Sundance

In Sundance, two players work cooperatively to intercept bouncing "suns" within a pair of converging grids displayed on the vertical monitor. The game presents a unique puzzle experience as the distance between the grids steadily decreases, increasing the challenge of catching each sun before it escapes. Designed and programmed by Tim Skelly in 1979, Sundance utilizes vector graphics technology initially developed for Space Wars, though modified to allow for varied intensity levels. The gameplay is controlled with a set of buttons, requiring precise timing and coordination between players. Cinematronics licensed Sundance for distribution in Japan, but the game's rarity stems from significant manufacturing issues; approximately half of the produced cabinets were rendered unusable due to defects in the CRT monitor’s internal coating. This fragility resulted in few surviving examples of the arcade game. Visually distinct with flame-themed side art and an orange monitor bezel, Sundance shares its cabinet design with other Cinematronics titles like Rip Off and Tailgunner. The game's unusual mechanics preceded similar grid-based gameplay seen later in games such as Tempest, but ultimately faced a premature end due to the technical shortcomings of its hardware.