Elite / Frontier Elite makes another top-10 of alltime list
- Thread starter deej
- Start date
Michael Brookes
Game Director
In terms of influential games I think I'd agree with pretty much most of that top ten. I'd hate to think of how much time I've put into the Civilization series over the years
Michael
I try the latest games for a while but keep coming back to Civ4 (last night it was "lets try raging barbarians and just 3 civs...)
....so the fourth in a classic series can still be addictive, eh Michael?
....so the fourth in a classic series can still be addictive, eh Michael?
Nice one DrBaggy!
Yes a good list of games there, but no System Shock 2 no Deus Ex??
Michael Brookes
Game Director
I try the latest games for a while but keep coming back to Civ4 (last night it was "lets try raging barbarians and just 3 civs...)
....so the fourth in a classic series can still be addictive, eh Michael?
I see what you did there
As for Civ, I've probably played 2 more than the rest, but I'm still playing 4 at the moment. Roll on 5 later this year, some of the new features look very interesting.Michael
Yes, I was worried it might do a Sim City and dumb down, but it looks very promising. On another thread here there was a discussion of the pros and cons of scripted missions: I really hope E4 can use procedurally generated events and systems so they can develop and interact in a much more organic way, as happens in Civilisation. It makes the game universe feel much more "real" than if everything is scripted.
I wonder how long before we can speculate over other forthcoming classics? (tried to do it again....)
I wonder how long before we can speculate over other forthcoming classics? (tried to do it again....)
The list is really lacking.
They should have included one Bioware/Black Isle RPG (Planescape Torment/Baldur's Gate/Fall Out)
And a Lucasfilm Games adventure (Loom/Monkey Island/Indiana Jones)
They should have included one Bioware/Black Isle RPG (Planescape Torment/Baldur's Gate/Fall Out)
And a Lucasfilm Games adventure (Loom/Monkey Island/Indiana Jones)
I agree Alien, Descent was much better and released at about the same time too, but as with all these "greatest games ever" lists, it will always be either subjective (if it's and individual's list) or generational (if its a free vote across ages, newer games will win out because younger people tend to make up most of the voting pool), just for the record people, Elite 2 is the best ever!
From the article:
But Doom also did something extraordinary in the gaming sphere - it was given away free, or at least the first part of the game. While this practice is now widespread in the early 1990s it was revolutionary. Sure, shareware games had been around for a while but they were usually something knocked up in someone's bedroom. This was a full featured, exciting bit of software from a professional gaming studio that was free. You could put it on a couple of discs and share it round your friends legally
This was not that revolutionary in the early 90s, many shareware games of that time WERE from professional studios: Apogee and Epic Megagames published all their titles as Shareware.
And most commercial games had free demos too. Usually the first levels were accessable.
Some other games that are neglected in such lists: Starflight, System Shock, X-Com, Ultima Underworld, Wing Commander
But Doom also did something extraordinary in the gaming sphere - it was given away free, or at least the first part of the game. While this practice is now widespread in the early 1990s it was revolutionary. Sure, shareware games had been around for a while but they were usually something knocked up in someone's bedroom. This was a full featured, exciting bit of software from a professional gaming studio that was free. You could put it on a couple of discs and share it round your friends legally
This was not that revolutionary in the early 90s, many shareware games of that time WERE from professional studios: Apogee and Epic Megagames published all their titles as Shareware.
And most commercial games had free demos too. Usually the first levels were accessable.
Some other games that are neglected in such lists: Starflight, System Shock, X-Com, Ultima Underworld, Wing Commander
I can see why most of the games have been chosen, but actually only Elite intersects with my personal top ten list.
Since some dissatisfaction with that list has been expressed, it might be fun to have a thread where people can post their own top ten list and discuss aspects of lists or single games mentioned, what do you think? Or has it been done before in this forum?
Since some dissatisfaction with that list has been expressed, it might be fun to have a thread where people can post their own top ten list and discuss aspects of lists or single games mentioned, what do you think? Or has it been done before in this forum?
Bungarus - A top ten list hasn't been done yet
(I've checked Elite / Frontier section, Off Topic & General Discussion)
So here's mine :
10) Space Invaders - Arcade & Atari 2600
09) Pole Position - Atari 2600
08) The Hobbit - C64
07) Tomb Raider 2 - PC & PS1
06) Myst 3 - PC
05) Gauntlet - Arcade & C64
04) Sonic The Hedgehog - Sega Megadrive & Game Gear
03) Elite - C64
02) Diablo 2 - PC
01) X-BTF - PC
These are all games I've played and the formats I played them on.
Why isn't Elite #1 ? As good as that game was at the time, I feel that the games above it are either better games in their genre or made a bigger impact.
Go ahead and make your own top 10 list, and don't just put Elite FE2 or FFE at #1 for the sake of it or to creep to Frontier, make it an honest list.
Alien
(I've checked Elite / Frontier section, Off Topic & General Discussion)
So here's mine :
10) Space Invaders - Arcade & Atari 2600
09) Pole Position - Atari 2600
08) The Hobbit - C64
07) Tomb Raider 2 - PC & PS1
06) Myst 3 - PC
05) Gauntlet - Arcade & C64
04) Sonic The Hedgehog - Sega Megadrive & Game Gear
03) Elite - C64
02) Diablo 2 - PC
01) X-BTF - PC
These are all games I've played and the formats I played them on.
Why isn't Elite #1 ? As good as that game was at the time, I feel that the games above it are either better games in their genre or made a bigger impact.
Go ahead and make your own top 10 list, and don't just put Elite FE2 or FFE at #1 for the sake of it or to creep to Frontier, make it an honest list.
Alien
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Here's mine...
10) Wipeout - Playstation
09) Tomb Raider - Playstation
08) Ridge Racer - Playstation
07) FIFA 2003 - Playstation 2
06) Oolite - PC
05) Elite - BBC
04) Driver - PC
03) GTA3 - Playstation 2
02) Frontier Elite 2 - Commodore Amiga CD32
01) Frontier First Encounters - PC
My top two are not an attempt to creep to Frontier. They are genuine
10) Wipeout - Playstation
09) Tomb Raider - Playstation
08) Ridge Racer - Playstation
07) FIFA 2003 - Playstation 2
06) Oolite - PC
05) Elite - BBC
04) Driver - PC
03) GTA3 - Playstation 2
02) Frontier Elite 2 - Commodore Amiga CD32
01) Frontier First Encounters - PC
My top two are not an attempt to creep to Frontier. They are genuine
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No Creeping Zone!
Here would be my genuine top 10
10) Neverwinter Nights (PC)
9) Hostile Waters (PC)
8) Freespace 2 with Freespace Open Mod (PC)
7) Elite Plus (Amiga)
6) Civilization IV (PC)
5) Deus Ex (PC)
4) System Shock 2 (PC)
3) Zeewolf 1&2 (Amiga)
2) Dungeon Master 2 (Amiga + PC)
1) Frontier Elite II (early Amiga disk version with wormhole "bug"), yes really!
These are the games I spent most of my time on and at the same time actually entertained me with their (respective) playability, complexability and great overall design. As for FE2 being my number one, it's there solely on merit. Honest!
Here would be my genuine top 10
10) Neverwinter Nights (PC)
9) Hostile Waters (PC)
8) Freespace 2 with Freespace Open Mod (PC)
7) Elite Plus (Amiga)
6) Civilization IV (PC)
5) Deus Ex (PC)
4) System Shock 2 (PC)
3) Zeewolf 1&2 (Amiga)
2) Dungeon Master 2 (Amiga + PC)
1) Frontier Elite II (early Amiga disk version with wormhole "bug"), yes really!
These are the games I spent most of my time on and at the same time actually entertained me with their (respective) playability, complexability and great overall design. As for FE2 being my number one, it's there solely on merit. Honest!
Sure there is, and if not (unlikely), then I've just coined it! A game that has the ability to be complex, meaning although it has many features, all those features are readily accessible, hence the term "complexability" or if you like complex-ability!There is no such word as "complexability" Geraldine
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Roughly chronologic (with exeptions when themed summarization seemed suitable), not refering to publishing date but when I first played the games:
1. Mercenary
2. Elite
3. Cholo
This is the Triad of mighty 3D-games on the C 64 (my first computer) that impressed me enormously. Another thing all three titles have in common is their nonlinear gameplay (to different extent). I must say Mercenary impressed me more than Elite at the time, whereas I spent much more months in the latter simply because it had that clever feature of being open ended. And of course there was that strange ambition to reach the Elite-status. In hindsight I see the things I had to sacrifice in order to reach that aim (double meaning intended), so should I rather have experienced more friends, better performance at school or a teenage first love for the price of not being able to call my self an Elite-pilot? - I guess you hoped for that you lazy docking-computer-users without a clue how to kill pirates using side-mounted lasers!
4. FE2, FFE, X, Orbiter
Seems I like space sims.
5. Dune II, Mankind
My most fondly remembered experiences with real-time strategy games, Dune II being the introduction to the genre for me, still in 2D on the Amiga, and Mankind being an early and brilliant effort to make a 3D-RTS-space-MMOG that got me hooked even longer than Elite (but only because there was no MMO-version of Elite).
6. Battle Isle III
The best turn-based strategy game I ever came across and the only other game that succeeded in ending up in my list without 3D graphics (apart from short playbacked battle sequences - quite original and very well staged actually). Includes the best Midi-music I ever heared - sounds great with a good wavetable.
7. Mechwarrior Series, Star Siege
How could one not fall in love with robots the size of skyscrapers at ones fingertips?
8. Tomb Raider Series
I really liked TR I-IV, and V-? are the only singleplayer games I might consider spending reasonable time on in the future. But it would be great to share the experience with at least one other person in front of the screen, rotating on the controls. If there has ever been a game where the fact of four eyes seeing more than two could be used to great advantage, this is it.
9. V 2000, Infestation
Mentioned together because of the similarities in gameplay and aesthetics. Very creative, weird and atmospheric stuff. I think I did not finish both of them, and I must admit I feel some urge to do that right now. Again, it would be great to have another enthusiast in front of the screen to share the experience.
And of course there are the PC-ports of the two sequels to Mercenary (Damocles, The Dion Crisis) and the remake of Cholo in Tron-like graphics. Perhaps I should put together a retrogaming club to get rid of that dreadful singleplayer element in singleplayer games.
10. Jumpgate
Space-Sim-MMOG with twitch-based combat and realistic physics - enough said. Loved it for a few days some years ago (not longer because I felt I had obligations in Mankind) and for two months more recently and will probably come back to it as soon as I find a replacement for my broken joystick. I also tried to buy TrackIR on Ebay but that's not home and dry yet.
I know, I cheated a little bit in order to sneak in some more than ten. (-;
1. Mercenary
2. Elite
3. Cholo
This is the Triad of mighty 3D-games on the C 64 (my first computer) that impressed me enormously. Another thing all three titles have in common is their nonlinear gameplay (to different extent). I must say Mercenary impressed me more than Elite at the time, whereas I spent much more months in the latter simply because it had that clever feature of being open ended. And of course there was that strange ambition to reach the Elite-status. In hindsight I see the things I had to sacrifice in order to reach that aim (double meaning intended), so should I rather have experienced more friends, better performance at school or a teenage first love for the price of not being able to call my self an Elite-pilot? - I guess you hoped for that you lazy docking-computer-users without a clue how to kill pirates using side-mounted lasers!
4. FE2, FFE, X, Orbiter
Seems I like space sims.
5. Dune II, Mankind
My most fondly remembered experiences with real-time strategy games, Dune II being the introduction to the genre for me, still in 2D on the Amiga, and Mankind being an early and brilliant effort to make a 3D-RTS-space-MMOG that got me hooked even longer than Elite (but only because there was no MMO-version of Elite).
6. Battle Isle III
The best turn-based strategy game I ever came across and the only other game that succeeded in ending up in my list without 3D graphics (apart from short playbacked battle sequences - quite original and very well staged actually). Includes the best Midi-music I ever heared - sounds great with a good wavetable.
7. Mechwarrior Series, Star Siege
How could one not fall in love with robots the size of skyscrapers at ones fingertips?
8. Tomb Raider Series
I really liked TR I-IV, and V-? are the only singleplayer games I might consider spending reasonable time on in the future. But it would be great to share the experience with at least one other person in front of the screen, rotating on the controls. If there has ever been a game where the fact of four eyes seeing more than two could be used to great advantage, this is it.
9. V 2000, Infestation
Mentioned together because of the similarities in gameplay and aesthetics. Very creative, weird and atmospheric stuff. I think I did not finish both of them, and I must admit I feel some urge to do that right now. Again, it would be great to have another enthusiast in front of the screen to share the experience.
And of course there are the PC-ports of the two sequels to Mercenary (Damocles, The Dion Crisis) and the remake of Cholo in Tron-like graphics. Perhaps I should put together a retrogaming club to get rid of that dreadful singleplayer element in singleplayer games.
10. Jumpgate
Space-Sim-MMOG with twitch-based combat and realistic physics - enough said. Loved it for a few days some years ago (not longer because I felt I had obligations in Mankind) and for two months more recently and will probably come back to it as soon as I find a replacement for my broken joystick. I also tried to buy TrackIR on Ebay but that's not home and dry yet.
I know, I cheated a little bit in order to sneak in some more than ten. (-;
I just saw I have five Braben / Frontier games in my list, which may look a lot like "creeping"! Trying to defend myself:
First it's not a top 10 list, but a top 16 list (not considering that even some more games have been summarized as "series") if you have a closer look. (-;
It was many years after Elite that I had the idea to check out other games where D.B. was involved. FE2 and FFE impressed me for complexity and realism - a landmark in that respect -, but I did not spend too much time with them because I found FFE being better graphically but I had problems flying in low altitudes on planets which I enjoyed in FE2 and so was a little bit annoyed.
V 2000 and Infestation I immediately fell in love with, can't help it. Especially the transformable vehicle in Infestation allowing exploration on land, in the air, on water, under water - and I even seem to remember some space-ish levels - was great. And the levels are beautifully designed which I appreciate a lot since I love exploring the game world even after the action has been finished (on a par with Tomb Raider in that respect). Underrated games I think.
First it's not a top 10 list, but a top 16 list (not considering that even some more games have been summarized as "series") if you have a closer look. (-;
It was many years after Elite that I had the idea to check out other games where D.B. was involved. FE2 and FFE impressed me for complexity and realism - a landmark in that respect -, but I did not spend too much time with them because I found FFE being better graphically but I had problems flying in low altitudes on planets which I enjoyed in FE2 and so was a little bit annoyed.
V 2000 and Infestation I immediately fell in love with, can't help it. Especially the transformable vehicle in Infestation allowing exploration on land, in the air, on water, under water - and I even seem to remember some space-ish levels - was great. And the levels are beautifully designed which I appreciate a lot since I love exploring the game world even after the action has been finished (on a par with Tomb Raider in that respect). Underrated games I think.
I think you made the right choice. Friends come and go, lovers likewise and school grades can be pretty useless.
Being an Elite pilot though, that's something you'll cherish for the rest of your life (gets you into the best clubs etc etc).