View source for Ciconia When They Cry

{{Short description|Japanese visual novel series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Ciconia When They Cry
| image = Ciconia When They Cry art.png
| alt = 
| caption = Promotional art featuring Mitake Miyao
| developer = [[07th Expansion]]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|07th Expansion|WW|[[MangaGamer]]}}
| director = 
| producer = Nakao Bōshi
| designer = 
| programmer = 
| artist = {{ubl|[[Ryukishi07]]|Remotaro}}
| writer = Ryukishi07
| composer = {{ubl|Dai|Luck Ganriki|Xaki|Gin Kreuz|Pre-holder|Uni Akiyama}}
| series = 
| engine = 
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[macOS]]
| released = {{ubl|October 4, 2019 (''Phase 1'')|TBA (''Phase 2''–''4'')}}
| genre = [[Visual novel]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
}}

'''''Ciconia When They Cry'''''{{efn|Known in Japan as {{nihongo|''Ciconia no Naku Koro ni''|キコニアのなく頃に|Kikonia no Naku Koro ni|"When the [[Ciconia]] Cry"|lead=yes}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-11-30/ciconia-no-naku-koro-ni-umineko-games-videos-streamed/.140184 |title=Ciconia no Naku koro ni, Umineko Games' Videos Streamed |author=Sherman, Jennifer |date=November 30, 2018|website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507133206/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-11-30/ciconia-no-naku-koro-ni-umineko-games-videos-streamed/.140184 |archive-date=May 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>}} is an [[episodic video game|episodic]] [[visual novel]] game series in development by [[07th Expansion]], collectively considered the fifth entry in the ''When They Cry'' series, following ''[[Higurashi When They Cry]]'' and ''[[Umineko When They Cry]]''.{{efn|''Higurashi'' and ''Umineko'' each have two sets of four episodes, and each set is considered a separate entry in the series.<ref name="fam interview phase 1"/>}} It follows people trying to prevent the outbreak of World War IV. It is released episodically for [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[macOS]], by 07th Expansion in Japan and by [[MangaGamer]] internationally, and is planned to be four episodes long. The first, "Phase 1: For You, the Replaceable Ones", was released in October 2019; the second was planned for release in 2020, but delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. According to Ryukishi at his [[Anime Expo]] 2024 Q&A, the second phase is on indefinite hiatus due to the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]].

The series is written by [[Ryukishi07]] and produced by Nakao Bōshi, and features art by Ryukishi07 and Remotaro, and music by several returning series composers. It was designed to be different from ''Higurashi'' and ''Umineko'', with a larger world compared to their isolated settings, and with the intent that the player can choose to just enjoy the story or optionally try to solve the mysteries themselves, a change influenced by the 1995 [[anime]] series ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''. The story's set-up was also designed to be more condensed, with episode 1 roughly corresponding to the first half of ''Umineko'' in terms of plot progression.

==Overview==
''Ciconia When They Cry'' is a [[visual novel]] set after the end of [[World War III]]. It follows Gauntlet Knights – young people trained to use a new military technology called the Gauntlet, which allows its user to fly, fight, and repel attacks – who have become friends and aim to prevent the outbreak of a fourth world war.<ref name="ann release"/>

==Production==
===Development===
''Ciconia When They Cry'' is developed by [[07th Expansion]], with a scenario, original character designs and illustrations by [[Ryukishi07]].<ref name="ann release"/><ref name="gem blank"/> The game is produced by Nakao Bōshi, and features graphics and coloring by Remotaro. The music is composed by returning ''When They Cry'' series staff, including Dai, Luck Ganriki, Xaki, and Uni Akiyama; and the opening theme is performed by Maria Sawada.<ref name="ann release">{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-04-20/mangagamer-to-release-ciconia-when-they-cry-game/.145943 |title=MangaGamer to Release Ciconia When They Cry Game |author=Hodgkins, Crystalyn |date=April 20, 2019|website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420133024/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-04-20/mangagamer-to-release-ciconia-when-they-cry-game/.145943 |archive-date=April 20, 2019|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/442/G044261/20181130033/ |title=竜騎士07氏の新作「キコニアのなく頃に」が2019年夏リリースへ。そのティザームービーが公開に |language=Japanese |author=Gueed |date=November 30, 2018|website=[[4Gamer.net]] |publisher=Aetas, Inc. |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505182453/https://www.4gamer.net/games/442/G044261/20181130033/ |archive-date=May 5, 2019|url-status=live }}</ref> The game is developed and released [[episodic video game|episodically]], and is planned to be four episodes long.<ref name="automaton phase 1">{{cite web |url=https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20191005-103305/ |title=竜騎士07氏手掛ける『キコニアのなく頃に』Steamと同人ショップにて販売開始。人類の存亡を賭けて争われる全4作の1本目「代わりのいる君たちへ」 |author=Yokoyama, Keiichi |language=Japanese |date=October 5, 2019|website=Automaton |publisher=[[Active Gaming Media]] |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008013050/https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20191005-103305/ |archive-date=October 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The game's title – "ciconia", a [[genus]] of birds in the [[stork]] family – comes from how the game focuses on child characters. While at a convention outside Japan, Ryukishi07 asked recurring 07th Expansion composer Gin Kreuz how to localize the title in Japanese to make it sound more appealing. Kreuz responded with "ciconia" as opposed to "chikonia". The latter, as Ryukishi07 claims, sounded similar to how a Japanese person would pronounce it. Convinced by how natural Kreuz's pronunciation sounded, Ryukishi07 opted for "ciconia", owing to its sound and how well he thought it fit the game's [[science fiction]] setting.<ref name="fam interview phase 1"/>

===Writing===
Production of the first episode began in November 2017, while Ryukishi07 was working on the [[audio drama]] ''Haworthia'', which was used to test Ciconia's concepts.<ref name="fam interview phase 1"/> It was announced the following year in July 2018 with an illustration of its protagonist, under the working title "''●● no Naku Koro ni''" ("[Blank] When They Cry"), along with the expanded ''[[Umineko When They Cry|Umineko]]'' compilation ''Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku'', both of which were planned for release in Q4 2018.<ref name="gem blank">{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2018/07/new-naku-koro-ni-title-and-umineko-no-naku-koro-ni-saku-announced |title=New Naku Koro ni title and Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku announced [Update] |author=Romano, Sal |date=July 14, 2018|website=Gematsu |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505170529/https://gematsu.com/2018/07/new-naku-koro-ni-title-and-umineko-no-naku-koro-ni-saku-announced |archive-date=May 5, 2019|url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2018, both were delayed until Q2/Q3 2019, due to inaccurate scheduling based on what Ryukishi07 had been physically capable of when he worked on ''[[Higurashi When They Cry|Higurashi]]'' and ''Umineko'' about ten years prior,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2018/10/new-naku-koro-ni-title-and-umineko-no-naku-koro-ni-saku-delayed-to-summer-2019-in-japan |title=New Naku Koro ni title and Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku delayed to summer 2019 in Japan |author=Romano, Sal |date=October 4, 2018|website=Gematsu |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505170535/https://gematsu.com/2018/10/new-naku-koro-ni-title-and-umineko-no-naku-koro-ni-saku-delayed-to-summer-2019-in-japan |archive-date=May 5, 2019|url-status=live }}</ref> as well as due to the longer script compared to ''Higurashi'' and ''Umineko''{{'s}} first episodes.<ref name="fam interview phase 1"/> Ryukishi07 intended for ''Ciconia'' to stand out from previous ''When They Cry'' games, and wanted change up some elements that had been recurring up until that point: he had for example specifically intended for the player to actively try to figure out the mysteries in ''Higurashi'' and ''Umineko'', but changed this for ''Ciconia'' to also let the player simply enjoy the story. This decision was influenced by the 1995 [[anime]] series ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', which both presents a straightforward narrative and hints at larger mysteries of its world. Another change was the scope of the game's setting: the series had featured increasingly smaller settings, going from ''Higurashi''{{'s}} isolated village to ''Umineko''{{'s}} small island cut off from the outside world, so Ryukishi07 decided to create a ''When They Cry'' game set in a large world. To show gratitude to international fans of the series, he also specifically wrote the script to feature characters from around the world.<ref name="fam interview phase 1"/>

''Ciconia''{{'s}} story was condensed compared to those in ''Higurashi'' and ''Umineko'': both of them were split into four "question arcs" and four "answer arcs", where their mysteries are set up and solved, with an initial episode mainly serving to introduce the characters and setting. Meanwhile, ''Ciconia'' was constructed to span four episodes, with its equivalents of the "question arcs" condensed to give more room for its "answer arcs", with Ryukishi07 describing the end of ''Ciconia''{{'s}} first episode as equivalent to ''Umineko''{{'s}} third or fourth episode in terms of plot progression. This was in part done due to time, as the series' release schedule had meant that it had taken two years for just ''Umineko''{{'s}} "answer arcs" to come out.<ref name="fam interview phase 1"/>

===Music and visuals===
The music tracks in the game were specifically composed to begin quickly, and give the listener a feeling for the song's mood within the first few seconds, as the developers wanted to avoid a situation where a scene ends before the player has gotten past a long prelude. As Ryukishi07 did not have the musical knowledge to describe what kind of music he wanted in the game, he would listen to a lot of music and send tracks that fit his vision to Dai, who would in turn write instructions based on those tracks for himself and the other composers.<ref name="fam interview phase 1"/> The game's character sprites were created in a collaboration between Ryukishi07 and Remotaro: Ryukishi07 would draw sketches of each sprite, and Remotaro would then draw the line art and paint the sprites. She would specifically try to preserve the style and charm of Ryukishi07's artwork, as she knew that there were fans of ''Higurashi'' and ''Umineko'' who were attached to Ryukishi's art, while still adding more details and trying to make the art shine with focus on texture, light and shadow.<ref name="fam interview phase 1"/>

==Release==
At [[Sakura-Con]] 2019, Ryukishi07 and video game publisher [[MangaGamer]] announced that they would release the game simultaneously in English and Japanese, coinciding with Summer [[Comiket]] 2019 on August 9, 2019.<ref name="sil simultaneous">{{cite web |url=https://www.siliconera.com/2019/04/20/ciconia-when-they-cry-is-releasing-in-the-west-simultaneously-with-japan/ |title=Ciconia When They Cry Is Releasing In The West Simultaneously With Japan |author=Wong, Alistair |date=April 20, 2019|website=Siliconera |publisher=[[Curse, Inc.]] |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423034355/https://www.siliconera.com/2019/04/20/ciconia-when-they-cry-is-releasing-in-the-west-simultaneously-with-japan/ |archive-date=April 23, 2019|url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2019, however, 07th Expansion announced that the game had been delayed until late September 2019;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2019/07/ciconia-when-they-cry-and-umineko-no-naku-koro-ni-saku-delayed-to-late-september-ciconia-opening-movie |title=Ciconia When They Cry and Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku delayed to late September; Ciconia opening movie |author=Romano, Sal |date=July 15, 2019|website=Gematsu |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715052328/https://gematsu.com/2019/07/ciconia-when-they-cry-and-umineko-no-naku-koro-ni-saku-delayed-to-late-september-ciconia-opening-movie |archive-date=July 15, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> it was then delayed again,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dengekionline.com/articles/9188/ |title=竜騎士07さんの『なく頃に』シリーズ最新作『キコニアのなく頃に』。舞台は世界が滅びかけてから100年後 |language=Japanese |date=August 17, 2019|website=Dengeki Online |publisher=[[Kadokawa Corporation]] |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816155307/https://dengekionline.com/articles/9188/ |archive-date=August 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> with the first episode, "Phase 1: For You, the Replaceable Ones", released on October 4, 2019 for [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[macOS]].<ref name="phase 1 release"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2019-09-27/the-newest-title-from-the-creator-of-higurashi-and-umineko-when-they-cry-is-available-for-order-on-mangagamer/.151621 |title=The Newest Title from The Creator of Higurashi and Umineko When They Cry is Available for Order on MangaGamer |date=September 27, 2019|publisher=[[MangaGamer]] |via=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928225737/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2019-09-27/the-newest-title-from-the-creator-of-higurashi-and-umineko-when-they-cry-is-available-for-order-on-mangagamer/.151621 |archive-date=September 28, 2019|url-status=live }}</ref> In Japan, it additionally got a physical release.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2019/10/04/93597.html |title=竜騎士07新作『キコニアのなく頃に』Steam版/パッケージ版発売開始！新たなる「なく頃に」始動 |language=Japanese |date=October 4, 2019|website=Game Spark |publisher=IID, Inc. |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008012804/https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2019/10/04/93597.html |archive-date=October 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The second episode was initially planned to be released in May 2020, and then delayed until later in the year.<ref name="sil phase 2 delay">{{cite web |url=https://www.siliconera.com/ciconia-when-they-cry-phase-2-delayed/ |title=Ciconia When They Cry Phase 2 Delayed |author=Lada, Jenni |date=January 2, 2020|website=Siliconera |publisher=[[Curse, Inc.]] |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103002649/https://www.siliconera.com/ciconia-when-they-cry-phase-2-delayed/ |archive-date=January 3, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fam interview phase 1">{{cite magazine |date=October 24, 2019 |title=Special Interview |pages=44–47 |language=Japanese |magazine=[[Weekly Famitsu]] |publisher=Kadokawa Game Linkage }}</ref> In November 2020, Ryukishi07 announced that it had been delayed again due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], which he considered too similar to the catastrophic events of the game for him to release ''Phase 2'' at that time, describing it as a situation akin to if the monster [[Godzilla]] had attacked while the [[Godzilla (1954 film)|1954 film]] was in production.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=[[Ryukishi07]] |date=November 8, 2020 |title=ポメグラジオ 07thParty7 記念放送 第一部 |medium=video |language=Japanese |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f08QuO_r9tw |access-date=March 20, 2023 |time=00:07:20 |publisher=Pomexgranate |via=[[YouTube]] |archive-date=February 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212195433/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=f08QuO_r9tw |url-status=live }}</ref>

The English [[Video game localization|localization]] is handled by the translation group Witch Hunt, who previously worked on the English translation of ''Umineko''. They are also working on a localization of ''Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku'', but are on Ryukishi07's request prioritizing ''Ciconia''.<ref name="sil simultaneous"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.siliconera.com/2018/11/29/ciconia-no-naku-koro-ni-when-they-cry-5-and-umineko-no-naku-koro-ni-saku-videos-released/ |title=Ciconia no Naku Koro ni When They Cry 5 And Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku Videos Released |author=Lada, Jenni |date=November 29, 2018|website=Siliconera |publisher=[[Curse, Inc.]] |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505170529/https://www.siliconera.com/2018/11/29/ciconia-no-naku-koro-ni-when-they-cry-5-and-umineko-no-naku-koro-ni-saku-videos-released/ |archive-date=May 5, 2019|url-status=live }}</ref> The English language option was added to the Japanese physical release through a [[Patch (computing)|patch]] update in November 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/07th_official/status/1179662254867771392 |title=07thExpansion on Twitter |language=Japanese |date=October 3, 2019|publisher=[[07th Expansion]] |via=[[Twitter]] |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003074603/https://twitter.com/07th_official/status/1179662254867771392 |archive-date=October 3, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/witchhunt_ot/status/1193445489066287104 |title=Witch Hunt on Twitter |date=November 10, 2019|publisher=Witch Hunt |via=[[Twitter]] |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110083352/https://twitter.com/witchhunt_ot/status/1193445489066287104 |archive-date=November 10, 2019|url-status=live }}</ref>

===Episodes===
{{Episode table |overall= |title= |airdate= |released=y
|episodes=
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber        = 1
 | Title               = Phase 1: For You, the Replaceable Ones
 | TranslitTitle       = Phase 1: Kawari no Iru Kimitachi e
 | NativeTitle         = Phase1 代わりのいる君たちへ
 | NativeTitleLangCode = ja
 | OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|2019|10|04}}<ref name="phase 1 release">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2019/09/28/93423.html |title=竜騎士07新作『キコニアのなく頃に』Steam版発表！国内パッケージ版と同日発売、日本語対応 |language=Japanese |date=2019-09-28 |website=Game Spark |publisher=IID, Inc. |access-date=2019-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928025039/https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2019/09/28/93423.html |archive-date=2019-09-28 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber        = 2
 | Title               = 
 | TranslitTitle       = 
 | NativeTitle         = 
 | NativeTitleLangCode = ja
 | OriginalAirDate     = 
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber        = 3
 | Title               = 
 | TranslitTitle       = 
 | NativeTitle         = 
 | NativeTitleLangCode = ja
 | OriginalAirDate     = 
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber        = 4
 | Title               = 
 | TranslitTitle       = 
 | NativeTitle         = 
 | NativeTitleLangCode = ja
 | OriginalAirDate     = 
}}
}}

==Reception==
The first episode of ''Ciconia'' was well received by players.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.4players.de/4players.php/spielinfonews/PC-CDROM/41172/2185676/Ciconia_When_They_Cry_-_Phase_1_For_You_the_Replaceable_Ones-Visual_Novel_auf_Steam_gestartet.html |title=Ciconia When They Cry - Phase 1: For You, the Replaceable Ones - Visual Novel auf Steam gestartet |language=German |author=Bischoff, Jens |date=October 8, 2019|website=[[4Players]] |publisher=[[Computec]] |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191009012743/https://www.4players.de/4players.php/spielinfonews/PC-CDROM/41172/2185676/Ciconia_When_They_Cry_-_Phase_1_For_You_the_Replaceable_Ones-Visual_Novel_auf_Steam_gestartet.html |archive-date=October 9, 2019|url-status=live }}</ref> Keiichi Yokoyama of ''Automaton'' was impressed with it, and said that its production values were noticeably improved compared to previous entries in the ''When They Cry'' series, he also described it as "for better or worse, a Ryukishi07 work".<ref name="automaton phase 1"/>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.07th-expansion.net/cico/}} {{in lang|ja}}
* {{Vndb|24770}}

{{07th Expansion}}

[[Category:2019 video games]]
[[Category:Episodic video games]]
[[Category:MacOS games]]
[[Category:Ryukishi07]]
[[Category:Science fiction video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:Visual novels]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:World War III video games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:MangaGamer games]]