thanks to Riley Wood for the news tip.

Sources: 07th Expansion's Twitter account and YouTube channel, 4Gamer (Gueed) via Siliconera