jimdattilo

Rachel, More Lies

Rachel walked across the field towards the estate, the location of her target, and the last job before a much needed one-month holiday. She was off to visit her mother in Wakefield outside of London and maybe do a tour of the UK. She needed some alone time — time away from work. She needed to be herself for a while.

As she reached the edge of the estate, a four-meter wall wrapped the perimeter, and security cameras adorned the top of the wall every ten meters. Vince had not given her ...

Games by JimD Newsletter #41 – Project Updates, Finishing Part 3

Games by JimD Newsletter – Project Updates

Welcome to my 41st newsletter!

This has been a very difficult month for me. Unfortunately my father passed away on February 1st. He had been sick for a while and was receiving hospice care at home. I’m glad he was at home and not in some care facility away from family. He’s a big reason that I am a writer today and was an amazing role model. He worked for the same company for over fifty years, rarely took sick days, and supported ...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven Scenario Poll

Building off of the last poll where you chose "A recently bitten human sneaks in and dies, becoming a zombie," this poll will pick what happens as a result of that human being inside the Junkyard. I will program numerous outcomes but would like to see all of the ones that you would choose. Please choose three or four that you may likely select.

If you have other suggestions, please list them in the comments.

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven General ContentPoll

As I plan for Part 4 development, I am interested in knowing which structure you like for each chapter. In Part 3, I had an open-ended chapter with several small missions (8), several chapters with one long, single mission (10, 11), and chapters with several medium-sized missions (9, 12). I try to vary the size and complexity of these chapters. Since Part 3 is already so large at over 430,000 words, I am wondering what structure of each chapter you enjoy the most.

The advantages of chap...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven scenario poll

One thing I have decided to add to Part 3 is a minor event that will play out if the group fails to have proper security at the Junkyard. It may be a low number of people on watch duty or not securing the fence or perimeter. There are multiple ways to protect your safe haven, and even stats such as morale and allegiance will come into play. Though many of the below items will possibly occur, I would like to rank them as the most dangerous to least dangerous. Everyone can vote on the one you f...

February Short Story/Article Poll

This is a poll for you to choose the topic for February's original short story or article. Last month I proposed an option for a romantic story between 2 NPCs. Few people voted for it so I'd rather not propose more of those.

However, a new option is a video option. I will include 2 options: (1) a video where I play ZE:SH and discuss the game from the beginning and (2) a beginner's guide to Choicescript.

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

Schedule for February

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

2/4 -- Poll for article of the month. ($3+ tiers)

2/8 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven  scenario poll. ($5+ tiers)

2/12-- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven general content poll. ($1+ tiers)

2/15 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven scenario  poll.  ($5+ tiers)

2/15 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3, public beta, chapters 8-9

2/20 -- Newsletter. ($1+ tiers)

2/24 --  Updated Zombie Exodus...

What if Brody and Madison Never Went to Chipper Ridge HS

Madison and Brody listened to their high school friend, Jenna, through the iPhone with total focus. It’s the first person they had spoken to since the start of the outbreak.

Jenna’s sigh came through the phone. “Well, Uncle Rich said school’s abandoned. Mr. Buckley sent all the kids home and locked up. Uncle Rich was going to head back there but came here instead. With all the grocery stores and the mall closed, school may be the best place to find food and medicine and stuff. I...

Games by JimD Newsletter #40 – Project Updates, Artwork Commissioned

Welcome to my 40th newsletter! Happy New Year and thank you to all of you who have been my patrons over the past year or have joined recently. I feel stunned and completely gracious for those who support me in the games I produce. I’m very excited for this year. I have two releases coming up in early summer. With the main story of Out for Blood completed, I am going through the process of editing, adding specific paths that enhance the story, and playtesting. With the majority of t...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven

As you know the final scene for Part 3 will consist of a trip to the FEMA camp taken over by the Silverthornes. I'm trying to predict that key approaches the MC may take with the Silverthorne Militia.

As you may recall, there are a certain number of outcomes possible in the first meeting back in Part 2:

• a semi-peaceful resolution with no violent confrontation
• a violent confrontation. 
• Kelly could be captured
• Benton could be captured
• m...
  2021-01-15 16:46:21 +0000 UTC View Post

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven general content poll

As I start to work out more development of Part 4, I'm considering events to add to certain chapters to showcase different sides of the apocalypse. In this poll I want you to vote on a scenario you would like to see.

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven scenario poll

Chapter 12 will include the final two missions of Part 3. The first of these missions will be a trip to meet the River Dogs at their warehouse safe haven. This can be a peaceful trip to create an alliance with another group in the area,  it can be a completely aggressive attack to take their resources, or it can be other options in between those two extremes. I always like to get an understanding of those members of the MC's group you would like to bring with you on these trips.

Pl...

January Short Story/Article Poll

This is a poll for you to choose the topic for January's original short story or article. I thought of introducing a new type of story in which I pair two NPCs and share how the romance may grow between them. I am calling this What If Romance. If people seem to enjoy this type of story, I will continue offering them the future.

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

Schedule for January

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

1/4 -- Poll for article of the month. ($3+ tiers)

1/8 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven  scenario poll. ($5+ tiers)

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

1/15 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven scenario  poll.  ($5+ tiers)

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

1/25 --  Updated Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3, Alpha Test ($10+ tiers)

1/29 -- Article of the ...

How the Survivors in Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven Spent their Holidays

Bailey

Our story starts off in Thousand Oaks, California, December 25, 2011, at a contemporary, three-story home wrapped in multicolored Christmas lights. The front lawn displays a life-sized nativity scene, and the three wise men line the walkway. Inside a young woman fixes hot chocolate for her family.

“Bailey, don’t forget the gingerbread cookies,” Helen said as she fixed a red velvet stocking on the fireplace mantle.

In the kitchen, Bailey placed t...

Happy Holidays to all...

Whether it's a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, or Happy Day!

Around the holidays, it's a great time for reflection. I'm so lucky to have all of you who support my work. I have a number of releases planned for next year and will be focusing on ZE:SH all next year.

Thank you and enjoy your holidays!

Games by JimD Newsletter #39 – Project Updates

Welcome to my 39th newsletter! This has been an extremely busy month of work and writing during the holiday season. As you may know, I work at in clinical research at a medical university, and many of my projects want to make progress before winter break, which starts December 24th. I’ve been working 10 to 12 hour days, five days a week and several hours on Saturday and Sunday. It’s been a grueling schedule, but I’m making progress and preparing for ten days off from my university job. ...

Public Beta Feedback

So I've heard from a lot of people about the chapter 8 beta, but mostly they have been error reports or requests for additions. I'd still like to hear if you are enjoying the story or have any criticisms. Feel free to be open and honest. I don't judge people based on their feedback as long as it's constructive.

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3 Public beta is live!

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3 beta is live. Visit the Choice of Games forum for all of the details:

Zombie Exodus: Part 3 Poll

I have recently been in contact with Hosted Games about the publishing schedule for 2021. Based on that conversation, I can see a few options for how to complete Part 3. 

1. I can complete chapters 11 and 12 by the end of February, test for a month, and then send the files for editing and publication. Based on estimates that will take two months. That means Part 3 will be released in June at the earliest.

2. I can complete chapter 11 and only include the trip to the Silvertho...

Vehicles in ZE: Safe Haven

I am working on the repair and upgrade options for vehicles in Part 3. You will be able to repair and upgrade vehicles using the garage in the Junkyard. So far I am working on these options:

1. Fixing vehicles to 100% health.

2. Upgrading the armor.

3. Upgrading the maneuverability/handling.

4. Adding a turret to the roof to allow a passenger to shoot a ranged weapon.

Please realize this is a lot of coding, though I feel it is necessary to devote the time and eff...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven artwork poll

This poll will be a little different as it relates to artwork I will commission for the Part 3.  Just like the scene on the hill from Part 2, I would like to include a splash page for the next part that introduces the continuation of the story. This poll will help me decide on the subject matter for this artwork. Your choice will heavily influence what is chosen to be commissioned.

Note: the choices below may provide spoilers for events of Part 3, so you may wish to avoid this poll...

VtM--Out for Blood 1st draft

I finished the first rough draft of Vampire: the Masquerade — Out for Blood! I'm working on an extensive series of edits from my editor and some early beta testing. I'm hoping to finish this week and then add some content to provide additional paths for your hunter to take.

Patreon vs. Social Media

Someone sent me an email asking if I would post my news on Patreon about game updates, since the only other time they hear such things is from my newsletter. I assumed everyone followed me on Twitter or Facebook, but I never asked. So this poll is to find out if you would like me to your post news on Patreon or not.

December Short Story/Article Poll

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

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

Schedule for December

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

12/4 -- Poll for article of the month. ($3+ tiers)

12/8 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven  scenario poll. ($5+ tiers)

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

12/15 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven scenario  poll.  ($5+ tiers)

12/15 -- Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3, Ch. 8 Alpha Test (Public)

12/20 -- Newsletter. ($1+ tiers)

12/24 --  Updat...

Preview of Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 4

Last month I posted an Extended Preview of Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3, which described the numerous ways the game could lead into Part 4. Your group could have established alliances with multiple groups in area, remained neutral with others, or even made enemies with them. You have established relationships with the many survivors living at the top junkyard and may have lost some along the w...

Games by JimD Newsletter #38 – Beta Tests & Updates

Welcome to my 38th newsletter! Hello again and happy holidays! Sorry this newsletter is a day late but time has gotten away from me the last few days. I’m happy to report I will be done writing Vampire: the Masquerade - Out for Blood soon and I will talk a bit about that below in the update section. I’ll also update you on Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3 and talk about beta testing. Most of you are aware of my timelines, but I like to give as much information as possib...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven scenario poll

In the character poll a few days ago, I asked you to choose an NPC to receive special content in chapter 12. The winner by clear margin was Jillian. In this poll you will select the type of new path or arc that Jillian will receive. This new content will start in chapter 12 and continue for the first few chapters of Part 4.

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven character poll.

Most of my character polls help create new characters in the game, but this poll will be different. Instead of creating a new character I want your help in developing new paths or arcs for existing characters. For this poll we will choose a character who will get some attention in chapter 12. As this is the final chapter of Part 3, I would like to give some content to a character who has not been given as much attention as others. So for this poll you will choose that character and in my next...