jimdattilo

Zombie Exodus: Day Zero (free mini-game)

Zombie Exodus: Day Zero (ZED0) is a short game that provides a quick introduction to the ZE Universe. This was written for brand new readers who may not be familiar with interactive fiction. Starting in September, I will be using this game for several marketing initiatives. Before that happens, I am offering it to my patrons first to enjoy.

ZED0 is an 8,000 word story with each read-through around 1,500 words. However, there are eight unique endings, each with an achievement.

I ...

August Newsletter -- slight delay

I will be publishing a special newsletter just for patrons tomorrow but need a bit more time to write it. The good news -- Ethan and I have been working on a mini-game we are posting tomorrow for free. This is a short, 7000 word story we will use as a giveaway to entice new readers into the ZE Universe. All patrons will get to see it early.

Sorry for the delay. It will be worth it.

Questions for August Newsletter

If you have questions for the Q&A part of tomorrow's newsletter, I will answer questions about my games, writing process, or future plans. Let me know what specific questions you have.

Long-term Mission: Teenager, poll 2

In our last poll, you picked the goal for the teenage mission. Here are several scenarios for how the mission can be initiated. 

Option A. Since it is still early in the outbreak, this new story line can be initiated by an unexpected phone call from your father's cell phone number. Unfortunately you can't connect to the voice mail. Step one is to charge your phone.

Option B. Once at Eli's...

Reilly and Nora AMA

I'll be doing another live AMA, this one with Reilly and Nora from ZE: Safe Haven, today from 2-4pm EST in the ZE Series Facebook Page. I will post highlights on Discord and Twitter too. 

Regional History Museum -- Outcome

For those patrons helping to build the Regional History Museum, so far, we created a group of characters living there, and in our last poll, you decided the MC saves one of the museum's members and is invited to the museum. 

For this final poll, we will establish what becomes of the museum and those who live there after the MC visits for the first time.

August Short Story

This is a poll for August's original short story. To add variety, I am giving the option of a short story based on a character from other games as well.

Schedule for August

Hey there, patrons. Here is a schedule of things you can expect to see this month.

August 3 -- Chapter 2 of Zombie Exodus novel, featuring the main character, Abigail.

August 5 -- ZESH Part 2-2 Beta Update.

August 6 -- New poll for article of the month.

August 12 -- New poll for Regional History Museum.

August 19 -- New poll for teenager mission.

August 29 -- Newsletter.

August 31 -- Article of the month.

If there are other items you would lik...

Games by JimD Newsletter – Preview of Safe Haven Part 3 and My New Vampire Game

This newsletter is all about previews! I recently asked my readers for topics to cover here and the top responses were for previews for Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3 and my new vampire game from FableLabs. I tried to write up two previews with only light spoilers, but if you haven’t finished Part 2 of Safe Haven yet, please skip that section.

Preview of Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 2-2 is deep into development, and I am alrea...

Newsletter Topics

I am writing up July's newsletter and am looking for topics of interest. I will once again answer brief questions from my readers but am looking for major topics to cover. Vote on your top two.

If you have other topics you'd like to see, please list in the comments.

I will also ask this on Facebook and Twitter, but my patrons' votes count more.

Beta update coming

It turns out I’ll have a bit of new content for Part 2-2. I’ll be posting it on August 5th.

Regional History Museum -- Purpose

So far, we have come up with a number of details on our Regional History Museum. So far, we know there is a group living there, and they will be friendly. Below are the characters living there. This poll is to determine the purpose of the museum in the story.

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• Early 30s female scientist. Was attending museum during outbreak. Average height, slender, with medium black hair and olive skin. Idealist who is a sucker for "bad boys/girls." She is a botanist, who works at a pharmaceuti...
  2018-07-21 15:51:12 +0000 UTC View Post

Preview – Vampire Fiction

I am currently working on a new project for mobile app game developer, FableLabs, a story I am calling Vampire Fiction. Their app, Tales, is available on the Apple App Store and by downloading the app, you can play any of their dozens of interactive stories in their library. They will be releasing an Android App in the future. 

Most of their stories so far are graphic-nove...

Long-term Mission: Teenager, poll 1

Last month, we had a poll to choose a profession/background for a long-term mission, much like Scientists and Hackers get. It should have as no surprise that the most popular background won the poll.

This first poll will choose the goal for the teenager.

Plans for July

Hey there, patrons. Here is a schedule of things you can expect to see this month.

July 5 -- Chapter 1 of Zombie Exodus novel, featuring the main character, Abigail.

July 9 -- First poll for long-term mission (Teenager).

July 16 -- Patreon exclusive review article on my new game, Vampire Fiction.

July 20 -- New poll for Regional History Museum.

July 29 -- New original short story, featuring Reilly and Nora.

Instead of adding a new mission or majo...

Games by JimD Newsletter – ZE:SH Part 3, Dead Zone, New Game

This month I have several exciting updates to show off, from new games to a Discord server to game updates. Without further delay…

Details on Dead Zone

As some of you may have read on my Facebook or Twitter, I am working with Ethan Underhill on a new spin-off in the ZE Universe, called Zombie Exodus: Dead Zone. 

Here is a summary:

Set five years after the apocalypse, Zombie Exodus: Dead Zone sees your character surviving the harsh wilderness of Oregon as you...

Newsletter Q&A

I am writing up this month's newsletter and will be answering questions from my patrons first. Let me know if you have any questions on Safe Haven, Dead Zone, or other projects.

Live Q&A

Keith from the Silverthorne Militia will be doing a live Q&A tonight, 8pm EST in the Zombie Exodus Series. Come and ask him about his plans to survive & thrive in Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven. 

Regional Museum - Characters, Part 2

You can review the previous post to see full descriptions, but so far, you've selected an early 30s female scientist, a teen female volunteer guide, and a mid-20s male security guard.

Below is the next options. Pick 3 from the list:

1. 65-year old male retired driving instructor. Stern yet comical, he is a grandfather figure and wants to be a moral compass. Was visiting the museum and fell asle...

Long-term mission Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven.

A month ago, I asked for suggestions on new scenes in Part 3 of Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven and the winning suggestion was to help develop a long-term mission. Such a mission must have several parts:

• Geared toward a specific profession or background.
• Must reward the main character.
• Allow for a slow build-up, working toward a goal.

This first poll will select who is the focus of the mission. Since hackers, soldiers, and scientists have long-term missio...

June Short Story

This is a poll for June's original short story. To add variety, I am giving the option of a short story based on a character from A Wise Use of Time.

Plans for June

Hey everyone!

I wanted to give you some details on things I have planned for this month and release dates.

Wednesday, June 6 -- New poll to select this month's topic for an original short story.

Friday, June 8 -- short story featuring Tom from Zombie Exodus.

Wednesday, June 13 -- new poll starting a long-term mission for Part 3 of Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven.

Sunday, June 17 -- new poll for Part 2 of NPCs in the Regional History Museum for Part 3 of ...