Pro is a great game, but the Premium *IS* worth it - either way you will be happy IMO.

The upgraded features on the Premium/LE are all game play features: spinners, WW magnet, BG Ramp, drop target, Crossbow and lockdown bar button. Therefore they add extra game play - BUT the pro is still 80%-90% the same game.

I think TWD is a game that people appreciate more and more as time goes on. You need to get used to it so it doesn't just constantly kick your butt - and as you get better, you start to realize how awesome it really is. A majority of the naysayers have probably never moved passed the initial "butt-kicked" phase.

Congratulations - Excellent Choice!

Yes - Josh Sharpe discussed this on a Pod Cast where he also said he's loving TWD.

Foam pads under the lifting flap, and adjusting the ramp so there is not a bump at the lifting ramp transition.

Stern has a fix kit with the foam pads - it's probably already installed on the new games coming off the assembly line.

- Set the ball save to the max (30 seconds) - this is very helpful for more casual players - so they don't feel awful right away
- don't set the tilt too tight -> and force yourself to be more aggressive
- Lower lighting Seige from 12 to 8 prison jackpots
- adjust the outlanes to the easier setting

There's nothing wrong with adjusting a game to fit your personal tastes. People do it all the time to make easy games more challenging, and it shouldn't be frowned on to make really tough games more accessible for more casual players. Sometimes the default settings are not optimal anyway - that's why they have settings. Just 2 comments....

- If it's too easy, then it won't be as fun - the challenge is a big part of the fun (but not if it's impossible for you)
- if posting High Scores, it's nice to mention it's not factory settings - so the rest of us don't get too jealous

The extra lighting effects in 1.41 make it tougher in a dark room IMO.

As a tip - try to get prison hits and start a mode right away (drop targets) while the ball saver is active - use the ball save time wisely!

And some more settings to make it more fun for you...
- award Extra Balls instead of Replays - for both points and specials
- set the Replay score to 15 Million, and make it fixed, with no auto adjust

On free play winning an extra game is kind of senseless, so making it valuable gives you something to strive for. Also having an attainable goal that extends your game will make it more fun. Just remember to make it harder again if it gets to be too easy.

IMO TWD is the most immersive pin Stern has ever made!

Try this out for fun ->>> Play sitting on a short/medium stool -> this gives you a view from a different angle which makes the game feel even more immersive! There's more glare from the backglass, but it's a blast.

1 - adjust level, change rubber on left post of the right ramp entrance (slightly larger post sleeve)
2 - click both flipper buttons to cut animation short and it will throw the ball with the magnet
3 - adjust the leaf switch from under the playfield

Is it possibly mounted upside down? 3 slits on the bottom (or side) instead of the top?

Yes - first mode is 1 set of drops, after that it's 2 sets of drops to start a mode.
Once you complete the drops to "Light Modes" call-out "Dead Features are Lit" -> the mode lights will flash -> the first flashing mode shot made will start that mode. After a mode has been played, the feature light will stay lit and will not flash when you light the modes - therefore you cannot re-start a mode that has already been played, until you finish all modes and they all reset.

The order of the 3 drops does not matter. But the first drop down determines which type of supply you will get when you complete that set.
The supply types are:

- First Aid
- Weapons
- Food

The main thing you want to shoot for is lighting all 3 of these lights -> so you can start Blood Bath Multiball.
These lights rotate when all 3 drops are up - whichever light is lit when you hit the first drop down (any of the 3) will determine which supply type you will collect when you get all 3 drops down.

Yes - you want to time it so both are lit solid as you go over them -> and you must still go down the lit top lane to collect.

The show calls the zombies "Walkers" - so it means "only zombies not welcome"

Woah - you must have gotten to Last Man Stainding- Nice!

If you have a Pro - here is how to work under the playfield:
- lean it ALL the way back (vertical) against the backbox (take the balls out first)
- stand it on the 2 "peg" legs -> put the legs on the lockdown bar receiver
- use the metal bar on the right side to prop up the playfield
- purchase the "premium/LE" support rails and add them -> Pinball Life sells these

TWD is a TOUGH game, and is much easier for a really good player to enjoy, than more mid level players - please don't take that the wrong way. Having said that, go ahead and make adjustments to fit your tastes - it's not hard to do.

-------------- BALL SAVE -------------
- give yourself a long ball save - 30 seconds - to avoid the frustration of "I didn't even get to flip"

-------------- EXTRA BALLS ------------
- Fix a free extra ball at 15 million --- IMO this is better as a reward than just setting the game to 4 balls
- Set specials to award extra balls --- in home use free games are worthless, but extra balls aren't

-------------- OUTLANES -------------
- move the outlanes in
- use larger posts or rubbers on the outlanes
--- outlane problem fixed (you can practically close your outlanes)

-------------- SO CALLED "Cheap" DRAINS - PRISON ---------------------
- leveling
- rotate the magnet core
- disable the prison magnet - just unplug it - if it's too frustrating for you
- fix your prison zombie switch - just adjust it - mine has zero problems since adjusting
- disable the prison doors if you can't get it to your liking (in the menu)
- focus on your save skills - shaking the machine and slap saves

-------------- SO CALLED "Cheap" DRAINS - POPS ---------------------
- leveling
- use a bigger rubber on the post left of the right ramp entrance
- focus on your save skills - shaking the machine and slap saves

Please stop complaining about "Cheap" drains and start realizing it's a TOUGH game with danger areas -> play better. Plus, if you do ALL of the above I'm sure you will have much longer games.
For many better players, games get to be TOO LONG - we need some tough, short play games.
BUT it makes it SOOOOOO much better when you have a great game - you feel like you accomplished something-> and you did!

Think about this -> you've had the game 3 days! If you were having great games already, you would see everything within 1 month! A big part of the awesomeness of TWD is the challenge - are you up to the challenge?

Just add the little piece of stick on felt to the end of the metal guide rail, just before the pops. The ball goes to the left flipper 90% of the time, and it's so smooth it's scary fast. I posted this in another thread with pictures.

IMO - This makes no sense other than "pride". If the game is truly ruined for you, and there is a simple fix????
All newer games come with adjustments for different skills, including adjustable outlane posts. If you make it too easy, just back off on the adjustments and make it harder again. A great game is a great game - ADJUST TO FIT YOUR SKILL/ENJOYMENT!

FYI - It's not cheating, unless you are competing/comparing against others.

Also remember, if a game is too easy -> the fun/excitement goes out the window. This adjustment argument works both ways, there are many games that need a tweak to make them harder, which makes them more fun! Of course telling your friends you made your game harder than stock works much better in a pissing contest.

Yes - it is.

My suggestion - try removing the sticker and see if all your problems go away.

You can collect it, but if you shoot it too close to the game auto-launching balls it doesn't count. Once the ball saver is off and it's no longer launching balls, but still in Prison MB, it will give you the extra ball.

Put some pants on your Well Walker and that won't happen!

IMO the Bicycle Girl light is needed and the Cliffy is not on this game. Leg protectors are installed at the factory on all new Sterns at this point.

But did you purchase these from Pinbits? The image looks like the protectors sold by Pinball Life which is only 4 pieces, red and not from pinbits.

The Pinbits protector set has 13 pieces, and does not indicate it is in color. They usually identify if the plastics are in color, so the assumption would be they sell a 13 piece clear set. Anyone have pics of the Pinbits 13 piece set installed?

There's a testimony to the intensity of this game!!!

So is this a case of: You Broke it You Bought it????

Replace the 4A magnet fuse with a 5A - going up 1 amp for the magnets isn't too risky. If anything shorts, it will blow immediately.

We plan on making a fix for the TWD LE/Premium left ramp. This will make the LE/Premium left ramp as smooth as the pro!

I started a new thread for it here: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/new-twd-lepremium-left-ramp-fix

Even with adjustments, and/or a Cliffy the ramp simply rejects more balls than the pro ramp. With extensive testing, we have seen that the ball jumps (or skips) when it first hits the ramp flap, which is because of the steeper angle of this particular ramp. Other games have steep ramps, but they are fixed so they can include a slight curve in the ramp flap. Because TWD LE has a lifting ramp, the ramp flap can't be screwed down to create that curve.

The fix changes the angle of the entrance to the ramp and will be a better flowing ramp with the fix than without. It's great that you're happy with your ramp, but there's definitely a difference between the Pro and the Premium/LE left ramp which is pretty noticeable on most games.

FYI - The game doesn't randomly choose which type of walker bomb to give you. If you have Prison qualified (the doors are open, but not in multiball) and complete a "Weapon" drop target bank -> you get a "Blue" prison walker bomb. If you have Well Walker qualified (music has changed, but not in WW MB) and complete a "Food" drop target bank -> you get a "Green" well walker bomb.
Note: you have to get ALL the targets down after the mode is qualified.
This gives you a Blue Walker Bomb:
- Qualify Prison
- Hit first drop while on "Weapon"
- Complete drop bank ------------> Get a "Blue" Walker bomb
This does not give you a Blue Walker Bomb:
- Hit first drop while on "Weapon"
- Qualify Prison
- Complete rest of drop bank ------------> do NOT get a "Blue" Walker bomb
Also - it makes sense which drop target item awards which award -> "Weapons" are needed for the Prison MB, and "Food" matches the obese Well Walker zombie.

Added over 8 years ago: EDIT ---- Should have said "First Aid" instead of "Weapon" to get Prison bombs

The lockdown bar button will be lit in color: Blue, Green or Red - indicating which type of Walker Bomb you have.

I'm pretty sure Red is a "Horde" walker bomb.

Use some form of plastic wood suitable for fixing holes. QuikWood from Pinball life is good...

http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=1561

Make sure the screws hold the lane guide forward after your fix - the hop is when the ball hits the flipper bat.
It's not likely that the lane guide has worn down - most likely the screw holes are not holding it in the correct position.

The extended ramp flap fix works much better than a cliffy protector for rejects and airballs. The cliffy protector just protects the playfield, but the extended ramp flap changes the angle of the ramp - making it a much smoother transition from playfield to ramp.

Just remove it and put a piece of mylar over the hole. It will improve the action on the top left pop bumper, and I've never had the ball get stuck there.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/new-twd-lepremium-left-ramp-fix/page/2#post-3284815

BG ramp is a big plus on Premium/LE - does not kill flow if it's adjusted to be smooth (not hard with the ramp extension), and BG mode provides a change in the playfield layout. On the Pro you are always just hitting the ramp, over and over. On the Premium, sometimes it's a ramp, and sometimes it's a bash toy --->>> more variety makes it more exciting/fun IMO. Also, when it's the bash toy the action is faster, as the ball comes back to the flippers faster than when you make the ramp shot. BTW - it also enhances the strategy on the game, as it is beneficial to combine BG and CDC so you can make faster progress on CDC with the ramp "up".

Did the premium you played have the ramp extension on it?
Probably not, as that mod is the one that really makes the difference.

Yes - there is a video in the TWD ramp fix thread. All ramps have a flap on them - the fix simply makes it a longer flap. And it's attached in a way that is just as secure/firm as the original flap, with added support.

You need to try a game with this fix installed to see the difference.

It changes the steepness of the ramp to be like the Pro. That is why it "feels different" as you say, because the normal Premium ramp disrupts the ball flow due to a greater steepness of the ramp - specifically where the ramp meets the playfield. This is much better than just making the ramp solid - which is the original fix I came up with (adding foam padding), before Stern started providing the same.

NOTE: The TWD ramp is different than a screwed down ramp like GB, since the ramp on TWD Premium is not screwed down, it has a less friendly initial curve. The ramp extension makes the left ramp flow just like a Pro if you get the large version.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/new-twd-lepremium-left-ramp-fix

- or just PM me.

Yes - for this particular case.

The name mirror blades was used for the metal side coverings, and it caught on - so everyone just kept using the term blades: Mirror Blades, Pin Blades, Art Blades, etc.

Go into the Test menu, and test the ball trough switches like real play. Eject a ball, then let it drain and watch the switches.

Most likely one of 2 things:
- leaf switch needs adjusting -> most likely the last one in the trough
- Did you add mylar to protect your drain opening? This frequently doesn't hold, and pops up - causing an obstruction.

It would be a good idea to disconnect and reconnect/reseat the trough connectors too.

Did you make sure to get "Slow Blow"?

It is common for some wiring that goes over the ramp behind the back wall to shift and slow/stop the ball. You just need to check for it and re-route it a little if it's in the balls path.

You've got the best Borg games right there - but you'll need to add Aerosmith to that list as it's awesome!

Yes it's steeper on the Premium/LE. That is how the "ramp flap extender" mod fixes the smoothness of the ramp - by extending the ramp, it becomes less steep, just like the TWD Pro ramp.

Nice game!

FYI - The translite glass is made of glass - not plexi.

Premium / LE all the way on TWD IMO. But the Pro is easier for sure.

Walker bombs can definitely be used as a ball save in the right situation, but the Well Walker magnet, Woodbury drop target, Crossbow ricochets and Bicycle Girl can all lead to a ball drain. So ultimately the Pro has less ball drains.

There are a few extremely cheap and easy fixes for this issue, but the operator at your location may not know or care.
Just adding a rubber ring to a post pretty much makes the game fair.

FYI - for anyone that has my TWD Ramp Flap Extension (for Premium/LE left ramp)...

To make the ramp as totally smooth as possible, add a small piece of mylar on top of the ramp flap AND extension (just below the rivets).
The mylar will cover the seam between the ramp flap and the extension to completely smooth out the ramp.

Exactly - that's what he should do. Specifically on the bottom bumper.
If it still bugs him that much he should just sell the game, as it appears it's not a good game choice for him.

The pic of your playfield doesn't look that bad. Can you take some more pics, so we could see how it looks from straight on angles?
Maybe the pic you uploaded isn't showing the ribbing very well?

Premium/LE is WAY cooler - The extra toys are great IMO and the game just has a much better feel to it.
I will be making more of the ramp flap extensions, which makes the BG ramp super smooth so no worries there.

Premium/LE has many advantages over the Pro:
- BG Lift Ramp changes the shot, so it's not the same old ramp shot constantly
- WW Magnet - extra magnet action
- 2 Spinners - add extra scoring, and it's just more fun to nail a spinner with sound effects
- Woodbury Drop Target - changes the shot - makes the shot feel better (not just an empty open hole all the time)
- Special GI lighting - extra cool effects programmed in -> way better atmosphere
- RGB inserts - add to the lighting effects
- Walker Bombs / Lock down bar button - another element added for cooler game play
- Cross Bow - IMO one of the best/coolest toys in pinball
--- it's fun to have contests for best Crossbow Frenzy
--- totally do not get the comments that the Crossbow hurts flow - the crossbow doesn't get engaged very often, so for the small % of time it does is a welcome break from the otherwise constant pressure of TWD
- IMO Cabinet Artwork rates LE > Pre > Pro

The premium just feels like the complete package. It has so many more things going on that interact with the player. The pro just doesn't feel anywhere near as immersive or engaging to me. Everything I just listed except cabinet art enhances the player immersion and interaction with the game. I don't think there is any other game that has as many game play / interactive upgrades going from a pro to a premium.

A lot of people have been hung up on the BG ramp being smoother on a pro. It is typically, but the ramp flap extension properly installed totally fixes that. Do yourself a BIG favor and go for the premium. TWD Premium/LE is the best Stern game ever!

NEW TWD Interactive Game Guide: http://pinballzoo.com/Games/GameTips?id=913

Or search for other games at this page: http://pinballzoo.com/Games

-- Shot Map displays shots for currently selected rule
-- Optimized for cell phones

pbz_TWD (resized).png

Replace the IDC connector at with a Molex connector. The IDC connector cuts through the insulation to touch the wire for the connection. But the Molex connector wraps around the stripped wire for a much higher capacity connection.

+5 for the Premium/LE
Yeah, there's a bunch of us all in the same town LOL

Does your drop target have a sticker on it? If it does, take it off. The thickness of the drop target can be enough to make the target prone to not staying up (hooked on the ledge).

Just a reminder of this TWD Game Guide (Rules)....

http://pinballzoo.com/Games/GameTips?id=913

I think you're missing the point of the Game Guides...
--- Visually Interactive Rulesheet - see the playfield and have the shots mapped for you
--- Much faster / better to get familiar with the playfield and rules quickly
--- Much better on a phone, and for quick look ups
------ Rules are much more condensed (on purpose)
------ Rules expand when clicked on - starting collapsed -> for quick indexing

The full 10 page rulesheet(s) are great, but....
--- Everyone doesn't learn the same way - the visuals are key in the Game Guides
--- They can be overwhelming at first - and take time to digest
--- Best for the "deep" understanding (sometimes)
--- The Game Guides are much better if you are at a tournament and need a quick lookup

Why not utilize both???

Do you really want to be discouraging, and push people to drop the effort of creating things like Game Guides???

http://pinballzoo.com/Games/GameTips?id=913

Here's a screeshot, showing how the Game Guide is made to work great on a phone...

TWD_Game_Guide (resized).png

They ended up dropping the green -> it's only red and white

The TWD BG Ramp fix is available again! Please order from PinballModGal here:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/twd-pre-le-bg-ramp-fix-mod-available#post-5278594

The mod is super easy to install and will hold strong for years if installed correctly. Making yourself a longer ramp will probably work, but it won't work any better and will take you much more time. Almost every one that has tried the mod has remarked they couldn't believe how well it worked for them. You should go to the thread and watch the video of it in action.

NOTE: A longer ramp may not work as well, because there are a couple aspects of how this mod works that cushions the impact. Part of the problem with how the BG ramp comes from the factory is that it is very stiff, and slides around (sloppy). The mod keeps the ramp from sliding left/right, and provides the extra cushion upon impact of the ball.

There is a setting for how many Prison Jackpots it takes to light Seige - the default is 12. I recommend turning it down to 8 to make it more attainable. Unless you are a top A player, you still won't see it very often at 8 LOL.

Yes - that's where Prison MB Stage 1 starts.
You're confusing Prison MB Qualifying with Prison MB...

Prison MB Qualifying
-- PMBQ Stage 1 - Spell Prison by hitting Prison Doors (some letters spotted at game start)
----- Magnet Grabs ball and flings it
----- Prison Doors Open

-- PMBQ Stage 2 - Spell Prison by hitting Prison Zombie OR Lit Shots (blue arrow)
---- Once Prison is spelled here, then Prison is lit for Prison MB

Prison Multiball
-- PMB Stage 1 - All Shots lit for Jackpots (and Prison Walker Kills),
---- hitting a JP or Prison Doors opens the Prison Doors, so you can hit the Prison Zombie to relight Jackpots
---- Spell PRISON (each JP awards a letter and a Prison Walker Kill) to light the Super Jackpot at RIOT
---- Get the Super Jackpot to advance to Prison MB Stage 2
-- PMB Stage 2 - Ramps are worth 500K+ and a Prison Walker Kill, Jackpots are collected at the Prison Zombie
----- Get 12 Prison Walker Kills to light Siege --- You can change this number in the settings

So you need 6 PW Kills to make it through Stage 1, and the rest you must get in Stage 2 to light Siege

Crossbow Multiball existed in earlier code versions. This was replaced with Crossbow Frenzy a few versions back. The number of Crossbow shots to start the mode is adjustable. I think the default is 3 Crossbow shots. Tunnel is possible, but you have to shoot it on the initial pass. I don't think it's possible on the return pass.