jimdattilo

Games by JimD Newsletter – Game Updates, Trade System

Added 2025-08-20 22:25:16 +0000 UTC

Welcome to my 94th newsletter! This has been a great month. My health is getting better, and I am back to work full-time. Most of it has been spent on Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 4, especially the trade system I will discuss later in this newsletter. We are getting close to the 1-million-word mark for this part. I’m not including some code that supports the narrative, or I would easily be over a million words.

I will release the demo of the new trade system on Saturday to patrons at the Adviser tier or higher. This includes unique items only obtainable through the trade system, including new weapons, uniforms/outfits, and vanity items.

My goal is to finish all play testing and bug fixing it next month and finally submit this part to Hosted Games.

In this newsletter, I will review my development plans, as always. Let's get started.

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 4

Part 4 is 988,000 words, with over 35,000 words added this month. I have been working on the trade system almost exclusively. However, people have been sending me bug reports I need to fix (shout out to Aaron Meyers and Momahony676 for all their bug reports and testing). I also need to finish lingering scenes, such as the love triangle with the MC, Kevin, and Madison. All of that should go in the last demo/beta next month.

After Part 4 heads to HG, I will return to Zombie Exodus: Stronghold. I should be able to complete that game within six months. I know the game isn’t as interesting to everyone as ZE:SH, but I encourage you to play it. It’s based on the same system as ZE:SH and has a unique storyline where you are trying to survive from within a mega-haven built for the rich and powerful. It’s a standalone game with a great cast of characters and a definite twist on the main character.

After Part 4 comes out, I will begin writing a free update (4-2 until I think of a better name) that will include 250,000+ more words of content.

Trade System

The system allows you to trade with up to five groups in the area, including the Southern Ute, Red Mamba Biker Club, Museum Group, River Dogs, and Silverthornes. You offer items to them and receive trade value, which you can spend on their list of offered items. For example, if you have lots of flares and first-aid kits but want one of those unique weapons and a brand-new outfit, you can use the trade value you have accumulated to purchase those items.

Each faction offers different values for items and will buy at different prices. For example, the River Dogs will buy Kevlar vests for 6 credits while the Silverthornes will buy them for 16 credits. The River Dogs will sell them to you at 8 credits, while the Silverthornes will sell them for 18 credits. You can see from these examples how you can already manipulate the system. You could buy Kevlar vests from the River Dogs for 8 credits and sell them to the Silverthornes for 16 credits. I set this system up this way on purpose. For one, the River Dogs are across the lake and easy to get to. The Silverthornes are much farther away and harder to trade with. This affects the pricing.

Since you visit the Southern Ute in chapter 13 and the River Dogs in chapter 15, you can trade with them in Part 4. I’m considering writing a scene where you can visit any trade partner during downtime between chapters. I may have to push that back to the next update, but I’ll try to make it happen for the release.

I’m hoping Hosted Games can publish Part 4 before the end of the year, but their queue for new releases is quite long. I will keep you posted on how things go.