GS UK Interviews Elite Creator (December 7, 2006)

[ChrisReid]

As the most notable open-ended space sim of its time, Wing Commander Privateer was always stuck with connections to an older classic, Elite. Despite differences in the core gameplay, comparisons are still made today. One thing they have in common now is their struggle to produce a modern sequel. Elite II was released the same year as Privateer, but looks worse in any technical or storytelling comparison now. GameSpot's UK branch has recently conducted an interview with David Braben, one of the Elite creators, and he claims that another game in the series will still be produced (after The Outsider, his next project). I was never a fan of Elite, but the eventual return of a space sim franchise of its fame should generate some good buzz. You can check out the full GS article to see the rest of Braben's take on gaming today.

GSUK: So, first things first. Are we ever going to see Elite 4?

DB: Well, we started it in 2000--and we stopped it in 2000. The reason was, we started it as a MMORPG, and the technology at the time for connectivity was rubbish. It had been oversold by the providers. We realised very quickly that what we wanted to do would overload the system and that we would end up taking the blame for the failings of the telecommunications industry. It was put on hold after that... In Elite, you were a spaceship, to move on to be a person, so many other things have to happen. Apologies for it taking so long, and I really mean that, but it's a game dear to my heart, and I don't want to do it badly.

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Original update published on December 7, 2006

 

[Pedro]

I'm really surprised to see that, but always glad to hear about open minds being kept, a couple of friends from my course ended up at frontier, when asked about Elite 4 the response was:

Rules of Frontier

1. The first rule of Frontier is you do not talk about Elite IV
2. The second rule of Frontier is you do NOT talk about Elite IV
3. If someone says stop, goes limp or taps out, they go get coffee before restarting.
4. One programmer to a PC, we have source control.
5. No shirts, no shoes, unless you're management.
6. Game Development will go on as long as it has to.
7. If this is your first day, you HAVE to read the coding conventions.

So as you can imagine I didn't expect to hear it so freely discussed anytime soon

 

[Bob McDob]

Wasn't Frontier the game that tried really hard to incorporate hydrogen ramscoops and other real-world physics things?

 

[BradMick]

Based on my experience with Frontier: Elite II, it didn't so much try as actually succeed. It's a pretty neat little game to play, definately has a learning curve. Could definately have done with some kind of direction though. You just start on one of like, three or four planets with no real guidance or anything. Its neat that at that time seemless transitions to space to atmosphere and back was available, something that I definately feel is sorely lacking in the bulk of the sims out there. Kind of a shame that that approach to space sim creation was abandoned. I also liked the newtonian flight model it had, makes things interesting.

Definately would be awesome if a new Elite came out.

 

[MartySheen]

Based on my experience with Frontier: Elite II, it didn't so much try as actually succeed. It's a pretty neat little game to play, definately has a learning curve. Could definately have done with some kind of direction though. You just start on one of like, three or four planets with no real guidance or anything. Its neat that at that time seemless transitions to space to atmosphere and back was available, something that I definately feel is sorely lacking in the bulk of the sims out there. Kind of a shame that that approach to space sim creation was abandoned. I also liked the newtonian flight model it had, makes things interesting.

Definately would be awesome if a new Elite came out.

I have to agree. Id love to see Elite 4 (almost as much as a new WC!) but unfortunately, I think we're in for a long wait