FrontierAstro

Commodore 64 Elite (1985) - attract screen. Still image of a rotating Cobra MkIII space ship.

Commodore 64 Elite (1985) - space view. This image was created using the Elite Universe Editor, by Mark Moxon. This program, and a flicker-free version of the game can be downloaded from Mark's website, at https://elite.bbcelite.com/c64/

Commodore 64 Elite (1985) - space view, approaching a Coriolis space station under the control of the ship's docking computers.

Commodore 64 Elite (1985) - Trumbles mission text. Accepting the mission will provide you with a furry companion on your travels. From there on, however, your problems will multiply.

*FrontierAstro Top 5 Elites*
4. Commodore 64 Elite - An excellent version, which maintained the classical BBC style while adding extra colour and the "Trumbles" mission. Graphical flicker can now be eliminated (see ALT text) and the full range of ships/space stations is present.

Amstrad Elite (1985) - Loading Screen

Amstrad Elite (1985) - planet and space station

Amstrad Elite (1985) - space view with attacking ship

Amstrad Elite (1985) - ship equipment screen

*FrontierAstro Top 5 Elites*
5. Amstrad Elite - Probably the best of the Z80 versions. Very playable, no flickering graphics, a few missions and plenty of colour, although they can get a bit garish at times (see picture). Solid filled planets were a first for Elite as well.

The Sun! 14.02.2026

I've just taken a virtually identical picture. Must be the same sun! 😮

Sinclair Spectrum Elite (1985) - retail box

Sinclair Spectrum Elite (1985) - attract screen

Commodore 64 Elite (1985) - retail box

Commodore 64 Elite (1985) - attract screen

People will argue long into the night over whether #Spectrum Elite or #Commodore64 Elite was the best. With its more colourful display and extra ships, the C64 version probably edges it, although the Spectrum game did boast the LensLok protection system 😁

Page 1 of the two-page review of Frontier Elite 2, in the February 1994 edition of Atari ST Review magazine. Summed up as ""Quite superb - as close to the perfect game as you'll find!" and awarded an overall score of 96%.

Page 2 of the two-page review of Frontier Elite 2, in the February 1994 edition of Atari ST Review magazine. Summed up as ""Quite superb - as close to the perfect game as you'll find!" and awarded an overall score of 96%.

Was Frontier Elite 2 on the #AtariST the best game ever released on that machine? Atari ST Review magazine certainly liked it, in their February 1994 edition. "Quite superb - as close to the perfect game as you'll find!" Overall score of 96%.

You must be hallucinating! 🙂

Had an amazing, clear night last night, contrary to all the forecasts! I only stopped doing astrophotography at 3am because I was so tired!

Frontier Elite comic by Dave Jones of DJ Comics.

Frontier Elite comic by Dave Jones of DJ Comics.

I've never really been into comics, but back in 2012 Dave Jones of DJ Comics released a 5-part adventure, set in the Frontier Elite universe. Definitely worth a read on a cold, rainy day!
djcomics.wordpress.com/frontier-eli...

Yeah, maybe I'm a monster, but they did overcharge me on my docking fees...

Retail box for Tatung Einstein Elite (1987). No bespoke boxes were produced for this version. Instead, the game shipped in the box for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, with stickers identifying it as the Einstein version placed where required.

Attract screen for Tatung Einstein Elite, released in 1987. Its visual similarity to Sinclair Spectrum Elite is explained by the fact that the Spectrum version was ported over to the Einstein, and adapted as required.

User manual for Tatung Einstein Elite. The Spectrum manual was used and a sticker placed within, due to the difference between the two machines in terms of loading the game. The Einstein only used 3" floppy discs, whereas the Spectrum loaded games from cassette tape.

Quick Key Control Guide, included with Tatung Einstein Elite. This was from the ZX Spectrum version, with the differences shown on a sticker.

If the Tatung Einstein version of Elite looks suspiciously like the Spectrum version, it's because it is a direct port from the Sinclair machine. The retail box was actually the Spectrum box, with stickers covering the logo where needed. The manual was also from the Spectrum!

24 ship data cards, included with Acorn Archimedes Elite. The cards revealed each ship's Offensive Rating (OFFRAT) and Defensive Rating (DEFRAT) as well as imparting some useful information.

Advertisement for Acorn Archimedes Elite. The game's price was revealed to be £39.95 and it could be purchased by sending a cheque or postal order to Hybrid Software, the publishers, who were based in Cambridge, UK.

Elite for the #AcornArchimedes was arguably the ultimate version of the original game. The physical items included were certainly unsurpassed, including 24 Ship Data Cards. The long-held tradition of naming ships in the game after snake species was no longer adhered to.

Sounds good, although we don't seem to have had a clear night for weeks 😕

Royal Mail limited edition gamer collection pack - Elite information.

Royal Mail limited edition gamer collection pack - Elite information.

The UK's Royal Mail postal service released a variety of video game related stamp sets in January 2020. Amongst these was the Limited Edition Gamer Collection Pack. In this were individual information cards with a corresponding stamp attached to them for the following games: Elite (1984), Dizzy (1987), Populous (1989), Lemmings (1991), Micro Machines (1991), Sensible Soccer (1992), Wipeout (1995) and Worms (1995). There was also a small booklet with further information on each game, plus a Certificate of Authenticity for each of the 2500 copies produced. This was all contained within a silver presentation tin.

Elite was immortalised by the UK's Royal Mail in 2020, when they produced a limited edition gamer collection pack of stamps. Seven other games were covered (see ALT text), including information on each one and a certificate of authenticity issued for each of the 2500 packs.

The white box is Gametek's budget re-release of FE2 from 1995, under their Advantage Point label.
The other two are Portuguese versions of FE2. One has the game on CD, the other on floppy disc.

Frontier Elite 2 - various!

I have enough copies of FE2 🙂

PC Elite (1987) - attract screen

PC Elite (1987) - space view

PC Elite Plus (1991) - attract screen

PC Elite Plus (1991) - space view

PC Elite certainly wasn't the prettiest version, when it was released in 1987. This was due to the restrictions of the CGA graphics. It did feature solid filled polygons, however. Elite Plus came along in 1991, and boasted a delicious 256 colour mode.

Addendum sheet For Apple II Elite. It clarified the game's save procedure and provided a solution for the screen corruption on the Apple II+ computer, which was caused by it being an upper-case machine only.

Addendum sheet for the disc version of Amstrad Elite, explaining that the program disc must remain in the drive at all times, unless the save game procedure has been initiated.

Original cassette tape version of Amstrad Elite, which contained a bug which locked the machine up after a few hours of gameplay.

Replacement cassette tape for Amstrad Elite, recognisable by the white label and the word "METROPOLITAN" on it.

This was about as close as you got to a patch for computer games in the 1980s. For more serious flaws, like the bug which locked up #AmstradElite after a few hours of play, replacement media had to be sent out to anyone who requested it (new version with white label).

Front of retail box for Amstrad CPC Elite, released by Firebird in 1985.

Space view in Amstrad CPC Elite.

Ship under attack in Amstrad CPC Elite.

Contents of Amstrad CPC Elite retail box (cassette version).

Elite for the Amstrad CPC was released by Firebird in 1985. It was an excellent conversion, featuring solid-filled planets and a good variety of ships. It came in cassette and disc formats and the retail package included the manual, novella & Ship Identification Chart.

Get well soon! I'm just recovering from a cold myself 🤧

The front of the Acornsoft 1986 retail box for BBC Elite, containing versions compatible with the BBC Model B, B+, Master 128 and Second Processor computers.

The front of the Superior Software 1986 retail box for BBC Elite, containing a version compatible with the BBC Master Compact computer.

The 5¼" program disc shipped with Acornsoft's 1986 version of Elite, compatible with the BBC Model B, B+, Master 128 and Second Processor computers.

The 3½" program disc shipped with Superior Software's 1986 version of Elite, compatible with the Master Compact computer.

In 1986, when Acornsoft's library of games was acquired by Superior Software, versions of #BBCElite were released under both labels for the new #BBCMaster computer. There was even a 3½" disc version for the Master Compact, confusingly described as a Compact Disc.

Atari ST Elite - retail box front (Firebird Software)

Atari ST Elite - retail box back (Firebird Software)

Atari ST Elite - ship view, approaching space station

Elite for the #AtariST looked and played very similarly to the #Amiga version, with a few differences. Combat was considered to be a let-down, not helped by the enemies firing bullets at you, rather than lasers. Otherwise, a very good conversion with a few missions to undertake.

Wrap up well, you must...

Front of retail box for Commodore Amiga Elite, published by Rainbird Software in 1988.

Back of retail box for Commodore Amiga Elite, published by Rainbird Software in 1988.

By 1988, the 8-bit computer era was pretty much over, and Elite made the jump to the new 16-bit machines. In doing so, they lost some of the magic of the original games (IMHO) but were otherwise good conversions for new and old gamers.

A two-page full colour Acornsoft advert in the December 1984 edition of A&B Computing magazine. It revealed their suite of games and programs at that time, which could keep a BBC micro owner busy on Christmas Day. The schedule was as follows: 9.00 Firebug 10.00 Maze 12.00 Elite 1.00 Crazy Tracer 3.00 Go 4.00 Watch Your Weight 5.00 The Complete Cocktail Maker 6.00 Paul Daniels' Magic Show

I would suggest an alternative Christmas schedule to this one. Ditch all the other games and just play Elite from 9.00 to 5.00. At some point load up The Complete Cocktail Maker and see how much your game playing skills deteriorate! 🍸🍸🍸

Advert for Elite, included in the Special Racing Programme, part of Acornsoft's Revs racing game. This was released in 1984, the same year as Elite.

An interesting advert in the Special Racing Programme included with Acornsoft's Revs racing simulation, in 1984. It managed to combine elements of Revs and Elite, utilising the wonderfully named Gloria Slap, one of your competitors in the game.

The Micro User magazine - front cover of the January 1986 edition, showing artwork based on Elite.

Pull-out guide included in the February 1986 edition of The Micro User Magazine. It contained a cheat program for Elite.

In 1986, The Micro User magazine included two pull-out guides to Elite, in the January and February editions. The first contained various hints & tips to help play the game. The second was a cheat program, guaranteed to finish any interest in the game for the player 😐

Nice photo, but there seems to be elongation of the stars in some of your pictures. Slight tracking issue on your scope?

I remember, many moons ago, being high up in the away section at St James' Park. Needed binoculars to see the game!

Frontier Elite 2 in the following formats (clockwise from top left): English PC version English Commodore Amiga version English Atari ST version English Commodore CD32 version Portuguese PC version German PC version French Commodore Amiga version

Having just the English PC version of #FrontierElite2 is clearly not enough. The Amiga, Atari ST and CD32 editions are required, plus the French, German and Portuguese releases as well. But only if you're slightly obsessed 😆

The Ship Identification Chart, included in the Acornsoft versions of Elite, released in 1984.

For some reason, I always preferred the Acornsoft Ship Identification Chart for Elite to the Firebird one. It covers the seven ship types found in the BBC cassette tape version. A poster including the extra ships found in the disc version didn't happen until the Firebird release.