jimdattilo

Schedule for January, 2025

Happy New Year!

If you haven't checked out my latest newsletter, it is now open to every member.

1/3 -- Outbreak scenario poll (Free tier)

1/4 -- Zombie Exodus: Side Stories (Rachel) scene 24. ($3+ tiers)

1/6 -- Content Sneak Peek ($3+ tiers)

1/8 -- Story of the Month Poll ($10+ tiers)

1/9 -- Game updates (Free tier)

1/12 -- Content Sneak Peek ($1+ tiers...

Nora Opening a Bank Account

I walked into Rocky Valley Savings & Trust on a scorching July afternoon, where the Denver air felt heavy, and my patience felt thin. My heels clicked against the polished tile floor, and I hated how they sounded. The suit I wore—a slate-gray number with sharp lapels—fit well enough to look expensive, but I'd picked it up at a pawnshop that morning. Five bucks. If this went right, I'd return it later.

Inside, the bank was a small, unimpressive place, the kind of operation that c...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven Content Sneak Peek

Here is the start of a scene in chapter 17 in which the MC and Rachel search a movie theater.

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The central hallway stretches ahead, dim and cavernous, its faded carpet littered with discarded popcorn boxes and wrappers. Faint streaks of light seep through cracks in the boarded-up windows.

Rachel pauses at the theater marked Men in Black III, the faded letters barely legible on the wall-mounted plaque. She pushes the heavy door ajar, its hinges protesting loudly. Leaning i...

Games by JimD Newsletter – Game Updates, New Focus

Welcome to my 86th newsletter, and Happy Holidays! I love this time of year but haven't gotten into the holiday spirit as much as in past years. I have been working a lot, and the holidays crept up on me. Christmas is here, and New Year's Eve is coming quickly. A friend is getting married on December 29, my first black-tie wedding. So it's going to be a busy end of the year.

In other news, I am steadily working on Safe Haven and trying to wrap up everything by early next year. I will di...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 4

I have been thinking about introducing another new survivor in the main group after the time skip (chapter 17). However, the roster is already so large, that I think I either have to kill off a few NPCs or restrict the current size of the main group. Players seem to really enjoy new characters, but I also don't want to overdo the number of NPC's in this game (which may already be too late).

In this poll, give me your opinion on how I should proceed with new survivors in the main group.<...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven Content Poll

What are your favorite types of content in Safe Haven? Pick 3-4.

Rachel - Interactive Story - scene 23

Continued from scene 22

Rachel stares at Lawson, takes a deep breath, and says, "I work for the government, well, worked for them. Past tense, I guess. I’ve known about the outbreak for a while. It’s worse than anyone expected."

Lawson’s brow furrows, her jaw tightens, and her stare fixes on Rachel like she’s weighing every word. "I can always tell when people are lying. And you...

New Type of Content

Since there are so many published games and new works-in-progress created using Choicescript (the language I use to code my games), I’m considering creating YouTube videos where I read through the first fifteen minutes of a game and share my thoughts. For example, I could read through games like Fallen Hero or Infamous, provide commentary, and offer a brief review.

The videos would be available for everyone to watch, while my patrons would have the opportunity t...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 4 Content Sneak Peek

Here is a part in chapter 15 in which the MC is meeting with Casey and the River Dogs and the nephew is introduced to them.

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Casey leans forward, his gaze settling on your nephew. “And who’s this fine young man?”

Your nephew stands a little straighter, glancing at you before answering. “I’m ${dep_name}.”

Casey’s smile widens. “Well, ${dep_name}, it’s a real pleasure to meet you. I’m Casey. I hope you're keeping out of trouble?”

Your nephe...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven Content Sneak Peek

This is a bonus sneak peek of a scene in chapter 15.

Casey rolls his wheelchair toward the metal doors, the soft hum of the motor echoing faintly in the quiet hallway. The River Dogs follow close behind, and you can see the tension in their bodies in the glares shooting at you and your companions. Brian's heavy footsteps seem louder than they need to be, and Emily's arms stay crossed tightly. The remaining members of their group hang back, trailing like shadows.

"We'll be expectin...

Game updates

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 4

The main storyline of chapter 15 is almost finished. I need to add more of the arguments that happen if you are involved in multiple romantic relationships inside the main group.

After I finish chapter 15, I plan to create the scene that will link each chapter and allow you to manage the group, craft, assign people to tasks, perform your task for the week, etc. I will also set up another group report to run between each chapter so you can see ho...

Story of the Month Poll

Here is the poll for the original story this month. Please feel free to make suggestions for new story subjects in the comments below.

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven Content Sneak Peek

In chapter 15, you finally get to meet the River Dogs at their factory across the lake. This is a scene where you are meeting Casey and a few others. I also included a few of the questions you can ask.

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The heavy metal doors groan as they slide open, revealing a dimly lit expanse beyond. The air inside is heavy, carrying the mingling scents of oil, rust, and unwashed bodies. Rows of crates line the walls, some stacked neatly, others haphazardly, as if they’d been rummaged thr...

Rachel - Interactive Story - scene 22

Continued from scene 21

"Lawson, look around you. There’s no saving the world now,” Rachel says, her words coming out fast in an even tone. “You’ve got to think about yourself—your survival. Nothing else matters if you’re dead."

Lawson’s grip on the gun loosens slightly, her arm lowering but not fully relaxing. "I’m a cop," she mutters, her voice tight with frustration. ...

Outbreak Scenario 17

You find yourself in the middle of a city hospital as news of the zombie outbreak hits. The chaos escalates quickly as patients, visitors, and staff realize the danger is not just outside, but also within the hospital walls. Infected individuals begin to turn, causing panic and disorder. The medical staff struggles to maintain control and safety, but the numbers are against them.

What do you do?

Schedule for December, 2024

If you haven't checked out my latest newsletter, it is now open to every member.

12/3 -- Outbreak scenario poll (Free tier)

12/4 -- Zombie Exodus: Side Stories (Rachel) scene 22. ($3+ tiers)

12/6 -- Content Sneak Peek ($3+ tiers)

122/8 -- Story of the Month Poll ($10+ tiers)

12/9 -- Game updates (Free tier)

12/12 -- Content Sneak Peek ($1+ tiers)

12/15 -- Zom...

Three Days on the Hilltop, Part 2

(continued from Part 1)

Brody sprints up the hill, blond hair plastered to his forehead with sweat. His breath comes in sharp bursts, and he waves an arm frantically. “Kelly’s coming up the hill,” he says, stopping just short of me. “She’s not alone—there’s a bunch of people with her.”

The camp stirs immediately. People glance at each other, a ripple of unease running throu...

ZE:SH Junkyard Upgrades

Here are lists of existing improvements/junkyard upgrades as well as new ones that I am proposing for Part 4.

Existing improvements:

• Chicken coop

• Computer and electronics lab

• Farm plot

• Greenhouse

• Improved workshop

• Infirmary

• Recreation room

• Science laboratory

• Vegetable garden

• Workshop

• Zombie-powered generator

Story of the Month Poll - Tie

My computer was down today, but I finally got it fixed. As I started writing the story of the month, I realized that there was a tie. So if everyone can vote for either of the two top stories, I can write it tomorrow.

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven Content Sneak Peek

Here is the introduction to when your group reaches the factory for the meeting with the River Dogs.

Ahead, the abandoned factory looms like a skeletal giant. The structure emerges from the treeline, its rusted metal walls streaked with grime and weather stains. Broken windows glare like hollow eyes, and large sections of the corrugated roof sag inward and appear twisted and warped. A tall smokestack juts into the sky, its upper half leaning at an angle, as if it might crumble with the ...

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven Character Poll

You may have seen a recent poll in which I asked about characters that you would be interested in seeing again. For this poll, let us pick the one character that you would like to see out of the ones below that I am ready to re-introduce.

They will be introduced either at the end of chapter 17 or in the beginning of Part 5.

Games by JimD Newsletter – Game Updates, Schedules for Games

Welcome to my 85th newsletter! Happy Thanksgiving to those of you in America. I admit I am sometimes very America-centric and not I don’t know all of the international holidays. So Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, because we all have things to be happy about.

I think most of you will be happy about some of the things in this newsletter. It’s November, and I plan to submit Part 4 of Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 4 in the first half of next year. I am shooting for April. I will talk ...