Games by JimD Newsletter – Game Progress and Dynamic Elements

Things are moving along with my games, and I have put a lot of effort into Safe Haven and Vampire Fiction in June. Finally in this newsletter, I’ll discuss a new “feature” I’ve worked on for Safe Haven called Dynamic Elements. 

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven

Part 3 is up to 67,000 words, which is roughly 1/8 of the size I expect. I am starting to think a Part 4 is necessary to cover all existing storylines and resolve them. My publisher feels the game should end at Part 3, so we will have to see if that can be stretched. I feel I could write this game for 5 parts easily with this cast of characters. 

Zombie Exodus: Dead Zone

Ethan Underhill has been spending much of his summer working on the story. The prologue and chapter 1 are completed and awaiting edits. He is expecting to finish by the fall. My part is editing and coding which will always lag behind. We are considering a Patreon beta test but have to work out details. I’ll share more details later this summer.

Vampire Fiction

I am working on Episode 5 and plan to finish in 2-3 weeks. Episode 4 is turned in to my editor, and I am awaiting feedback and artwork.

The rest of my updates are related to the company, FableLabs, who produces the app.

• The Android beta has yet to be announced. It was scheduled for June, but looks to be pushed back to July if not August.
• Once again, I asked about VoiceOver accessibility for visually challenged users. There are no current plans to implement this.

I am disappointed in both items. I suggest for anyone who wishes to send feedback to FableLabs to email info@fablelabs.com or fill out a contact form at https://taleswriter.com/support/.

Feature Discussion – Dynamic Elements

In each newsletter, I include this section, which details a new feature or deep-dive into some aspect of my writing or a game. Some spoilers may appear, so be wary of reading further if you want to remain spoiler-free on Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3.

---

One piece of recurring feedback I receive relates to the flexibility of visiting places in game and the triggering of events. Let me provide some examples. In chapter 2, you can visit the three-story home where you can answer a phone call from Greg, fight his infected mom, and crack his safe. Some players who missed the opportunity to go there in chapter 2 hoped to go in chapter 3. They were upset to find there was no option to visit that home after chapter 2. This is because of the way code sits in specific files, and the way coders can access it to write more content or serve it to players. The three-story home lives in chapter 2, which is difficult to access from chapter 3.

In Part 3, a number of locations and storylines will be accessible in multiple chapters. I have figured out a way to create code for a location or event without it living in a specific chapter file. Therefore, a mission to scavenge a Research Center will be available in chapter 8 and again in chapters 9 and 10 (at least).

You will also be able to revisit locations. If you only take a certain amount of loot in chapter 8 or need more help killing off a pack of infected, you can return in a later chapter.

Keep in mind that places in the ZE Universe change over time. If you clear out that Research Center in chapter 9, you may find more infected have wandered inside by chapter 10, a bandit group may have moved in and boarded the doors and windows, or the military took it over. Don’t assume that locations in the world will stay stagnant and unchanging since your last visit.

Another major source of frustration for players revolves around conversations. With 20+ characters in Part 3, taking time to talk to them removes your main character from scavenging, training, building, going on missions, etc. Starting in Part 3, conversations will be available in all chapters, and in most missions. Therefore, you can ask questions of Rachel in chapters 8, 9, or 10 at the Junkyard or on your scouting trips with her. You will see a normal list of things to discuss, and depending on the timing of the chat, options will appear or disappear. These dynamic conversations will make chatting with others more efficient and mirror real life a bit better.

Parting Words

That’s all for now. Feel free to discuss this newsletter and offer your comments. I read them all!