Elite / Frontier Desperate, fed up and had enough

captainralph2003

C
i have recently come across Elite the PC dos version. I have played it everyday for a number of hours and i still have not managed to dock once with any space station.
How do you do it. Please can anybody help
PLEASE
 

DraQ

D
Given that I've last played Elite on C64 when I was a kid, and didn't know English then which limited my experience with the game to "wow, a game that large must be awesome, too bad I can't figure out how to play it", the only, rather unhelpful, advice I can give would be to try FE2 and/or FFE.
 

captainralph2003

C
To Space Pirate

I don't know anything about an auto pilot. There is an auto docking but you have to have a lot of money for that and i an right at the beginning of the game
Ralph
 

captainralph2003

C
i just need to work out how to load up all these different games. The elite version i have is the new kind one that has been created. But as i said i am not computer literate and have no idea about programs (emulaters)to help you run other programs etc.

but there must be a way to dock properly though
 

2005

2
FE (the most modern) sort of works with Dos-box

http://www.dosbox.com/

I had it running years ago on XP, although without sound and only in a window; dosbox has improved a lot since then. It's pretty easy to use though - it's just some programs work and some don't, and others have stuff missing.

I have played frontier but prefer the graphics of FE.
 

The Space Pirate

The Space Pirate
captainralph2003 said:
i just need to work out how to load up all these different games. The elite version i have is the new kind one that has been created. But as i said i am not computer literate and have no idea about programs (emulaters)to help you run other programs etc.

but there must be a way to dock properly though
Click to expand...

Google GLFrontier, it will run on a modern PC, the only difference being inferior sound to the original version. I won't mention improved gfx, because all they improve is the ships, the planets are ruined by it. Press Ctrl-E to get the original gfx from Frontier (or wireframe if that floats your boat)!
 

The Space Pirate

The Space Pirate
DraQ said:
Given that I've last played Elite on C64 when I was a kid, and didn't know English then which limited my experience with the game to "wow, a game that large must be awesome, too bad I can't figure out how to play it", the only, rather unhelpful, advice I can give would be to try FE2 and/or FFE.
Click to expand...

Was there ever a version of Elite released with updated gfx for the PC, similar to GLFrontier? I never played Elite, but I don't know if I want to go back to Acorn Electron gfx!!!
 

DaMaGe007

D
I remember playing the original elite on C64 and then on Amiga. here is how I used to dock up until the docking computer.

fly towards the station entry point get as close as you can and cut engines.
then align the planet in the middle of your screen and fly towards it, the station is now behind you.
then after traveling a bit cut engines stop and then turn to face the station.

it should now be in the middle of your screen and you can use the rotate keys to match the station rotation and fly slowly into the station.

Good luck
DMG
 
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captainralph2003

C
Thank you for this. I rememberin the original it was a lot easyier, but in this new kind version you can not cut the engines completely, they still stay on even for a little bit. I guess that is why i struggle with it.
Is there anybody else playing the Elite -The new kind version who also has this problem
 

Adrena1in

A
captainralph2003 said:
...you can not cut the engines completely, they still stay on even for a little bit. I guess that is why i struggle with it.
Click to expand...

Was that true of the original Elite? I can't remember now, it's been so long since I played it.

Seriously though, if you're struggling with this version you have, do what others have suggested and grab GLFrontier. This is actually an updated version of "Frontier : Elite 2", the first sequel to the original Elite, also sometimes referred to as "FE2".

(Forget "Frontier : First Encounters", the next sequel - also called "FFE", for the time being.)

FE2 held onto the excellent gameplay of the original Elite, but made a few improvements to add to the realism. Plus it is absolutely massive, (and came on two 1.4Mb floppy drives when I first bought it...what other game has been so big and under 3Mb?)

Here's where I got GLFrontier from...I think DraQ posted this link earlier, (or has posted it before). http://www.tomatarium.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/glfrontier.html

Just download it and run the GLFrontier.exe file and away it goes. F11 puts the game into Fullscreen mode, and CTRL-E cycles between the Graphics settings.

In Frontier you have the choice of several starting locations, each giving you a different ship. I can't remember which I went for now, but I know that one of the games lets you start with a fairly decent Cobra MkIII, (as in Elite), with some pre-included items, such as an Auto-Pilot for easy docking. (I think I actually traded in the Cobra straight away for something smaller, so that I could start with a decent amount of money to get my trading off to a good start), but how you play the game is entirely up to you.

Just enjoy it...you're bound to. :)
 

DraQ

D
I wouldn't "forget" about FFE, but I'd definitely start with FE2. The thing is that combat in FFE might seem impossible at the beginning, and since it's basically FE2+ in most aspects, it's better to know how it all works before trying.

Also, original Elite star systems are included in Frontier (the entire first "galaxy"), although they form just a tiny fragment of accessible galaxy. The starting location that gives you Cobra Mk.3 is...

You guessed it - Lave.
 

Steve

Steve
The Space Pirate said:
Does the original Elite have a real universe like Frontier, or is it a made-up one.
Click to expand...
The original Elite's galaxies are entirely ficticious, as far as we know ;). Frontier's galaxy has a lot of real-life star names plus the ones generated by the program. Oolite is like Elite in this respect.
 

DraQ

D
The Space Pirate said:
Does the original Elite have a real universe like Frontier, or is it a made-up one. What about Oolite?
Click to expand...
Made up. Although, Frontier's universe is also mostly made up. It's still much larger, resembles actual spiral galaxy and contains a good handful of real-life objects like better known stars and planets in our solar system. It also uses RL physics. Amusingly enough it contains some of the Elite systems, like Lave or Riedquat.
 

Sir.Tj

The Moderator who shall not be Blamed....
Volunteer Moderator
Sir.Tj
Both Oolite and Elite have made up universes, I alwasy loved the fact that in FE/FFE you could fly over your home town! prompting the "Hey I can see my house from here" line:D
 

Sir.Tj

The Moderator who shall not be Blamed....
Volunteer Moderator
Sir.Tj
DraQ said:
Also, original Elite star systems are included in Frontier (the entire first "galaxy"), although they form just a tiny fragment of accessible galaxy. The starting location that gives you Cobra Mk.3 is...

You guessed it - Lave.
Click to expand...

Isn't Lave included in FFE as well? Can't look at the moment to check. I think its around -3,-6
 
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