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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 18h

Elite for the MSX computer was an excellent but overlooked version of the game. It had a colourful display and fast-moving graphics, albeit quite lo-res. A full complement of ships plus five absorbing missions all combined to make this the 7th best version of Elite of all time!

The loading screen for MSX Elite (Firebird, 1987). Programmed by Mr Micro.

The retail box contents for MSX Elite (Firebird, 1987). Aside from the box, there was the Space Traders Flight Training Manual (64 pages), The Dark Wheel novella (48 pages), a Quick Key Control Guide and the 3½" floppy disc.

A spinning Wolf Mark 2 space ship, on the introductory screen of MSX Elite (Firebird, 1987).

The space view in MSX Elite (Firebird, 1987). On screen are a Coriolis station, the system's star and a Transporter ship.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Next time you see The Pleiades this winter, pay attention to the star circled in the photo. This is Pleione, a Thargoid forward base, despite being infected with an INRA mycoid in 3252. The location of the alien home world remains unknown, but Pleione is too close for comfort! 😧

The Pleiades star cluster, with Pleione circled. This has been confirmed as a Thargoid forward base in Frontier First Encounters (Gametek, 1995).

In orbit around Pleione 1 in the Pleione system, in FFED3D-AJ. The message at the top of the screen reads:-
"Thargoid Clone Leader to Followers: All drive engines destroyed. Hyperspace no longer possible. All followers to withdraw to Forward Base 2. This ship highly infectious. Clone members preparing to die. Do not attempt to board. Repeat, do not attempt to board."

System information screen in FFED3D-AJ. It describes the Pleione system as being centred around a Type 'B' hot blue star but with no registered settlements.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

The only version of Frontier I can suggest getting the 3D models from is FFED3D-AJ, where each ship is represented by a old style .X file and skin in the Models folder. No idea about FE2, unfortunately.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Frontier Elite optimistically judged the separation between Alpha and Proxima Centauri to be around 900AU. Elite Dangerous is much more accurate at 13,000AU, which is why flying to Hutton Orbital is such a tedious trip compared to Eden Station. Remember to pack your sandwiches!

Eden Station orbiting planet Eden, Alpha Centauri system, in FFED3D-AJ. The red star to the left of the image is Proxima Centauri, the closest star beyond our Solar system.

The system information screen for Alpha Centauri in FFED3D-AJ. Proxima Centauri is shown (erroneously) as having a distance from its parent star of 963 AU. One AU (Astronomical Unit) is the average distance between Earth and the Sun, equating to 149,597,870 km or 92,955,807 miles.

Space view in Elite Dangerous, with Hutton Orbital targeted in the Alpha Centauri system. The distance of 0.21 ly (light years) is correct; approximately 13,000 AU. One AU (Astronomical Unit) is the average distance between Earth and the Sun, equating to 149,597,870 km or 92,955,807 miles.

System information in Elite Dangerous for Alpha Centauri, showing Proxima Centauri as having a orbiting distance from its parent star of 12,268.91 AU. One AU (Astronomical Unit) is the average distance between Earth and the Sun, equating to 149,597,870 km or 92,955,807 miles.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Depends how long it's been there though! 🤢

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

It was odd that The Micro User magazine published a guide to playing Elite in January 1986, 16 months after the game was released. However Elite for the BBC Master did hit the shops later that year. It was nice to see some new Elite art, rather than the usual Philip Castle image.

The front cover of the January 1986 edition of The Micro User magazine (Volume 3, Number 11). It featured some Elite-themed artwork and also showed the guide to playing Elite contained within.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Unsurprisingly, #Commodore64 owners were desperate to play #Elite on their machine, having witnessed it on the #BBCMicro and #AcornElectron. In 1985, their prayers were answered and the game was a massive hit everywhere. #AmstradCPC and #Spectrum versions soon followed.

An advert for Elite on the Commodore 64 home computer (Firebird, 1985). The headline read "Out in deep space, these reviewers faced their toughest test."

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Back in 1984, this was probably the most exciting moment in computer games up to that point - when the first mission was triggered in #BBCElite. Suddenly you felt much more important, as Her Majesty's Space Navy was giving *you* a secret mission to carry out! Happy days...

First page of the Constrictor mission in BBC Elite (Acornsoft, 1984).
(***** is replaced by the current Commander's name.)

The text reads as follows:-

"Greetings Commander *****, I am Captain Fosdyke Smythe of Her Majesty's Space Navy and I beg a moment of your valuable time.
We would like you to do a little job for us.
The ship you see here is a new model, the Constrictor, equiped (sic) with a top secret new shield generator.
Unfortunately it's been stolen."

Second page of the Constrictor mission in BBC Elite (Acornsoft, 1984).

"It went missing from our ship yard on Xeer five months ago and is believed to have jumped to this galaxy.
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to seek and destroy this ship.
You are cautioned that only Military Lasers will penetrate the new shields and that the Constrictor is fitted with an E. C. M. System.
Good luck, Commander.
MESSAGE ENDS"

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Back in 1993, it was quite novel to see animated adverts within computer games, although in #FrontierElite2 they were for fictitious products. I can't imagine what Crater Juice tastes like, but apparently in the summer of 3200 the only way to drink it is Ice Cold 🥤🙂

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

A significant birthday for #Elite this year - the game is now 42 years old. Definitely the answer to Life, The Universe and Everything! The #MostlyHarmless combat ranking is another connection to Douglas Adams' #HHGTTG. I wonder what he would have made of #EliteDangerous?

A still image of the spinning Cobra Mark 3 space ship at the start of Elite for the BBC Computer (Acornsoft, 1984). The text on the screen reads as follows:-

---- E L I T E ----
By D. Braben & I. Bell
Load New Commander (Y/N)?
(C) Acornsoft 1984

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I don't remember Wee Shuggy at all. Memory must be going! 😲

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

#BEEBUG was an A5-sized computer magazine in the UK, taking a mainly serious look at the #BBCMicro during the 1980s and 1990s. It included a favourable single-page review of #BBCElite in its November 1984 edition, awarding the game a deserved 5 stars!

The front cover of the November 1984 issue of BEEBUG magazine (Vol 3 No 6). It included the familiar Elite artwork by Philip Castle, albeit in monochrome, and the words "Elite - the new supergame" above the picture.

The single-page review of Elite in the November 1984 issue of BEEBUG magazine (Vol 3 No 6). It rated the game very highly, and awarded it 5 stars out of 5.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I don't want #Commodore64 owners to feel left out, and #C64Elite was in many ways better than the Spectrum version, especially the graphics. Anyway, it was another portal to the amazing world of #Elite for many kids in the UK and beyond, and the 4th best version of Elite ever!

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Diso-Leesti sounds a bit risky to me 😲

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

For many 80s kids, this was their introduction to #Elite, when #SpectrumElite was released by Firebird in 1985. Whether you were playing it safe by taking agricultural goods to Zaonce, or smuggling narcotics to Riedquat for huge profits, this was #EliteDangerous 40+ years ago!

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Look closely at these images from the #CommodoreAmiga and #AtariST versions of #Elite in 1988. Notice much difference? They're virtually identical games developed by Mr Micro. Fine games though they were, 5 years later #FrontierElite2 came along and rewrote the space sim genre.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I loved some of the competitor names in Revs: Max Throttle, Slim Chance, Gloria Slap 😅 I was rubbish at the game though...

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

#Elite was hugely popular in the USA as well as the UK and Europe, and the two obvious machines to release it on were the #Commodore64 in 1985 and #AppleII in 1986. Both were excellent conversions and sold well. #Commodore64Elite was especially well done by the original authors.

A poster for Commodore 64/128 Elite (Firebird, 1985), for the USA market.

The front of the USA retail box for Apple II Elite (Firebird, 1986). In addition to the usual Firebird Elite graphics was a sticker which read "Fly To Britain Competition".

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Look at all the medals and permits I've accrued in #FirstEncounters! "Supreme Knight of the Shining Arc" was awarded for destroying the Thargoid homeworld, a mission never actually implemented in the game 😊 The others are all from regular gameplay though. tiny.one/FFED3DAJ

The Commander status screen in AndyJ's FFED3DAJ - a modern remake of Frontier First Encounters (Gametek, 1995). All ranks, medals and permits are genuine, with the exception of "Supreme Knight of the Shining Arc", which was awarded for successfully completing a mission to destroy the Thargoid home world. This mission was never implemented in the game.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

#FFED3DAJ To my mind, the pinnacle of all the Elite & Frontier games. A labour of love by Andy Jones, who took FFED3D, fixed more bugs, improved the game and gave us pretty much the perfect #FrontierFirstEncounters. Details can be found at tiny.one/FFED3DAJ RIP AndyJ 🙁

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

A&B Computing was a popular computer magazine in the UK during the heyday of the #BBCMicro. They awarded #BBCElite a healthy 95% score in the December 1984 issue. Eagle-eyed readers would have noticed a couple of typos/errors, but it was otherwise a good, accurate review.

The front cover of the December 1984 issue of A&B Computing magazine. The main image was the familiar Elite artwork by Philip Castle, which adorned the Acornsoft releases of the game.

The five-column review of Elite, in the December 1984 issue of A&B Computing magazine. The review scores were as follows:-
Sounds - 90%
Graphics - 90%
Documentation - 100%
Value for money - 80%
Overall - 95%

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Yep, I closed all the windows in the house, because of the forecast. Not a drop of rain overnight! 🙄

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

How do you play #Elite on a machine with no keyboard? Easy, you add an innovative icon-based system, which becomes second nature within minutes. That's what David Braben and Ian Bell did with the amazing #NESElite in 1991, bringing the legendary game to console owners everywhere!

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

So we have 100% clarity about the best versions of #Elite, here's the FrontierAstro Top 10. The top 3 are:- 1. #BBCElite - the original and still the best 2. #NESElite - the "impossible" version, and a great one too 3. #BBCMasterElite - fast, colourful and amazing fun to play

The FrontierAstro Top 10 versions of Elite, which are:-
1. BBC Model B (disc)
2. Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
3. BBC Master
4. Commodore 64
5. Amstrad CPC
6. Acorn Archimedes
7. MSX
8. Sinclair Spectrum
9. BBC Model B (tape)
10. Commodore Amiga

A spinning Krait spaceship at the start of BBC disc Elite (Acornsoft, 1984).

A space scene from the NES version of Elite (Imagineer, 1991), featuring a Dodecahedron (Dodo) space station and an unidentified ship.

The classic space scene from BBC Master Elite (Acornsoft, 1986).

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Ok, now the debate about the best version of #Elite has been settled 😉 the question is, why is it #BBCElite? Well, aside from the brilliant way it plays, you get a real sense that this is the way the authors envisaged the game, and that what you're playing is The Real Deal™ 😎

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Elite on three different #Commodore machines. Firstly the #CBM64, then the #Plus4 and finally the #CommodoreAmiga. The 8-bit versions are essentially indistinguishable and honestly better looking than the garish Amiga version! IMHO 😛

Spinning Cobra Mark 3 in Commodore 64 Elite (Firebird, 1985).

Approaching a Coriolis space station in Commodore Plus/4 Elite (unofficial, 1988).

Spinning Cobra Mark 3 in Commodore Amiga Elite (Firebird, 1988).

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Thanks Henrique! Yes, I came across Acorn Archimedes World in a few of my searches but, as you say, that's some time later. I'll keep looking, all a bit of a mystery 🤔

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Here's the interview with #Elite authors Ian Bell and David Braben from Acorn World in 1984. It's a good interview and quite amusing in places! I have still drawn a complete blank as to what this publication actually was, as its not mentioned as a magazine supplement anywhere 😕

The first page of a two-page interview with Elite authors Ian Bell and David Braben in the December 1984 edition of Acorn World. This page features a photo of a young Ian Bell sitting on some steps outdoors.

The second page of a two-page interview with Elite authors Ian Bell and David Braben in the December 1984 edition of Acorn World. This page features a photo of a young David Braben sitting on some steps outdoors.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I *think* Acorn World was a pull-out supplement from one of the main 1980s Acorn magazines. Here are #Elite co-creators Ian Bell and David Braben looking a bit glum on the front of the December 1984 edition. I'm sure they cheered up when Elite became such a massive success! 🙂

The front cover of Acorn World, believed to be a pull-out supplement from one of the major Acorn computer magazines in the 1980s. This picture from the December 1984 edition shows Elite co-creators Ian Bell and David Braben sitting on some steps and superimposed onto the familiar Elite artwork, created by Philip Castle. The top text reads "Acorn World" and the bottom text reads "Meet the ELITE team".

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Yes, the Master version is objectively the best of the 8-bit incarnations. My absolute favourite is still the standard BBC disc version though, for some reason 🤷🏽

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

In the 1980s, if you were one of those rich kids who nobody really liked, you could try to make a few friends by showing them #BBCElite on your #BBCMaster computer. The game was much more colourful and ran very smoothly, but wasn't really that different to the original game.

The front of the retail box for Elite, for the BBC B, B+, Master 128 and 6502 Second Processor computers (Acornsoft, 1986). It showed the familiar Elite artwork by Philip Castle, plus a sticker at the top of the box, which read "Acornsoft, the choice of experience in software".

BBC Elite on the BBC Master computer (Acornsoft, 1986). This image shows the classic space scene as depicted on the back of the original game boxes in 1984, but with the increased colour palette of the Master computer.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

They look fantastic! We're harvesting a load of heartbreaker tomatos at the moment. There are literally hundreds of them! 🍅 🍅 🍅 🍅 🍅 🍅

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Contrary to popular belief, not all the "Old World" systems from #Elite in #FrontierElite2 consist of one planet orbiting its parent star. Quator, for example, is a thriving multi-planet industrial anarchy, despite being scourged in the past by deadly edible arts graduates 🙂

System data for Quator in Elite (Acornsoft, 1984). It is described as a mainly industrial anarchy, scourged by deadly edible arts graduates.

System data for Quator in Frontier Elite 2 (Gametek, 1993).

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I read that as Lurpak, which confused the hell out of me 🙁

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

When #FrontierElite2 was released in 1993, as a nod to #Elite from the 1980s, 11 of the original star systems were included. These were centred on the important system of Lave, an agricultural/capitalist dictatorship, and are sometimes referred to as the "Old Worlds".

The short-range star chart in BBC Elite (Acornsoft, 1984). This chart is centred on the Lave system and shows the relative positions of Diso, Riedquat, Leesti, Orerve, Zaonce, Tionisla, Reorte, Uszaa & Orrere. These 10 systems - plus Quator - were carried over to Frontier Elite 2 (Gametek, 1993).

The galactic map in Frontier Elite 2 (Gametek, 1993), centred on the Lave system. Also shown are some systems carried over from the original Elite, namely Diso, Riedquat, Leesti, Zaonce, Tionisla, Reorte & Uszaa.
Further systems included from Elite were Orerve, Orrere & Quator.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

The #AcornArchimedes version of #Elite was released by Hybrid Technology in 1991. Four years later, the full game was included on the August 1995 cover disc of #AcornUser magazine, edited at the time by software archaeologist extraordinaire Mark Moxon 🙂 @markmoxon.bsky.social elite.bbcelite.com

The front cover of the August 1995 edition of Acorn User magazine. On the cover disc was the complete version of Archimedes Elite, which had been released in 1991 by Hybrid Technology. The cover also featured the iconic Elite artwork, created by Philip Castle for the initial Acornsoft versions of the game.

The cover disc of the August 1995 edition of Acorn User magazine. Included on the disc was Archimedes Elite, initially released by Hybrid Technology in 1991. The disc label stated that this was "the complete unprotected game exclusive to Acorn User".

The retail box and contents of Archimedes Elite (Hybrid Technology, 1991). Included were:-
• The game box
• The game disc (3½" floppy)
• Flight training manual (44 pages)
• Elite poster (93mm x 415mm)
• 24 ship data cards
• Function key legend / key guide
• Trading record pad
• Elite t-shirt order form

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

The #AmstradCPC was known as the #SchneiderCPC in German-speaking countries, in the 1980s. #Elite retailed for DM 69.90 in 1986, which was approximately £20. The game and documentation were all translated into German, #TheDarkWheel novella becoming Das Dunkle Rad 😎

Schneider CPC Elite (Firebird, 1986) - front of retail box. Includes a price sticker of DM 69.90.

Schneider CPC Elite (Firebird, 1986) - rotating Cobra Mark 3 on opening screen.

Schneider CPC Elite (Firebird, 1986) - data on Aona system in German. Aona is 25.2 light years from Lave.

Schneider CPC Elite (Firebird, 1986) - Das Dunkle Rad novella (translated from the Robert Holdstock original The Dark Wheel).

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

There were over 30 key assignments to remember on #Elite, unheard of in 1980s games, but which actually soon became familiar to the pilot. Players of #SpectrumElite on the (in)famous rubber-keyed machine, however, could use the keyboard overlay provided with the game package.

Retail box of the ZX Spectrum version of Elite (Firebird, 1985).

Keyboard overlay provided with the ZX Spectrum version of Elite (Firebird, 1985).

Spinning Cobra Mark 3 on the opening sequence of the ZX Spectrum version of Elite (Firebird, 1985).

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

This looks amazing! On an unrelated note, I just finished your LEJOG book and loved it! The ups and downs were fascinating 🙂

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Is it a coincidence that my two favourite games of all time - #FrontierFirstEncounters and #Cyberpunk2077 - have strong sandbox elements in them? Carry out the missions, by all means, but also spend hours and hours just roaming around, exploring and enjoying yourself. Perfect!

Frontier First Encounters (FFED3D-AJ) - ships docked at Reaganville starport, on Biggs Colony, in the Altair system. The two ships are a Skeet Cruiser (foreground) and an Imperial Trader.

Scene from Night City in Cyberpunk 2077.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

If you're still enduring a heatwave where you live, I can recommend relaxing, and enjoying a glass or two of Pure Cold Crater Juice. If you've never played #FrontierElite2 this may confuse you though!

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The Ship Identification Chart included with non-Acornsoft versions of 8-bit #Elite in the 1980s. Boulders, asteroids, missiles and cargo barrels somehow got included, but fortunately you could still shoot these like the other ships. The space stations were invulnerable, sadly 🙁

The Ship Identification Chart included with non-Acornsoft versions of Elite in the 1980s. A number of objects which were not ships were also present, marked with a asterisk in this list. Adder, Anaconda, Boulder*, Sidewinder, Shuttle, Python, Asteroid*, Boa, Missile*, Gecko, Space Station*, Escape Capsule, Asp, Cobra, Barrel*, Ferdelance, Transporter, Thargoid, Mamba, Krait, Moray, Viper.
Not all versions had all the ships.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Pre-game, half time, post-game... i never watch any of it. Honestly don't see the point!

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Acorn User magazine took a novel approach in its December 1991 appraisal of #ArcElite. Two opposing views were provided; one for and one against the game. Perhaps the fairest thing to say is that - amazing as #ArcElite was - by the 1990s, the world was ready for #FrontierElite2.

Page 1 of Acorn User magazine's review of Archimedes Elite, in the December 1991 edition.

Page 2 of Acorn User magazine's review of Archimedes Elite, in the December 1991 edition.

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Despite a few graphical glitches and planets that resemble snooker balls, #glFrontier is a great update to #FrontierElite2 with much-improved visuals; here is the intro sequence. Game modified from the #AtariST code by Tom Morton. Music (c) Dave Lowe www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ1W... tinyurl.com/glFE2

youtube.com

glfrontier intro

YouTube video by FrontierAstro

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

This is an updated version of the original FFE, called FFED3D-AJ. If you're interested, you can find out more at tiny.one/FFED3DAJ 🙂

tiny.one

FrontierAstro - FFED3D

Hi-Res Frontier First Encounters

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

I've no idea whether such an elaborate rotation system would work in Real Life™, in terms of generating "gravity" aboard the space station, but the concept in #FrontierFirstEncounters is an amazing one. Best not to look out of the window while eating your lunch though! 🤢

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Always good to see a copy of Frontier Elite 2... or two...

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FrontierAstro @frontierastro.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

The iconic boot sequence of #BBCElite, back in 1984. From there, you could go wherever your imagination let you...

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