What Materials Are Canon?

In my last article, I mentioned that sometimes two sources can contradict one another, and when such an occasion arises, it is important to know where sources stand relative to one another. This article is meant to be a guide to determining your own ranking system

The first thing to remember is that there are four main types of sources:

Nintendo-made games
This category encompasses the pure, undoubtable information that we get from the main Zelda lineage. It should rank at the top of any list in terms of validity.

Nintendo-made sources which are not games
The big ones here are instruction manuals, NintendoPower and developer interviews, thought it includes anything made by Nintendo employees that isn't a game.

Third-party sources which are officially endorsed by Nintendo
This includes the Capcom Zelda titles (Oracle series, Four Swords, Minish Cap), the Zelda cartoon, and the official manga. It does NOT include the CD-I games, which are no longer endorsed by Nintendo.

Unofficial sources
Stuff like fanfiction, CD-I games, fanart, etc. Not really good for much besides inspiration and laughs.


Other Considerations:

Dreams
Link's Awakening and Phantom Hourglass both end with Link waking up and realising it was a dream, and as such, excluding the brief sequences at the start and end of each game where Link is awake, these games are not necessarily usable. We would still generally take most of the information as canon, but should a contradiction arise, these dreams would be considered false information.

Chronology
The developers' conception of the timeline has changed dramatically over time, and thus old information is generally trumped by newer information. We still hold on to the belief that all in-game information still holds true, but older instruction manuals and interviews directly conflict with the newer games, and as such we consider them discredited.

That's all for now. If our conception of the Zelda canon changes, we'll post an update.

How To Do What We Do

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!