Monte's NEW Secret Project

[ColonelHardisson]

...this hole people have dug for him...

Not to quibble too much, but the only person who dug a hole for Monte is Monte. I think a long list of upcoming products would be enough; to drop hints as to what's beyond in such dramatic fashion - and come on, talking about locking oneself in a room until a super-secret project is finished seems a bit more than saying something like "...and that should take me up through early 2003" and leaving it at that - is bound to cause speculation and consternation. If we all know how obsessive-compulsive gamers are, then Monte does also. I just think some of us are a bit tired of the "hush-hush secret project" device. Tantalizing fans with hints is one thing - like, say, if Gygax suddenly announced "I'm going to be working on a Greyhawk project soon" (and no, he never said that; it's just an example); simply saying "I'm gonna be working on a secret project coming out in a year; it'll be way cool and I can't tell you anything more than that" seems pointless.

Anyway, I like Monte's work and his website. It's just that this annoyed me. Doesn't mean I have a vendetta.

 

[MythandLore]

"I'm gonna be working on a secret project coming out in a year; it'll be way cool and I can't tell you anything more than that" seems pointless.

Anyway, I like Monte's work and his website. It's just that this annoyed me. Doesn't mean I have a vendetta.

I agree, it is pointless and annoying, this has been going on for way to long.

 

[Knightfall]

It's interenting to note that maybe Monte just might be trolling for ideas to include in a secret project. I'm sure he has an idea of what he wants to do but this can be influenced by what fans want.

Perhaps speculation will change certain aspects of his secert project without us even knowing it. Sort of like brainstorming by using someone elses brain.

Ahh, maybe I'm just being suspicious...

I love BoEM and can't wait for the print version of If Thoughts Could Kill. Most of what Mr. Cook writes turns to gold before it hits the shelves. I mean, the construct rules in BoEM are just cool!!

Anyway, my two cents...

Later,

RPB

 

[applenerd]

Boy! It seems everyone is quite annoyed with Monte's recent announcement of his secret project. If you're annoyed then just pretend he didn't announce it. Do you have to know everything before it happens? Did you try and find out where your presents were hidden before Christmas (assuming you celebrate said holiday) to find out what you received. Of course I'm being a bit melodramatic here but part of the fun is the hype! If you don't agree then you may choose to ignore it. I for one enjoy a bit of a surprise once in a while. In an industry which isn't covered by the front page of the NY times, it is sometimes hard to drum up enthusiasm. You can't blame him for trying to generate a bit of a buzz.

To sum up: Enjoy the hype or ignore it but don't complain! The project will still be secret until Monte decides otherwise, and that's fine by me.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

If he has the right to talk about secret projects he can't talk about at all, we have the right to complain.

 

[omedon]

There seems to be a lot of anti-monte, or at least anti-secret project, sentiments.

I myself, am excited about this project which was his reason for creating Malhavoc Press. I've loved all the Malhavoc products so far and all the upcoming ones sound really great too. I figure that whatever this secret one is, judging by Monte's enthusiasm for it, it is going to be even better than his previous works.

And that just makes me pleased as punch.

I can't wait to buy it. Whatever it is.

 

[Kolvin_dragonsbane]

If I'm not mistaken....

I dont have any special knowledge but I wouldn't be surprised if it had something to do with Ptholus.....

But that's just my 2 cents...

 

[byxbee]

MONTE IS OUR CELEBRITY

I bet you three coppers his "secret project" out sells every other product he's put out. Why? Hype and marketing.

As fans of his and fans of D20, we may bristle at clever marketing ploys, but they do work. Maybe Monte is beating a dead horse with the "secret project" technique, but look at all of these posts. We hang on and discuss his every word. He puts up a note on his site about "i like miniatures, they are cool", and it makes the front page of EN World!

He's the closest thing to a celebrity that D20 has, and just like movie stars and rock stars, if they aren't in the limelight regularly, people start to forget them. So they do things to pique peoples interest in their upcoming movie or album, or in this case, major book.

I applaud Monte for his hard work, his great products, and for constantly keeping his fans interested. He's learning as much about marketing as he can, it sounds like, in an effort to make sure Malhavoc doesn't disappear like some other D20 imprints.

Sure, he may need a new technique. But I really don't think any of you won't buy his product because of the way he chose to tell you about it.

In fact, i think more of you WILL buy it because of 1 1/2 years of speculation. You can't pay for that kind of advanced marketing.

Think Monte is hyping his products by himself? Nope. He's got all of us hyping it for him. He's probably sitting in his office laughing a diabolical laugh that his marketing/hype department needs only a little prodding to generate years worth of interest and conversation. Post after post after post about what he's doing, where's he going, what's his favorite breakfast cereal. It's Monte Mania (tm) that's what it is.

And as for why he wouldn't tell everyone what it's all about a year and a half in advance:

1) other companies may try to put out a similar supplement first (see all the nautical books out there right now) and

2) how much fun are spoilers? Movies are so much better when you don't know what they are about. Books are the same way.


-byxbee

PS. I'm particularly psyched about Banewarrens. Monte's epic adventures are of such high quality.

 

[psionotic]

Wow..

I'm frankly quite surprised about the negative reaction here, especially among some posters that have been huge Monte supporters in the past. Its kind of fickle to get all pissed over an offhand comment, isn't it? I probably shouldn't respond, but here goes:

Monte never said that we should be excited about his upcoming project, but rather that he's excited about it. He even goes so far as to mention in the paragraph that announces the project that he knows his fans are "...tired of hearing about secret projects from me at this point...".

As far as Monte being a 'hype machine', I think that some people on this thread are being a bit dramatic, don't you? Telling potential fans you are working on a surpise project is not a very effective method of hype or advertising. That's why Variety magazine doesn't have ads from Paramount touting their 'upcoming secret film', etc. Hence, I don't think that salesmanship was really his goal here.

Monte already said he would tell us what his WotC project is if he could. The difference between it and his Malhavoc project is that one of them is already completed, and the other one hasn't been started yet. Its no different than my company (Symantec). Everyone knows we are going to release a new version of NAV every year, and probably one or two 'new' products as well. Our press releases tout upcoming technologies and strategies, without giving any hint as to what they are. But giving people the feature list before the product is finished and about to be released is foolishness. You are not only opening yourself up to imitation and competition from competitors, you are setting your customers' expectations incorrectly when the product does ship if a certain feature doesn't make the final product, etc.

The great thing about Monte and his site is that he actively makes an effort to communicate with his fans, answer their questions, etc. So send in the flames if you like, but I really think that a lot of people on this thread are knee-jerk overreacting for no good reason.

 

[Largomad]

Actually i'm interested in Monte's uberproject and somewhat shocked about the "secretive" way he's trying to hide it to us.

As far as i see there's two options of why he's acting in such way.

a) He's so excited and hyped about his new project, that actually he cannot control the urges to say... boy but this is great.. great.. great you know, not just great but Great <repeat at nauseam>

b) Marketing.

Actually it would be good idea to open a poll about Monte's secret project.


Anyway looking at the quality of his works even if it is not Great, you know not just great , possibly i will buy it.