The Walking Dead

Stern Pinball Revives the Undead: The Walking Dead Remastered Rises Again!

November 5, 2025 By ausretrogamer

The Walking Dead Lives Again – Stern’s New Remaster Bites Back! 🧟‍♂️

Ah, timing is everything! Just a few days after Halloween, Stern Pinball has dropped a monster announcement – their second remastered pinball machine, and this one’s a true undead legend. That’s right, the 2014 masterpiece The Walking Dead has been resurrected for a new generation of players!

Back when it first shambled onto the scene, The Walking Dead was a breakout hit – John Borg’s chaotic, fast-flowing design and Lyman Sheats Jr.’s brilliant, tension-filled code made it one of Stern’s most atmospheric and addictive titles ever. It captured the grim, relentless fight for survival perfectly, blending strategy, horror, and adrenaline in a way few machines could match.

Now, more than a decade later, The Walking Dead Remastered brings the apocalypse back to life – bigger, bloodier, and more technologically advanced than ever before. Powered by Stern’s new SPIKE 3 system, this modern reanimation features a gorgeous 18.5” full-HD display, immersive high-fidelity audio, wireless headphone support, enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity, and a new lighting system that lets players bathe in all that zombie-fighting glow.

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source: Stern Pinball

The playfield? It’s a loving update to Borg’s original design, complete with enhanced versions of the fan-favourite “Cell Block C” Prison building, the gruesome Well Walker toy, the infamous Bicycle Girl ramp, and that glorious crossbow that fires pinballs across the playfield – now re-engineered for even smoother, more precise mayhem. Players can expect dynamic new RGB lighting, illuminated zombie heads on the slingshots, and a remastered rule set that builds on Lyman Sheats Jr.’s legendary original coding, keeping the “risk vs reward” gameplay alive and kicking.

The visuals have been fully overhauled, blending painterly new art and high-quality video elements that tie into iconic moments from AMC’s hit series. Even better, The Walking Dead Remastered includes fresh custom audio callouts from the show’s stars Michael Rooker (Merle) and Danai Gurira (Michonne), adding even more atmosphere to the carnage.

Of course, Stern’s Insider Connected platform is built right in — letting players track achievements, join global leaderboards, and participate in exclusive challenges. Survive the Prison, fight through the CDC, wade through the Blood Bath, and see if you can outlast the Horde to become the Last Man Standing!

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source: Stern Pinball

Collectors will want to hunt down the Limited Edition – capped at just 500 units worldwide. The LE packs in Stern’s Expression Lighting System and matching Speaker Lighting System with Walking Dead-themed effects, a stunning mirrored backglass, exclusive armour and decals, designer-autographed bottom arch, shaker motor, anti-reflection glass, and even a signed certificate of authenticity. It’s the ultimate prize for any fan of the series, or anyone who knows a true zombie classic when they see one.

The Walking Dead Remastered is available now in Premium and Limited Edition models, with accessories on the way. It’s a fitting tribute to both the franchise and the late Lyman Sheats Jr., whose work continues to define modern pinball excellence.

So grab your crossbow, load up on pinballs, and prepare to fight the dead — and fear the living. Stern’s The Walking Dead Remastered proves that even in pinball, some legends refuse to stay buried.

We may have to upgrade our beloved 2014 TWD Pro machine 😉

‘The Walking Dead’ Arcade Game

January 10, 2024 By David Cutler

By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

Over Christmas break, I discovered the arcade game “The Walking Dead” at a local Dave & Buster’s, a sports bar and video arcade. The object of the game is to shoot as many zombies as possible for a high score, and to get through the stages without getting nibbled on. As an enormous fan of the television series and comic book, the game was calling out to me when I bought a massive number of tokens.

When I’m playing the exciting game, shooting zombies with my crossbow, I’m not thinking about anything else in the world. My troubles and the bad news headlines all fall away. It’s an escape into a fun, fictional world, created by the great Robert Kirkman. You begin in the West Georgia Correctional Facility in Story Mode, and you’re fighting your way through the corridors and the expansive, open yard. One of the most thrilling parts when you’re in the yard is when you shoot a tanker with an arrow with an explosive on it, killing all the surrounding zombies. Some of them are just dazed, but it gives you time to escape from the starving herd.

The Raw Thrills, Inc. game is fantastic because you can easily reload your crossbow by pulling back on the handle to load again. The action is so hurried, you have about a split second to decide where to aim.

image source: Raw Thrills

It’s somewhat annoying when parents and kids walk by the outer doors, and they peek at my gameplay. Hours fly by when I’m enthralled in the combat of the game. I like it when you open a door of the prison and a zombie is right there behind it, ready to pounce on you and bite you if you’re not careful. “The Walking Dead” arcade machine is in a dark area of the arcade, so I have a feeling of isolation and total immersion when the place isn’t crowded.

I still go back and watch some of my favorite “Walking Dead” episodes, and they are usually centered around the character, Daryl Dixon. I really like the episode “Still,” that aired during the fourth season. Most of the episode is Beth and Daryl hanging out at a golf country club. It’s a haunting episode and the performances by Emily Kinney and Norman Reedus are superb. The episode is a rather dramatic one with some heft. The new Daryl Dixon series on AMC had one of the best pilot episodes I’ve seen in some time. It’s called “L’ame Perdue.”

As I finish writing this on a snowy, frigid night, I’m contemplating going to Dave & Buster’s to play “The Walking Dead” game again. Luckily, they’re open late.

Pixel Artist Makes Game Scenes Based On Popular TV Series And Movies

September 23, 2021 By ausretrogamer

Pixel artist, Gustavo Viselner has created video game scenes based on iconic TV series and movies, like Stranger Things, Game of Thrones, Married with Children, Doctor Who, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Star Wars and Seinfeld to name just a few. Oh no, we couldn’t find any based on The Mandalorian, but we’ll let it slip this time.

Check out our favourite 8-bit pixel art scenes and then hit up Gustavo’s Instagram to check out the rest of his creations!

image & story source: boredpanda.com

Talking Retro Gaming, Pinball and Toy Collecting with Cause and Effect Gamers

August 21, 2020 By ausretrogamer

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed during the Tech Games Fest event (TGF 2020) by our good friend Andrew Owen from Cause and Effect Gamers – Andrew is also the co-ordinator of TGF.

We talk all things retro gaming, our involvement with PAX Aus, the lure of pinball, toys – especially Masters Of The Universe, and of course, movies we love to watch!

Grab some popcorn and enjoy 🙂

source: Cause and Effect Gamers

Podcast: Vertical Hold – Retro Gaming In Self Isolation

April 24, 2020 By ausretrogamer

I can’t believe that we (myself and Ms. ausretrogamer) have never appeared together on a podcast! Well, I am here to tell you that we finally made our debut together in guest speaking on episode 275 of the Vertical Hold podcast!

The topic of discussion was how we were passing the time and keeping our sanity in this worldwide pandemic. We delve into the midst of nostalgia and discuss all things gaming, from retro and modern, pinball, arcade, board games to the Commodore 64, SNES, RetroPie and Nintendo’s Wii! Oh yeah, Double Dragon and Zelda came up in conversation too 😉

Thank you to Alex Kidman and Adam Turner for having us on their brilliant weekly Vertical Hold podcast, we had a blast!

Negan in Tekken 7 is Smart

August 15, 2018 By David Cutler

By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

When it was revealed at EVO that Negan from “The Walking Dead” would be a new character in Tekken 7, I thought it was one of the most out of left field crossover ideas ever conceived. But after some thought, it’s pretty smart for both properties.

I wonder who called who? Did the makers of Tekken 7 call “The Walking Dead” people, or was it the other way around? Negan being in Tekken 7 is an odd choice because the character is more of a manipulator and schemer than a brawler. However, he has had his moments of hand-to-hand combat in the comic book.

And who does this help more, Tekken 7 or “The Walking Dead”? The ratings for the AMC television show have been on the decline. Negan is a fascinating character, but since his appearance, the show’s ratings have been on a downward spiral. Will adding Negan bring more players to Tekken 7? I’m sure Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the actor who portrays Negan, will have a blast doing the voice work for the popular game. Like his Negan or not, Morgan is a solid actor who always elevates everything he’s involved in.

image source: golem13.fr

I’m sure when Negan is available in Tekken 7, every gamer will select him to see what he’s capable of in a scrap. It’ll be interesting to see Negan’s fight moves. His bob wired baseball bat, Lucille, will be appealing to use on an opponent, but I don’t see how the game keeps its Teen rating if you do. In the comic book and the show, Lucille is a very violent weapon. I can’t see Negan doing air combat flips and powerful jump kicks. He could ground and pound and do brutal overhead hits that result in wall bounces.

Those in attendance at EVO seemed excited that Negan will be featured in Tekken 7. They went absolutely wild when Negan was teased in the trailer. The decision of adding Negan to the Tekken franchise is a bold one. Curious gamers that are fans of both properties will find it irresistible to try a few brawls with Negan.

image source: gamegeek.gg

The Best Stern Pinball Machine Since 2010 – Winners

April 17, 2018 By ausretrogamer

First of all, thank you all that voted in our Best Stern Pinball Machine Since 2010 poll!

We won’t keep you waiting any longer in announcing the winner, so here we go – the Best Stern Pinball Machine Since 2010 is [drum roll please] The Walking Dead!

This comes as no surprise, as The Walking Dead (32% of the vote) is an absolute beauty to play – it has a great balance of being easy enough to play casually and challenging to the max with its great modes if you want to become grand champion and the last man standing. Star Trek (12% of the vote) took out second place, as it should, as this machine is Steve Ritchie at his best – fast and flowing! The biggest surprise for us was third – TRON Legacy, which garnered 11% of the vote. The two machines that we thought would feature in the top 3 ended up being tied for fourth, Metallica and Ghostbusters (both 9% of the vote).

The brand new Stern machine Iron Maiden got votes too (3%), which was surprising, as it’s just rolling off the production line as we speak, so we can only imagine that this machine will climb up the votes in the months and years ahead – so look out The Walking Dead! For now, we reckon John Borg should be commended for having two of his games in the top 3 Best Stern Pinball Machines Since 2010.

There you have it peeps. This was a public vote open to all, so the pinball gamers around the world have spoken. What do you think? Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook and join in the conversation.

image source: Stern Pinball Inc.

Fear The Walking Dead Hits The Old Vegas Strip!

July 18, 2017 By ausretrogamer

At the old Las Vegas Strip, Fremont Street will soon be invaded by walkers, zombies for those of you that don’t know what we are on about.

Triotech together with AMC are creating a Fear the Walking Dead interactive survival attraction at the famous Las Vegas Fremont Street Experience! The futuristic interactive haunted house will be permanently installed, with the evacuation warning officially issued this (northern) summer!

This groundbreaking, fully immersive and interactive permanent attraction will feature elaborate sets, all-encompassing audio and video, and Triotech’s world-famous high-tech motion simulator technology.

As soon as visitors enter the facility, they will be immersed in the Fear the Walking Dead universe ‘as if they were there’, a world afflicted by a mysterious epidemic that turns human beings into undead “walkers”. To survive, visitors will have to face their fears and trust their instincts, ultimately escaping back into the real world.

Triotech’s CEO and president, Ernest Yale says, “Fremont Street Experience is a tourist destination known for its unmatched variety of entertainment, making it the perfect home for this futuristic, immersive, interactive attraction”.

It definitely seems that the level of authenticity will be unmatched with visitors expected to recognise many of the scenes and characters from the hit AMC TV show. Expect a lot of walkers and heaps of scary stuff!

Thrill Of The Chase: The Walking Dead Pinball

September 21, 2016 By ausretrogamer

It’s true what they say: it really is better to give than to receive. And that’s what makes this ‘Thrill Of The Chase‘ extra special, because I was chasing something for a very important person (hint: her name rhymes with Ms Ausretrogamer).

Ms Ausretrogamer loves ‘The Walking Dead‘ and she loves to play pinball, so we’re always on the lookout for TWD tables to play. We’ve travelled far and wide in our quest to kill those zombies, and we’re yet to get tired of it. It’s such a fun table, whether your a newbie or a wizard. So, while watching Ms Ausretrogamer clearing the prison yard and unleashing the Well Walker multi-ball, I made a decision – I had to get her a TWD pinball table of her own! But with only six months until her birthday, I had to move fast.

Searching far and wide, the pinball machine was secured. The next part of the plan was to get it delivered and setup without Ms Ausretrogamer’s knowledge. To keep her off the scent, a decoy birthday gift was created.

With everything in its place, it was time to execute Project Happy Birthday. Ms ausretrogamer was presented with the diorama, where not even Rick Grimes playing a Twilight Zone pinball machine gave her any indication of what was to come! Under the ruse of checking out the birthday decorations in the games room, the surprise was revealed and the look on Ms Ausretrogamer’s face was priceless! That’s when I knew, this thrill of the chase was totally worth it.

The decoy gift