Goodbye, Walking Dead

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We said a bittersweet goodbye in the shop this week. We sent our first custom game to its new home in California. We were really proud of our Walking Dead machine, but it was time to share it, and make room for a new project, too. Here are a last few pictures of this beautiful game. Check it out!

Long before the folks at Stern released their machine, we envisioned one of our own, based on the graphic novels of The Walking Dead.
Long before the folks at Stern released their machine, we envisioned one of our own, based on the graphic novels of The Walking Dead.
We started the long process of making a custom pinball machine by finding an old Baracorra game. Then our graphic designer friends made all our custom artwork.
We started the long process of making a custom pinball machine by finding an old Baracorra game with a heavily worn playfield. Then our graphic designer friends made all our custom artwork.
It took months to plan, prepare, and produce this machine.
It took months to plan, prepare, and produce this machine.
We were proud of all the little touches we put into it, from the bloody cabinet legs to the Cointaker LEDs installed throughout.
We were proud of all the little touches we put into it, from the bloody cabinet legs to the Cointaker LEDs installed throughout.
A few color-changing strips behind the backglass give it a great effect too.
A few color-changing strips behind the backglass give it a great effect too.
The game turned out great, if we do say so ourselves. We finished it in time for ZapCon last year, then had it at StarFighters Arcade for a while. It was back at ZapCon for another run this year, too.
The game turned out amazingly, if we do say so ourselves. We finished it in time for ZapCon last year, then had it at StarFighters Arcade for a while. It was back at ZapCon for another run this year, too.
There was a lot of excitement about the machine. Someone even posted a video of game play on YouTube. It was exciting to make something that people liked.
There was a lot of excitement about the machine. Someone even posted a video of game play on YouTube. It was fun to make something that people liked.
But all good things must come to an end, and our shop really isn't that big.
But all good things must come to an end, and our shop really isn’t that big.
So we sent the machine on its way Thursday morning, to an enthusiastic guy in California, who really impressed us with how much he wanted the machine.
So we sent the machine on its way Thursday morning, to an enthusiastic guy in California, who really impressed us with how much he wanted the machine.
We can hardly blame him for being excited. Look at how beautiful this playfield turned out, with a super layer of Clearcoat.
We can hardly blame him for being excited. This game was so fun to play, and so pretty too.
But we'll miss having this game around.
And we’ll miss having it around.
Enjoy the game, Pete, and take good care of her.
Enjoy the game, Pete, and take good care of her!