How to find Sundance? - becomes videogame crash infomercials

[xefned]

Did we all bid against each other in last Friday's ebay auction?
What can a Vectrex newbie do - having just missed out on a solid decade of awesome homebrewery?

Yeah, I placed a pretty high bid - stealthy from an important meeting on the iPad.
I thought my high bid was pretty high but I got trounced. This strategy is not likely to work, as future auctions will fetch even higher prices - already more than the cost of my Vectrex.

So what's my best bet for getting a copy of Sundance?

Is there any chance of a re-issue?
If not, will the ROM eventually be released like with Continuum and other Fury Unltd. games?
And if so, can I build my own custom controller for it?

Anyone else feeling the same pain of the unbalance in the force (i.e. the supply/demand equasion ?) Commiserate with me.

[TrekMD]

Fury has released ROMs for some of their titles, so maybe in due time the ROM for Sundance will be release. I can't say either way as that's something only Fury can answer. I understand what you're saying, though, as I got into the Vectrex "late in the game" and it does get pricey for some of the stuff. Unfortunately, EBay just ends up raising the prices as folks compete to get games and other Vectrex-related stuff.

[50tbrd]

That was a special one-of-a-kind version of Sundance, only for the most hardcore and deep pocketed collector. I'm actually surprised that it didn't go much higher, some of Fury's most unique cartridges have gone for much more. Sundance: Dark of the Sun Edition had three carts only and sold for 520, 333, and 342.

Sooner or later everything comes up for sale no matter how rare, just as 2 of the 3-5ish copies of the prototype of Mail Plane have been auctioned off recently. This past summer both 1 of the 10 Cyborg X and 1 of 1 Cyborg Omega came up for auction.

[VectorX]

Nov 20, 2013 23:19:49 GMT -5 xefned said:

And if so, can I build my own custom controller for it?

If you have the know-how for it, I don't see why you can't.

[Luitoine]

Actually it seems that "Sundance" is still available at Good Deal Game:
www.gooddealgames.com/inventory/Vectrex.html

[Rapetou33]

NO unfortunately. Please check, but I am afraid sundance might be no more available (even at GDG)

[Mayhem]

Yeah, I was a bit surprised the Sundance auction didn't go higher. Either it's too close to Xmas/Thanksgiving, or there are less hardcore collectors paying out for items, not sure.

[gliptitude]

Yeah, xefned, you may have picked a tough time to step into Vectrex. I'm a newcomer myself, but I stepped in right before I,Cyborg sold out, and was also able to get on the list for Warrior. Had plenty of time to get Sundance and other fury titles, as well as all that John Dondzila / Classicgamecreations.com had to offer.

I MIGHT be willing to kick a CGC cart your way IF there is one that you really really want. I bought a few duplicates before he shut down. I'm kind of committed to not profiting off that particular haul, but also not keen to sell at cost. So a trade would be my preference.

In the meantime, you can still buy War of the Worlds and Vector Pilot, two of the very best Vectrex homebrews in my opinion.

It looks possible that CGC will come back online in some form someday. So you might have that to look forward to. Also some stuff that has been unattainable for years, (Spike's Circus, Star Sling..) is possibly going to be reissued soon. Some new programmers have shown works in progress this year as well, and have games in the pipeline.

I think it is likely that Sundance will be released in ROM form someday, but I would guess not for a few years. I bet you can get a cart for under $100 if you are patient though.

The control scheme for the Vectrex version actually works quite well and is a particularly fun part of that game in my opinion. But I'm sure you could figure out how to construct the controller that you are imagining, if you do some research and experimentation. There have been lots of Vectrex controller homebrews and mods, and some of them are well documented.

[xefned]

Thanks for the tip Luitoine. I wrote to Michael at GDGames; he said he's, "waiting on parts concerning the SunDance games." That seems to indicate Sundance may become available again if the necessary parts surface. (Shells? PCBS? George's interest in making a new production run?) I guess time will tell.

Luckily I'm in ABSOLUTELY no hurry.
I have the VecMulti, and I'm allowing myself only 1 new game per month, trying to emulate an authentic 1983 experience as much as possible.
It's my first month with the Vectrex so I've played MineStorm and nothing else. (Although I've played Star Trek, Berzerk, and Time Pilot on a friend's machine.)

Thanks for the offer gliptitude. I'm good for now; plus I've got nothing to trade, but sometime next year I'll have a (very small) batch of awesome game controllers for the Vectrex.

Also, good tip on War of the Worlds and Vector Pilot. I'll add them to my list of essentials, right after Sundance.

[xefned]

Looking into the controller for Sundance, apparently it's not necessary. George says he actually prefers the joystick to the button matrix!

[50tbrd]

I think it would be cool to make my own 3x3 matrix controller, its very doable and cheap since every arcade package you buy has a ton of extra arcade buttons.

[xefned]

I'll build one along with you. I like your attitude: "very doable." It seems like a bit of a noggin scratcher to make, for example, the left diagonal emulate up & left simultaneously. But I'll see if I can draw up the wiring. ...to be continued...

[gliptitude]

It certainly is NOT "necessary". The Vectrex control panel is a great controller, and Sundance makes excellent use of it. That might be one of the more exciting aspects of George's version, that it enables you to use this controller to play Sundance.

But I'm also certain that this project will be worthwhile for you(s), if you succeed in realizing it, even if that is just a single working controller.

You gotta get the game first though!

[xefned]

Nov 22, 2013 20:39:54 GMT -5 gliptitude said:

You gotta get the game first though!

I know seriously people, quit outbidding me!  

Worst case scenario, I'll just have to wait for the ROM to become available.

[oisto]

I'm also new. I didn't have enough money to buy a Vectrex when it was in stores. I was fourteen.

I remember thinking in 1982, "I'm glad I can't buy one now. By the time I can buy one with my own money I'll be in college and by then this B&W one will be replaced with a color Vectrex. I'll play Gravitar while I eat breakfast!"

I'd be happy to lend you my Sundance until March. If you break it you could make it up to me with $35 or advice about building electronics (if you have any to give.)

If you PM me your address I'll send it to you the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.