Happy 25th Anniversary - Elite

drew · Post by **drew** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:36 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8261272.stm

Cheers,

Drew.

Sendraks · Post by **Sendraks** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:56 am

And despite its age, thanks to the nip, tuck, botox and assorted cosmetic surgery provided by the Oolite community, its looking pretty good.

Kryto · Post by **Kryto** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:34 pm

Happy 25th birthday Elite!

I wonder what the sequel that David Braben mentions will be like??

Cmd. Cheyd · Post by **Cmd. Cheyd** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:41 pm

I'm sure it'll be be an excellent sequel, IF he pays attention to the community. When you think about it, he's got a MASSIVE pool of ideas to borrow from here, and an amazing opportunity to really look at what has and what hasn't worked in Oolite, Elite TNK, etc.

Just my take on it, mind you...

Sendraks · Post by **Sendraks** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:09 pm

You'd hope he'd pay attention.

Maybe I'm setting my sights low, but I'd settle for Oolite largely as it is, but with planets you can visit and fly over as per FFE. Obviously a bit graphically shinier, but the same basic idea.

Then go wild with the mission content. Oolite, as a completely free game, has more variety and interest in its misisons via the OXPs than the repetitive BS Frontier was saddled with. Plus if they were going to planets ala FFE, make them interesting, give the player stuff to do on the actual planets, rather than having them mostly unused as FFE and Frontier did.

I'm not sure the Frontier/FFE approach of accurately modelled solar systems worked well, it was too much unusued/dead content per system. The more you add that goes unused, the more empty and artificial the environment feels, whereas Oolites snug little systems are quite lively places.

Oh and no newtonian physics please. Very clever for implementing that in Frontier Mr Braben, but it wasn't actually fun to play.

Website · Post by **Cody** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:03 pm

Sendraks wrote:

Oh and no newtonian physics please. Very clever for implementing that in Frontier Mr Braben, but it wasn't actually fun to play.

Amen to that.

Sarin · Post by **Sarin** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:05 pm

I'd actually like to see something that could be defined as "einsteinian" physics. What would I do is to increase initial acceleration, like 3-5 times higher than in Frontier (so fighters could do like 100g acc), but implement an acceleration curve, so faster you go, the lower your acceleration is.

tomsk · Post by **tomsk** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:40 pm

It said 'CLICK TO PLAY" and all I got was a video.

Killer Wolf · Post by **Killer Wolf** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:00 pm

David's gonna have to pull something out the bag to win back his crown. while he's been gone, everyone's taken the game premise and style, and added far better designed/shaded ships etc than Elite was capable of. him simply doing much the same would just make the game another title on the shelf as the "Elite" premise/gameplay is no longer unique.

personally, i'd like Elite flight, FFE planetary landing etc, plus the ability to leave the ship and explore stations, maybe have a touch of FPS in it too, say get into a spacesuit, board another ship and take out the crew to take over the ship.
whatever it's gonna be like, safe to say it'll probbly be 2011 before it gets here....

ClymAngus · Post by **ClymAngus** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:12 pm

I think the main 2 things that make oolite stunning (and as a result are probably the things least likely to be in any elite 4) are:

1) adaptability, giving many layers of involvement. Play and/or construct.
2) Compatibility a game that likes macs who'd have thunk it?

I like the LittleBigPlanet aspect of the game.

Tivva · Post by **Tivva** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:39 pm

OMG where have all the years gone since my little BBC???

But what a difference in the game

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:11 pm

WOW 25 years since playing Elite on my beeb
.
I don't remember the sound set being so harsh, but then I mostly played through the night with sound on min.

And still the best game in the world! Eer, well would have been if Oolite didn't exist.

pagroove · Post by **pagroove** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:59 pm

Old games where I think a lot better thought out than most of the new games nowadays. Many games nowadays only built on great graphics. Gameplay is less important.

Oolite is one of the positive and free exceptions. Luckily the core team always holds a sharp eye to the playability. Thnx for that.

On Elite IV. The wait is long and the expectations are high but will it deliver?
I doubt.

Website · Post by **Cody** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:10 pm

As it is the anniversary, I went surfing for old references to Elite and found this.
As succinct a starter's guide to Elite as I've seen, and most of it still relevant to Oolite.

I wish I'd seen this twenty odd years ago:

http://www.stairwaytohell.com/gamehelp/ ... te-MU.html

Zieman · Post by **Zieman** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:13 pm

Happy 25th ELITE!

E4 - Mix ELITE & SPACE ROGUE & FFE...