Games by JimD Newsletter – Game Updates, February 5!
Welcome to my 99th newsletter! Welcome to my new patrons and thank you for following the progress on my games.
Happy New Year! This is going to be a busy year for me, and I’m hoping to get to games out in 2026.
This has been a busy week. My editor has returned the files for ZESH, Part 4, which I will discuss below. For the first half of the month, I worked exclusively on Stronghold. I’ve also been mapping out some new storylines for Part 5 of Safe Haven and even some of the new content coming in the free update.
In this newsletter, I will review my development plans, as I do every month. Let's get started.
Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 4
Release day is February 5!
I received all the files back from the copyeditor on January 7, and I’ve been working on them nonstop. The editor makes corrections directly in the code. As you can imagine, there is a lot he can’t change because of the code's complexity, or because he’s not comfortable making decisions for me. I’ve also received considerable feedback from testers who review and identify continuity errors or suggest content to improve the story's flow.
This has been a lot of work, but it should significantly reduce the number of errors making it to release day. Errors will still make it to the DLC that you (hopefully) download. This is expected when you have over 1 million words of code. Release day is still February 5, and I plan to be available for questions and quick fixes.
In the meantime, I have been reviewing all the upcoming content for the free update. People have suggested I charge for this update, but it is a quality-of-life update. Many of you have been asking for additions to the story, and I don’t feel comfortable asking you to pay for content for parts that you have already purchased. Many of you support me on Patreon and by purchasing my games, which helps me make free updates.
I will be splitting my development time between the free update and Stronghold over the next few months. It’s an ambitious timeline, but I’m looking forward to sharing all of the new content with you.
Zombie Exodus: Stronghold
Stronghold is up to 217,000 words, 24,000 more than last month. I’m currently writing chapter 8, which is already huge at 38,000 words and will likely be one of the largest chapters. After I finish this chapter, I should be able to push ahead with the remaining chapters over the next 4-5 months. My goal is still to submit this around June and hope for a Halloween release.
It’s hard to say that I will make a part two of this game. It will likely be a standalone game in the Zombie Exodus. However, if it goes well, I will consider a sequel to the game or other standalone games.
If I made a different game, what genre or setting would you like to see me write?
Comments (12)
I'd love to see more modern urban fantasy from you. Also a popular genre. The supernatural, urban myths, vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural beings and paranormal fantasy. Supernatural factions and politics. Maybe start as a human and you get thrown into the world of the supernatural when you suddenly become part of one of the factions (sired, werewolf bite, develop magic, etc). Another genre that I'd love to see what you'd do with is cyberpunk or solarpunk. A lot of factions, politics, fighting corporations and bad actors, something with a good message in it. :)
I'm always open to a sequel or spiritual successor to your A Wise Use of Time game 😁
I know it sounds ambitious but a zombie Exodus like game but with similar to mechanics to The Great Tournament there's also on host games. Still to this day, I don't know how that Creator made something so open world with a text based game. But otherwise I agree with others that a fallout shelter like game, whether in zombie Exodus universe or something completely new. Like a fallout-like world, like I've heard other people suggest. Would be interesting to see what you come up with if you go that route. Personally I want to see more from your Exodus world. And here's just a funny suggestion well not funny just an interesting one. A mini spin off where you play an intelligent zombie. With the special ability to command over infected. You decide to do use it for good or evil, keep your moral code or become a king of the undead and try to take out humanity. Probably stupid but thought I should just say and put it out there as a suggestion.
I I would like a zombie exodus game, but it’s kind of like fallout shelter, or Daria kingdom simulator without the story just where you build up your stuff and get people to recruit and you gotta keep them safe I don’t know it would be cool in my opinion
As of recent years I’ve given my life to Christ, and my faith has been really important and impactful to me and my journey! I know typically regarding things such as this (especially Faith) it can be a sensitive topic and subject for some. That being said, It would be really cool to play a game at least loosely related to said faith because it’s so rare nowadays, even in media to portray such things in a way that’s accurate or at least not entirely blasphemous or semi insulting. (Obviously there are rare occasions). I feel like regarding Christianity (or at least the spiritual aspect of it) there are some great themes and ideas you can explore. (Good vs Evil, Spiritual warfare, etc etc). I think the beautiful part of it is that you can express these spiritual truths in so many figurative and metaphorical ways. You have a great mind for writing, and God blessed you with that and it would be awesome to see what you can do regarding a topic such as this! (Maybe even tackle some things In revelations?? Idk just an idea!)
I love ZE and will pay for any and everything you ever put out for it (and have lol) a cyberpunk game would be super neat or maybe something like medieval faerie tale Pendragon style.
Maybe something with a management system like junkyard for the new game, also we are here to support the worlds you are making! Don't feel bad for having a price tag on something you've put your mind, heart and soul into. You're an artist and deserve it.
I think something post-apocalyptic (ala Fallout) could be really cool. Still similar enough to zombies but allowing for new enemy types and a different range of survival hurdles. Something Cyberpunk/ futuristic city dystopia could be really cool as well.
I agree, something cyberpunk like a heist crew would be super cool.
I have been trying for awhile to write a story for a medieval based parasite/zombie story. I keep getting bogged down with details and stopping completely so I doubt it will ever happen. I'd love to see something like that come from you with your writing style.
When I first played this game I was an 8th grader and now I’m a junior in highschool going to be a senior. This shit flys by man 😭😭
Thats not even that bad - I was in high school when I played the first Zombie Exodus, now Im grown ass man 😒
