jimdattilo

Opinions on Achievements - Poll

I am working on new achievements for  ZE:SH and also programming achievements for Out for Blood. In this poll, I would like to get a sense of all of the types of achievements you enjoy. Please check off all that interests you.

General Poll - artwork in text-based games

There is a growing movement to include artwork in text-based games despite the fact that they are largely text-based. Visual novels, games built in Twine, and even recent games by Choice of Games (such as Night Road) make use of more professional artwork. These games still largely use text, but the artwork lifts the overall polish of the game and provides a visual depiction of major characters or events.

The largest trade-offs for using artwork in a game are the time it takes to produce...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven Poll

Thinking ahead to Part 4, I'm considering the style of play that interests players, I have several styles of chapters that I could develop. I have found most readers enjoy a mix of styles.

Linear - the mission/chapter does not branch but you always see the same choices in each playthrough. Your choices affect branching portions of the story later on. Linear chapters take less time to write and playtest but also provide less choice.

Open ended - Th...

June Story/Article Poll

This is the poll to choose this month's short story or article. If you have ideas for future articles or short stories, please let me know in the comments.

Schedule for June, 2021

Here is a schedule of things you can expect to see this month.

6/4 -- Poll for article of the month. ($3+ tiers)

6/8 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven  scenario poll. ($5+ tiers)

6/12-- General content poll. ($1+ tiers)

6/15 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven scenario  poll.  ($5+ tiers)

6/20 -- Newsletter. ($1+ tiers)

6/25 --  Updated Quarterly Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3, Alpha Test ($5+ tiers)

6/25 --  Updated Monthly Zombie Exo...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3 Walkthrough, chapters 8 – 9

Welcome to the Part 3 walkthrough and guide, which will cover the first two chapters (8 – 9) based on the currently available open beta. This article will provide the most optimal path while also discussing the impact of key choices in these chapters. Some choices do not have as great an impact but are presented in the game for character building, role-playing, romantic, or action opportunities. While these choices are all important, there are no right or wrong options. Their impact is much...

Upcoming ZE:SH Part 3 Walkthrough

In a few minutes I will upload it guide to Part 3. Each month I write a new story or article chosen by my patrons, and this one was the overwhelming winner with over 50% of the vote. I try to write 2000 words per month on whatever topic my patrons choose. When I originally pitched this idea in the poll, I thought I could write an entire walk-through. However I soon found there is so much to write that I was easily going over the 2000 words I set as my goal. I would rather not skimp on the sug...

Games by JimD Newsletter – Project Updates, Writing for CoG vs. HG

Welcome to my 44th newsletter!

Here in the US, life is getting back to “normal” based on how they were before the pandemic. With 38% of our population fully vaccinated and roughly double that partially vaccinated, many states are removing their restrictions, such as masking and social distancing. It’s amazing to think of the changes that have occurred as a result of a viral outbreak. As a writer of apocalyptic fiction, it makes me wonder what the world would look like if the Zeta ...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3 Poll

As you may know, I am finishing up chapter 12 and working on a scene where you encounter Keith and the Silverthornes. This is no spoiler (especially for those reading my newsletters). You can bet a confrontation with this group is inevitable. Part of the challenge of writing this scene is to include enough styles of approaching the Silverthornes possible. Will you talk to Keith and find common ground with the Silverthornes. Will you threaten them to make them leave your group alone. Will you ...

General content poll

I have run several polls asking for opinions on the type of content you would like to see for the monthly article/story. The winning options have clearly been to continue writing short stories. As I turn my focus to one game in the future (ZE:SH),  my time will be freed up for other activities. I've always been interested in doing videos that could potentially bring in more readers to my games. In this poll, I want your opinion on the types of videos that may be of interest to you, or yo...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3 Character Poll

I had mentioned last year that I am including new romantic options for both teenagers and adults in Part 4. These characters will be introduced in Part 3. If you played the alpha test, you may have already met the new teenage romantic options. I have already done a poll for the teen ROs and the female RO. I just realized I forgot to do one for the new male RO, and that will be the topic of this poll. Please vote for the male character you would like to see.

Below are brief descriptions ...

May Story/Article Poll

This is the poll to choose this month's short story or article. If you have ideas for future articles or short stories, please let me know in the comments.

Short Story Poll

This is not a poll to select the choice for the story of the month. I want to talk about short stories in general.

Currently very few people read the short stories I write specifically for Patreon. I see this based on Patreon's statistics. Their statistics are somewhat inaccurate, so I wanted to take a poll to see if people are reading them. These stories take several hours a month to write, and if people are not reading them, it seems this may be an opportunity to change the type of ad...

Part 3 Public Beta Update

The Part 3 public beta has been updated with chapter 10.

Just a reminder that I have not been making many of the changes already reported as my full attention is on finishing the main story. This is how I work in general by maintaining my focus on the story and then going back to do mass editing and additions.

Thanks to all who test!

Schedule for May, 2021

Here is a schedule of things you can expect to see this month.

5/4 -- Poll for article of the month. ($3+ tiers)

5/8 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven  scenario poll. ($5+ tiers)

5/12-- General content poll. ($1+ tiers)

5/15 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven scenario  poll.  ($5+ tiers)

5/20 -- Newsletter. ($1+ tiers)

5/25 --  Updated Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3, Alpha Test ($10+ tiers)

5/29 -- Article of the Month.   ($3+ ti...

Beta Testing Announcements

Just a quick note to tell you all about beta testing opportunities for two of my games.

1. Tomorrow evening, I will be releasing a revised public beta for Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3. This public beta will include chapters 8-10. This will be open to everyone regardless of the amount you pledge on Patreon. I will post on here the link once it's ready.

2. A closed beta is now underway for Vampire: The Masquerade — Out for Blood. This beta te...

What if, Brody and Madison never went to Chipper Ridge HS and met the MC, Part 2

Madison sat in the passenger seat of the station wagon and combed her fingers through Sunny’s hair. The girl sat between her legs and had not moved since they left the cabin. She was still shaking. Madison could only imagine how she felt as she watched her father die. Her brother, Milo, sat in the backseat and had not said a word since they left. Madison was worried about her own family. Were her parents alive? Did her Uncle Nate survive? Would she ever see her family again? At least she ha...

Games by JimD Newsletter #43 – Project Updates, Publishing Timelines

Welcome to my 43rd newsletter! As I was receiving my second vaccination shot for COVID-19 this month, I thought about the adjustments our society has made related to this virus. In the past eighteen months, we have altered the economy, had mandatory lockdowns, and instituted public health initiatives like social distancing and masking. It made me wonder what impact society would face from the fictitious Zeta virus. Of course, those changes would happen quickly due to the aggressive nature of ...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3 Option Poll

This poll will involve a spoiler about content occurring at the end of chapter 12. It has not even been revealed in the closed alpha tests here on Patreon, so if you do not want to know about upcoming content, please skip this poll.

.

.

.

In chapter 12, the MC's group will travel to the Silverthornes to scout their camp, engage in negotiations, attack them, or deal with them in other ways. You will learn that there are two main areas of the large FEMA camp, one for civ...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Downtime Activities

F or my last poll, I asked for the type of content you would like to see in Part 3. The most selected type of content so far is Downtime activities (for example: swimming in the lake, Prom/dances). I was a bit surprised by this but know players have enjoyed downtime activities in other parts and in the first Zombie Exodus. As I tried to think of activities to present to players going forward, I came up with a list and would like you to choose 3-4 of your more favorite activities you would lik...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven scenario poll

Considering Part 4, I'm trying to increase the type of content you enjoy. Romantic encounters and interactions are already going to see more priority but that leaves a lot of other options Vote for the type of content you want to see more often.

Please select 2-4 options.

April Short Story Poll

Since the poll I put up on 4/4 so heavily favors a short story, I am posting this new poll to determine which story you would like to see this month.

Schedule for April, 2021

Here is a schedule of things you can expect to see this month.

4/4 -- Poll for article of the month. ($3+ tiers)

4/8 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven  scenario poll. ($5+ tiers)

4/12-- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven general content poll. ($1+ tiers)

4/15 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven scenario  poll.  ($5+ tiers)

4/20 -- Newsletter. ($1+ tiers)

4/25 --  Updated Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3, Alpha Test ($10+ tiers)

4/29 -- Article of the ...

Kelly the Hostage

"Okay everyone, just relax," Keith says, his voice even and composed. "We didn't come here for a fight."

"Tell your people to lower their weapons!" Rachel shouts from behind the tree line.

"Hold your horses. I was getting to that," Keith says. "Now, the four of us—Wyatt, Benton, Natalie, and me—we're going to leave your camp. I said my piece to you. No need for bloodshed. Silverthornes, we're out of here."

Everyone follows Keith and crosses camp, following the rest of th...

Games by JimD Newsletter #42 – Project Updates, Scripted Deaths

Welcome to my 42nd newsletter! This has been a fast-paced month with lots of writing and editing. I received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and am going for my second dose tomorrow. I’m extremely happy that I was able to get vaccinated as I am at risk for a severe form of COVID if I were to get infected. It’s also a very surreal experience to be receiving a vaccine to keep me safe during a viral outbreak. When I first started Zombie Exodus ten years ago, I never thought wo...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Character Poll

Similar to the poll in which you selected traits for the new teen female RO to be introduced in Part 3, this poll will be to select traits for the teen male RO.

Here's the brief description:

Nearly homeless teen who has many survival skills he never knew would be useful in the apocalypse.

Since this will be a major character moving forward, I would like you to vote on other mannerisms and traits of the character. Please choose 2-4 from the list below to add to this character...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven General Poll

In a poll last year, I asked about the amount of content related to romantic relationships you would like to see going forward in the game. A majority requested an increase in romantic storylines. With a game of this size and depth, there is a trade-off in the amount of content and the speed at which I write and code. In this poll, I am interested in how you want to see the amount of romantic content vs. non-romantic content vs. the time it will take to produce Part 4 and beyond.

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven character poll

In a character poll last year, you chose a new teen female RO To be introduced in Part three. The poll only offered a brief description:

Brilliant, she finished high school and college by 16. Just finished her first year of medical school. Lacks confidence.

Since this will be a major character moving forward, I would like you to vote on other mannerisms and traits of the character. Please choose 2-4 from the list below to add to this character's persona.

Most people are natu...

March Short Story/Article Poll

This is a poll for you to choose the topic for March's original short story or article.

I received an email asking if I would ever do a video of me playing someone else's game. If this got the topmost votes, I could run a poll to see which game you would like me to play.

If you have story ideas for April, please list it in the comments.

Schedule for March, 2021

Here is a schedule of things you can expect to see this month.

3/4 -- Poll for article of the month. ($3+ tiers)

3/8 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven  scenario poll. ($5+ tiers)

3/12-- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven general content poll. ($1+ tiers)

3/15 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven scenario  poll.  ($5+ tiers)

3/20 -- Newsletter. ($1+ tiers)

3/25 --  Updated Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3, Alpha Test, Q1 ($5+ tiers)

3/25 --  Update...