[Uberzaki]

Spoiler for Bluemail quote, spoilered for length:

Originally Posted by Bluemail

Actually, I was going to propose a fan-based Episode at some point myself (or try to write one alone). I'd like to read EP8 with full understanding before doing anything like that though, but as it is brought up now, then why not. It's not an easy thing to do, because of the amount of clues, hints, foreshadowing and red herrings, and there are a number of varying theories that might lead people with different interpretations to conflict. A branching plot might be a solution. And some people might not think Umineko as something worthy of doing this for. It is certainly something Ryukishi would like us to do (we like it or not). We, however, do not know what Umineko Rei will contain. It might actually contain answers. But a fangame couldn't possibly become the exact same thing, right?

We should probably use ONScripter to make it, so it would have the feeling of the original work. Some people here have experience with it (I'm trying to learn it too). I don't think using the PS3 graphics would be allowed, so we'd use the original or custom ones.

The writing is the biggest problem, of course. Either we decide on a truth, make it a bit vague or make a branching story. There should be a coherent narrative in every case, that ties together the clues, reasoning and answers. Some kind of Meta-trial like in EP5 would be awesome. If the plot was to branch in multiple directions, what are the choices based on? Maybe a detective (Will, Erika, another Golden Age reference, original character?) investigating scenes and talking to the people involved, and giving choices about the interpretation of the events? The choices could be based on how different people took on Umineko, leading to the most natural conclusion for a certain reader. Well that is kind of like how I hoped EP8 would turn out to be when I heard about it having choices. Not that I wanted it to have multiple contradicting answers, but that it would somehow reconstruct the real events if the choices were answered right. There is a lot to think about. A plain retelling of "Rokkenjima-Prime" wouldn't be exiting, I think.

That's probably not all I had in mind, but I'll add some name proposals in the end.

Umineko no Naku Koro ni -?-: Solution Kai, Reconstruction
When They Cry -?-: EX, +, 4+, 4½
Episode -?-: 0, X, Y, Z, 9, ∞, 8 (alternative final arc like Miotsukushi was to Matsuribayashi, might not fit well with EP7 ????)
Episode Titles:
Redemption of the golden witch (Epitaph Game, Beatrice not a killer -theory)
Trial of the golden witch / Trial of the black witch
Heart of the golden witch

We could use 'black witch' in the end too, because of the culprit of Rokkenjima-Prime, maybe something like Banquet of the black witch.

A fan made episode is a good idea to a certain extent. My own interpretation is that once a truth is shut up inside a catbox, it becomes fiction. What this means is that the story is fiction and truth at the same time i.e. a world where fiction and truth coexist. If you were going to write such a story, you would need other people to help you with the interpretation of the in-universe knox rules.

e.g. It is not allowed for someone to dress as another without any clues

Does this mean any scenes where Beatrice appears are
(1) Real?
(2) Completely false?
(3) Do not happen in exactly the way they are shown?

I wanted to actually try something like this by posting selected interpretations and maybe including polls, and then rereading EPs 1-4 under chosen interpretations.