Developer Quote Guide

Version 2.o Update

-Added "09" IGN "Zelda Wii" Interview
-Added "08" NP "AoL Town Names" Interview
-Added "07" MTV "PH Remake of LoZ" Interview
-Added "07" Miyamoto "Upended TP" Interview
-Added "05" TSA "Camp Hyrule" Chat Room Interview with Bill Trinen
-Added "o3" TSA "Camp Hyrule" Chat Room Interview with Bill Trinen
-Edited Format slightly


Introduction
Hey there fellow ZU'ers. For many of you new to theorizing it is easy to get lost within what a developer has actually said in the past, heck some veteran theorist have a hard time recalling from memory what was said. So I thought that it would be great if we at ZU had a sort of "One stop shop" for many of the "Zelda theorizing related" developer quotes. That's where I come in, I would like to present to you a developer quote guide I created primarily to just get my facts straight. While this is a somewhat work in progress, I personally believe it is still comprehensive.

Inspiration
This project was inspired by the LA forums attempt to catalog creator comments and seeing as perhaps one or two came specifically from them it is only fair to include them to my Special thanks section.

Special Thanks
Special thanks to Lex, for pointing out a different way of looking at an interview and finding the TSA interviews
Special thanks to LOZ Historian for "2008" Interview
Special thanks to the Mod who threatened Hombre
Special thanks to all who supported this thread.

Disclaimer
-Interviews where edited for clarity and length
-Comments section provide both insight and bias
-Source will be given for every interview

Without further ado...

Developer Comments, Quotes, and Interviews
Additional Comments by: Oni-TLink

1998-1999 Interviews

Kushida: In my understanding, “Ocarina of Time” depicts the first adventure that Link has. Is that true?
Miyamoto: That is true. This is about the time that Child Link makes his debut. He is set to be about 7~8 years old.

OTL Comments;
-1998 Interview featuring Miyamoto
-Confirms Ocarina of Time is first
-Gives Young Link’s approximate age

Source: http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman...ws/08982.shtml

Power: What's the secret to a great game?
Miyamoto: I think it has to do with balance. My formula for success is that 70% of the game should have to do with objectives and the rest should be secrets and exploration - things such as burning trees to find a hidden dungeon entrance like in the first Zelda game.

OTL Comments;
-1998 Interview featuring Miyamoto
-Miyamoto’s philosophy places key emphasis on “secrets”
-One can take away that the admissibility of less than obvious “secrets” should not be immediately discredited

Power: Let's get back to Zelda. You said the game's "System" is more important than its "Story" when you develop a game. Is that true for Zelda this time?
Miyamoto: Yes, but since I have an excellent staff that is strong in every area, I think you'll find that the story-telling is a real strength in this game.
Power: But the "System" is still the most important part of the game?
Miyamoto: Yes. I don't think that a story alone can make a game exciting. I'm afraid that people think that I ignore story lines or that I don't feel that the story has any value. My first priority is whether the game play is interesting. What I mean by that is that a player is actively involved in the game. The story is just one of the ways to get players interested, like the enemies or puzzles. If you just want a good story, you should pick up a novel or see a movie. The difference is in the participation. In a game, you might meet a character, but you don't find out his story until later, after you do something that reveals the truth about him. It's all up to the player. You only get that sort of experience with the interactive entertainment. Of course, the scenario, characters and graphics are all important, but its this active attitude that is the most important element.

OTL Comments;
-1998 Interview featuring Miyamoto
-Further strengthens Miyamoto’s views of Gameplay first, story second
-However, Miyamoto makes a conscience effort to admit that story is important but not “first priority”

Source: http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman...ews/0898.shtml

NP: What codes and secrets can we expect to find in Ocarina of Time?
Miyamoto: Because Zelda is an adventure game, you have to find many things, and many of them may be hard to find. In the game's Fishing Pond, something might happen if you're playing there for a long time or are trying to do many things there. You can also find spiders called Gold Skulltulas. There are 100 that you can collect, and you might find this creature more often at night. Or you may want to search for them where you would normally find bugs and insects. (Slyly) Sometimes, if you have a Deku Stick and you find some butterflies flying about, you can make them follow you and something special could happen. . .

OTL comments;
-1998 Interview featuring Miyamoto
-A nod to the importance of, “not so obvious secrets”

NP: Where do all the Zelda games fall into place when arranged chronologically by their stories?
Miyamoto: Ocarina of Time is the first story, then the original Legend of Zelda, then Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, and finally A Link to the Past. It's not very clear where Link's Awakening fits in--it could be anytime after Ocarina of Time.

OTL Comments;
-1998 Interview featuring Miyamoto
-Release of the infamous “Miyamoto Order”
-OoT-LoZ/AoL-ALttP-(LA?)

Source: http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman...s/111998.shtml

In past, when you thought about Ganon in Zelda, he was a pig. This time, when were collaborating ideas, we thought "He wouldn't be a pig, would he?" There were even some who thought "I don't want him to be a pig." But I still thought that at least the end should have Ganon as a pig. The whole time I wanted to know what Mr. Miyamoto thought, but in the end, I realized that Mr. Miyamoto didn't have an opinion on the matter, so I decided to do it the way I wanted.

This time, the story really wasn't an original. We were dealing with the "The Imprisoning War of the Seven Sages" from the SNES edition Zelda. To give that game a little "secret" recognition, I thought that keeping the "pigness" in Ganon would be the correct course. So we made him a beast "with the feeling of a pig."

Well, in that sense, "a pig is a pig." When he transforms, and we see the rise of face, there is that not quite concealed feeling of a pig left. (Character Designer Satoru Takizawa)

OTL Comments;
-1998 Interview featuring Takizawa and Osawa
-Ocarina of Time was written under the preconceived notion that it was the “Seal/Imprisoning War”

Question: Could you please find how this game connects with the previous ones?

Though in this game Zelda is now included in the Seven Sages, the other six have the names of the town names from the Disk System edition "The Adventure of Link."

In the SNES edition game, the story "Long ago, there was a war called the Imprisoning War" was passed along. A name in the Imprisoning War era is the name of a Town later. They were like "pseudo-secrets." We wanted to throw these out through the entirety of the game. That thing from then is now this.

Tarin and Marin, a father and girl who appeared in "Link's Awakening" (GB) were used as the base for a different parent and child who comes out in this game. These are the things that when they are seen by a person who has played Zelda before they will understand. If people begin to think "Do you think that this could be that thing from then?" then I will be happy. (Script Director Toru Osawa)

OTL Comments;
-1998 Interview featuring Takizawa and Osawa
-Ocarina of Time was written under the preconceived notion that it was the “Seal/Imprisoning War”
-Ocarina of Time sages are what the towns in AoL are named after
-A nod to the importance of, “not so obvious secrets”

Source: http://www.angelfire.com/games5/makz...tcomments.html

Question: Dan, it appears something about the Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past translation is jumbled. It is said the events played out in Ocarina of Time were the events that happened in the story of A Link to the Past, and therefore were to solve many story holes. But if Zelda 3's instruction manual is read, these events sound completely different, and now there seem to be more holes than ever. It clearly states on the back of the box of A Link to the Past that it was a prequel to Zelda’s 1 and 2, but Miyamoto says it comes after them. What's the truth?

Dan: The truth is, the text on the box (and possibly the Nintendo Power guide) is wrong. D'oh! If you just ignore the box text, the stories fit together better. Basically, the events in Ocarina are the "Imprisoning War" described in the SNES version's story. The Golden Land was the Sacred Realm before Ganondorf corrupted it. The order of the stories is: Ocarina, Zelda 1, Zelda 2, A Link to the Past. Since Link's Awakening was a dream (or was it?) it's hard to say where it fits.

OTL Comments;
-1999 Interview featuring Dan Owsen
-Back of the Alttp box is not canon
-“Miyamoto Order” reestablished in 1999

Source: http://forums.legendsalliance.com/in...3&#entry306763

2002 Interviews

Fragzone: How important is character, graphics and story and everything else in a game?
Miyamoto: I can't answer that, but the gameplay is always the most important. I always put the least priority into story.

OTL Comments;
-2002 Interview featuring Miyamoto and Iwata
-Further strengthens Miyamoto’s views of Gameplay first, story second

Source: http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman...s/190202.shtml

NP: Where does the latest Zelda game fall into the series' mythology? Early in the series or after Majora's Mask?
Miyamoto: This is the very first Zelda story. If all we ever did was try to continue the story, we'd lose some of the interest. It's fun to jump back and forth.

OTL Comments;
-2002 Interview featuring Miyamoto and Iwata
-Incorrect Wind Waker placing, furthermore indicating that one should be wary of developer comments made before actual game release.
-However, the "latest Zelda game" can also be referring to Four Swords.

Source: http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman...ews/0702.shtml

Question: Where does The Wind Waker fit into the overall timeline of the Legend of Zelda?
Mr. Aonuma: In terms of the storyline, we've decided that this takes place 100 years after the events in The Ocarina of Time. We think that as you play through the game, you'll notice that in the beginning the storyline explains some of the events in The Ocarina of Time. You'll also find hints of things from The Ocarina of Time that exist in The Wind Waker.
Mr. Aonuma: There's also a more complicated explanation. If you think back to the end of The Ocarina of Time, there were two endings to that game in different time periods. First Link defeated Ganon as an adult, and then he actually went back to being a child. You could say that The Wind Waker takes place 100 years after the ending in which Link was an adult.

OTL Comments;
-2002 Interview featuring Miyamoto and Aonuma
-Basis of the “Two Endings” quote
-Early attempt at confirming the split time-line

Source: http://www.zelda.com/gcn/legend.jsp

Question: Where does The Wind Waker fit into the overall Zelda series timeline?
Aonuma: You can think of this game as taking place over a hundred years after Ocarina of Time. You can tell this from the opening story, and there are references to things from Ocarina located throughout the game as well.
Miyamoto: Well, wait, which point does the hundred years start from?
Aonuma: From the end.
Miyamoto: No, I mean, as a child or as a...
Aonuma: Oh, right, let me elaborate on that. Ocarina of Time basically has two endings of sorts; one has Link as a child and the other has him as an adult. This game, The Wind Waker, takes place a hundred years after the adult Link defeats Ganon at the end of Ocarina.
Miyamoto: This is pretty confusing for us, too. (laughs) So be careful.

OTL Comments;
-2002 Interview featuring Miyamoto and Aonuma
-Another basis for the “Two Endings” quote
-Early attempt at confirming the split time-line

Source: http://www.zeldalegends.net/index.php?p=233

2003 Interviews

Question: Could you please explain how the different Zelda games tie together and whether Link is the same in each game.
Miyamoto: In the long history of Hyrule, there are a number of Links which have made contributions. We'd need to write long papers indeed to cover all the background of this.

OTL Comments;
-2003 Interview featuring Miyamoto and Aonuma
-Quote that put an end to Single-Link Theories

Source: http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman...s/210203.shtml

Superplay: So that's why the third game looked like the first one?
Shigeru Miyamoto: Exactly. We actually see A link to the Past as the real sequel to Legend of Zelda. Zelda II was more of a side story about what happened to Link after the events in Legend of Zelda.

OTL Comments;
-2003 Interview featuring Miyamoto
-Indicating that the order was still LoZ/AoL-Alttp

Superplay: How do the Zelda games timelines link together? Is there any connection between the different games, or do you take tell us a new Zelda story each time?
Shigeru Miyamoto: For every Zelda game we tell a new story, but we actually have an enormous document that explains how the game relates to the others, and bind them together. But to be honest, they are not that important to us. We care more about developing the game system... give the player new challenges for every chapter that is born.
Superplay: Will the story always come 2nd when you develop games?
Shigeru Miyamoto: The most important thing for me, is that the player get sucked into the game. I want the games to be easy to understand, and that the people appreciate the games content, its core. I will never deny the importance of a great story, but the plot should never get that important that it becomes unclear.

OTL Comments;
-2003 Interview featuring Miyamoto
-Confirmed existence of “Time-Line Document”
-Further strengthens Miyamoto’s views of Gameplay first, story second

Source: http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman...s/230403.shtml

Aonuma: What I really want to explain to you about Four Swords for GameCube and Tetra's Trackers is that the demos we're showing off look like small games, but they're not. There are going to be lots of cool things in there, and they're going to be fully realized, Zelda-style games when they're finished.

OTL Comments;
-2003 Interview featuring Aonuma
-Possible indication of Tetra’s Trackers being canon?

Source: http://archive.gamespy.com/interview...a/index2.shtml

TSA: A Link to the Past suffered a bunch of changes from it's Japanese counterpart, Triforce of the Gods. One example is the Japanese manual says the Master Sword was forged before the Imprisoning War, where in the US version it says during the Imprisoning War. Which version is usually more accurate for the games and manuals and why are such big discrepancies made?
NOA_BILL: Uh-oh! Zelda fanatic on the loose! we actually went back and introduced some consistencies to the lttp text on the game boy advance.

OTL Comments;
-2003 Chat Room Discussion with Bill Trinen
-Essentially stating that the GBA version of ALttP and the changes made to it are Canon
-As well as over-ride the SNES version of ALttP

Source: http://www.zentendo.com/media/albums...001/trans5.jpg

2004 Interviews

Miyamoto:…But since then, we've been left with a very big question: and that was, what are we going to do when we decide to make Link a teenager again -- a 16-year-old Link. So after Wind Waker we tried several different models and made varied versions of them…

OTL Comments;
-2004 Interview featuring Miyamoto, Aonuma, and Bill Trinen
-When Miyamoto creates an teenage/adult Link, 16 is the envisioned age

Question: The game looks great. Will the gameplay feel the same as Wind Waker?
[Eiji Aonuma turns to translator Bill Trinen, who has played the game, and asks for his opinion.]
Bill Trinen: Mr. Aonuma asked me what I thought since I actually played the game. [Laughs]. Yeah, it's pretty good. [More laughter]

OTL Comments;
-2004 Interview featuring Miyamoto, Aonuma, and Bill Trinen
-Bill Trinen’s role in Zelda Universe; plays, localizes, and translates games(as well as interviews)
-Indication that Bill Trinen is perhaps closely tied with the “Time-Line Document“?

Source: http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman...s/130504.shtml

BB: As far as the storyline, there was kind of a certain progression of the way Link progressed through the original Legend Of Zelda, to The Link To The Past, To Ocarina Of Time, and the rest of the titles, until Wind Waker. Miyamoto stated that the Link in the Wind Waker was really another Link. Can you explain that? It’s a little confusing for some people that this is a different Link. Did Wind Waker start a whole new chapter, or a whole new story?
EA: I think the easiest way to explain this is that Link is always the main character in Zelda titles. With new games, naturally people are going to think how does this Link relate to the Link from the last game? The thing is, when making a new Zelda game, we don’t necessarily start with the storyline first, we start with the game, and we think, “What’s Link going to be like in this game? What kind of a character is he going to be, and what kind of a personality is he going to have?” In that sense, for us, we didn’t necessarily feel there was a need to have an infinitive connection between everything, because it was this idea that Link is the hero no matter what. He’s here, and he’s part of the story. Obviously for people that are fans, it’s something that they pay a lot of attention to. If you start thinking about that, then you’ll have questions, say, if this Link is related to that Link in this way, what does that say about the four Links in Four Swords? How does that all fit in? To me storyline is important, and as producer, I am going to be going through, and trying to bring all of these stories together, and kind of make them a little bit more clear. Unfortunately, we just haven’t done that yet.

OTL Comments;
-2004 Interview featuring Aonuma
-Further strengthens Miyamoto’s views of Gameplay first, story second
-Aonuma states his “mission” of trying to connect all stories together

BB: That’s something that, you (Bill Trinen – Localization Team) and I have talked about with the release of the Zelda compilation disc, cleaning up some of the spellings like Ganon, and making sure everything is cohesive. Maybe that’s an American thing – us wanting to know how it all works together. I guess that leads me to my next questions. How do the Links in The Four Swords Adventure relate to the overall story line? Or is it just a subchapter or something like that?
EA: The GBA Four Swords Zelda is what we’re thinking as the oldest tale in the Zelda timeline. With this one on the GameCube being a sequel to that, and taking place sometime after that.

OTL Comments;
-2004 Interview featuring Aonuma
-Indication of Four Swords being first?

BB: When you were making Four Swords for the Game Boy Advance, was the thought process that the next step was to make a Zelda connectivity title for the GameCube?
EA: I actually wasn’t involved in the Game Boy Advance Four Swords game – that was before I became producer of the Zelda series. So there was another person at EAD that was responsible for the supervision of that title. I, of course, was solely dedicated to the production of the Wind Waker at that time. This time around, as producer, our initial idea was how do we take connectivity and make a connectivity Zelda game. In looking at the possibilities, obviously, the first thing we thought of was well, we had Four Swords, which was a linked up Game Boy Advance game, and the things that you could do connectivity wise, and hooked up like that opens the door to a game like that. That is kind of where the focus went this time.

OTL Comments;
-2004 Interview featuring Aonuma
-Basis of the “No Involvement” quote
-Aonuma was too preoccupied with Wind Waker be involved with Four Swords, making earlier placement invalid?

Source: http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Sto...1915.59084.htm

Aonuma: In an example with Four Swords Adventures, I was the producer on that game, so I didn’t actually put the story for that game together—that would be put together by the director of the game. And in the end on that game, as we got closer to finishing it, of course, Mr. Miyamoto then came in and upended the tea table, and we changed the story around quite a bit at the end with Four Swords Adventures. And what Mr. Miyamoto pointed out in the case of that game was that the storyline shouldn’t be something complicated that confuses the player. It should really be kind of a guideline that helps ease the player through the gameplay process and helps them understand what it is that they’re doing. So that was one example of how the gameplay was there first, and the storyline changed all the way up until the very end.

OTL Comments;
-2004 Interview featuring Aonuma
-Another basis for the “No Involvement” quote
-Further adding that not only was he not in charge of the story, but that Miyamoto “upended the tea table” [changed it] towards the end.

Source: http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/s...cfm?artid=2180

2005 Interviews

EGM: Where does this Zelda [Twilight Princess] fall in the overall series' timeline?
EA: I can't really go into that, partially because I want to keep it a secret, but also because we haven't decided yet. There are some kinds of... unstable, uncertain ideas that we're working on. Depending on what course we choose in the process of development, the final ending may change.

OTL Comments;
-2005 Interview featuring Aonuma
-Basically we cannot used pre-released (Unfinished/Beta) content or comments as time-line evidence

Source: http://www.unlimitedgamer.net/covera..._interview.php

NoE: How does the Minish Cap fit into the Zelda chronology? Is it a prequel to the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures on GameCube?
Aonuma: Yes, this title takes place prior to The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, and tells the secret of the birth of the Four Sword.

OTL Comments;
-2005 interview featuring Aonuma
-Shows that the Minish cap is indeed a part of the “Four Swords Saga”
-Sets a tone that they are somewhat close in proximity

Source:http://forums.legendsalliance.com/in...3&#entry306763
or
http://www.landofthelegend.net/Hyrul...t-noa-eiji-tmc

TSA: Do you guys actually adhere to a timeline?
NOA_BILL: I got a question about adhering to timelines. There is a timeline established, but it is a secret. We do adhere to it.

OTL Comments;
-2005 Chat Room Discussion featuring Bill Trinen
-Proof that there is an actual timeline that the Localization team adheres to

Source: http://www.zentendo.com/media/albums.../noa_chat3.jpg

2006-2007 Interviews

Question:…By the way, in this game Link’s 16 years old, right?
Aonuma: Being 16 years old is right before turning into an adult. The TV ad of the disc system game Adventure of Link said, “16 years [I have no idea of the context, so that’s just my guess],” so now Link’s 16 years old (laughs).

OTL Comments;
-2006 Interview featuring Aonuma
-Further strengthening when a teenage/adult Link is created, 16 is the envisioned age

Question: When does Twilight Princess take place?
Aonuma: In the world of Ocarina of Time, a hundred and something years later.
Question: And the Wind Waker?
Aonuma: The Wind Waker is parallel. In Ocarina of Time, Link flew seven years in time, he beat Ganon and went back to being a kid, remember? Twilight Princess takes place in the world of Ocarina of Time, a hundred and something years after the peace returned to kid Link’s time. In the last scene of Ocarina of Time, kids Link and Zelda have a little talk, and as a consequence of that talk, their relationship with Ganon takes a whole new direction. In the middle of this game [Twilight Princess], there's a scene showing Ganon's execution. It was decided that Ganon be executed because he'd do something outrageous if they left him be. That scene takes place several years after Ocarina of Time. Ganon was sent to another world and now he wants to obtain the power...

OTL Comments;
-2006 Interview featuring Aonuma
-Spit Time-Line confirmed

Source: http://www.thehylia.com/index.php?su..._from=&ucat=19

Aonuma: When a player is playing a Zelda game, my desire is for the player to truly become Link -- that's why we named him Link, so the player is linked to the game and to the experience. Of course, the player can always change Link's name to their own name to further that notion should they want.

OTL Comments;
-2007 Interview featuring Aonuma
-Origins of why Link is named Link

Source: http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager....=1&cId=3163610

ND: By the way, you mentioned Mr. Miyamoto upended the tea table several times during the development of Twilight Princess, but how was it this time?

Aonuma: He didn’t do it. Of course, he checked the fundamental parts at the beginning. Then, I asked him to play an almost finished version. Some time later he called me and all he said was that it was fun and he thought it’d sell well.

OTL Comments;
-2007 Interview featuring Aonuma and Phantom Hourglass Staff
-Confirmed that FSA wasn’t the only time Miyamoto upended the tea table

Source: http://www.videogamesblogger.com/200...iji-aonuma.htm

EA: ...With the DS Zelda I kind of feel like that it was the updated version of the original Legend of Zelda. It wasn't a conscience decision, but in an effort to go back to the basics I was able to reconnect with that "essence" of Zelda that made it fun for people when it first came out.

OTL Comments;
-2007 Interview featuring Aonuma
-PH was an unintentional remake of LoZ
-Aonuma tone also indicates a sort of “going with it” feel

EA: Personally I'm very fond of the Wind Waker story. I've always wanted to know where Link and Tetra ended up going and what lands they explored, so that personally is something that I've always wanted to discover.

OTL Comments;
-2007 Interview featuring Aonuma
-Aonuma’s “tone” seems to imply that stories after TWW are a side project of his
-Perhaps indicating AT placement of 2D games [bias]
-Can also indicate that he knows nothing of what happened after TWW (baring PH of course)

Source: http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2007/...-of-nes-zelda/

2008-2009 Interviews

NP: What was the impetus for creating the game’s multiple races–Gorons, Zoras, the Gerudo, Kokiri, etc.–and what was the process like for creating them?

EA: In creating a unique cast of characters, we thought it would be effective to have nonhuman races, each of them invested with different lifestyles and mannerisms. Almost from the beginning we had decided on Kokiri to live in the forests, Gorons to live in the mountains, and Zoras to live in the water.

At first we imagined the Zoras as monsters sort of like mermen who would be antagonists to humans. The original concept was strong. However, after we had decided Princess Ruto was going to be one of the sages, that image didn’t seem to fit anymore, so we changed them to be a friendly more like humans.

Each of the races has a character fated to become one of the sages later on. We named them after towns in The Adventure of Link so it would appear that the towns had been named after them. (In the world of Zelda, the events of Ocarina of Time occur before the events of The Adventure of Link.)

OTL Comments;
-2008 Interview featuring Aonuma
-Further strengthens, "Ocarina of Time sages are what the towns in AoL are named after"
-Deductive reasoning of these quotes can further imply that the "Miyamoto Order"
is still valid (bias)

Source: http://www.zeldainformer.com/images/news/mag5.jpg
(Note: TheHylia sponsored this source first)

IGN: Does the game [Zelda Wii] follow the story progression of Twilight Princess or is it something completely different?
Shigeru Miyamoto: I can't go into details except to say that it's something completely different.

OTL Comments;
-2009 Interview featuring Miyamoto
-Confirming that “Zelda Wii” it is not a [direct] sequel to TP

IGN: At your developer roundtable this week, you showed off a single piece of artwork from the next Wii Zelda game. This piece of art has not yet been released publicly, but we noticed that Link appears to have grown to full adulthood. He looks older than he did in Twilight Princess. Is that a correct assumption?
Shigeru Miyamoto: Well, the story setting for this Zelda is, of course, in a completely different era and Link is older than he was previously. More approaching adulthood. There is one hint. Maybe from the art work you can see that he's not holding a sword.

OTL Comments;
-2009 Interview featuring Miyamoto
-“Completely different era”, possibly just indicating its non-relationship to TP
-Indicates that this Link will be older than he has ever been depicted (adulthood)
-Emphasizes the fact that he is not wielding a sword.

Source: http://wii.ign.com/articles/991/991714p1.html


"Here's looking at you ZU"

Awesome work Oni. This should definitely be stickied.

Thanx Pine, or at the very least...BUMP'd

Mm-hm.

Time to get nitpicky however:

OTL Comments;
-2003 Interview featuring Miyamoto and Aonuma
-Quote that put an end to Single-Link Theories

What?

Edit: Oh sorry, I thought that said single TIMELINE theories.

OTL Comments;
-2004 Interview featuring Miyamoto, Aonuma, and Bill Trinen
-Bill Trinen’s role in Zelda Universe; plays, localizes, and translates games(as well as interviews)
-Indication that Bill Trinen is perhaps closely tied with the “Time-Line Document“?

How?

-Further adding that not only was he not in charge of the story, but that Miyamoto “upended the tea table” [changed it] towards the end.

Put that with the removed FSA text to show exactly what was removed.

How?

I'll admit that I go in and out of bias-ness, that was an attempt to give the "Intent driven theorist" something to work with

REMEMBER: This should be used as a resource with my comments being only supplemental to it's understanding (with some bias)

And in regards to your other statement I think that I might add an interview I found that generally says miyamoto has "upended tea table's" plenty of times.

and tying it to that one specific event is a little unnecessary especially because of the above interview I mentioned

Me and Erimgard are debating whether we should sticky this or not. It's a really good thread, but we're supposed to cut down on stickies as well as incorporate these kinds of things with the Newbie's Guide....

We haven't forgotten about this

You should really have a sub-forum of the Theorizing section that people can't post in, and anything like this you could move their and sticky. A sort of reference library.

I totally understand Hombre, thank you for your consideration.

Bump

This should most deffenetly be stickied!

Originally Posted by Crab Helmet

You should really have a sub-forum of the Theorizing section that people can't post in, and anything like this you could move their and sticky. A sort of reference library.

This is what we have the sticky section for, there's not enough material to justify a subforum. We have a few sticky threads but we need to cut down and make them more effective. And that requires time, something me and Erimgard don't have atm.

Thank you very much Linksoer, It would be a shame if this thread got lost within pages of theories. Especially if its to be used as a resource.

Bump.

I'm personally not so sure that this interview referred to Wind Waker when it talked about the "latest Zelda game," since the last game to be announced was Four Swords. Obviously the next question talks about the "GameCube Zelda game," but the one about the "latest Zelda game" is pretty contextless.

Thats one way of looking at it but I still believe that one should be wary of developer comments made before actual game release.

however I will edit the side not to conclude Four swords.

Thank you very much Lex

Yeah, I've thought the same thing in the past, Lex. But I'm still fairly unsure how to interpret it. Considering, however, that before that they were talking about cartoon graphics, and after that they were talking about the demo for the GC game I'd say it's more safe to conclude that they were talking about TWW.

But who knows...

Also, this thread = pure win.

Bump.

Sticky please.

A higher-ranked mod threatened me with death or worse if I didn't sticky this thread this instant, so there ya go ^_^

Originally Posted by Artemicion

I'm personally not so sure that this interview referred to Wind Waker when it talked about the "latest Zelda game," since the last game to be announced was Four Swords. Obviously the next question talks about the "GameCube Zelda game," but the one about the "latest Zelda game" is pretty contextless.

Interesting – great thought, Lex – If he is talking about the FS game, that’s significant – We would then have both Miyamoto and Aonuma on record as saying that FS is the “oldest” game in the timeline.

Of course, given the fact that I have the FS series first in my timeline, I would be absolutely delighted if that were the case….(Pauses, Looks at timeline, smiles, laughs maniacally)

One more thing to add to this compilation:

2008: Nintendo Power and Eiji Aonuma

Source: http://www.zeldainformer.com/images/news/mag5.jpg

(Note: TheHylia sponsored this source first)

NP:

What was the impetus for creating the game’s multiple races–Gorons, Zoras, the Gerudo, Kokiri, etc.–and what was the process like for creating them?

EA:

In creating a unique cast of characters, we thought it would be effective to have nonhuman races, each of them invested with different lifestyles and mannerisms. Almost from the beginning we had decided on Kokiri to live in the forests, Gorons to live in the mountains, and Zoras to live in the water.

At first we imagined the Zoras as monsters sort of like mermen who would be antagonists to humans. The original concept was strong. However, after we had decided Princess Ruto was going to be one of the sages, that image didn’t seem to fit anymore, so we changed them to be a friendly more like humans.

Each of the races has a character fated to become one of the sages later on. We named them after towns in The Adventure of Link so it would appear that the towns had been named after them. (In the world of Zelda, the events of Ocarina of Time occur before the events of The Adventure of Link.)


-------------

This could simply be affirming AoL after OoT (but which prong of OoT is uncertain), or not...

Either way, it's hopeful that at least one developer still sees the entire series interrelating together.

Edit:

Also: This may be the only developer insight interview you missed in your listings. So now your references should be complete. Good job.

A comprehensive guide indeed. Excellent work Oni-TLink. We've been needing something like this for quite a while. Even I'm already benefiting from it. And props to the mod who stickied this. =)

Originally Posted by Som

Yeah, I've thought the same thing in the past, Lex. But I'm still fairly unsure how to interpret it. Considering, however, that before that they were talking about cartoon graphics, and after that they were talking about the demo for the GC game I'd say it's more safe to conclude that they were talking about TWW.

But who knows...

If you want to look as all of the Zelda stuff as a single, organic whole, then most of the Zelda questions address Wind Waker, that's true. The rest of the interview seems to jump around between games, not sure if that's Miyamoto's doing or the interviewer, really.

As I see it, they talk about the stylistic development first, which could really apply to both games as both use the same art style, then about the "latest Zelda" and then about the "GameCube Zelda." It's not really all that clear- which is why I precluded my post with "I'm really not so sure..." ;D

Thanks everyone for the props, as I told both Erim and Hombre, I was just really trying to help both my hobby and ZU thrive.

Oh and LOZ historian thanks for that interview. Will post and format