The Walking Dead Pinball

[Skode]

I think beginner players want to be mesmerized and feel empowered for all their rookie skill level. Ms Sploshion Man, Fantastic Four, Sorcerers Lair and Plants Vs Zombies are all straight forward tables with a bit of visual flair and no table thump worthy awkward shots (which is why i never listed Epic Quest - that cave sink hole aint something new players will be able to hit regular). Sorcerers Lair is the ideal free table as its easy to distinguish what does what, the shots and modes are all straight forward, any player should access a free ball/multiball mode with ease, the missions can all be accessed even if you fail some meaning people dont get frustrating if one particular mode is causing them problems and the lights on the table clearly indicate what people should be aiming for... which isnt always the case for all the tables where some views = harder to discern what your going for next.

More of that is what i would say is ideal for newer players to get hooked on... big packs with three to four tables are ideal for flexing difficulty muscles as well as throw the dog a bone in giving rookies a table or two to have fun on instead of be flustered with. I think big score tables are also ideal for new players... it can be brutal for new players trying to get some sort of score they will be proud of with some tables like say Rome but Darth Vader on the other hand could be their first ten million score and thats just for assembling Vader himself prior to starting the table proper. Back in my days of starting i had to perceive as in game table helps were rubbish compared to now and trying to be anything but a novice when you've the likes of tiny score spe******t table Extreme or equally too small for noobs to be comfortable with Speed Machine. It was only with Buccaneer i truly started to get a feel for the game and i started to get the hang on what i was meant to be doing with it - not just the tables specific modes but the universal skills needed such as trapping the ball > flailing at the ball like a lunatic.

[ALH2012]

I agree with you in principle, also being an old school gamer, but in the context of Zen wanting to draw a new group of players to pinball the difficulty of this table might not be so conducive.

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.

[OriginalEther]

Maybe. But with so many other good games out there (in contrast to the Atari era, where there were so many bad ones it crashed the industry), there's not much room for patience. If the game's not fun, people aren't going to stick around.

Again, if it's difficult because it's challenging, that's one thing. If it's annoying, that's another, and from what I'm reading this table falls more under the annoying side.

Difficulty modes are a good thing, because it is tough for designers to find the right balance, especially in an era of hardcore games, young kids, casual gamers, and beginners. Having multiple difficulty levels, or doing the easy main quest with a bunch of more difficult side quests/conditions method, allows the game to appeal to all sorts of players.

[ALH2012]

Again, if it's difficult because it's challenging, that's one thing. If it's annoying, that's another, and from what I'm reading this table falls more under the annoying side.

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.

[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.

[Casio]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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