# Walking Dead Event @ Pinball Expo

**Source:** Stern Pinball  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2014-11-11  
**Duration:** 4m 38s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMQm8OLnNLE

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## Analysis

Event coverage from Pinball Expo featuring players and industry figures discussing the Walking Dead pinball machine. Multiple speakers praise the game's design, innovative mechanics (Well Walker toy, skill shot complexity, multiball stacking), playfield flow, artwork progression, and accessibility for both casual and competitive players. The segment concludes with tournament results announcement.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] The Well Walker toy on Walking Dead doesn't make direct contact with the ball, similar to Wolverine implementation — _Player describes mechanical feature during hands-on gameplay discussion_
- [HIGH] Walking Dead's skill shot is one of the most complex skill shots in recent years, requiring precision and can't be achieved by full plunge alone — _Player explicitly praising skill shot design complexity_
- [HIGH] Walking Dead features multiball stacking as a new mechanic that requires skill to execute — _Multiple players reference stacking as an innovative feature on this game generation_
- [HIGH] John Borg designed Walking Dead — _Player explicitly states 'You have John Borg designing it'_
- [HIGH] Walking Dead artwork uses a color progression from flesh tones at top to blood/guts mid-playfield to zombie horde imagery at bottom — _Player describes deliberate visual design progression across playfield_

### Notable Quotes

> "There's like some clear innovation in it I like it a lot it's improved upon previous Stern games."
> — **Player (unnamed)**, Early in segment
> _Direct comparison positioning Walking Dead as advancing prior Stern design standards_

> "The skill shot I think it's one of the best skill shots skill shot I'm still trying to figure out I think it's one of the most complex skill shots on a game in years I haven't seen a rollover in forever"
> — **Player (unnamed)**, Mid-segment
> _Emphasis on skill shot as standout mechanical innovation; explicit praise for complexity_

> "The ramps are super buttery I like the ramps I love the ramps on this thing the long ramps on this is something I haven't seen in a while big fan"
> — **Player (unnamed)**, Mid-segment
> _Specific mechanical praise; ramp design called out as differentiator from recent games_

> "You start out with that flesh color on the top as you move down the playfield you have more blood and more guts and then by the time you get to the bottom you're right in the middle of the zombie horde"
> — **Player (unnamed)**, Mid-segment
> _Detailed description of intentional artistic theme progression as design merit_

> "I think it's a scream when like the prison doors open and you see that head to me that's like hilarious"
> — **Player (unnamed)**, Late segment
> _Positive reaction to specific toy interaction (prison doors/head reveal)_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Walking Dead | game | Stern Pinball machine being demoed and reviewed at Pinball Expo; licensed from TV series |
| John Borg | person | Designer of Walking Dead pinball machine; legendary Stern designer |
| Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of Walking Dead and other pinball machines discussed |
| Pinball Expo | event | Venue where this gameplay demonstration and event are taking place |
| Well Walker | product | Mechanical toy/animatronic feature on Walking Dead playfield; compared to Wolverine implementation |
| Metallica | game | Referenced as example of Stern's innovative game design alongside Tron and Iron Man |
| Tron | game | Referenced as example of Stern's innovative game titles with great design |
| Iron Man | game | Referenced as example of Stern's innovative titles alongside Tron and Metallica |
| Gary | person | Speaker quoted regarding accessibility of games for new players vs casual audiences |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Walking Dead game design and mechanics, Playfield artwork and visual design progression, Multiball mechanics and stacking innovation, Skill shot complexity and design, Toy implementation (Well Walker, prison doors)
- **Secondary:** Stern's current design philosophy and accessibility, Pinball resurgence and era of innovation
- **Mentioned:** Tournament competition and prize structure

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.92) — Overwhelmingly positive reception of Walking Dead across all player comments. No criticisms mentioned. Players consistently praise mechanics, design, flow, artwork, and theme execution. Comments emphasize innovation and improvement on previous Stern generation games. Tone is enthusiastic and appreciative throughout.

### Signals

- **[sentiment_shift]** Strong positive reception of Walking Dead among experienced players at Pinball Expo; game praised across mechanical, artistic, and accessibility dimensions (confidence: high) — Consistent praise from multiple players across all gameplay aspects; no criticisms mentioned
- **[design_philosophy]** Walking Dead demonstrates Stern's strategy to balance competitive depth with casual accessibility through multiball stacking and skill shot complexity that appeals to both player types (confidence: high) — Gary's comment about making games accessible to newer players while multiball stacking brings depth; player notes multiball can start accidentally for casual players but requires skill to leverage effectively
- **[design_philosophy]** Walking Dead's artwork uses intentional visual progression (flesh → blood/guts → zombie horde) creating cohesive theme that bridges serious horror IP with playfield design (confidence: high) — Player detailed description of color/content progression; explicitly contrasts with Photoshop actor-based approaches; praised design cohesion
- **[market_signal]** Walking Dead positioned as exemplar of pinball industry resurgence and current 'great era' of innovation-driven game design (confidence: high) — Player explicitly states 'I think it's a great era for pinball' and 'this is another example of how it's the resurgence it's becoming a really awesome thing'
- **[product_strategy]** Walking Dead emphasizes mechanical innovation (Well Walker non-contact toy design, complex skill shot, multiball stacking, long ramps) as design differentiators from previous Stern generation (confidence: high) — Multiple players explicitly state improvements over previous Stern games; specific mechanical features called out as innovations not seen in recent years

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## Transcript

master he's trying to still the pain I enjoy the game there's a lot of modes deep rules it's complicated and I like these kind of games wow it's fun it's a great machine I like it there's so many different shots and some of them are so tight I mean you can play them on the fly but boy you have to have them nailed down otherwise you're going to go down the drain I love the game you have John Borg designing it it's challenging but I have fun on it every time I love the way it plays I think it's great there's like some clear innovation in it I like it a lot it's improved upon previous Stern Games The Well zombie is very similar to The Wolverine it doesn't make direct contact with the toy which is great I think it's really fun I was skeptical at first but once I played it I'm about it the game is a lot of fun it's an interesting layout fun flow the flow I thought was great it kicked my ass lime I like the multi balls I like how you can stack the stacking of the multiballs is something very inherent on this game it's a new change of pace since the last couple Generations multiball takes skill the ramps are super buttery I like the ramps I love the ramps on this thing the long ramps on this is something I haven't seen in a while big fan feels good when you get like five in a row and you're just dialed in on it oh man the coolest feature I would have to say is the skill shot I think it's one of the best skill shots SK shot I'm still trying to figure out I think it's the one of the most complex skill shots on a stame in years I haven't seen a rollover in Forever you can't just full plunge and get it you got to be real precise and to have it on something that you have to touch every time you punch the ball is on point it's legit like I said there's a lot of good shots a lot of stuff going on the play field looks great I love the theme the artwork's pretty red you start out with that flesh color on the top As you move down the play field you have more blood and more guts and then by the time you gets the B you're right in the middle of the zombie hord I've seen a lot of like Photoshop jobs with like actors and this is a movie and this is serious but games like The Walking Dead have been doing some more interesting things with the art the design looks pretty solid and cohesive I love the color scheme especially on a game that's all about like dirty bloody messy nonsense it's so good I love all the toys they're cool I think it's a scream when like the prison doors open and John Youssi that head to me that's like hilarious favorite feature in the game fat zombiie and I like the accessories that come with it it's pretty cool you got the shooter rods you got the topper so it's like the whole package I think it's definitely one of the better ones I'm a big hor genre fan so I've been waiting for a while for something this is right on my alley I ever asked you about Tron every year when I see you I love you so much's great they have great titles I love metallic Iron Man they always have something Innovative good stuff I think it it goes kind of hand in hand what Gary was saying earlier trying to make the games more accessible to some of the newer players the people that play Pinball on a daily basis they're going to realize that you can bring in these other multiballs but you're cas player that's going to walk up to and start a random multiball and then instantly start another one somehow it's it's just fun it's a great era for pinball and I think this is another example of how it's the Resurgence it's becoming a really awesome thing I love it that's great I love it I think it's a lot of fun straight up yeah yeah congratulations young man fourth place $35 woo sweet thir Place $60 something dollar probably second place $109 I think not bad and our winner as your left C all right that's we got another tournament back lap

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: a8905ad8-7d74-474f-b1be-e52f5943d601*