{"id":38332,"date":"2025-11-04T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/?p=38332"},"modified":"2025-11-05T08:14:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T08:14:09","slug":"the-walking-dead-remastered-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/2025\/11\/04\/the-walking-dead-remastered-revealed\/","title":{"rendered":"THE WALKING DEAD REMASTERED REVEALED"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Stern Pinball today revealed their latest game, The Walking Dead Remastered<\/em>. This is the second ‘Remastered’ title, coming almost exactly one year after the first, Metallica Remastered<\/a><\/em>, and, as with that first game, John Borg heads up the design team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ‘Remastered’ series takes a SAM-based dot-matrix game and upgrades many aspects, including the addition of an LCD panel, improved audio quality, RGB LED lighting replacing incandescent lamps, and more robust playfield mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Walking Dead Remastered<\/em> is only available as Premium and Limited Edition models, with the Limited Edition restricted to a maximum of 500 units. Pricing is the same as Stern’s cornerstone titles, meaning the Premium costs $9,699 and the Limited Edition $3,300 more, coming in at $12,999.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s take a look at the exterior of the two models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premium<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The left side of the Premium model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The front of the Premium model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The front side of the Premium model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The translite artwork in the Premium model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The model plaque and speakers on the Premium model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Cabinet<\/a>
Cabinet artwork from the Premium model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Backbox<\/a>
Backbox artwork on the Premium Edition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Limited Edition<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The left side of the Limited Edition model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The front of the Limited Edition model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The right side of the Limited Edition model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The mirrored backglass in the Limited Edition model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The mirroring on the Limited Edition’s backglass artwork<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The numbered model plaque and speakers on the Limited Edition model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Custom<\/a>
Custom side rails on the Limited Edition model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Right<\/a>
Right side cabinet artwork on the Limited Edition model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Right<\/a>
Right side cabinet artwork on the Limited Edition model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Left<\/a>
Left side cabinet artwork on the Limited Edition model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Left<\/a>
Left side cabinet artwork on the Limited Edition model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The artwork for the Remastered editions comes from fantasy, horror and sci-fi artist, Robert Laskey<\/a>. As you can see, both models feature vibrant red, orange and blue colours in stark contrast to the much more muted browns and greens of the original The Walking Dead<\/em> game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a reminder of how the SAM-based The Walking Dead<\/em> game looked when it was first announced on 9th September, 2014, compared with the equivalent models from today’s reveal:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The original Premium and Limited Edition models of The Walking Dead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The Premium and Limited Edition models of The Walking Dead Remastered<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

For those interested in prices, the original The Walking Dead<\/em> from eleven years ago<\/a> cost $7,595 (vs $9,699 for the Remastered) for the Premium and $8,595 (vs $12,999 for the Remastered) for the Limited Edition. Back in September 2014, only the Pro and Limited Edition models were released at launch. The Premium model came a full three months later<\/a> following some doubt about whether a mid-tier version would be produced at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Walking Dead Remastered<\/em> runs on the new SPIKE 3 board system, giving full HD graphics, improved sound quality, better Wi-Fi stability and the potential for using wireless Bluetooth headphones. The newer system also adds Insider Connected which wasn’t available for the original release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also added to the Remastered are new voice calls from actors Michael Rooker and Danai Gurira who play the characters Merle and Michonne respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Limited Edition model includes special laser-cut side rails with Expression Lighting on both the inside and outside, as well as the Expression Speaker Lighting system. So far there is no information on any topper.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Internal<\/a>
Internal and external Expression Lighting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Playfield<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, let’s dive inside to look at the playfield. Both models have the same playfield toys and artwork, with the Expression Lighting being the main differentiator.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Premium model’s playfield<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The Limited Edition model’s playfield<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The Premium and Limited Edition playfields<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

By subtracting the Premium model’s playfield from the Limited Edition’s, we are left with just the differences between them which, as you can see below, are really just the cabinet’s Expression Lighting and the bottom apron’s left side artwork.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Limited Edition playfield with the Premium’s playfield subtracted<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We’ll mostly look at the Limited Edition as that includes the art blades on the interior cabinet sides.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The left side of the Limited Edition’s bottom apron with Lead Designer John Borg’s signature<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The right side of the Limited Edition’s bottom apron<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The left side of the Premium edition’s bottom apron<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The right side of the Premium edition’s bottom apron<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The game’s instruction card<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The two slingshots have now gained sculpted heads, although they appear to be static models.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The left slingshot sculpt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The right slingshot sculpt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Some of the playfield mechanisms have been redesigned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Well Walker is now solenoid controlled rather than relying on the impact of the ball to create movement. The magnet is also more pronounced and robust.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The new Well Walker bash toy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The Well Walker’s magnet and insert design<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The crossbow toy, not originally included in the Pro model, is now driven by a stepper motor, so its speed and position are both more controllable.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The crossbow ball shooter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The crossbow ball shooter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The original The Walking Dead<\/em> game saw the welcome return of star rollovers in the shot leading to the top lanes. These have been redesigned in the Remastered edition to become button rollovers instead.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The star rollovers are now button rollovers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Cell Block C model looks largely unchanged from the original design.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cell<\/a>
Cell Block C<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Bash<\/a>
Bash the doors to open them<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The doors open<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Also largely unchanged is the Governor’s fish tank, containing the three Walkers’ heads, though the green lighting does appear more intense.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Governor’s fish tank<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The Governor’s fish tank<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Bicycle Girl lift ramp on the left looks pretty much as before, though it does appear to have gained a rather unsightly plastic sign mounted above it.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Bicycle Girl lift ramp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The top of the Bicycle Girl ramp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Let’s finish with a few more shots of the Remastered playfield.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Woodbury shot with a new sign<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"New<\/a>
New playfield artwork<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The interior Expression Lighting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The playfield in the Premium edition without the art blades or Expression Lighting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Adding the new 18.5″ LCD panel to The Walking Dead Remastered<\/em> obvious requires a whole new set of display animations to be created along with a new user interface to show scores, credits, ball count and other game information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Details of these are limited, but some are shown in this promo video created by Stern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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