Y'know, thinking about Elite and B5, they do tend to share a lot in common, hostile insectoid races with very powerful ships (Thargoids and Shadows), piracy that is rife, no one in overall control of the universe, trade stations that rotate to simulate gravity, lone wolf trade ships, the list goes on and on. My guess is that J. Michael Straczynski (B5's creator) must have been a fan of Elite, perhaps he might even be a fan of Oolite too? Who knows? I know that many times I watched the show, I was thinking to myself, this is what an Elite movie would be like.
EDIT: Drat I've posted this in the wrong section Mods help!
Geraldine Elite IV Is Released. Now Keeping The Faith in Oolite, Pioneer & FFE3D
Lots in common for sure. The main difference I can think of is that in Elite/Oolite there is just one main authority in GalCop whereas in B5 there were several independent Empires/Alliances - hence the need for B5 itself.
But the 'feel' of both is very much the same.
Commander Smivs, the friendliest Gourd this side of Riedquat.
Thats true Smives there were lots of "empires" in B5, but is there not lots of Corporate, Communist, Muti-governments ect in Elite too? These would behave very much like differing empires or alliances. Also the B5 station itself, its primary (real) function was a trade port, as that is what paid for its upkeep, especially so in the later half of the show's run. Yes it was originally set up as a meeting place to work out differences, but trade seems to be it's most common role.
Other systems in the show also had trade ports too, yep it reeks of Elite's influence
Geraldine Elite IV Is Released. Now Keeping The Faith in Oolite, Pioneer & FFE3D
Yep, if you ever read some of Braben's comments, then Asimov is one of the listed influences for Elite, along with Niven and Clarke. I've always wanted to see a Ringworld development attempted in Oolite, but I suspect many people's computer would come to a grinding halt!!
Yep, if you ever read some of Braben's comments, then Asimov is one of the listed influences for Elite, along with Niven and Clarke. I've always wanted to see a Ringworld development attempted in Oolite, but I suspect many people's computer would come to a grinding halt!!
Absolutely Braben & Bell didn't pull the "ideas" out of thin air, all those great authors (and others) all helped them as they do us!
As for a Ringworld...............
Geraldine Elite IV Is Released. Now Keeping The Faith in Oolite, Pioneer & FFE3D