As someone who’s been navigating the treacherous waters of gaming leaks and rumors for quite some time now, I can confidently say that it’s a veritable minefield out there! The lines between traditional journalists, insiders, and educated guesses have become increasingly blurred, making it tricky to sift through the chaff and find the genuine nuggets of truth.
2022 has been an unusual year for video game industry insiders. A user known as ‘Midori,’ who claimed to be a Japanese woman, admitted recently that they are not female and not of Japanese descent, thereby losing all trust from the community overnight. Another well-known leaker, ‘Pyoro,’ also disappeared from the scene after confessing to one of the industry’s top investigative journalists, Jason Schreier, that his source worked for Nintendo. Back in early June, I reported on how employees at YouTube were capitalizing on their unlimited access to private and hidden videos to leak major video game news announcements, sparking another significant investigation within Google. As a result, various video game publishers, such as Nintendo, have taken steps to enhance their announcement procedures. And just last week, the gaming community was up in arms once more due to yet another unfounded rumor about the cancellation of Grand Theft Auto 6, which was quickly debunked.
As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve noticed an increasing buzz around industry leaks and rumors. Beyond the excitement they stir up, I often find myself pondering various questions about this intricate web. Questions like: How does one get their hands on insider information? Can these sources be relied upon for accurate reporting? Why do people share secrets with journalists or insiders? What are the moral boundaries in reporting such sensitive details? These are just a few of the topics I aim to explore, and by the end of this read, I hope to help clarify the inner workings of this fascinating side of gaming.
Initially, let’s delve into the basics: the sources of data, methods for acquiring it, and determining credibility.
Sources
In terms of disclosing leaks, you’ll find that there are essentially three key categories of informants. Jason Schreier has provided an excellent analysis of this on Reddit, in essence, these categories are referred to as firsthand (primary), secondhand (secondary), and written evidence (documentation).
- A Primary source has firsthand knowledge of the information they are disclosing to someone.
- A Secondary source has secondhand knowledge of the information they disclose to someone (for example, a source may say, “I heard X information about X company from X person“).
- Documentation includes images, video, audio, emails, etc., that can back up or prove disclosed information and is also considered a primary source.
Obtaining Information
Gathering data takes place through numerous methods and has undergone a substantial transformation from the conventional approach of talking to sources. Nowadays, there’s an increased prevalence of leaks and gossip due to the ease with which information can be shared thanks to the internet, technological advancements, and widespread understanding of social media platforms.
In today’s digital era, much previously hidden or confidential data can now be readily obtained if one knows where to search and possesses the necessary skills. This information acquisition typically involves using technology to uncover ‘insider knowledge’, a method often categorized as ‘Document-based’ sourcing.
- Datamining game code
- Trademarks & Patents
- Casting calls & Job Listings
- Social Media Profiles (especially LinkedIn)
- JSON Sniffing (becoming increasingly popular)
In simpler terms, when we talk about getting information traditionally, it’s often through conversations with others. But, it’s important to note that sometimes this method can lead to incorrect or inadequate information due to a lack of confirmation or cross-checking the information from different sources.
Reliability
Discussions about trustworthiness frequently arise when it comes to sources spreading news, rumors, or leaks. For instance, the /r/GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit, with over 444,000 members, has gone as far as creating a ‘credibility list’ to distinguish the most dependable leak sources, insiders, and reporters. However, it’s not that straightforward because the way information is acquired can also impact credibility.
Generally speaking, reliable reports are based on several primary sources and evidence to support any assertions made. The number of sources can change depending on the reporter or news outlet, but for breaking news like game cancellations, new products, or layoffs in an industry, three to four sources is often a good starting point. For more substantial investigative pieces, such as those about problematic studio culture, journalists might need to speak with many primary and secondary sources before publication – sometimes even dozens. It’s essential to remember that the landscape of reporting has changed significantly since 2004; not all insiders possessing valuable information are professional journalists bound by the same rules and ethics.
Information is everywhere, and almost anyone can get ‘insider information’ with a few hours of research and some luck. This loops back to Documentation Sourcing, and while this information can usually be right on the money, it’s always worth considering where that information originated and whether it is consistent with that person’s past reporting. For example, if a Call of Duty dataminer leaks that GTA 6 has been delayed, ask yourself where did that information come from. Why did a source pick them to leak it to? Did they corroborate the information with other sources? Did they reach out to the publisher for comment/verification? Is anyone reputable corroborating the claim? That person might be 100% correct on Call of Duty info as they leak it via datamining, but such a big story on GTA 6 being delayed might be less believable.
Here are a few more examples of how to determine reliability:
Example: Microsoft is to lay off 650 employees. This is a recent story that I woke up to read in the morning; Stephen Totilo from Game File reported that approximately 650 employees from Microsoft’s gaming division will be losing their jobs.
Based on my understanding, Although Totilo is known for his credibility as a journalist, I wanted to double-check the information myself. Upon investigating my personal emails and direct messages, I discovered that five separate sources – three primary ones and two who forwarded additional information – all shared the same news. This story now has a total of three primary sources and two firsthand documentation sources, which gives me confidence to confirm and publicly validate Totilo’s report based on my own independent verification.
An unverified Twitter user claims that Grand Theft Auto 6 has been postponed until 2026. Despite the intrigue surrounding this potential development, it’s important to question the source of the information, as no reliable sources have corroborated these statements yet.
It’s quite possible this individual may have received false information, shared misleading statements themselves, or failed to cross-check details with various parties. Keep in mind, when someone boasts about having information from numerous sources, it’s often indicative that they are not the sole possessor of such information, as others would likely have spoken out too.
An individual who discloses data using JSON Sniffing sites has recently leaked details about a new controller set to debut in five days. This person has a history of making similar revelations, so it’s quite plausible that this information is accurate as well, given that it might be uploaded to a website’s backend for the upcoming announcement.
Why do People Leak to Insiders?
This is a pretty open-ended question that can have many different answers and get pretty complicated. The simple answer is that the source probably wants whatever information they are telling (or leaking) to the insider to go public. This can generally be harmless information, like a new game announcement, and is often shared between sources and insiders because of friendship. Conversely, someone could be leaking maliciously to hurt a specific person or company, and that is why corroboration between multiple sources is essential ethically and for an accurate report.
In essence, it’s often the case that the reliability of an insider or reporter is accepted, whether due to a personal relationship or confidence in their past work.
Corroboration
On numerous occasions, those close to a story may find themselves unable to provide comprehensive and reliable details as they struggle to verify data from multiple sources. In such cases, a seasoned journalist’s training and adherence to ethical standards might cause them to delay reporting the story until all necessary conditions for publication are fulfilled. This can sometimes lead to stories being overlooked for weeks or even months if another reporter with a broader network of sources or fewer stringent standards decides to cover it first. It’s worth noting that many major stories often require extensive investigation, involving hundreds of emails, phone calls, and other forms of communication, which can significantly prolong the reporting process.
But, of course, the never-ending need to report on a story first isn’t a new concept. After all, the first to report on something is the most likely to get the most clicks and that all-important clout, right? This is where mistakes happen and the less experienced reporters/insiders end up with egg on their face after a more reputable reporter has done their own due diligence, or official information has been released. The need to be first has created a unique phenomenon that is becoming more prevalent in the industry, which I will call the “Insider Phenomenon.” This is where insiders end up falsely corroborating a story between themselves.
Back in the early part of the year, it seemed like everyone with a podcast had exclusive insights about Xbox games making their way to PlayStation. That’s what we call the Insider Phenomenon – a network of industry insiders, journalists, podcasters, content creators, and more, who share information amongst themselves. Since it’s not right to disclose sources, whether they’re public or private, this secretive communication can sometimes give an inaccurate feeling of confirmation.
A worker at Microsoft (Xbox) is unhappy about the company’s shift in strategy to release its exclusive games on PlayStation. Hypothetically, this employee is disgruntled and leaks information to various confidants, giving each different details out of frustration and an intention to harm the company. As these insiders don’t have multiple sources, they discreetly validate information among themselves based on the same source.
“The source who works there mentioned that ‘Game 1’ and possibly more games such as ‘Game 2’, ‘Game 3’, etc., are heading to the PlayStation.”
1st Insider: “Did you hear the news that ‘Game 1’ is arriving on PlayStation?
Insider 1 (Secondary Source) to Insider 3 (Secondary Source) – Have you heard “Game 1” is coming to PlayStation?
Insider 3 (Secondary Source) to Insider 1 (Secondary Source) – No, but weirdly I heard about “Game 2”.
Insider 1 (Secondary Source) to Insider 2 (Secondary Source) – Have you heard “Game 1” is coming to PlayStation?
Insider 4 (Secondary Source) to Insider 1 (Secondary Source) – Yes, have you?!
Insider 1 (Secondary Source) asked Insider 2 (Secondary Source), “Did you hear that ‘Game 1’ is going to be released on PlayStation?”
Here’s a simpler way of expressing that: In this scenario, Insider 1 relied on three different sources to validate claims, but all these sources stemmed from the same original source. This could have led Insider 5 to trust the information provided by Insiders 3 and 4 about Game 2, assuming it was accurate for Game 3 as well. However, this can create a chain of errors, which is why proper methods of verifying information are essential to avoid such problems.
Educated Guesses
More recently, there’s been a trend of individuals presenting speculative assumptions as leaks or insider knowledge. Often, this information is not yet confirmed, so consider: Is the person privy to specific details about an upcoming product or release, or are they simply making educated guesses? If their predictions turn out to be true, what concrete evidence have they provided to support their claims? How often do they qualify their statements with “things might change,” or boast when their speculations prove accurate?
These days, it’s relatively simple to disguise an informed assumption as a leak. So, let’s have some enjoyable speculation! Post five educated predictions about events you think might occur in the next two years on our community forum (keep in mind that if things don’t turn out as predicted, circumstances may change!). For instance, Death Stranding 2 could be presented at The Game Awards in December (based on Geoff and Kojima’s history together).
Conclusion
As a dedicated gamer, I’ve noticed how rapidly the gaming rumors and leaks sphere shifts. It seems like the border between conventional journalists and insiders is becoming increasingly hazy, but don’t let that fool you. From an outsider’s perspective, it’s crucial to discern who’s trustworthy and who isn’t in this fast-paced world. The reality is, news can originate from anywhere and anyone these days, but sorting out the accurate scoops on the biggest gaming stories requires a significant investment of time.
Information sourced from leaks such as reports, tweets, and videos will persist, if not increase, over the upcoming years. However, the choice of whom to trust remains with you.
And remember, always take leaks with a pinch of salt!
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2024-09-13 16:18