The Walking Dead Pinball

[ShoryukenToTheChin]

Clementine Wizard Mode

If anyone wants to see how the Wizard Mode is -

***Spoilers***

[DeafDumb&BlindKid]

I am already finding an annoying issue with the iPad version of this game - at the start of almost every game the game stalls very slightly just as the ball comes down for the left flipper attempt at skill shot - causes a very brief freeze of the ball just before it hits the sweetspot on the left flipper and therefore screws up the timing and an attempt at a precisely timed shot. It is really pissing me off. I thought it might be the iPad struggling to process the graphics but even with every other progam closed and even a reboot of the iPad does not clear the issue (thought it might be a memory issue). The problem repeats itself at random times during the game - but guaranteed the first time I try this shot on every new game I play. Please fix!

[Metalzoic]

I reached it and concur with daverthehutt: 3 ball multiball with all shots scoring a jackpot, it was 1 million for me, and the sink-holes scoring 4 million.

And yes it does start as soon as you complete your final mission, no intro, no build up, no dramatic sounds... I've said it before and I'll say it again, Zen's tables could be drastically improved if they could give us some sort of fanfare and pause before you are rewarded with something big (Wizard mode, super jackpots, completing or starting events etc.) Anyone who has played a real Addams Family machine for instance must remember the excitement and anticipation when you lock your third ball and start multiball. SHOW-TIME!!! A suspense filled pause in gameplay can make all the difference I think.

I think I've won all the Extra Balls listed in the in-game table guide for this table, again you hardly realise you've even lit the Extra Ball let alone won one unless you're paying close attention, let us know for sure Zen with some bangs and whistles!! Maybe think about a mechanical sound effect sometimes along the lines of the knocker in a real table?

I agree and I've brought this up before.

The biggest problem with most Zen tables is that their pacing is off and they lack that fanfare. Almost as if the designers don't have much experience with real machines.

Real tables pause when it's necessary to give you a chance to read important DMD info or to build up excitement. When a real table's about to release a ball back to you it will typically provide a strobe or flash that you can't miss to prepare you, often with accompanying sound effects. Zen often just drops it in with barely an announcement or warning. On real machines big events garner big feedback and often hold the ball to let that accomplishment sink in. That additional build-up, DMD graphic, dramatic pause, flashing light show etc... is just as much a payoff to play for as a high score. Hell even the bonus score count is a more exciting affair on a real table!

Sadly, not so much with Zen. Although there are a few that do a much better job with this flow, Excalibur for example probably captures real timing the best and also does a decent job with the rest.

I'm not saying this to bash it, but as constructive criticism. If they went back and tuned all there tables to behave more like that it would very, very drastically improve the experience. It would probably also go a long way towards getting more pinball purist to give it a fair try and bring in more customers.

However after 52 or so tables now and they still haven't enforced this into their design philosophy and I doubt they ever will.

Oh well.

[Captain B. Zarre]

I wish that the choices actually mattered. Every time I make a decision, the only new change I get is a different voice quote. It would be awesome if there were different missions for every episode because then it would feel like the decisions truly mattered, instead of just being tacked on. The other two problems I have with the table are that the side missions are completely useless scoring wise besides the extra ball after completing them all, and that there needs to be more fanfare for certain objectives (ie. Clementine mode startup). Besides those minor flaws, this is one of Zen's most original tables and I hope there are more like this.

[Zouya]

Hi anyone know how much to combo in "the walking dead" have to win an extra ball? Guide in the game is not accurate.

edit post: sorry skyway73 have answered before in the forum, 6 hit combo.

6 hit for all table? the guide never accurate

[wims]

Hi !

So after a few games I can tell what I really think of this Walking Dead pinball.

First I had the Barbie's confirmation today, that figures appearing on the table (and depending of your choices) have no impact on the gameplay. So all the choices we made before and after missions are truly useless. I mouth corner.

In parallel, I play on the original game (I imagine that's the deal of the licence, to discover the other game, no ?) And this is a real problem : playing on this table spoil me a good part of the script (to not tell the whole story, from the beginning to the end) just by reading some important choices, cause now I can imagine what happens in the game. So these choices are not only useless : they revealing highlights of the script of the original game.

For these reasons, it's really, really hard to make me understand what this new designer wanted to do. Spoil the game with useless things, that's done !

About the physics of the ball, I've already said what I think and that won't change : too difficult to attract people, especially new players when we think the older are struggling to play / have fun with this new gameplay. Missions are not specially difficult, but gameplay is.

Otherwise, it's very a beautifull table (as usual). I have to finish my actual game, then I'd hang this table on a wall and don't touch it more

[ShoryukenToTheChin]

I just remember seeing the 4 million over and over, but I'm not sure if it was ramps or holes. Skyway is most likely more accurate in how it scores.

Well I managed to record it via the PS Share function, going to upload to YouTube one of these days. So hopefully it will clear some of the confusion up.

[daverthehutt]

I reached it and concur with daverthehutt: 3 ball multiball with all shots scoring a jackpot, it was 1 million for me, and the sink-holes scoring 4 million.

I just remember seeing the 4 million over and over, but I'm not sure if it was ramps or holes. Skyway is most likely more accurate in how it scores.

[Cloda]

I reached it and concur with daverthehutt: 3 ball multiball with all shots scoring a jackpot, it was 1 million for me, and the sink-holes scoring 4 million.

And yes it does start as soon as you complete your final mission, no intro, no build up, no dramatic sounds... I've said it before and I'll say it again, Zen's tables could be drastically improved if they could give us some sort of fanfare and pause before you are rewarded with something big (Wizard mode, super jackpots, completing or starting events etc.) Anyone who has played a real Addams Family machine for instance must remember the excitement and anticipation when you lock your third ball and start multiball. SHOW-TIME!!! A suspense filled pause in gameplay can make all the difference I think.

I think I've won all the Extra Balls listed in the in-game table guide for this table, again you hardly realise you've even lit the Extra Ball let alone won one unless you're paying close attention, let us know for sure Zen with some bangs and whistles!! Maybe think about a mechanical sound effect sometimes along the lines of the knocker in a real table? BTW I think the easiest Extra Ball is hitting a combo on this table, only six shots from my counting and the timers are generous.

Another tip I would add is never hit the potentially dangerous right loop with a moving ball as this seems to increase the chance of a SDTM. From a caught position on the left flipper I don't think I've had one drain from it, seems to be more likely if the ball is moving faster.

Very good points, I hope and trust that Zen will take heed.

[ShoryukenToTheChin]

Funny enough I just got to the Wizard Mode, although didn't last long perhaps 2 minutes. Yep just a reward Multiball mode, I find that if you can complete Ep. 3 and 5 then the others fall into place easy.

[skyway73]

Anybody played the Clementine Wizard Mode yet? I was just one shot away from clearing all the Episodes but sadly I choked lol. Would like to know what it entrails for my Guide. Heck any info would be great on any aspects of the Table.

I reached it and concur with daverthehutt: 3 ball multiball with all shots scoring a jackpot, it was 1 million for me, and the sink-holes scoring 4 million.

And yes it does start as soon as you complete your final mission, no intro, no build up, no dramatic sounds... I've said it before and I'll say it again, Zen's tables could be drastically improved if they could give us some sort of fanfare and pause before you are rewarded with something big (Wizard mode, super jackpots, completing or starting events etc.) Anyone who has played a real Addams Family machine for instance must remember the excitement and anticipation when you lock your third ball and start multiball. SHOW-TIME!!! A suspense filled pause in gameplay can make all the difference I think.

I think I've won all the Extra Balls listed in the in-game table guide for this table, again you hardly realise you've even lit the Extra Ball let alone won one unless you're paying close attention, let us know for sure Zen with some bangs and whistles!! Maybe think about a mechanical sound effect sometimes along the lines of the knocker in a real table? BTW I think the easiest Extra Ball is hitting a combo on this table, only six shots from my counting and the timers are generous.

Another tip I would add is never hit the potentially dangerous right loop with a moving ball as this seems to increase the chance of a SDTM. From a caught position on the left flipper I don't think I've had one drain from it, seems to be more likely if the ball is moving faster.

[daverthehutt]

Anybody played the Clementine Wizard Mode yet? I was just one shot away from clearing all the Episodes but sadly I choked lol. Would like to know what it entrails for my Guide. Heck any info would be great on any aspects of the Table.

It's a score as many points as you can multiball mode. When I did it the other day I was getting 4 million per ramp shot.

Oh, and it started automatically after completing the last main mission.

[ShoryukenToTheChin]

Anybody got to/completed the Wizard Mode?!

Anybody played the Clementine Wizard Mode yet? I was just one shot away from clearing all the Episodes but sadly I choked lol. Would like to know what it entrails for my Guide. Heck any info would be great on any aspects of the Table.

[Casio]

Graphics, lighting and sounds are all top notch. Actual gameplay on this one borders on the boring side.

[Cloda]

That is true but that is also part of my previous point.If the players in question genuinely like pinball and in this case genuinely like The Walking Dead table well then they should not only learn to accept the challenge but even embrace it.That can be part of the fun.

Well if you are reading this very thread then you'll see that the opinions on the difficulty/annoyance level of The Walking Dead are about even split.And that is fine.It is not a table that takes your hand and walks you completely through the park.If one wants that then there are other Zen tables that are more accessible for players looking for an easy game.Not everything needs to be streamlined towards the lowest common denominator.Zen does provide somewhat variety when it comes to the difficulty level of their tables.And that is a good thing.

Well, this just take us back to the point that this tables design is fine for the pinball savvy crowd. For the pinball initiates, crossing over from the dark and murky world of the Walking Dead (where life and death decisions are presumably precious) they won't really have the opportunity or inclination to find out if they can genuinely like pinball. So, you are right that there are other more accessible tables, but will the Walking Dead crowd shuffle their way over to find out or will they move on in their quest for fresh meat?

Anyway, that is a moot point and one that only Zen can really, and should care about, answering.