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[[File:The_Original_Elite%2C_1984.jpg|thumb|200px|The original Elite by David Braben and Ian Bell]]
[[File:Elite-1984-Official-Art-Restored.png|thumb|250px|Elite 1984 official art]]
'''Elite''' is a space trading and combat simulator, originally published by Acornsoft for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron computers in September 1984.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100127094607/http://frontier.co.uk/games/elite Frontier: Games by Frontier Developments/Elite], archived from [http://frontier.co.uk/games/elite the original] on 27 January 2010 at archive.org</ref> It is the first installment of the legendary [[Elite series]]. Elite is the longest running space simulation series in history. This is verified by Guinness World Records.<ref name=":0">[https://twitter.com/gwr/status/611537566299463681?lang=en Twitter: Guinness World Records, 18 Jun 2015]</ref> The sequel [[Frontier: Elite II]] was released in 1993.


'''Elite''' is a space trading video game, originally published by Acornsoft in 1984 for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron computers. It is the first instalment of the [[:Category:Elite series|Elite series]].  
== Background ==
The game's title derives from one of the player's goals of raising their [[Pilots Federation#Ranks|combat rating]] to the exalted heights of "Elite". It was written and developed in two years by [[David Braben]] and [[Ian Bell]], who met while they were both undergraduates at Jesus College, Cambridge. Versions of the game for other platforms were published by Firebird, Imagineer and Hybrid Technology.


The game's title derives from one of the player's goals of raising their [[Pilots Federation#Ranks|combat rating]] to the exalted heights of "Elite". It was written and developed by David Braben and Ian Bell, who had met while they were both undergraduates at Jesus College, Cambridge. Versions of the game for other platforms were published by Firebird, Imagineer and Hybrid Technology.
Elite was one of the first home computer games to use wire-frame 3D graphics with hidden line removal. Another novelty was the added twitch gameplay and the inclusion of [[Elite: The Dark Wheel]], a novella by Robert Holdstock which influenced new players with insight into the moral and legal codes to which they might aspire. The Dark Wheel was the first novella to be included for distribution with a video game in history.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070211011328/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=78368 Computer and Video Games: Games that changed the world: Elite], archived from [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=78368 the original] on 11 February 2007 at archive.org</ref><ref name=":3">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_(video_game) Wikipedia: ''Elite'' (video game)]</ref> According to Guinness World Records, ''"Elite was the first game to feature a (3D) procedurally generated world."''<ref>[http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-use-of-procedural-generation-in-a-video-game/ Guinness World Records: First use of procedural generation in a videogame]</ref>


Elite was one of the first home computer games to use wire-frame 3D graphics with hidden line removal. Another novelty was the inclusion of [[The Dark Wheel#The Dark Wheel novella|The Dark Wheel]], a novella by Robert Holdstock which influenced new players with insight into the moral and legal codes to which they might aspire.
Elite's open-ended game model, advanced game engine and revolutionary 3D graphics ensured that it was ported to virtually every contemporary home computer system, and earned it a place as a classic and a genre maker in gaming history.<ref>[https://www.escapistmagazine.com/lost-in-the-void/ The Escapist: Lost in the Void]</ref> Elite was a hugely influential game, serving as a model for more recent games such as Space Rogue, Eve Online, Freelancer, Jumpgate, Infinity: The Quest for Earth, Wing Commander: Privateer, Pardus, the Escape Velocity series, No Man's Sky, the X series of space trading games and the Grand Theft Auto series. Jumpgate Evolution, Battlecruiser 3000AD, Hard Truck: Apocalyptic Wars and Flatspace have likewise credited Elite as a source of inspiration.<ref name=":3" />


Elite's open-ended game model, advanced game engine and revolutionary 3D graphics ensured that it was ported to virtually every contemporary home computer system, and earned it a place as a classic and a genre maker in gaming history. Elite was a hugely influential game, serving as a model for more recent games such as Space Rogue, Eve Online, Freelancer, Jumpgate, Infinity: The Quest for Earth, Wing Commander: Privateer, Pardus, the Escape Velocity series, the X series of space trading games and the Grand Theft Auto series.
Elite is one of the most significant computer games ever. Elite changed the face of computer gaming dramatically with its combination of believability, considered design, compelling gameplay and longevity.


Elite is one of the most significant computer games ever, Elite changed the face of computer gaming dramatically with its combination of believability, considered design, compelling gameplay and longevity.
Elite has often been regarded as the yardstick by which subsequent space trading games have been measured. Since its release Elite has been credited as being the title that defined the modern space flight simulation genre, a significant source of inspiration for later games in the genre as well as being influential upon gaming as a whole.<ref name=":3" />
 
It has been named as one of the most influential games in history, and has been credited as being the first truly open-ended open world game and opening the door for future online persistent worlds such as Second Life, World of Warcraft and EVE Online.<ref name=":3" />


== Gameplay ==
== Gameplay ==
[[File:Elite.jpg|thumb|200px|Elite]]


The player starts at [[Lave/Lave Station|Lave Station]] and pilots a [[Cobra MkIII]]. The default pilot name is Commander Jameson, whom the station [[Shinrarta Dezhra/Jameson Memorial|Jameson Memorial]] is named after in [[Elite Dangerous]].
[[File:Elite 1984 Original.jpg|thumb|200px|The original Elite by David Braben and Ian Bell]]
 
The player starts at [[Lave/Lave Station|Lave Station]] with a [[Cobra MkIII]] in the first half of the 32nd century. The default pilot name is Commander Jameson whom the station [[Shinrarta Dezhra/Jameson Memorial|Jameson Memorial]] is named after in [[Elite Dangerous]].


[[Trader|Trading]] is considered the primary way to earn [[credits]], but [[Bounty Hunter|bounty hunting]], [[Pirate|piracy]], [[Miner|asteroid mining]], illegally [[Salvage|salvaging]] cargo found in space, and [[Smuggler|illegal trading]] are available as more dangerous alternatives. Credits can be spent on [[Outfitting|upgrades]] to improve the ship's capabilities.
[[Trader|Trading]] is considered the primary way to earn [[credits]], but [[Bounty Hunter|bounty hunting]], [[Pirate|piracy]], [[Miner|asteroid mining]], illegally [[Salvage|salvaging]] cargo found in space, and [[Smuggler|illegal trading]] are available as more dangerous alternatives. Credits can be spent on [[Outfitting|upgrades]] to improve the ship's capabilities.


[[Thargoids]] can interrupt [[Hyperspace]] jumps, forcing the player to fight them in witchspace before attempting to finish the jump.
The goal of the game is to rank up until the player becomes the first independent pilot ranked Elite by the Pilots Federation.
 
Traversable space does not encompass whole star systems but just their particular planets with an orbiting [[Coriolis]] station. [[Thargoids]] can interrupt [[Hyperspace]] jumps to other planets, forcing the player to fight them in witchspace before attempting to finish the jump.
 
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
File:Acornsoft Elite - Promo Video 1984 - VHS
File:Elite - 30th Anniversary
File:Docking in Elite
File:Elite (1984) and Elite- Dangerous (2014) - The docking comparison
File:Let's journey into deep space with Elite! C64 Longplay - Part 1
File:ELITE! 🛸 Part 2 - Commodore 64 Longplay
</gallery>
 
=== 3D Open World Space Game ===
Jamie Sefton of GamesRadar explains, ''"The first truly open-world game was made for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron back in 1984 – David Braben and Ian Bell’s Elite. Until then, space games were flat, 2D experiences where you were restricted to a choice of when to move your ship and fire laser bolts at ever-descending dot-matrix aliens. Elite created a believable open-ended wire frame universe of planets, political systems, economies, trading routes and space stations, in which you could explore the galaxies and define your Commander Jameson – would you live the life of a bounty hunter, a miner, a trader or a pirate?"''<ref>[http://www.gamesradar.com/the-roots-of-open-world-games/ GamesRadar+: The roots of open-world games]</ref>
 
Rich Moss of Ars Technica said, ''"Elite changed everything. It was the home computer game to have in the mid-1980s—an open-ended spacefaring romp through eight 256-planet galaxies, which were fixed in their composition but cleverly generated on the fly by an algorithm in order to save on storage space. Its abstract 3D wireframe planets and spacecraft provided just enough detail to instill the appropriate sense of scale, with the rest left to your imagination."''<ref>[https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/03/youre-now-free-to-move-about-vice-city-a-history-of-open-world-gaming/ Ars Technica: Roam free: A history of open-world gaming]</ref>
 
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
File:Commander Jameson in Elite 1 NES.jpg|Commander Jameson in Elite 1, NES version
File:CMDR Jameson Cobra Mk III in Elite 1 NES.jpg|Cobra Mk III in Elite 1, NES version
</gallery>
 
== Music ==
The original Elite theme was composed by Aidan Bell and arranged by Chris Abbott. It also features The Blue Danube by Johan Strauss II which played during automated docking with the [[Standard Docking Computer|docking computer]]. Aidan Bell made the song "I Am Elite". It's from Elite The Musical, in 1989.


<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
Elite_-_30th_Anniversary
C64_elite_music
Elite_-_Blue_Danube_Waltz
I Am Elite
</gallery>
</gallery>


== Hugely Influential Game ==
== Hugely Influential Game ==


[[File:Elite_The_Dark_Wheel_Novella.jpg|thumb|200px|The Dark Wheel, by Robert Holdstock]]
[[File:Elite.jpg|thumb|200px|Elite]]
 
Elite's open-ended game model, advanced game engine and revolutionary 3D graphics ensured that it was ported to virtually every contemporary home computer system, and earned it a place as a classic and a genre maker in gaming history. Elite was a hugely influential game, serving as a model for more recent games such as Space Rogue, Eve Online, Freelancer, Jumpgate, Infinity: The Quest for Earth, Wing Commander: Privateer, Pardus, the Escape Velocity series, the X series of space trading games and the Grand Theft Auto series.<ref>[https://classicreload.com/c64-elite.html ClassicReload: Commodore 64 Elite]</ref>


Elite's open-ended game model, advanced game engine and revolutionary 3D graphics ensured that it was ported to virtually every contemporary home computer system, and earned it a place as a classic and a genre maker in gaming history. Elite was a hugely influential game, serving as a model for more recent games such as Space Rogue, Eve Online, Freelancer, Jumpgate, Infinity: The Quest for Earth, Wing Commander: Privateer, Pardus, the Escape Velocity series, the X series of space trading games and the Grand Theft Auto series.  
The former creative director of DMA Design Gary Penn cited Elite as a major influence for the original Grand Theft Auto (1997): ''"But I'd been working on Frontier, which is very different and there were definitely other people on the team who had things like Syndicate, Mercenary and Elite very much in their minds as well. That combination definitely led to the more open plan structure there is now. The game as it stands now is basically Elite in a city, but without quite the same sense of taking on the jobs. You take on the jobs in a slightly different way, but incredibly similar structurally. It's just a much more acceptable real world setting. The game was cops and robbers and then that evolved fairly quickly -- nobody wants to be the cop, it's more fun to be bad. And then that evolved into Grand Theft Auto."''<ref>[http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/134644/the_replay_interviews_gary_penn.php Gamasutra: The Replay Interviews: Gary Penn]</ref>


The former creative director of DMA Design Gary Penn cited Elite as a major influence for the original Grand Theft Auto (1997), "But I'd been working on Frontier, which is very different and there were definitely other people on the team who had things like Syndicate, Mercenary and Elite very much in their minds as well. That combination definitely led to the more open plan structure there is now. The game as it stands now is basically Elite in a city, but without quite the same sense of taking on the jobs. You take on the jobs in a slightly different way, but incredibly similar structurally. It's just a much more acceptable real world setting. The game was cops and robbers and then that evolved fairly quickly -- nobody wants to be the cop, it's more fun to be bad. And then that evolved into Grand Theft Auto".<ref>[http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/134644/the_replay_interviews_gary_penn.php Gamasutra - Gary Penn interview"]</ref>
[[File:Elite-Series-Guinness-World-Record-Longest-Running-Space-Simulation-Series.png|thumb|200px|Elite series Guinness World Record for Longest Running Space Simulation Series]]
 
The [[:Category:Elite series|Elite series]] spans over 30 years. On 18 June 2015, David Braben and Frontier Developments received a certificate from Guinness World Records, because Elite is officially the longest running space simulation series in history. The certificate states, ''"The longest running space simulation series is Elite created by David Braben and Ian Bell and was released on 20 September 1984. Officially amazing."''<ref name=":0" />


== History ==
== History ==
Line 38: Line 73:
=== The Original Elite, 1984 – 1992 ===
=== The Original Elite, 1984 – 1992 ===


It’s hard, at this stage, to return to the pre-Elite days of computer gaming in the early 80s. Back then games were largely simplistic, clones of arcade games or following very closely in their designs. Games were specifically designed to play through in a few minutes, featuring ‘lives’, ‘scores’ and ‘levels’. There were games that broke this mould, but they were few and far between, and often easily forgotten.<ref>[https://www.drewwagar.com/lore/elite-dangerous-history-the-original-elite/ Elite Dangerous History: The original ‘Elite’]
''It’s hard, at this stage, to return to the pre-Elite days of computer gaming in the early 80s. Back then games were largely simplistic, clones of arcade games or following very closely in their designs. Games were specifically designed to play through in a few minutes, featuring ‘lives’, ‘scores’ and ‘levels’. There were games that broke this mould, but they were few and far between, and often easily forgotten.''<ref name=":1">[https://canonn.science/lore/drewwagar-history-the-original-elite/ Canonn Research: Drew Wagar’s History: The Original Elite]
</ref>
</ref>


Elite was born out of the dissatisfaction with the confines of traditional gaming. With no score, what was the purpose? The Thatcherite years of the 1980s provided the answer – money. But money isn’t a score, you can spend money. On what? On upgrades… so your ship had to be inferior to start with. What would be the purpose of upgrading your ship? To defeat other vessels. Why would those other vessels attack you? Because you carried a cargo… so trading was required alongside piracy. There was always a reason for the game mechanics, and the concept developed from there.
''Elite was born out of the dissatisfaction with the confines of traditional gaming. With no score, what was the purpose? The Thatcherite years of the 1980s provided the answer – money. But money isn’t a score, you can spend money. On what? On upgrades… so your ship had to be inferior to start with. What would be the purpose of upgrading your ship? To defeat other vessels. Why would those other vessels attack you? Because you carried a cargo… so trading was required alongside piracy. There was always a reason for the game mechanics, and the concept developed from there.''<ref name=":1" />
 
''The true genius, however, lay in providing the player with choices. Yes, there were pirates out there, but you could become one yourself if you so desired. You had moral choices in the game, with no predetermined path.''<ref name=":1" />
 
Read the full article [https://canonn.science/lore/drewwagar-history-the-original-elite/ Drew Wagar’s History: The original ‘Elite’] at Canonn Research.
 
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
File:Brits Who Made The Modern World - The Making of Elite
File:David Braben on the Making of Elite From Bedrooms to Billions Funstock.co.uk
File:Elite- "The game that couldn't be written"
File:Original Elite on the BBC B - Computerphile
</gallery>
 
== Versions ==
 
[[File:Elite-Game-1988-Atari-ST-port.png|thumb|200px|Elite 1988 Atari ST port]]
 
Due to the great commercial success of the BBC Micro version, Elite was ported to every contemporary home computer system, including Acorn Electron, Acorn Archimedes, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MSX, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Tatung Einstein and IBM PC compatibles.
 
=== Elite Plus ===
Elite was converted to DOS (IMB PC) by Chris Sawyer. This enhanced version called Elite Plus was published by Microplay Software on April 17, 1991. It was also ported to Nintendo Entertainment System home video game console. British Telecom's computer software division Telecomsoft won a bidding war for the rights to publish Elite on other platforms.<ref name=":3" /><ref>"[https://archive.org/stream/MicroAdventurer14-Dec84#page/n6/mode/1up Elite Auction]" news, Micro Adventurer (14): 7 December 1984, through archive.org</ref><ref>"[https://archive.org/stream/home-computing-weekly-092/Home_Computing_Weekly_092#page/n4/mode/1up Elite for Spectrum]" news, Home Computing Weekly. Argus Press (92): 5. 11 December 1984, through archive.org</ref>


The true genius, however, lay in providing the player with choices. Yes, there were pirates out there, but you could become one yourself if you so desired. You had moral choices in the game, with no predetermined path.
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
Elite Plus (PC-DOS) 1991, Microplay Software "VGA-256 Color"
</gallery>
== BBC Micro Package ==


Read the full article at [https://www.drewwagar.com/lore/elite-dangerous-history-the-original-elite/ Elite Dangerous History: The original ‘Elite’].
[[File:Elite-BBC-Micro-Package-1984.png|thumb|200px|Elite BBC Micro Package 1984]]
 
The arrival of Elite heralded a new concept in game presentation. Instead of just the game media and an instruction sheet, Elite came packaged with a hefty manual, a novella based on the game, a ship poster and various other items.<ref name=":2">[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/Elite/bbc_tape.html FrontierAstro: BBC Elite Information (Tape)]</ref>
 
As with all other games on tape, loading the game was a laborious process, taking around 7 minutes to complete. Due to the nature of the cassette medium, no further loading took place at any stage, meaning docking and hyperspacing took place without delay. This was the reason why a number of features were missing compared to the disc version, as the latter loaded in fresh data during the game.<ref name=":2" />


== Elite Badge ==
== Elite Badge ==
Line 51: Line 113:
[[File:Elite_Badges.jpg|thumb|200px|Elite Badges for people who reached Elite status]]
[[File:Elite_Badges.jpg|thumb|200px|Elite Badges for people who reached Elite status]]


The Elite badge that Acornsoft sent to people who sent in their 'order of the Elite' postcard with the code they got at Elite level.
The Elite badge is a very exclusive badge. It was only given to people who reached Elite status, and a few others who worked or did work for Firebird. People had to send in their 'Order of the Elite' postcard with a code they received when reaching the Elite status. Then they would receive the exclusive Elite badge from Acornsoft. Two badge versions were produced by Acornsoft. The third golden version of the badge is visible on Elite boxes produced by Firebird.
 
The Elite badge was a very exclusive badge only given to people who reached Elite status, and a few others who worked or did work for Firebird. People had to send in their Order of the Elite postcard with a code they received when reaching the Elite status. Then they would receive the exclusive Elite badge. Acornsoft produced two badge versions. The third golden version of the badge is visible on Elite boxes produced by Firebird.


== Elite Logo ==
== Elite Logo ==


[[File:Golden-Elite-Logo.png|thumb|200px|Golden Elite Logo]]
[[File:Original-Elite-Logo-1984.png|thumb|200px|A scan of the Pilots Federation logo from the original Space Trader's Flight Training Manual, which was issued with the 1984 version of Elite as issued for the BBC Microcomputer 32K]]


The Elite logo is a combination Pilots wings, the Elite text and a stylized Griffin which was added by artist Philip Castle. He also worked on the Cobra and Coriolis cover for the original Elite.  
The [[Elite logo]] is a combination of Pilots wings. The Elite text and a stylized Griffin which was created by artist Philip Castle.<ref>[http://www.elitehomepage.org/archive/a4120001.png "Elite-the game everyone's playing"]. ''Elite Homepage'' (Newspaper article). Acorn News. December 1984. [https://web.archive.org/web/20260213082954/http://www.elitehomepage.org/archive/a4120001.png Archived] from the original on 13 February 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.</ref> He also worked on the Cobra and Coriolis cover for the original Elite.  


David Braben said "The Elite logo took a while to get right. The inspiration was a mix of pilot's wings and logo. The Griffin thing was Philip Castle's idea."<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/15od2s/i_am_david_braben_cocreator_of_elite_creator_of/ I am David Braben, co-creator of Elite, creator of Frontier, Frontier II and the upcoming Elite: Dangerous]</ref>
David Braben said, ''"The Elite logo took a while to get right. The inspiration was a mix of pilot's wings and logo. The Griffin thing was Philip Castle's idea."''<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/15od2s/i_am_david_braben_cocreator_of_elite_creator_of/ reddit: I am David Braben, co-creator of Elite, creator of Frontier, Frontier II and the upcoming Elite: Dangerous]</ref>


In the Elite universe it's the emblem of the [[Pilots Federation|Elite Federation of Pilots]]. The body awards and administers the Elite ratings. The gold badge is for Elite pilots and silver for all other ranks.
In the Elite universe it's the emblem of the [[Pilots Federation|Elite Federation of Pilots]]. The body awards and administers the Elite ratings. The gold badge is for Elite pilots and silver for all other ranks.


== Elite 30th Anniversary ==
== Relics ==
 
[[File:David-Braben-Signed-BBC-Microcomputer.png|thumb|200px|BBC Microcomputer signed by David Braben]]
 
Some gaming conventions and museums have a retro-gaming area with Elite. Such as PAX AUS in Melbourne had David Braben’s own BBC microcomputer, signed by him, on display in a glass cabinet. It's presumably the same machine purchased to work on the original Acornsoft game all those years ago. There was also a signed copy of BBC Elite in its original box.<ref>[http://suprmasv.czausov.com/happy-birthday-mr-braben/ Jameson/Jones:Supermassive: Happy birthday, Mr Braben]</ref>
 
== Elite 30th anniversary ==


[[File:Elite-30-Years-on-the-Frontier.png|thumb|200px|Elite - 30 Years on the Frontier]]
[[File:Elite-30-Years-on-the-Frontier.png|thumb|200px|Elite - 30 Years on the Frontier]]


20th September 2014 was the 30th anniversary of the day the world first experienced ''Elite''. This is the classic 3D space trading and combat game written by Ian Bell and [[David Braben]] in 1984. The technology used fits 8 galaxies each with 256 planets to explore on 32k of memory. It began on the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron and appeared on most gaming platforms of the era. [[Elite Dangerous]] continues the [[:Category:Elite series|Elite series]] into the future.<ref>http://www.iancgbell.clara.net/elite/thirty/index.htm</ref>
20th September 2014 was the 30th anniversary of the day the world first experienced ''Elite''. This is the classic 3D space trading and combat game written by Ian Bell and [[David Braben]] in 1984. The technology used fits 8 galaxies each with 256 planets to explore on 32k of memory. It began on the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron and appeared on most gaming platforms of the era. [[Elite Dangerous]] continues the [[:Category:Elite series|Elite series]] into the future.<ref>[http://www.iancgbell.clara.net/elite/thirty/index.htm Ian C G Bell: Elite 30<sup>th</sup> Anniversary]</ref>
 
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
File:30_Years_An_Elite_Anniversary
File:Elite_Dangerous_-_Thirty_Years_on_the_Frontier
File:Elite_Dangerous_-_The_Evolution_of_Elite_(Part_1)
</gallery>
 
== Elite 40th anniversary ==
[[File:Cobra Mk III Elite Ruby Anniversary Decal Paintjob.jpg|thumb|200px|Elite Ruby Anniversary Decal Paintjob]]
 
[https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/celebrate-elites-ruby-anniversary Elite became 40 years old] on 20 September 2024.<ref name=":4">[https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/celebrate-elites-ruby-anniversary Celebrate Elite's Ruby Anniversary - 19 September 2024 - www.elitedangerous.com]</ref> The original Elite is available for [https://www.frontierstore.net/elite1984.html free in the Frontier Store]. Every Elite Dangerous Live player can get the exclusive Ruby anniversary decal for free!<ref name=":4" /> Head to the Elite Dangerous Gamestore to claim it for 0 ARX!<ref name=":4" /> There are also limited Ruby anniversary paintjobs and the Ruby Dodec Station Bobblehead which cost [[ARX]]. The Anniversary cosmetics are available until 21st October 2024.<ref name=":4" />


<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
30_Years_An_Elite_Anniversary
File:Retro Playback - ELITE (1984)
File:FDEV- How One Company Changed the World Forever
File:Python Mk II ruby paintjob.jpg|Python Mk II ruby anniversary paintjob
File:Elite 40th Anniversary Decal 2024.jpg|Elite 40th Anniversary Decal
</gallery>
</gallery>


== Trivia ==
== Ships==
* Most of the ships were named after snakes, and this came about because of the wireframe models looking a bit like snake heads.
[[File:Elite 1984 Ship Identification Chart.png|thumb|270px|Elite 1984 Ship Identification Chart]]
* Frontier Developments offers this game for free on their store page for PC, Mac and the original platforms. 


== Further Information==
These are all the ships that appeared in the original BBC version and other versions of Classic Elite.<ref>Elite Wiki - [https://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Category:Classic_ships Category:Classic ships] (Access date: 20 Feb 2025) </ref> The Cobra Mk III is the only pilotable ship.
* [http://www.iancgbell.clara.net/elite/manual.htm Original Elite manual]
<table-progress-tracking table-id="1" unique-column-index="1">
* [http://www.iancgbell.clara.net/elite/dkwheel.htm The Dark Wheel novella]
{| class="article-table sortable"
|+
!Ship
!Size
!Type
! Notes
|-
|Adder
|
|
|
|-
|Anaconda
|
|
|
|-
|Asp
|
|
|
|-
|Boa
|
|
|
|-
|Bushmaster
|
|
|
|-
|Chameleon
|
|
|
|-
|Cobra Mk I
|
|
|
|-
|Cobra Mk III
|
|
|
|-
|Constrictor
|
|
|
|-
|Fer-de-Lance
|
|
|
|-
|Gecko
|
|
|
|-
|Ghavial
|
|
|
|-
|Iguana
|
|
|
|-
|Krait
|
|
|
|-
|Mamba
|
|
|
|-
|Monitor
|
|
|
|-
|Moray
|
|
|
|-
|Ophidian
|
|
|
|-
|Python
|
|
|
|-
|Salamander
|
|
|
|-
|Shuttle
|
|
|
|-
|Sidewinder
|
|
|
|-
|Thargoid
|
|
|
|-
|Transporter
|
|
|
|-
|Viper
|
|
|
|-
|Worm
|
|
|
|}
</table-progress-tracking>


== References ==
=== Archimedes Elite ===
<references />
[[File:Archimedes_Elite_Ship_Chart.jpg|thumb|270px|Archimedes Elite Ship Chart]]
Archimedes Elite for the Acorn Archimedes platform has additional ships:
 
<table-progress-tracking table-id="2" unique-column-index="1">
{| class="article-table sortable"
|+
!Ship
!Size
!Type
! Notes
|-
|Asp II
|
|
|
|-
|Boa II
|
|
|
|-
|Caiman
|
|
|
|-
|Copperhead
|
|
|
|-
|Hognose
|
|
|
|-
|Moccasin
|
|
|
|-
|Racer
|
|
|
|-
|Orbit Shuttle
|
|
|
|}
</table-progress-tracking>
 
==Trivia==
*The original Elite was one of the first video games to use 3D vector shapes, and it used less memory than a single email does today.<ref>https://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/File:Elite-1984-3D-Vector-Shapes.png</ref>
*Most of the ships were named after snakes. This came about because of the wire-frame models looking a bit like snake heads.
*Frontier Developments offers Elite (1984) for free on the [https://www.frontierstore.net Official Store] for PC and Mac.
*The song [https://youtu.be/w9gOQgfPW4Y M|A|R|R|S - Pump Up The Volume]  has a map of the original Elite at 2:28. This is 4AD's first UK number one single from 1987.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9gOQgfPW4Y YouTube: M|A|R|R|S - Pump Up The Volume (Official Video)]</ref>
 
==Related==
*[http://www.iancgbell.clara.net/elite/manual.htm Original Elite manual]
*[[Elite: The Dark Wheel]]
*[[Elite series]]
*[[Elite logo]]


== Gallery ==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
Elite.jpg|Elite
File:Elite-1984-Product-Image.png|Elite 1984 product image
The_Original_Elite,_1984.jpg|The original Elite by David Braben and Ian Bell
File:Elite-1984-Official-Art-Restored.png|Elite 1984 official art restored
Elite_The_Dark_Wheel_Novella.jpg|The Dark Wheel, by Robert Holdstock
File:Elite.jpg|Elite
Elite_Badges.jpg|Elite Badges for people who reached Elite status
File:Elite 1984 Original.jpg|The original Elite by David Braben and Ian Bell
Golden-Elite-Logo.png|Golden Elite Logo
File:Elite-BBC-Micro-Package-1984.png|Elite BBC Micro Package 1984
David-Braben-Ian-Bell-Elite.png|David Braben and Ian Bell are the creators of Elite in 1984
File:David-Braben-Ian-Bell-Elite.png|David Braben and Ian Bell are the creators of Elite in 1984
Elite-30-Years-on-the-Frontier.png|Elite - 30 Years on the Frontier
File:Elite The Dark Wheel Novella.jpg|The Dark Wheel, by Robert Holdstock
Elite-BBC-Micro-Package-1984.png|Elite BBC Micro Package 1984
File:Elite-Original-Poster-1984.png|Elite orignal poster 1984
File:Elite Badges.jpg|Elite Badges for people who reached Elite status
File:Original-Elite-Logo-1984.png|A scan of the Pilots Federation logo from the original Space Trader's Flight Training Manual, which was issued with the 1984 version of Elite as issued for the BBC Microcomputer 32K
File:Golden-Elite-Logo.png|Golden Elite Logo
File:Elite-Game-Logo-Outline-1984.jpg|Elite logo outline 1984
File:Acorn-News-magazine-Article-on-Elite-December-1984.png|In December 1984 Acorn News magazine published this article on Elite, together with a photo of the two authors
File:Elite-30-Years-on-the-Frontier.png|Elite - 30 Years on the Frontier
File:Space-Trader's-Flight-Training-Manual.png|Space Trader's Flight Training Manual scan
File:Elite 1984 Ship Identification Chart.png|Elite 1984 Ship Identification Chart
File:David-Braben-Signed-BBC-Microcomputer.png|BBC Microcomputer signed by David Braben
File:David-Braben-Signed-BBC-Elite-Box.png|BBC Elite Box signed by David Braben
File:Elite-Series-Guinness-World-Record-Longest-Running-Space-Simulation-Series.png|Elite series Guinness World Record for Longest Running Space Simulation Series
File:Elite-Game-1988-Atari-ST-port.png|Elite 1988 Atari ST port
File:Elite-1984-3D-Vector-Shapes.png
File:Archimedes Elite Ship Chart.jpg|Archimedes Elite Ship Chart
</gallery>
</gallery>


[[Category:Previous Games]]
==References==
<references />
[[Category:Elite series]]
[[Category:Elite series]]
[[ru:Elite]]

Latest revision as of 23:24, 29 September 2026

File:Elite-1984-Official-Art-Restored.png
Elite 1984 official art

Elite is a space trading and combat simulator, originally published by Acornsoft for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron computers in September 1984.[1] It is the first installment of the legendary Elite series. Elite is the longest running space simulation series in history. This is verified by Guinness World Records.[2] The sequel Frontier: Elite II was released in 1993.

Background

The game's title derives from one of the player's goals of raising their combat rating to the exalted heights of "Elite". It was written and developed in two years by David Braben and Ian Bell, who met while they were both undergraduates at Jesus College, Cambridge. Versions of the game for other platforms were published by Firebird, Imagineer and Hybrid Technology.

Elite was one of the first home computer games to use wire-frame 3D graphics with hidden line removal. Another novelty was the added twitch gameplay and the inclusion of Elite: The Dark Wheel, a novella by Robert Holdstock which influenced new players with insight into the moral and legal codes to which they might aspire. The Dark Wheel was the first novella to be included for distribution with a video game in history.[3][4] According to Guinness World Records, "Elite was the first game to feature a (3D) procedurally generated world."[5]

Elite's open-ended game model, advanced game engine and revolutionary 3D graphics ensured that it was ported to virtually every contemporary home computer system, and earned it a place as a classic and a genre maker in gaming history.[6] Elite was a hugely influential game, serving as a model for more recent games such as Space Rogue, Eve Online, Freelancer, Jumpgate, Infinity: The Quest for Earth, Wing Commander: Privateer, Pardus, the Escape Velocity series, No Man's Sky, the X series of space trading games and the Grand Theft Auto series. Jumpgate Evolution, Battlecruiser 3000AD, Hard Truck: Apocalyptic Wars and Flatspace have likewise credited Elite as a source of inspiration.[4]

Elite is one of the most significant computer games ever. Elite changed the face of computer gaming dramatically with its combination of believability, considered design, compelling gameplay and longevity.

Elite has often been regarded as the yardstick by which subsequent space trading games have been measured. Since its release Elite has been credited as being the title that defined the modern space flight simulation genre, a significant source of inspiration for later games in the genre as well as being influential upon gaming as a whole.[4]

It has been named as one of the most influential games in history, and has been credited as being the first truly open-ended open world game and opening the door for future online persistent worlds such as Second Life, World of Warcraft and EVE Online.[4]

Gameplay

File:Elite 1984 Original.jpg
The original Elite by David Braben and Ian Bell

The player starts at Lave Station with a Cobra MkIII in the first half of the 32nd century. The default pilot name is Commander Jameson whom the station Jameson Memorial is named after in Elite Dangerous.

Trading is considered the primary way to earn credits, but bounty hunting, piracy, asteroid mining, illegally salvaging cargo found in space, and illegal trading are available as more dangerous alternatives. Credits can be spent on upgrades to improve the ship's capabilities.

The goal of the game is to rank up until the player becomes the first independent pilot ranked Elite by the Pilots Federation.

Traversable space does not encompass whole star systems but just their particular planets with an orbiting Coriolis station. Thargoids can interrupt Hyperspace jumps to other planets, forcing the player to fight them in witchspace before attempting to finish the jump.

3D Open World Space Game

Jamie Sefton of GamesRadar explains, "The first truly open-world game was made for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron back in 1984 – David Braben and Ian Bell’s Elite. Until then, space games were flat, 2D experiences where you were restricted to a choice of when to move your ship and fire laser bolts at ever-descending dot-matrix aliens. Elite created a believable open-ended wire frame universe of planets, political systems, economies, trading routes and space stations, in which you could explore the galaxies and define your Commander Jameson – would you live the life of a bounty hunter, a miner, a trader or a pirate?"[7]

Rich Moss of Ars Technica said, "Elite changed everything. It was the home computer game to have in the mid-1980s—an open-ended spacefaring romp through eight 256-planet galaxies, which were fixed in their composition but cleverly generated on the fly by an algorithm in order to save on storage space. Its abstract 3D wireframe planets and spacecraft provided just enough detail to instill the appropriate sense of scale, with the rest left to your imagination."[8]

Music

The original Elite theme was composed by Aidan Bell and arranged by Chris Abbott. It also features The Blue Danube by Johan Strauss II which played during automated docking with the docking computer. Aidan Bell made the song "I Am Elite". It's from Elite The Musical, in 1989.

Hugely Influential Game

File:Elite.jpg
Elite

Elite's open-ended game model, advanced game engine and revolutionary 3D graphics ensured that it was ported to virtually every contemporary home computer system, and earned it a place as a classic and a genre maker in gaming history. Elite was a hugely influential game, serving as a model for more recent games such as Space Rogue, Eve Online, Freelancer, Jumpgate, Infinity: The Quest for Earth, Wing Commander: Privateer, Pardus, the Escape Velocity series, the X series of space trading games and the Grand Theft Auto series.[9]

The former creative director of DMA Design Gary Penn cited Elite as a major influence for the original Grand Theft Auto (1997): "But I'd been working on Frontier, which is very different and there were definitely other people on the team who had things like Syndicate, Mercenary and Elite very much in their minds as well. That combination definitely led to the more open plan structure there is now. The game as it stands now is basically Elite in a city, but without quite the same sense of taking on the jobs. You take on the jobs in a slightly different way, but incredibly similar structurally. It's just a much more acceptable real world setting. The game was cops and robbers and then that evolved fairly quickly -- nobody wants to be the cop, it's more fun to be bad. And then that evolved into Grand Theft Auto."[10]

File:Elite-Series-Guinness-World-Record-Longest-Running-Space-Simulation-Series.png
Elite series Guinness World Record for Longest Running Space Simulation Series

The Elite series spans over 30 years. On 18 June 2015, David Braben and Frontier Developments received a certificate from Guinness World Records, because Elite is officially the longest running space simulation series in history. The certificate states, "The longest running space simulation series is Elite created by David Braben and Ian Bell and was released on 20 September 1984. Officially amazing."[2]

History

File:David-Braben-Ian-Bell-Elite.png
David Braben and Ian Bell are the creators of Elite in 1984

The Original Elite, 1984 – 1992

It’s hard, at this stage, to return to the pre-Elite days of computer gaming in the early 80s. Back then games were largely simplistic, clones of arcade games or following very closely in their designs. Games were specifically designed to play through in a few minutes, featuring ‘lives’, ‘scores’ and ‘levels’. There were games that broke this mould, but they were few and far between, and often easily forgotten.[11]

Elite was born out of the dissatisfaction with the confines of traditional gaming. With no score, what was the purpose? The Thatcherite years of the 1980s provided the answer – money. But money isn’t a score, you can spend money. On what? On upgrades… so your ship had to be inferior to start with. What would be the purpose of upgrading your ship? To defeat other vessels. Why would those other vessels attack you? Because you carried a cargo… so trading was required alongside piracy. There was always a reason for the game mechanics, and the concept developed from there.[11]

The true genius, however, lay in providing the player with choices. Yes, there were pirates out there, but you could become one yourself if you so desired. You had moral choices in the game, with no predetermined path.[11]

Read the full article Drew Wagar’s History: The original ‘Elite’ at Canonn Research.

Versions

File:Elite-Game-1988-Atari-ST-port.png
Elite 1988 Atari ST port

Due to the great commercial success of the BBC Micro version, Elite was ported to every contemporary home computer system, including Acorn Electron, Acorn Archimedes, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MSX, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Tatung Einstein and IBM PC compatibles.

Elite Plus

Elite was converted to DOS (IMB PC) by Chris Sawyer. This enhanced version called Elite Plus was published by Microplay Software on April 17, 1991. It was also ported to Nintendo Entertainment System home video game console. British Telecom's computer software division Telecomsoft won a bidding war for the rights to publish Elite on other platforms.[4][12][13]

BBC Micro Package

File:Elite-BBC-Micro-Package-1984.png
Elite BBC Micro Package 1984

The arrival of Elite heralded a new concept in game presentation. Instead of just the game media and an instruction sheet, Elite came packaged with a hefty manual, a novella based on the game, a ship poster and various other items.[14]

As with all other games on tape, loading the game was a laborious process, taking around 7 minutes to complete. Due to the nature of the cassette medium, no further loading took place at any stage, meaning docking and hyperspacing took place without delay. This was the reason why a number of features were missing compared to the disc version, as the latter loaded in fresh data during the game.[14]

Elite Badge

File:Elite Badges.jpg
Elite Badges for people who reached Elite status

The Elite badge is a very exclusive badge. It was only given to people who reached Elite status, and a few others who worked or did work for Firebird. People had to send in their 'Order of the Elite' postcard with a code they received when reaching the Elite status. Then they would receive the exclusive Elite badge from Acornsoft. Two badge versions were produced by Acornsoft. The third golden version of the badge is visible on Elite boxes produced by Firebird.

File:Original-Elite-Logo-1984.png
A scan of the Pilots Federation logo from the original Space Trader's Flight Training Manual, which was issued with the 1984 version of Elite as issued for the BBC Microcomputer 32K

The Elite logo is a combination of Pilots wings. The Elite text and a stylized Griffin which was created by artist Philip Castle.[15] He also worked on the Cobra and Coriolis cover for the original Elite.

David Braben said, "The Elite logo took a while to get right. The inspiration was a mix of pilot's wings and logo. The Griffin thing was Philip Castle's idea."[16]

In the Elite universe it's the emblem of the Elite Federation of Pilots. The body awards and administers the Elite ratings. The gold badge is for Elite pilots and silver for all other ranks.

Relics

File:David-Braben-Signed-BBC-Microcomputer.png
BBC Microcomputer signed by David Braben

Some gaming conventions and museums have a retro-gaming area with Elite. Such as PAX AUS in Melbourne had David Braben’s own BBC microcomputer, signed by him, on display in a glass cabinet. It's presumably the same machine purchased to work on the original Acornsoft game all those years ago. There was also a signed copy of BBC Elite in its original box.[17]

Elite 30th anniversary

File:Elite-30-Years-on-the-Frontier.png
Elite - 30 Years on the Frontier

20th September 2014 was the 30th anniversary of the day the world first experienced Elite. This is the classic 3D space trading and combat game written by Ian Bell and David Braben in 1984. The technology used fits 8 galaxies each with 256 planets to explore on 32k of memory. It began on the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron and appeared on most gaming platforms of the era. Elite Dangerous continues the Elite series into the future.[18]

Elite 40th anniversary

File:Cobra Mk III Elite Ruby Anniversary Decal Paintjob.jpg
Elite Ruby Anniversary Decal Paintjob

Elite became 40 years old on 20 September 2024.[19] The original Elite is available for free in the Frontier Store. Every Elite Dangerous Live player can get the exclusive Ruby anniversary decal for free![19] Head to the Elite Dangerous Gamestore to claim it for 0 ARX![19] There are also limited Ruby anniversary paintjobs and the Ruby Dodec Station Bobblehead which cost ARX. The Anniversary cosmetics are available until 21st October 2024.[19]

Ships

File:Elite 1984 Ship Identification Chart.png
Elite 1984 Ship Identification Chart

These are all the ships that appeared in the original BBC version and other versions of Classic Elite.[20] The Cobra Mk III is the only pilotable ship. <table-progress-tracking table-id="1" unique-column-index="1">

Ship Size Type Notes
Adder
Anaconda
Asp
Boa
Bushmaster
Chameleon
Cobra Mk I
Cobra Mk III
Constrictor
Fer-de-Lance
Gecko
Ghavial
Iguana
Krait
Mamba
Monitor
Moray
Ophidian
Python
Salamander
Shuttle
Sidewinder
Thargoid
Transporter
Viper
Worm

</table-progress-tracking>

Archimedes Elite

File:Archimedes Elite Ship Chart.jpg
Archimedes Elite Ship Chart

Archimedes Elite for the Acorn Archimedes platform has additional ships:

<table-progress-tracking table-id="2" unique-column-index="1">

Ship Size Type Notes
Asp II
Boa II
Caiman
Copperhead
Hognose
Moccasin
Racer
Orbit Shuttle

</table-progress-tracking>

Trivia

  • The original Elite was one of the first video games to use 3D vector shapes, and it used less memory than a single email does today.[21]
  • Most of the ships were named after snakes. This came about because of the wire-frame models looking a bit like snake heads.
  • Frontier Developments offers Elite (1984) for free on the Official Store for PC and Mac.
  • The song M|A|R|R|S - Pump Up The Volume has a map of the original Elite at 2:28. This is 4AD's first UK number one single from 1987.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Frontier: Games by Frontier Developments/Elite, archived from the original on 27 January 2010 at archive.org
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Twitter: Guinness World Records, 18 Jun 2015
  3. ↑ Computer and Video Games: Games that changed the world: Elite, archived from the original on 11 February 2007 at archive.org
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Wikipedia: Elite (video game)
  5. ↑ Guinness World Records: First use of procedural generation in a videogame
  6. ↑ The Escapist: Lost in the Void
  7. ↑ GamesRadar+: The roots of open-world games
  8. ↑ Ars Technica: Roam free: A history of open-world gaming
  9. ↑ ClassicReload: Commodore 64 Elite
  10. ↑ Gamasutra: The Replay Interviews: Gary Penn
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Canonn Research: Drew Wagar’s History: The Original Elite
  12. ↑ "Elite Auction" news, Micro Adventurer (14): 7 December 1984, through archive.org
  13. ↑ "Elite for Spectrum" news, Home Computing Weekly. Argus Press (92): 5. 11 December 1984, through archive.org
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 FrontierAstro: BBC Elite Information (Tape)
  15. ↑ "Elite-the game everyone's playing". Elite Homepage (Newspaper article). Acorn News. December 1984. Archived from the original on 13 February 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  16. ↑ reddit: I am David Braben, co-creator of Elite, creator of Frontier, Frontier II and the upcoming Elite: Dangerous
  17. ↑ Jameson/Jones:Supermassive: Happy birthday, Mr Braben
  18. ↑ Ian C G Bell: Elite 30th Anniversary
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Celebrate Elite's Ruby Anniversary - 19 September 2024 - www.elitedangerous.com
  20. ↑ Elite Wiki - Category:Classic ships (Access date: 20 Feb 2025)
  21. ↑ https://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/File:Elite-1984-3D-Vector-Shapes.png
  22. ↑ YouTube: M|A|R|R|S - Pump Up The Volume (Official Video)

ru:Elite

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