Elite: Difference between revisions
Editing a gallery |
Added Elite Logo info |
||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
== Hugely Influential Game == | == Hugely Influential Game == | ||
[[File:The_Original_Elite%2C_1984.jpg|thumb|200px|The original Elite by David Braben and Ian Bell]] | |||
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'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. | ||
| Line 23: | Line 26: | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
=== | === The Original Elite, 1984 – 1992 === | ||
[[File:Elite_The_Dark_Wheel_Novella.jpg|thumb|200px|The Dark Wheel, by Robert Holdstock]] | |||
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>[https://www.drewwagar.com/lore/elite-dangerous-history-the-original-elite/ Elite Dangerous 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. | ||
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. | 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. | ||
Read the full article at [https://www.drewwagar.com/lore/elite-dangerous-history-the-original-elite/ Elite Dangerous History: The original ‘Elite’]. | Read the full article at [https://www.drewwagar.com/lore/elite-dangerous-history-the-original-elite/ Elite Dangerous History: The original ‘Elite’]. | ||
== Elite Badge == | == Elite Badge == | ||
[[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 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 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. | 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. | ||
[[File: | == Elite Logo == | ||
[[File:Golden-Elite-Logo.png|thumb|200px|Golden Elite Logo]] | |||
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. | |||
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> | |||
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. | |||
== Trivia == | == Trivia == | ||