Zombie Exodus, going forward

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@bobsmyuncle conversations are tough to code, and that’s not to mean I don’t think I could do better at them. In Parts 1-2 I had deep conversation trees that were liner and reactive, meaning each conversation was more realistic. You ask a question, receive a response, which opens new options and doesn’t loop back. In Part 3, I decided to do a more RPG style where NPCs have blocks of text waiting to be displayed, and the reader can loop back to the start to check all branches. I do like a mix of the two for different situations, but with the amount of backstory to present, the latter (RPG) style is taking precedence.

I definitely need more opportunities for the player to walk into another conversation, as you suggested. That’s a good idea and one I’ll use!

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Hello

I wanted to again praise you for the game and thank you for the effort you’ve spent on it and discussing feedback. I don’t usually go for Zombie stories, but I’ve really loved to story and characters in this game.

One thing I would also add my voice on is the question of extended scenes for Emma and Heather. I actually think that the current evolution of Emma and PCs relationship with her is good, but it is also, again just my opinion, hindered by the fact that there isn’t really that much to compare it to. As there is no idea what their relationship was before, it doesn’t really feel to me that the player is dealing with a sister, but rather just another person in the Cathedral having those problems, for example Candace or Uncle Lou. A flashback scene was suggested as before and I think it would be a fantastic approach in making choices regarding Emma feel more personal for PC. Again, just my opinion.

Heather is also a question for me, especially since my character ended in a relationship with her, yet I don’t really know why my PC is in a relationship with her. My problem is that I think that Heather is a well-written character and I can understand where she is coming from, but I can’t think of a single scene in the game which shows her in a positive light, especially concerning a relationship, with the possible exception of her fight with Tom about sending the PC for the fuel run, and by the way I’m glad to hear Tom’s actions will be touched upon. I was noticing something there as well. Yet I also get that Heather is a pretty guarded character who doesn’t really do the serious talk, or at least that is what I get from her. I guess I would just like a few scenes dealing with tenderness or intimacy regarding Heather, just to give an idea why the PC would be in a relationship with her except that she apparantaly has a good body.

Finally, as purely a suggestion, I would inquire what you think of filler scenes? Just really small scenes, that don’t necessary have an impact on the story, but rather allow to kind of mold and form the PC. And I realize no one understands what I’m talking from that alone. So to give an example, when the PC goes to the town for the first time, how does s/he react to desolation around him/her? Does it make him/her sad, think of better, just indifferent, angry, anything. Or at the Cathedral, as the survivors there lean on him/her more and more, how does that feel. So just scenes where one simply has the character internally react to the situation or what is happening. I realize that the simple question is that can’t the player just decide without a specific choice, which is true, but I just always found that when the player is kind of asked to make that choice, they have to think of it, which then kind of makes the PC more personal instead of just someone acting on orders. I hope that made any sense.

I ended with again repeating my respect for your work and waiting eagerly for the next part.

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@AstrellaLunari sorry I didn’t answer this sooner. I will check the 2 errors you listed. I played as a priest and didn’t encounter those issues, so I’ll test more thoroughly. Thanks for letting me know.

@trelas I definitely will be adding more interactions with Emma and Heather.

It’s funny you mention smaller scenes, as that is going to be a bigger part of Part 4. The long, epic scenes like Part 3’s Fuel mission are fun but smaller scenes can help to move the plot faster. Also, I tend to shy from having internal dialogue or reactions to setting, since the player who reads the narrative has to decide on their own what they feel.

For example, if I write about a zombie killing and eating a uniformed police officer, the player may have strong feelings against that scene and may have a sense of despair. Another player may feel excited at the opportunity to attack the zombie, or may feel completely indifferent. If I write, “You feel horrified by the sounds of the zombie slurping bone marrow from the screaming victim,” I am assuming you (the reader) feels horrified.

Some Choice-games have a defined protagonist but I chose an undefined protagonist.

Thanks for your feedback and I’m glad you are enjoying the game!

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Hey Jim, im sure you’ll let us all know when the time comes, but any idea as to when you’ll be releasing the Beta for part 4?

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Most likely in 2 weeks. Between writing the walkthrough, fixing some lingering errors, and moving into a new house, I won’t have as much time to work on Part 4 as I’d like to.

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I loved the third part; cannot wait for the fourth one, which I guess is the last, isn’t it?

Personally, I really liked the development of the missions, there was more than one time when I felt dizzy and anxious; I truly felt like survivor of a zombie apocalypse, you manage to give us the setting and sell us the emotions, good writing on your part. When I thought I was not going to make it (don’t remind me the bridge, ha) I almost screamed with a mix of excitement and dread.

Character wise, they are believable; I do hope we see Eugene and Devlin again, not necessarily because I like the characters but because it would be fascinating to see what happened with them. The fact that Devlin is immune to the virus was a pleasant surprise; I had a theory about Emma being the character invulnerable to the virus, but this is lovely too. Also, interesting that you let us have a lesbian romance, quite appreciated; so far my favourite is Mindy, she’s bubbly and hot-headed, and so human, she’s fantastic. And as a schizophrenic, it is interesting to see that Emma is developing hallucinations.

The distinctions of the classes is great. I do feel the difference when I play an athlete and then switch to play a scientist. My favourite is definitely the athlete; I laughed when, during my conversation with Raphael, I got the option to say that I was a professional basketball player. I’m currently going to play as a priest and as a military, but athlete is my number one! That fame side should be explored, I would hate if it when unnoticed in a group with other survivors or with other NPC; someone has to be a fan of basketball around there, ha.

One of the things I hope I see in the next chapter is more thorny decisions. Choosing to save one NPC and leaving other to die; the “nobody is safe” factor that I think is the needed cherry on top for this wonderful game. In fact, I am extremely curious about how Emma’s suggestion of leaving the group will develop; it does not sound insane that the bigger the group the harder could be. I just know I want to be Michonne and be a badass motherfucker, ha-ha.

Although there’s one thing that doesn’t get out of my system and it is that if you choose your name and your last name you don’t seem to have a clear ethnicity; which is a problem when a character speaks other than English, which a character that I cannot remember did, and you do not understand it. I mean, if I chose to be of Latin descent, I should be able to speak Spanish.

That’s all. Keep the good work coming!

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Hi jimd how part 4 coming along ?

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@VoodooDolly thanks for your thoughts on Part 3! I have 5 parts planned so far.

SPOILERS

Eugene and Devlin will return (if alive, based on character choices).

In terms of romance, I don’t discriminate based on gender, which continues going forward.

I’ll be putting in more profession-specific content in Part 4 as well.

Language and race/ethnicity hasn’t been a major consideration, though it may add personalization and some interesting choices. When I go back through, it may be something I add.

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@Stpeter182 I’ll post the first chapter of part 4 in about 2 weeks.

Also, here is a walkthrough of the Part 3 missions.
http://zombieexodus.com/2012/04/zombie-exodus-part-iii-walkthrough/

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Went through Part 3 again (being bored, again), and found a slight plot error:
Before the Fuel Run, if you let Heather stay in your room, the game says that your relationship is known to everyone, and they are happy for you. A few pages later, the game says that Heather is obsessively trying to keep your relationship a secret. Am I missing something, or is she just that dumb?

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well dude i play zombie exodus alot trying different choices and all that but in my mind i think it would be cool to have romance in a zombie game plus i want to continue all the relationships into a deeper state if that makes sense alsom more adventure and tiny bit more action last request more thing to choose from in the storarge but at the cost of carrying less somtin like that =D>

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Played through the game as a priest, died once in the first part (those damn fisher men) but after that it was a smooth run. I thought I’d die more times, but I didn’t, which surprised me (but damn! There are some intense scenes)
Absolutely loved it.

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Thanks to the walkthroughs I got through! (lawl) Thankyou!

(In the middle of the night, you prepare with a trip to the supply area. You peruse the shelves of guns and other supplies – you’re private ZombieMart.)
Should be “your”. That’s another writing error I found. I am not a ZombieMart.

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@Shintaro I’ll check through that scene. Things may be out of order. Thanks for bringing it up.

@zombieman227 I am adding to the supply area, working on the relationships, and adding more action, so hopefully you’ll like Part 4.

@Kho thanks! Glad you enjoyed it so far.

@Bagelthief thanks for catching that error.

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For anyone interested in reading Parts 1-3 with the save system (Vendetta’s) and fixes for some of the errors, here is the link to my site:
http://zombieexodus.com/zombieexodus/mygame/index.html

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@JimD so i just noticed something. I was going to walk to rescue Carl and when everything was done it said something like, “Do you have a car?” wich gets the reply its way back.

I never took the car :stuck_out_tongue:

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Thanks, @Txu. I’ll fix that.

Also, just an FYI – Part 4 is probably the last of Zombie Exodus. It will be a large release though and will tie up most storylines.

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WHAT??? WHAT DID HE SAY??? This better be worth it…do not fail us…

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HUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!?
I totally agree, @Shintaro, this better be the best goshdarn CoG chapter I ever read’r else!
Still, I betcha can do it!

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I seriously need help for the Fuel Mission on Part 3
I keep getting killed over and over again by the 2 zombies, and so far( last attempt count:8) I had no luck.
A tip/trick/walktrough would surely help me, and I would appreciate it