This is the original Elite Players Guide as sent out to confused Elite
players by BT back in 1988. Typed in by Martin Wilson.
Please note that the C64 version is the most similar to the BBC. Its almost
identical to the BBC B disk version, just slower with the added Tribbles
feature.
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February 15, 1988
British Telecom
The Advanced Elite Players Guide
Spectrum 48K/128K
Early versions of Elite will only work on 48K/+ machines and require a
small red plastic LENSLOK to start the game. However, a 48/128 version of
Elite is now available which will work on all Spectrum 48K and 128K
machines and NO LENSLOK is required to run the game. If you have an old
version of the game, then we will upgrade it for you if you return
JUST the cassette and the LENSLOK to us with a short covering note
explaining that you want your Elite upgraded. Please note that the new
version of Elite has NO added ships or missions, although it is slightly
more difficult.
Amstrad 464/664/6128
Early versions of cassette Elite have a nasty bug in them. This makes the
game "freeze" and the screen turns red. These are recognisable because the
labels stuck to the sides of the cassette are BLACK. The unbugged version of
the game has a WHITE cassette label which is marked with the word
METROPOLITAN. If you have the old version of Elite, you may return it to
us for upgrading. Return JUST your cassette to us with a short covering
note explaining that you require the METROPOLITAN version of Elite.
Commodore 64/128
Some versions of disc Elite will only work on 1541 disk drives. This
version will display a white screen with groups of small red bands
across it as it loads. A special version has been made which will work with
ALL Commodore disc drives as well as American systems. When loading the
game with this version, the screen will turn red and the computer will ask
whether you want to use the fastloader (Y/N). You should press "Y" if you
have a 1541 disc drive or "N" if you have another type of drive. You may
upgrade old disc versions of Elite by returning JUST your disc with a
covering note explaining that you have a disc drive other than the 1541.
Disc upgrades on ALL computers
Spectrum Elite is available for the Opus Discovery disc drive. This version
is only available from Boots, and Firebird software is unable to replace or
supply this version of the game.
You may upgrade Amstrad,Commodore or MSX Elite from cassette to disc for
just 4. Simply return JUST your Elite cassette with a cheque or PO for 4
and we will send a disc version of the game to you. Please note that disc
versions of Elite are NOT enhanced. Also, Amstrad users will find that
their cassette saved commanders will not load into their disc version of
the game and thus they will have to re-start the game from Lave.
Amstrad CPC Disc Elite
The instructions for loading this game are wrong. You should load the game
by typing RUN "ELITE" and then press RETURN.
IBM PC Elite There are two versions of IBM Elite. To find out which version
you have, press the 'V' key whilst in the Commander Loading/Saving section.
This will tell you the version date of your Elite disc. Any date before
December 1987 means that you have version 1. Any date after this, means
that your disc is version 3. Version 1 of Elite should run properly on
any PC but Tandy users may experience joystick problems. Version 1 will
also make the PC's battery clock go 'haywire'. Version 3 has these problems
fixed and has also been made even more difficult, especially for hardened
players!
All Elite Players Using Discs
Anyone who is playing Elite with discs (on any computer format) should
take note that ALL commanders should be saved to a blank, formatted disc.
Never write data to your Elite Game Disc.
Everything you didn't know about Elite
CBM 64 To make the music play:- Pause the game, press "X","C" and then the
left-arrow key in the top left of the keyboard. To get into Witchspace:-
Pause the game, press "X" and then the left-arrow key in the top left of the
keyboard. Now hold down CTRL whilst doing a hyperspace. Trumbles:- Once you
have them, there is only one way to get rid of them - FRY them alive!! You
will have to work out how to do this yourself. Weird ships:- There is a
weird ship which very occasionally appears in CBM 64 Elite. We do not know
what it is or why it is there and the authors (Bell and Braben) aren't
telling! All we do know is that this ship is not on the ship
identification chart, it is very fast and well armed, it does not show up
on the scanner and it is not the constrictor ship from the first special
mission (see later). Any ideas anybody?
Spectrum/Amstrad To get into Witchspace:- Pause the game, press "F" (For
Fargoidsville!!) and then unpause the game. Now do a hyperspace. Space
Stations:- Some space stations appear in deep orbit on Spectrum and
Amstrad versions. On flying to them, the compass will suddenly indicate
the the space station is behind you. This is wrong, and if you keep flying
on your path forwards, then the space station will suddenly appear.
MSX Elite MSX Elite has a couple of extra ships which are not documented in
the manual. Also, if you push key 'f5' then you will be told how long
you have been playing the game.
All Formats Space Dredgers:- They can be found (but very rarely) in Galaxy
Seven but near no particular planets. Generation ships do NOT
exist and are only mythological.
Right on Commander! - For every 256 kills (approx) that you make, the
message 'RIGHT ON COMMANDER!' will flash up on screen.
RAXXLA and EARTH cannot be found in Elite.
Alien items:- These are Thargons that have been scooped up.
The Special Missions
CBM 64 Missions One and Two are available only. They happen randomly.
Spectrum/Amstrad/PC Missions Three,Four and Five are available only. You
must be outside of galaxy one for a few hours before a mission can start.
MSX All five missions apply to this format. You must be outside galaxy one
for a few hours before a mission can start.
Mission One Seek and destroy a special proto-type naval ship called a
"Constrictor". When you are given this mission, you will be told where
the ship was stolen from and where it was last seen. In fact, it has done
a Galactic Hyperspace from the planet where it was last seen. If you
follow it by doing a Galactic Hyperspace from the same planet you should
find it within a seven light year radius of your position when you come
out of the Galactic Hyperspace. As a clue, the planet data on the world
that the "Constrictor" is at will say that there is a "mean, nasty, vicious
ship out there!" (or words to that effect).
Mission Two Transport some Thargoid documents across a galaxy (either
galaxy three or galaxy seven). In return you will get a Naval Energy Unit
which is twice as good as an Extra Energy Unit.
Mission Three Rescue some refugees from a system that is going Supernova.
It will start as you enter a system, when the message "Fuel Leak" will
flash up and the screen will turn RED. First you should go to the sun and
scoop some fuel because you cannot buy any at the space station. Next go
to the space station and select SELL CARGO. A message will now pop up on
screen. Offering you a mission to save some refugees.
Mission Four You will be attacked by about three Asps who are escorting an
INVISIBLE Adder. If you shoot the Adder(if you can see it!!) then a cargo
canister will drop out of it. If you pick this up then "CLOAKING DEVICE"
will flash up on screen. This means that you can now become invisible
when you push the "Y" key but beware as it uses up your energy.
Mission Five The Thargoid invasion fleet. A message will come up
telling you that a particular planet has been invaded. If you got to this
planet, they you will find it totally populated with Thargoids. You must
destroy the space station. If you do this then you will be given an ECM
jammer and the glorius title of "Arkangel Florence" (the authors idea of a
macho title!!).
Elite II
Watch this space!