Elite, for those of you who are new to computer games or have been stranded on an island for the past 12 years, is a 3D vector-graphics, space-buckaneering game with a difference: you have to trade to stay alive. There is only one objective: to become Elite, the most respected and famed rank of space pilots in the universe. Elite offers the player complete freedom to go anywhere and do anything—you can work for the evil Empire faction or start a career with the righteous Federation, or stay out of politics and become a pirate. Kill as many ships and possible to become Elite, but amassing fortunes through trade or salvage is necessary to upgrade your ship's weaponry along the way. What's more, the game also embodies a realistic physical model for spaceflight and actual star systems' names and locations in the known universe. Elite is definitely a game you could immerse yourself in for years… Even when you've become Elite, there's noCongratulations, you've finished the game, now go and drink a cup of tea and talk to your friends again.message. You just keep flying. There's no end, and no objective other than staying alive.—The Elite Collection (defunct)
Elite, originally written by Ian Bell and David Braben for the in the UK very popular BBC Micro, was, for the better part of a decade, ported to about any platform available at the time, in one case even twice:
The second PC version was released under the title Elite Plus. It could run in EGA, 16-color VGA or 256-color VGA. It had midi music, supported AdLib and Roland boards, but could still play the music over the PC speaker, making it fit for about any PC in use at the time.
In 1998 or so Ian Bell released all the versions of Elite for free. This led to a short conflict with his former partner which however was soon laid aside, and all the downloads are available again.
