When a rumor's not a rumor - ND story on NP E3 news

[donny2112]

http://www.nintendojo.com/infocus/view_item.php?1247017533

How can it be a rumor when it's explicitly stated in Nintendo Power? :p

[Espeon200]

I think the reason for labeling this as a rumor at this point is because we don't want readers to get all worked up over it.

For example, maybe NP is going to have info on the next Zelda game for Wii, an interview with Miyamoto or something. Technically we already heard some about the new Zelda around E3 time.

Also, while Nintendo Power is pretty reliable, its not an in-house publication anymore. So the writers at NP might have something juicy that has been completely under the table up until now, or it could be something that has been leaked in the past few weeks. Calling it a rumor is really more to say, there could be something exciting in the next NP, or they could be marketing themselves with something that is technically true.

[donny2112]

I think the reason for labeling this as a rumor at this point is because we don't want readers to get all worked up over it.

Maybe label it "News Tidbit:"?

Also, while Nintendo Power is pretty reliable, its not an in-house publication anymore.

I really think they've had more exclusives since they stopped being an in-house publication. :p

it could be something that has been leaked in the past few weeks.

I think that'd work real well as part of the news piece. Remind people that magazines might think they have an exclusive when they write one issue, but that it could be revealed by the next issue.

Calling it a rumor is really more to say, there could be something exciting in the next NP, or they could be marketing themselves with something that is technically true.

It's still not technically a rumor ( ;) ), but I can see what you were trying to get at. :)

[Espeon200]

Also, I didn't write the piece or label it rumor. Just saying for the record. ;)

[ND] Evan]

Hey donny2112,

I'm the news editor at Nintendojo and was also the one that labeled the story as a rumor. Here are few reasons for the distinction.

First, editorial content is subject to change for the next issue of any magazine. Also, more specifically, the statement says the magazine will maybe reveal a few more surprises. That's not a sure fire statement. And, what is a surprise according to Nintendo Power? We don't know. It could be more information on "Endless Ocean 2," which got no coverage at the press conference but made an appearance at E3 ... or it could be on a new WiiWare title or DSiWare title. Who knows?

What Nintendo wrote was not anything but a teaser to check out their next issue. They allude to "surprises" that were not revealed at E3. But will they be surprises? Well, that's the rumor, according to Nintendo Power. Until we have factual information backing up its claims, it'll be known as such.

It does no good to present the surprises as straight fact, because it can mislead people into thinking other things. That's the last thing I want, as a news editor, journalist and messenger to our loyal readers, like you.

[donny2112]

Title of the article: "Rumor: More Surprises Not Shown at E3?"
Statement from Nintendo Power: "Not every cat was let out of the bag at E3..."
What does that mean: Nintendo Power knows that every cat (i.e. new piece of information) was not let out of the bag at E3.

That there was more stuff that was not shown at E3 is not a rumor. Nintendo Power explicitly states that. Whether they'll be able to show it in their next issue is an unknown, because of their use of the phrase "maybe even unveil a couple of cool surprises."

That there were surprises (in Nintendo Power's opinion) not shown at E3 is not a rumor, but I can definitely understand not wanting to put it up as a regular news story, too. Nintendojo isn't NP's PR branch, after all. :)

[Joshua_Johnston]

Sadly, we've been burned by quasi-official sources before. We've seen a spokesman for Nintendo UK say something only to have it contradicted by the people at NOA. We've seen teasers for ONM (the official Nintendo mag across the pond) retracted with an apology because they were not ready to show whatever it is they were teasing. That -- combined with our own aversion to the write-first-ask-questions-later mentality of much of the gaming media -- makes the Dojo staff more cautious when it comes to these things.

It will be interesting to see what NP is alluding to. I, for one, am hoping we get a Trauma Center with Wii Vitality Sensor compatibility. :)