Elite gets impressive unofficial port for the VIC-20

Aleksi Eeben has created a version of the classic space-sim, Elite, for the VIC-20. Eeben says that the game “is based on the C-64 source. VIC 20 specific graphics, text, keyboard & joystick input, and sound routines were written from scratch to replace the corresponding C-64 code.”

Elite, released in 1984 for the BBC Micro, was a revolutionary space trading and combat simulator by David Braben and Ian Bell. With its open-ended gameplay, procedurally generated galaxy, and 3D wireframe graphics, it set new standards in gaming. The game was later ported to multiple platforms including the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, NES, Amiga, and Archimedes.

Eeben adds, “Of course, the complete enhanced Elite won’t fit within the VIC 20’s limited memory, so some features had to be left out. Following the original 1984 BBC Cassette and Acorn Electron version, the VIC 20 version omits extended planet descriptions, planetary details (craters and meridians), and the missions that appear further on in the game. The pause mode options are dropped, and there is no Find Planet option in Galactic Chart (that would be only really useful during missions).”

This port relies heavily on Mark Moxon’s digital archaeology project about Elite on various 8-bit platforms, and you can read more about the development at the VIC-20 denial forums.

Requirements

• 32K + 3K RAM expansion required
• 1541 or SD2IEC for saving game progress
• Joystick optional
  

You can download Vic-20 Elite here – https://bit.ly/vic20elite, and read more at https://vic20elite.wordpress.com/