Games by JimD Newsletter – Game Updates, Cliffhangers

Welcome to my 89th newsletter! It has been a busy month of writing, and I hope to return to the final chapter of Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 4, very soon. Most of my efforts have been completing the scene linking each chapter. My problem is that I always want to add more and more, but now I realize I have to stop and get to the end of the story for this part.

If you don't want to read any further, I will tell you now that I will likely need to push back sending Part 4 to Hosted Games until June. It will take me time to finish chapter 17 and then edit and test everything. Most of you don't care how long it takes since you've already waited three years. (Has it been three years?)

In this newsletter, I will review my development plans, as always.

Let's get started.

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 4

Part 4 is 788,000 words, with over 28,000 words added this month!

This month, I again worked on the scene that will bridge the gap between chapters. Here is exactly what I have worked on so far:

• A massive scene in which you can gift numerous items to each survivor at the junkyard.

• You can contact Fred through various means as he drives to Santa Fe to find his mother and uncle.

• New text for capturing zombies to use at the junkyard.

• New text: if you go fishing in the lake as one of your chores or activities.

• The same with foraging and hunting — custom text for these activities.

• Performing watch duty.

• Scavenging for food and gear within a few miles of the junkyard.

Next month, I will work on chapter 17, the last scene of Part 4.

Ending Part 4

Not long ago, I posted a poll on Patreon asking how people felt about me ending on a cliffhanger. Normally, I hate cliffhangers, but the one I envisioned made a lot of sense. So, I asked the question. Here is where the pole sits right now:

• I’m fine with cliffhangers: 33%

• I'd rather you not end Part 4 on a cliffhanger but rather you turn in everything in April. 10%

• I’d rather you not end Part 4 on a cliffhanger even if it takes longer to write. 58%

239 people voted, and I have gotten lots of great feedback.

I'm leaning towards a hybrid approach where this is not a true cliffhanger. I plan to introduce the end of the chapter, which presents several changes coming. These changes will definitely challenge the group and the main character. However, the beginning of Part 5 can involve handling the changes that are coming.

In chapter 17, I will present these challenges so the MC group can begin discussing their plans for the future. However, if I were to have the MC's group face those challenges right now, I think it would either:

• Take me another six months to write this.

• Water down the choices that the MC has for dealing with those challenges.

If I were playing this game, I would want a pair for those things coming and not rush things.

I am still open to discussing this. Some fans will still see this as a cliffhanger, even though it's much more. I'm sure that reviews of Part 4 will include things like, "After three years, you left us with a cliffhanger!" But if you read what happens in the story, you will understand the need to end Part 4 and provide more time for me to prepare the content and for the reader to feel they have all the choices available to conquer the challenges they face.

I wish I could say more without spoiling everything. Over the next few months, you will be able to read the story and see how things unfold.

Zombie Exodus: Stronghold

Stronghold is up to 150,000 words so far. If you are interested in testing each new chapter, please check out the link below:

https://cogdemos.ink/play/jimd/zombie-exodus-stronghold-public-beta/mygame/

Deadbury Academy

Deadbury Academy was updated a few months ago, and I posted a new demo at the following location.

https://cogdemos.ink/play/jimd/deadbury-academy/mygame/

As you may remember, I put the development of this game on hold until I finish writing Safe Haven, Part 4.

That's all for this month.