Summary
- Release Year: 1984
- Genres: Shooter, Simulator, Strategy
- Platforms: Acorn Archimedes, Acorn Electron, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari ST/STE, BBC Microcomputer System, Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS, MSX, Nintendo Entertainment System, Tatung Einstein, ZX Spectrum
- Developers: Acornsoft
- Publishers: Acornsoft, Firebird, Hybrid Technology, Imagineer, Merlin Software U.K.
Elite (1984): The Game That Changed Space Sims Forever
Elite is a space trading and combat simulator video game developed and released by Acornsoft in 1984 for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron home computers. It was one of the first home computer games to use 3D graphics, and its open-ended gameplay and revolutionary graphics led to it being ported to virtually every contemporary home computer system. Elite is considered a classic and a genre maker in gaming history.
Gameplay
Elite is set in a procedurally generated galaxy of 256 star systems, each with its own unique planets, moons, and space stations. The player takes on the role of a freelance spaceship pilot and trader, and must navigate the galaxy, trade goods, fight pirates, and complete missions in order to earn money and upgrade their ship.
The game’s most innovative feature was its use of wire-frame 3D graphics with hidden line removal. This allowed Elite to create a realistic and immersive sense of space, and it was a major breakthrough in home computer graphics at the time.
Elite’s gameplay is open-ended, and players are free to explore the galaxy and pursue their own goals. They can trade goods between star systems, take on missions from space stations, or simply explore the galaxy and discover new planets and moons.
Development
Elite was developed by David Braben and Ian Bell, two Cambridge University students who were fascinated by space and science fiction. They began working on the game in 1982, and it took them two years to complete.
Braben and Bell were inspired by the 1974 game Star Trader, but they wanted to create a game that was more visually immersive and had more depth and complexity. They also wanted to create a game that was open-ended and allowed players to explore and trade at their own pace.
Release and Reception
Elite was released in September 1984 and was an instant success. It was praised for its groundbreaking graphics, open-ended gameplay, and addictive action. Elite was ported to virtually every contemporary home computer system, and it sold over a million copies worldwide.
Elite was also a critical success, winning numerous awards and accolades. It was named the “Game of the Year” by several publications, and it is still considered one of the greatest video games of all time.
Legacy
Elite has had a profound impact on the video game industry. It is considered one of the first true space sims, and it helped to popularize the genre. Elite also helped to advance the state of home computer graphics, and it paved the way for future 3D games.
Elite has been followed by several sequels and spin-offs, including Frontier: Elite II (1993), Elite Dangerous (2014), and Elite Dangerous: Odyssey (2021). The Elite series is still going strong today, and it remains one of the most popular and influential space sims of all time.
Conclusion
Elite (1984) is a classic video game that revolutionized the space sim genre. Its open-ended gameplay, groundbreaking graphics, and addictive action made it an instant success, and it remains one of the most popular and influential video games of all time. If you’re a fan of space sims or gaming history, then you owe it to yourself to check out Elite (1984).
Review Score
9/10
Art
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