Quality control appears to be the main issue from the development of a grade "A" title from Stern aside from the lack of code development at launch. It appears Stern lacks sufficient data to fix flaws such as a slinging magnet drains and a faulty pop bumpers or smash toys that alter the intended flow of the game.

Data collection based on ball times,switches activated,and causes in relation to fast ball drains on a larger scale would help detect unintended results,and give them a chance to modify problems and allow for a more positive game release and possibly a more positive review from this community as a result.

Why don't they just play the pins, see what's wrong, and fix it? We seem to be able to point out every flaw instantly and in real time.

No offence to Tron owners and I have owned one as well so I'm not a hater but after my brief time with TWD pro I just don't see how you could deem that game great and this one a dud, please explain. Not being defensive just curious, so take it easy.

I'm having a hard time with this one. It isn't passing the smell test for me. If Lyman spent 6 months writing it I could totally see them coming into his office and saying "No voices from the show, yank em". But that would just be content. But why would they pitch all the rules as well? Start from scratch? I'm having a tough time understanding how that would come about. It just doesn't make sense. Could you give us more info? I understand that you probably can't, I'm just trying to understand how it wouldn't be easier to open pinball browser and insert redneck calls into the same ruleset.

I played TWD Pro at a launch party. I must say it plays far better and more fun than it looks at first sight from the pictures/movies I've seen. TWD as a theme is a no starter for me - would be all over it if it was the right zombie franchise (Resident Evil).

why bother when people keep ordering these things that are code incomplete for a least a year. even stern doesn't respect these customers.

I don't have those details, I've given everything I have on info so far.

Guy didn't give me many more details than what I've shared. Sorry guys.

I haven't talked to him this week so far.

Played fine, tilts were too sensitive so the magnet SDTM was a problem. I also didn't care for the clunky "roll off the edge of a ramp" return from the pops.

Something to consider RE voices. If you're Iron Man, Predator or TBL, you only have to sift through 2 hours of dialog to find whatever clips are usable. Star Trek is filled with "Zoom camera up to actor have them say something to explain ridiculous plot" moments - perfect for modes. Plus, per Steve Ritchie's talk at the Seattle show, they were given "clean" dialog only versions of each movie to cull from.

Walking Dead: All dialog is either characters mumbling secrets to each other, or screaming over music and sound effects during a zombie attack. Instead of 2 hours to sift through, you've got 50. Add on a licencor who probably sucks to work with, actors who are too busy to record dialog, and you end up where we are today.

It certainly makes one yearn for the days when they could get the entire cast of STTNG to record custom callouts for the game.

I've put more games on TWD and I must say the layout is pretty cool. It's different but that's good. Since the framework is there all they need to do is fine tune it. They can always add or change callouts and who knows maybe they will step up and get actors speech. Its early, wait till it's finished, then judge. Me personally, I'll wait for MAIDEN.

I am pretty sure if you flashed a total of $100,000 grand at some or all of TWD actors you would get some bites. Amortized over a run of 2000 games, I would pay an extra 50 bucks for a horde or custom Merle vs. Daryl callouts or whatever.

I mean, would you show up to work for at most a day or two for a hundred grand? I would. Maybe the guy who plays Merle is too busy having 20 year old female groupies hand feed him grapes to be interested in it, but color me surprised

If Stern isn't willing to cough up the cash, maybe the community needs to be more proactive. Someone should create a kickstarter to raise money for custom quotes ...

How about that someone be you since u suggested it

Played TWD in the Expo tourney. Already the head inside the prison doesn't register. This, with fewer than 500 plays?! Terrible QC, as usual.

Head in prison needs switch set up. Operator at expo didn't set it correctly.

Well said. I was thinking exactly the same thing, which is that the shots are not on the sweet spots of the flipper. Like they just contrived tight shots with the logic "it's a zombie game, so let's make it really hard". I think it is an average title; not bad, not good.

I hate to be a downer but for an 8k game why should WE also pay the actors as well as buying the machine? Why don't we all start a Stern trust fund too so we all have a pool of money to pay the actors for the next Stern game?

I was joking about the kickstarter, but not necessarily about being more proactive as buyers. There has to be something we can do as a community to help motivate Stern. Given what they are charging for the game, there is no excuse for there not to be voice callouts from the show. We can either sit idly by and hope for the best, or we can do something to let Stern know that we are displeased. Considering how large of a percentage the home market represents to Stern's bottom line, we actually wield quite a bit of power. It's just a matter of figuring out how to leverage that power in a way that helps us achieve our goal. Anyone have any ideas?

Like a Pinside request thread addressed to Stern?
See how many members sign it... Can't hurt to ask

The motivation is supposed to be not buying their games when they don't do something we like, but thats never going to happen.

I put in 20 games or so at a local bar. I really love the theme, art package, and the layout is interesting, but I don't think I'll be putting much more money in it due to all the cheap drains.

Ball off the magnet, STDM.
Ball out of the bumpers, STDM.
Ball hitting the right slingshot, airball to the left outlane.

I'd say about 20% of the balls I played were cheap drains due to bad design. I'd probably love the machine if I had one at home and I could tweak things to be more fair, but it's not worth the $$ to me to play it on location.

Seems to be the issue, drains on location! Set up right, at home, and problems avoided. Well, I guess OPs don't mind it that way

Hold on Ice. Are you saying OPs on location are setting up games for minimal ball times?

I don't know this world anymore...

Exactly. The first thing I thought of was a boycott of all NIB Sterns until they address this TWD nonsense, but I quickly realized that it would be in vein. As soon as Stern announces Iron Maiden, or whatever the hell the next title is going to be, the lemmings will be lining up in droves again to pre-order the LE's. We are our own worst enemies.

I think most folks are way-overreacting saying this game is sub par. Perhaps you're too used to seeing $8K NIB games?

I played TWD today and had a blast. The layout is fun/unique, the art is awesome, and the light show is engaging. At this point, the code is the only thing keeping me from giving it a full endorsement. It is a very nice looking game with some fun shots, I can't wait to see what Lyman does to "flesh-out" this bad-boy.

I very much enjoyed what little time I've spent on it thus far. Understand that I was playing it in a place where I couldn't hear 90% of what the machine was saying (much less the music it was playing), and on the very early code that was available a couple weeks ago.

That being said, I was more than happy with the playfield itself. It's showing some interesting layout changes from Stern, which I appreciate. If it isn't innovative, at least they're not playing it as safe as they have been. The shots feel good, the ramps look unable to be hit but aren't (and are, in fact, quite repeatable), and it feels pretty fresh overall. On the one I was able to play, the Prison house sensors were working well, but once those doors opened, the zombie head inside *might* sense one shot out of every ten, at most. While that was disappointing, I *still* had fun playing the thing. It says something pretty good when the Big Toy on the game isn't fully functional, and I still could enjoy the thing on early code with basically no sound.

I was surprised to be as impressed as I was. Happily so.

My uncle recently got to meet Andrew Lincoln and asked about the pinball and why there was no custom speech. He was astonished that there even was a pinball machine, he was excited about it but did not even know about it or why it did not have any of the actors voices in it. Sounds like Stern is just being lazy and not even reaching out.

Sounds like an opportunity to reach out directly to Andrew! Get on it Stern
Then again, they may have already tried and his agent said no without ever even approaching him. Wouldn't be the first time a talent never heard of an opportunity.

He also might have to get permission from AMC if he even did want to do it. AMC owns Rick Grimes, not Andrew Lincoln.

What do owners have to say now after the first few months? Thinking about this game...

I love it. Can't stop playing it.

I'm highly addicted myself, play a game, sit down for 10 min and then I'm back. It's not a honeymoon phase either, gameplay seems fresh and rule set even with early code is great.

I Finally got to Un-Box & play the Banker's LE ,, I Like it !! The Music is Great w/ the Pin and the Goofy call out guy Really isn't that Bad ,, !! With All the Xtra toys the LE offer's like the Kross-bow , Raising Ramp , drop target to get back N 2 the Shooter lane 4 the Xtra Ball , Rustic Powder Coat ( now that lOok's Great ) Mirrored B/G , Fish Tank w/ 3 Heads , R.W Led boards , GI's that change from Red to White automatically etc ... Taking All of this away from the Pro , I just wonder how it play's .
I will say TWD is a Drain Monster on either out lane and STLM from the Prison / Barn ,,

I voted for B ,, I liked it , but I'd sell or Trade it after a while ( that's what I do ) .. Kick Azz Pin tho .. Here's my Video ,, watch it using 1080p

First month with machine and it's not a honeymoon phase? Funny. Glad you like it! That's what's supposed to happen.

Its not funny, I have had over 70 pins come in and out of my home over the last few years and I'm well aware of the honeymoon phase, if you have played an LE in the proper setting then you would understand. I get what your saying but it doesn't apply here. Xmen had a HMP, Met HMP, AC/DC HMP, TWDLE just great. Theme is part of it for sure but that's a major factor with regards to pinball.

Dude, you said the same with your last machine, STLE. Unless you're saying it outside of what would be the honeymoon period, saying it's not the "honeymoon period" is just silly. To me. Go wild.

TWDLE is a keeper, Cointaker sent warm white premium 2s , reds, red flex. Great improvement.

I did say that and STLE is still in my collection, everything else is gone. In fact STLE is the longest I've owned any pin so you can see I'm well aware of the honeymoon phase as I don't keep pinball machines for very long. Not to be a dick but tough to take criticism from someone who owns AVLE, that game lasted 2 weeks in my house. To each is own I guess.