Games by JimD Newsletter – Safe Haven, Game Updates

Welcome to my 69th newsletter! I was sick at the beginning of June and had a minor relapse last week, but I feel better. It was a simple cold and, thankfully, not COVID. This was also the first time I did not wind up in the hospital from a cold. Since I have Muscular Dystrophy, I have weakened respiratory function, and even a common cold can cause huge difficulty. From the moment I felt sick, I worked with my doctor, took antibiotics, and could fight off the infection turning too severe to handle. I am so happy I didn't have to be admitted to the hospital for this.

I have a lot of game updates coming in this newsletter. I've made considerable progress this month, despite being sick. Someone recently asked me if I get burnt out or suffer writer's block. It's quite the opposite. I have so much to write and not enough time. I've never felt so inspired to create, so I will keep trying to produce as much as possible.

Let's get started.

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 4

Part 4 currently stands at 337,000 words, with an addition of about 16,000 words this month already. I still have five days left to write before my next Patreon beta release and will easily hit my 20,000-word goal that I set each month. Like I said above, I am writing multiple games, but Safe Haven remains my priority. 20,000 words per month is a reasonable goal to keep.

This month I have been focused on continuing with missions in chapter 14 and working on the trade system that will allow trade with allies. I am creating a mission where the main character goes to a veterinary clinic with Reilly and Billie. It's a reasonably short mission with twists and turns that make it exciting and unique.

My long-term goal with ZE:SH is to finish Part 4 by the end of next summer, giving Hosted Games at least six months to edit and publish it. That's about how long the queue remains for games.

Deadbury Academy

If you have been reading my newsletters and following me on social media, you will know I am getting close to releasing a public beta of this game. This will not be set in the Zombie Exodus universe but in the zombie outbreak genre. The game will start in 2022, and you will take the role of a student at a boarding school when the outbreak occurs. It will have similar skills as ZE:SH, although more streamlined. There will also be hobbies and challenges to help round out the character.

I'm also excited to work again with Adrien Valdes (defenestration) on original artwork. It will be a complex and intricate piece of cover art, and I'm excited to show you when I have the rough sketches.

StoryLoom Projects

I continue to write projects for StoryLoom and am excited to have my first spinoff project of the Zombie Exodus universe. Here is a description of the game:

Zombie Exodus: Stronghold: It's been a year since the world fell victim to the zombie outbreak, and you've managed to survive within the imposing walls of Stronghold, a fortress built for the privileged and the wealthy. But today, everything has changed. A sudden breach in the fortress's defenses allows the undead to swarm in, unleashing chaos within the compound. Now, it's a fight for survival for you and your friends. The task is clear - escape the fortress, outrun the growing horde, and avoid the deadly bite of the virus.

https://storyloom.com/stories/jimd-zombie-exodus-stronghold?id=dec44624-b3a3-0f8b-d7b9-b278fa380b91

I am amazed at the reception for the game so far. It is the number one game on the StoryLoom platform for June, far exceeding the views of any other game by double. Thank you to everyone who has played so far.

I am creating original art for this story, which has been challenging but worth it. I am using artificial intelligence to create generative art and have been trying to maintain the same aesthetics throughout the chapters. Each chapter is around four thousand words and should take 10 to 15 minutes to read. These short chapters still have interactive features and allow you to build a character to experience the story.

My other games are also doing well in views. However, these are outside my typical genre, so people are less interested. I understand it's tough to go from zombies to urban magic or thrillers, but please check out at least one chapter to see if you enjoy them. At the moment, StoryLoom is free to play.

Revenge Magic: Early in his mage training, Josiah's life takes a turn after a fateful day that sends him on a path of vengeance. Will he bring those who wronged him to justice, or will his need for revenge take over?

https://storyloom.com/stories/c8c34a67-2865-1223-6bce-cf9186a45fff

Your Trial: Alex awakens in a jail cell with no memory of his past. He soon learns he's on trial for murder and will need to defend himself or be imprisoned for the rest of his life. This sets him on a journey of twists and turns and self-discovery.

https://storyloom.com/stories/72c2986c-7bad-404b-6d54-ca41d6d5e5e3

That's all for this month.