Elite

Alternate meaning: elite (sociology)

Elite was a seminal space trading-game published by Acornsoft[?] first in 1983 for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron computers, written and developed by David Braben[?] and Ian Bell[?].

Elite was one of the first home computer games with polygonal 3D graphics.

The object of the game was to reach the exalted height of "Elite" status by any means necessary.

It provided a virtual universe to explore, with over 5000 planets to visit.

The player started with 100 Credits and a lightly armed trading ship (the Cobra Mark III).

By accumulating wealth through piracy, trade, military missions and bounty hunting, you were able to upgrade your ship's defences, weapons, cargo capacity etc.

The engrossing role playing aspect of the game, and it's advanced (for the day), game engine, saw the title ported over to virtually every other popular home computer available at the time.

Elite is one of the few computer games which sold copies in numbers for about a decade, in a computer industry where the shelf-life of computer games is usually measured in weeks or months.

It has so far spawned 2 official sequels, and a huge number of imitators.

It is a true classic from the dawn of computer entertainment.

External links

• Ian Bell's Elite pages (http://www.iancgbell.clara.net/elite/)