Elite IV Winging To PS3, Xbox 360
See Full ImageOkay, if you're under the age of 30, you may not appreciate the name in question (although you may have played a few of the sequels).
According to TheSixthAxis, it has apparently been confirmed that Elite IV is headed to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. David Braben himself - co-creator of the original Elite - introduced the game, and it comes as a bit of a surprise to those of us who recall that title from the BBC Micro days. Yes, the BBC Micro; it was a computer, kiddies. As for Elite, it was published by Acornsoft in 1984 and it was a space adventure where players would attempt to gain the rank of "elite." As Wikipedia tells us (seriously, go read), Elite "was one of the first home computer games to use wireframe 3D graphics with hidden line removal." It was incredibly innovative at the time and it even boasted an open-ended game style the likes of which we really hadn't seen before; in turn, it has influenced countless designers. We may never have seen the likes of Freelancer, Wing Commander: Privateer, or Escape Velocity without Elite. It was just one of those benchmark games of the old days, and I can still remember seeing those 3D wireframe images and being all amazed. Of course, I was only about 6 at the time, but even so... It remains emblazoned in my memory.
We don't know when Elite IV will be coming to the PS3 and 360, but we get the feeling that old-school aficionados are already perking their ears for more info.
Related Game(s): Elite IV
6/16/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (23 posts)
Corak
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 11:10:29 AM
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I would really like to see a similar (but modern) game.
But not having heard anything from this one in years (?), I fear it's highly unlikely to be any good.
BTW: Long time reader - first time writer:
I like this page. One of the very few in the whole internets where I care to read the comments. ^^
Last edited by Corak on 6/16/2009 11:11:05 AM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 2:31:56 PM
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Deleted User
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 6:49:17 PM
"Welcome to the big show." Haha...
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Highlander
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 11:23:47 AM
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I still have a BBC Micro, with 2nd processor. Last time I tired it still worked and elite was still awesome, despite being 20-odd years old.
And yes, before anyone asks I am E-L-I-T-E, I saw more Right on Commander!!! messages that I care to admit, and used to farm Thargoids for kills....if you played the original on the Beeb, you'll know what I mean. Many's the time I spent hours clearing the pirates from the outer reaches of a system, before scooping enough fuel to jump out.
I can only hope that Braben includes an emulation of the original game as an homage to Elite, in addition to whatever Elite IV turns out to be. I also hope he remembers to make it more of a game and less of a sim this time.
Needless to say, this is a day 1 purchase for me.
Last edited by Highlander on 6/16/2009 11:24:46 AM
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Corak
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 12:08:36 PM
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Highlander
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 4:48:28 PM
The thing about it being a sim is that the original Elite was never a sim. The combat and flight controls were obviously more game than sim, and the simpler trading system was also more game than sim.
This is one cgame that I think would be better served by having a tighter focus on making a game and far less emphasis on the sim aspect.
Last edited by Highlander on 6/16/2009 4:53:00 PM
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Alienange
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 12:40:36 PM
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ohmikkie
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 12:56:06 PM
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Last edited by ohmikkie on 6/16/2009 12:56:34 PM
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BikerSaint
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 2:42:50 PM
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This could shake all the dusty cobwebs right off my ole wrinkled up grey matter.
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bhindi_bhaji
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 3:37:52 PM
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I used to spend hours upon hours on Frontier on my trusty Amiga 1200...I still have a boxed Frontier in perfect working order!!
I can't wait!!
Now to top it all off we need a new Wing Commander (still have this too)and X-wing game!
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Highlander
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 4:50:34 PM
Elite 4 though, now there is a game that if done well would lend itself perfectly to multi-player online.
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Qubex
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 9:21:29 PM
Q!
"i am home"
Last edited by Qubex on 6/16/2009 9:21:47 PM
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tlpn99
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 5:13:36 PM
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Bringing back many happy hours of memories now thinking about it. Cant wait for this one :)
sometimes you just cant beat the classics :)
Last edited by tlpn99 on 6/16/2009 5:19:32 PM
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Qubex
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 9:20:16 PM
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I still have my Amiga1200, however it is inoperable at the moment. I do need to get it fixed. I have a nice fat 060 50MHz accelerator for it with 128mb of ram. So Frontier should fly on it should I get it again!
Q!
"i am home"
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SkantDragon
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 @ 2:08:15 AM
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After all, reviewers seem to automatically hate any game with any difficulty to it, or that requires them to spend any level of effort at all to do their jobs.
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Highlander
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 @ 10:35:28 AM
If anything Frontier was cerebral, because they made it more sim and less game.
Elite IV needs to make sure that it's a fun game to play rather than being a hugely detailed sim game.
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bhindi_bhaji
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 @ 2:12:59 AM
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Yep still in perfect working order, I may have to drag it out soon for a bit of nostalgia!
Mines got an accelerator too, although not as powerful as yours, only 40Mhz with 10MB RAM, still Frontier should be nice on it!
For anyone interested in Wing Commander there is a community website with a bunch of fan projects called Wing Commander CIC.
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Highlander
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 @ 10:40:04 AM
The only trouble is that I think that compared to the original games, some of the tight game design has been lost because they can do so much more.
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Gabriel013
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 @ 2:13:09 AM
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I want more open ended games which just go on and on and on. Knights of the Sky never had an ending and it was one of my favourite games! *grumble grumble*
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xStatiCa
Thursday, June 18, 2009 @ 12:16:56 AM
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Elite 2 has never been surpassed yet as far as it's open universe aspects. The amount of space you could explore seemed limitless.
I personally would pay $100 just for an enhanced elite 2 on PSN. Gameplay staying the same but just bugs fixed and graphics updated to high def and at least 2000 era texture mapping. Please make that happen too Sony!
Last edited by xStatiCa on 6/18/2009 12:20:58 AM
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0_o
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 10:50:55 AM