Higurashi When They Cry (ひぐらしのなく頃に. When the Cicadas Cry), known simply as When They Cry for the North American release of the アニメ adaptation, is a Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft sound novel series produced によって 07th Expansion. The games are built on the NScripter game engine and are playable on Microsoft Windows PCs. The first game in the series, Onikakushi-hen, was released on August 10, 2002, and the eighth and final game in the original PC series, Matsuribayashi-hen, was released on August 13, 2006. While the first four games carried the 全体, 全体的です タイトル Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, the 次 four games were produced under the タイトル Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai. A bonus ファン disc called Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei was released on December 31, 2006. In addition to the original series, new story arcs were created in マンガ form and in video games for the PlayStation 2 and 任天堂 DS in order to expand upon the story. The original eight PC releases were released in English によって MangaGamer with the first four games on December 15, 2009, followed によって the last four being released monthly starting with Meakashi-hen on February 28, 2010. The series is focused on a group of young フレンズ and the strange events that occur in the rural village Hinamizawa where they reside.
Two sets of drama CDs were produced, one によって Wayuta and the other によって Frontier Works. Novelizations of the game series were released によって Kodansha Box between August 2007 and March 2009. A マンガ series adapted from the games began with eight different マンガ artists working separately on one to three of the multiple story arcs, and is published によって Square Enix and Kadokawa Shoten. The マンガ was licensed for release in English in North America によって Yen Press under the タイトル Higurashi When They Cry and the first volume was released in November 2008. Following the manga's release in Japan, two TV アニメ series were produced によって Studio Deen in 2006 and 2007; a third アニメ adaptation was released as an original video アニメーション series in 2009. The first アニメ series was licensed によって Geneon Entertainment in English, but the license 失効しています in 2011. A live action film adaptation of the series, directed によって Ataru Oikawa, premiered in Japanese theaters in May 2008, with a sequel released in May 2009.
Two sets of drama CDs were produced, one によって Wayuta and the other によって Frontier Works. Novelizations of the game series were released によって Kodansha Box between August 2007 and March 2009. A マンガ series adapted from the games began with eight different マンガ artists working separately on one to three of the multiple story arcs, and is published によって Square Enix and Kadokawa Shoten. The マンガ was licensed for release in English in North America によって Yen Press under the タイトル Higurashi When They Cry and the first volume was released in November 2008. Following the manga's release in Japan, two TV アニメ series were produced によって Studio Deen in 2006 and 2007; a third アニメ adaptation was released as an original video アニメーション series in 2009. The first アニメ series was licensed によって Geneon Entertainment in English, but the license 失効しています in 2011. A live action film adaptation of the series, directed によって Ataru Oikawa, premiered in Japanese theaters in May 2008, with a sequel released in May 2009.