We here at The Gossip Stone get thousands of emails every day asking the same thing: "How do you guys know so much about Zelda?". Well, it's quite simple, we just follow a couple QUICK tips.
Question everything
I am a strong believer in the merits of inquiry-based learning, and as such, me and Flat like to start with a question that needs answering. Zelda is full to the brim with such questions, such as "What caused the Divine Prank?" or "Why aren't there doubles of the Kokiri in Majora's Mask?". By starting this way, you establish a clear and completable goal, and it perfectly frames the remainder of the process. Nothing is beyond question.
Use your instincts
Perhaps the most underrated tip, and yet by far one of the most important. There have been plenty of leads that we followed simply because "We had a feeling", and more often than not, those leads turn up some fresh information that we never would have found otherwise. So follow up on your hunches thouroughly, and you might be suprised how much you learn.
Identify contradictions
So you've asked a question and followed your hunch and, unsuprisingly, you've turned up something new. But wait, thinking back, it doesn't quite fit with something you found a few weeks ago, does it? Hmm. Firstly, you have to look at the sources you are looking at, and determine if both are of equal validity. Developer interviews and instruction manuals, for example, have been known to contradict firsthand information from the games, and in these cases we simply deem one of the sources of information invalid, and this is mostly a judgement call. If this is the case, you should start over with a question like "What no longer stands if we consider this manual to be invalid?" or something to that effect, and see what turns up. However, if both sources are valid, you have to...
Come up with a new theory
Over the years, a lot of our major theories have met with the tiniest of problems which eventually cause them to come crashing down. While tragic and irritating, this is a time of celebration, as every false assumption we abandon brings us one step closer to the truth. When new information contradicts an old theory, it's time to come up with a newer, better one. Then, of course, you must start again with questions like "What changes with my new theory?" or "What ius no longer explained without the old theory?". You'll find that a fresh take on things can lead to a huge burst in new discoveries.
Kindly share your findings with The Gossip Stone
By sharing your ideas, you'll get feedback to help you tweak your theories, and we'll get new information to help move the community forwards. Plus, you owe us for these tips. So there.
Well, now you know how Sharp and Flat manage to be so brilliant. Stay tuned for more!
No comments:
Post a Comment