Are trailers for games canon, and should they be prioritized over gameplay?

[IDK3465]

Basically, I'm currently arguing with someone about how we should treat video game trailers and if they should be considered in scaling. The gist of it is that I'm using some feats from animated trailers for a game as supporting evidence for a rating. They argue that the trailers are too exaggerated and at odds with the gameplay to be used. In contrast, I argue that gameplay is secondary to trailers/cutscenes, since trailers are more indicative of the creator's intent regarding the story and characters, and we should treat any contradictory evidence from gameplay as game mechanics. The trailers also seem to match the lore and statements we're given, it's just that their strength compared to gameplay seems slightly contradictory.

I also know we have used feats from trailers in the past, but I wasn't sure about our specific standards regarding how we treat them, so I'd like some clarification on that, too.

 

[IDK3465]

Bump

 

[rogueprestonian]

I personally believe Trailers are more trustworthy than gameplay except if the Trailers are either contradictory to the story, or they are so far fetched from the actual events of the story for advertisment or symbolism purposes.

 

[Pyro9278]

Basically, I'm currently arguing with someone about how we should treat video game trailers and if they should be considered in scaling. The gist of it is that I'm using some feats from animated trailers for a game as supporting evidence for a rating. They argue that the trailers are too exaggerated and at odds with the gameplay to be used. In contrast, I argue that gameplay is secondary to trailers/cutscenes, since trailers are more indicative of the creator's intent regarding the story and characters, and we should treat any contradictory evidence from gameplay as game mechanics. The trailers also seem to match the lore and statements we're given, it's just that their strength compared to gameplay seems slightly contradictory.

I also know we have used feats from trailers in the past, but I wasn't sure about our specific standards regarding how we treat them, so I'd like some clarification on that, too.

I think that as long as the trailers do not contradict the gameplay they can be used as canon material, even more so if they are cinematic trailers that usually contribute to the story.

 

[KLOL506]

It's case-by-case honestly.

If the trailers are depicted as being part of the main story itself (Like the E3 trailer for Assassin's Creed Revelations that was directly incorporated as the very first mission in the game, or the Batman Arkham City trailer which is directly shown in the game as a Riddler riddle, dead TYGER guard and truth serum injection and all), then barring any odd contradictions to either the gameplay or the story, yeah, should be canon.

 

[IDK3465]

It's case-by-case honestly.

If the trailers are depicted as being part of the main story itself (Like the E3 trailer for Assassin's Creed Revelations that was directly incorporated as the very first mission in the game, or the Batman Arkham City trailer which is directly shown in the game as a Riddler riddle, dead TYGER guard and truth serum injection and all), then barring any odd contradictions to either the gameplay or the story, yeah, should be canon.

It’s a bit hard to tell, since the game I’m researching (Minecraft) doesn’t exactly have a story or plotline to go off of, but the cinematic trailers are featured in the launcher itself, and, outside of a few minor details here and there, seem to be true to how the game is meant to be like from an in-universe perspective (also, with as little lore as we have, they’re basically the best thing we got in regards to what’s “canon”)

 

[StarShooter80]

imo as long as it's not contradictory information then it's just promotional information which should be valid