2026-08-30T16:02:56Z https://njump.me Mark Moxon https://njump.me/npub1839p73atfgyl7hka2gzxymczj37h9a352v4r02ml35jpd7gfma9skyke5s https://media.universeodon.com/accounts/avatars/109/371/497/308/279/061/original/49bf8ab935875bfb.png https://media.universeodon.com/accounts/avatars/109/371/497/308/279/061/original/49bf8ab935875bfb.png https://njump.me/nevent1qqs03vsdv9js082h45gp9609adg4kznxcy7ujqv3px5ngeq3kphakagzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kv9yxf5 I&#39;m delighted to announce the release of the Elite Compendium for the #Commodore64 and #Commodore128<br/><br/>This contains Firebird Elite with lots of great features added from the other official 6502 versions, as well as bug fixes.<br/><br/>For details, see:<br/><br/><a href="https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/elite_compendium/">https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/elite_compendium/</a><br/><br/>The Elite Compendium contains a &#34;Greatest Hits&#34; version of Elite; all the added features are official Bell and Braben code, just backported to the C64.<br/><br/>It also contains the Elite Universe Editor, which lets you create 3D scenarios in the Elite universe and &#34;press play&#34; to see them come to life.<br/><br/>The key Elite features are:<br/><br/>* Flicker-free graphics<br/>* Disk menu can now overwrite files, delete files and catalogue disks<br/>* Volume control<br/>* Docking computer improvements<br/>* Fuel scoop improvements<br/>* Keyboard works better with joysticks<br/>* Commodore 128 speed-up<br/>* Speed cap for fast CPUs<br/>* Bug fixes<br/><br/>As with all my projects, you can explore the source code and see every single change I&#39;ve made to the original Elite for the Compendium version in the Technical Information article:<br/><br/><a href="https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/elite_compendium/technical_information.html">https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/elite_compendium/technical_information.html</a><br/><br/>And everything is handcrafted and 100% AI-free.<br/><br/>Right on Commanders!<br/><br/>#retrogaming #retrocomputing 2026-11-08T16:27:37Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqst5w08t296pp9wn2t5j8p0fu8m3hzszdejng9emskzuvyzwxkruyqzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805k43kxx4 I have just released Lander for the ARM Evaluation System.<br/><br/>So that&#39;s the first ever ARM game running on the first ever ARM chip.<br/><br/>See this Stardot thread for details: <a href="https://stardot.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33766">https://stardot.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33766</a><br/><br/>Fly safe!<br/><br/>#retrocomputing #retrogaming #bbcmicro #archimedes<br/><br/><video controls width="100%" class="max-h-[90vh] bg-neutral-300 dark:bg-zinc-700"><source src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/117/485/401/211/523/703/original/ebe7ee9be8c85646.mp4"></video> 2026-10-22T16:03:27Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqszjmkgl2h27dup28qk3j38lzy34mff3epy54lase4cwm79wndxdyszyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kaxqqyd New: Four interactive guides for building 8-bit Elite from Bell and Braben’s original source disks… all in your browser<br/><br/>Covers the BBC Micro, Commodore 64, Apple II and 6502 Second Processor versions of Elite<br/><br/>You can find links to all four guides in the first section of my deep dives index:<br/><br/><a href="https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives">https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives</a><br/><br/>#retrocomputing #8bit #BBCMicro #Commodore64 #AppleII #Elite 2026-10-06T18:07:40Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqs9806tnv6gyj382gfnar9zs9tz805pnexynd2plnk7h740dajtpaczyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805k8sxjma You can also choose from the following:<br/><br/>* Four types of lasers<br/>* Three types of energy unit<br/>* Missiles<br/>* Anti-missile E.C.M.<br/><br/>And your fight can be to the death, or the first to reach a specific number of hits<br/><br/>The latter is great fun and brings a whole new challenge to one-on-one combat<br/><br/>(6/10)<br/><br/> <img src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/117/207/807/408/757/677/original/667fc2c3e1e309b7.png"> 2026-09-03T15:26:55Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqsxrphfjckvah0yt4jcs0e0yal3xnxk7jxm8x2473rtdpw6zxe2d4czyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805k6fj5yt I am thrilled to announce the release of my latest Elite hack:<br/><br/>Two-player Elite for the #BBCMicro<br/><br/>This is the original 1980s Acornsoft Elite, but with split-screen, two-player, deep-space combat<br/><br/>See the thread for links, downloads and details<br/><br/>(1/10)<br/><br/>#retrocomputing #retrogaming #elitedangerous<br/><br/><video controls width="100%" class="max-h-[90vh] bg-neutral-300 dark:bg-zinc-700"><source src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/117/207/796/273/204/090/original/631852a4afa77283.mp4"></video> 2026-09-03T15:24:53Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqst2hw9aa0k582hd6u2lghy990jkhx292jgxjdfn8azf5hy9ghpd4czyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805k83ug3l Status check for two-player #BBCMicro Elite:<br/><br/>Development… [Done]<br/>Testing… [Done]<br/>Website… [Done]<br/>Technical deep dive… [Overdone]<br/>Code repository… [Done]<br/>Document all mods… [Done]<br/>Confirm date… [Done]<br/><br/>Releasing this Thursday, 3 September<br/><br/>Get your twin joysticks ready!<br/><br/>#retrogaming #retrocomputing<br/><br/> <img src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/117/185/198/937/928/003/original/807f2998065eaa0d.png"> 2026-08-30T15:43:17Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqsd9p4amakztezhrsqn6hqckyjkt2j7ssdy9e4wvj9ps25nt36pfdqzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kkxkn7v Two-player Elite on the BBC Micro is finally feature-complete. Phew, that was a long road!<br/><br/>Got a few bugs to fix, but the Acorn team at The National Museum of Computing have road-tested and given it a thumbs up, so that&#39;s a good sign.<br/><br/>September release, I hope...<br/><br/>#bbcmicro #retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #elite<br/><br/> <img src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/117/055/094/960/306/031/original/1aa2091723683635.png"> <br/> <img src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/117/055/095/993/032/102/original/1a753ad046847e0e.png"> 2026-08-07T16:10:31Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqst2pc5uv3trdws0yadhr04kx4j2an8qmad6p49ay7c6q8c7nwysuqzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kh55p56 Missiles are now working in two-player #BBCMicro Elite.<br/><br/>This clip shows player 1 firing a missile at player 2 (in the bottom view) and then player 2 retaliating (in both views).<br/><br/>This was really difficult to build! But it&#39;s important; here&#39;s why.<br/><br/>Until now, I&#39;ve only had to draw the two ships, the planet and the sun.<br/><br/>There are shortcuts we can take for all of these: the sun and planet are so distant that we can ignore their orientations, and each ship is the origin of its own space view, which simplifies a lot of the maths.<br/><br/>Missiles, however, represent arbitrary objects in 3D space, so getting the maths working for them means we can add any objects to space and draw them from the perspective of any other objects.<br/><br/>So this means that multiplayer Econet Elite should be possible - mathematically, at least.<br/><br/>Nice!<br/><br/>#retrocomputing #retrogaming<br/><br/><video controls width="100%" class="max-h-[90vh] bg-neutral-300 dark:bg-zinc-700"><source src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/930/360/417/920/275/original/0fe98a947c787056.mp4"></video> 2026-07-16T15:29:30Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqstmzaz7unut3j04ww6dgc4al53vgp8vvygx3gpe9vu7sm9m9f7fvqzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kl8g253 To help me test two-player #BBCMicro Elite, I’ve added “AI Pilot” as an option<br/><br/>It uses the game’s 1984 tactics routines to fly player 2 (bottom view)<br/><br/>It’s really interesting to watch Elite’s original “AI” from inside the other ship’s cockpit - in this case, an NPC Python<br/><br/>The top view is a human player, the bottom view is the AI<br/><br/>You can see the AI’s view jumping around quite a bit<br/><br/>This is because pitch and roll are either fully on or fully off for AI ships - there is no fine control<br/><br/>To make up for this, AI ships don&#39;t have to be 100% accurate to make a hit<br/><br/>In this configuration, two-player Elite is effectively the same as standard single-player Elite, but with the bottom view showing the cockpit of the computer-controlled AI ship<br/><br/>So this is what the world looks like for Elite NPCs!<br/><br/>I&#39;ll definitely be leaving this feature in - it’s great fun<br/><br/>#retrocomputing<br/><br/><video controls width="100%" class="max-h-[90vh] bg-neutral-300 dark:bg-zinc-700"><source src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/810/961/484/571/538/original/4666ca4b92fc53a6.mp4"></video> 2026-06-25T13:25:47Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqs9x367w2deaumvy3mtsguq6htegnccjhear7zvtmv03yzhjttz85gzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805ksgydek Two-player #BBCMicro #Elite is coming along nicely.<br/><br/>It now supports two pilots in two ships with two controllers and a split-view screen<br/><br/>Here are some work-in-progress videos - see the thread for an explanation<br/><br/>There’s lots to fix, but at least we have a proof-of-concept…<br/><br/>(1/6)<br/><br/>#retrocomputing<br/><br/><video controls width="100%" class="max-h-[90vh] bg-neutral-300 dark:bg-zinc-700"><source src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/664/233/205/979/943/original/f330f201265891af.mp4"></video> 2026-05-30T15:29:12Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqsgurhusslpxyhnk2umdew05xjdj0nc39jj498ldkhmrplgdksvr7gzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kuulg3f As promised, I&#39;ve created a flicker-free version of the Elite Demonstration Disc for the #BBCMicro.<br/><br/>It contains both flicker-free ships and planets.<br/><br/>Play in browser: <a href="https://bbc.xania.org/?autoboot&amp;disc=https://elite.bbcelite.com/versions/flicker_free_elite/elite-demonstration-disc-flicker-free.ssd">https://bbc.xania.org/?autoboot&amp;disc=https://elite.bbcelite.com/versions/flicker_free_elite/elite-demonstration-disc-flicker-free.ssd</a><br/><br/>Download disc image: <a href="https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/flicker-free_elite_downloads.html">https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/flicker-free_elite_downloads.html</a><br/><br/>More info: <a href="https://elite.bbcelite.com/demo/">https://elite.bbcelite.com/demo/</a><br/><br/>Enjoy! 2026-04-30T11:24:59Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqst6ykcdynx2jg6y4rflg70ske8mxlj4e8sdy60yfrac7nej06amfgzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kn56d6p I&#39;ve just released a web version of the documented source code for the Elite Demonstration Disc, the 1984 self-playing demo from Acornsoft.<br/><br/><a href="https://elite.bbcelite.com/demo">https://elite.bbcelite.com/demo</a><br/><br/>It&#39;s got syntax colouring, hyperlinked labels, code maps, indexes, stats and more.<br/><br/>Deep dive coming soon.<br/><br/>#bbcmicro #retrocomputing 2026-04-24T16:08:08Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqsgae00d059kx947e5fuwavswf88032gsh5vf53pc2lqfqg5xnkmzgzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kuukyyf It&#39;s finished! The Sentinel, Geoff Crammond&#39;s epic game, is now fully documented at <a href="https://thesentinel.bbcelite.com">https://thesentinel.bbcelite.com</a><br/><br/>* 41,902 lines of lovingly annotated source code<br/><br/>* 51 deep dives (116,240 words)<br/><br/>* Fully buildable code repository<br/><br/>* 100% handcrafted AI-free content<br/><br/>* 7 months’ work<br/><br/>If you have enjoyed this project, you might like my other software archaeology projects at <a href="https://www.bbcelite.com">https://www.bbcelite.com</a><br/><br/>* Elite on the 6502<br/><br/>* Aviator on the BBC Micro<br/><br/>* Revs on the BBC Micro<br/><br/>* Lander on the Acorn Archimedes<br/><br/>Time for a new project now… after a bit of a break. See you soon!<br/><br/>#retrocomputing #C64 #BBCMicro<br/><br/> <img src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/392/607/433/587/614/original/67e5a130ab1181f4.png"> <br/> <img src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/392/607/833/002/609/original/746815cd20b48e0c.png"> <br/> <img src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/392/608/188/698/055/original/e0739d9065c0ce54.png"> <br/> <img src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/392/608/648/102/799/original/7bbf5e5f002d81f6.png"> 2026-04-12T16:11:39Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqs2taeeac0x9wlp3u27hjnae0w9gyxpr3vjtrxzver8a9zt93sc03gzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kqg8cef I&#39;ve just released the fully documented source code for The Sentinel as an easy-to-browse website.<br/><br/>It&#39;s a lot more fun to explore than the GitHub repository, with cross-references, popups, indexes, statistics and more. I hope you like it!<br/><br/>The next step is to add a whole load of deep dives explaining how Geoff Crammond&#39;s proto-VR masterpiece works under the hood, with links into the code itself.<br/><br/>This part will take some weeks as there&#39;s a lot to explain, but I&#39;ll try to publish them as I go.<br/><br/>Watch this space...<br/><br/><a href="https://thesentinel.bbcelite.com/">https://thesentinel.bbcelite.com/</a><br/><br/>#retrocomputing #retrogaming #bbcmicro #c64 #8bit 2026-01-07T15:59:46Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqs08w3nwd3vf3sfvcfvqkut8fhhspw769sqe7xny9yecjza6k02k4qzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kx3fc6l Enhanced #Elite on the #Acorn #Electron now has proper docking computers.<br/><br/>Good to see they&#39;re as nail-bitingly dodgy as all the other versions!<br/><br/>Next on the list is to add 21 additional ship designs with spawning and tactic logic. That might take a while...<br/><br/>#retrogaming #retrocomputing #bbcmicro<br/><br/><video controls width="100%" class="max-h-[90vh] bg-neutral-300 dark:bg-zinc-700"><source src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/114/665/275/723/735/354/original/67b059b9ecbae5da.mp4"></video> 2025-06-11T14:48:34Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqsdyjq9rjw5ykqy4sc92ph79g0h2yjsqpge6r3eep2kns3wqm8trjczyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kjc5je3 Elite on the Apple II contains code by Ian Bell and David Braben.<br/><br/>No surprises there.<br/><br/>But did you know it also contains code by Steve Wozniak, Randy Wigginton and Rob Northen?<br/><br/>Find out why in my latest deep dive.<br/><br/><a href="https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/file_operations_with_embedded_apple_dos.html">https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/file_operations_with_embedded_apple_dos.html</a><br/><br/>#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #apple #elite 2025-02-20T11:57:58Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqs94ygqe2h54ztte7wj6whg45k7ms9297wqsj08ayqujrft8x5ryegzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kns4w03 New: I&#39;ve analysed the source code for all 9 versions of Elite on the 6502, and I&#39;ve put together a family tree showing the decade-long forking history of the source.<br/><br/>Software archaeology in action! 😀<br/><br/><a href="https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/the_elite_source_code_family_tree.html">https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/the_elite_source_code_family_tree.html</a><br/><br/>#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #bbcmicro #c64 #apple #nes 2025-02-15T14:35:39Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqs2dcu2puml0nelnmah84yltg4tcvwwgd39prluw2x5lc57x7w5t3qzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805k65grvw Aleksi Eeben&#39;s conversion of #Elite for the #VIC20 has just been released, and it is absolutely fantastic!<br/><br/>Find out more at <a href="https://vic20elite.wordpress.com">https://vic20elite.wordpress.com</a><br/><br/>When I annotated the #C64 source, this was exactly the kind of thing I hoped would happen. Right on, Commander! 🫡<br/><br/>#retrogaming #retrocomputing 2025-01-20T19:23:17Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqs277pfvjkvra4m9hapdd2xzenym3qshxuxjt9lu5e8ek0skmuqwzqzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805k66wdgf New Elite deep dive: Just how big is 8-bit Elite?<br/><br/>How big are the ships, planets, stars and galaxies? How fast can we fly? How far can we jump? And can we fall off the edge?<br/><br/>This one was fun to write!<br/><br/><a href="https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/a_sense_of_scale.html">https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/a_sense_of_scale.html</a><br/><br/>#retrocomputing #retrogaming #bbcmicro #c64 #apple #nes #elite 2025-01-04T15:04:08Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqsw5r6uapkp9pm6ew4egtwr0ajukwvrnv9272l3qnz4jaqx6dmdzyczyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805kqwyczu Brand new year, brand new Elite deep dive!<br/><br/>Here is the most comprehensive comparison ever published of all the different ships in Elite:<br/><br/><a href="https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/comparing_ship_specifications.html">https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/comparing_ship_specifications.html</a><br/><br/>This is my 120th Elite deep dive article. There are more to come...<br/><br/>#retrogaming #retrocomputing #bbcmicro #c64 #nes #8bit #elite 2025-01-01T16:23:30Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqs9qp90pxwfda6g7kfmpquymd2f2h8qgklp0nxu7hvre3pq9emq06qzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805k6hrkk3 What better way to wish the world a Merry Christmas than with the official 1991 Archimedes Elite Christmas card?<br/><br/>See if you can spot the festive Thargoid...<br/><br/>#retrogaming #retrocomputing #acorn #elite #bbcmicro #arm #archimedes #riscos #elitedangerous<br/><br/> <img src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/702/569/026/026/953/original/a948e0fd18421743.jpeg"> <br/> <img src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/702/569/503/793/065/original/c10309e459c5742a.jpeg"> <br/> <img src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/702/570/064/784/201/original/e5447e2d22bffb6d.jpeg"> <br/> <img src="https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/113/702/570/579/331/223/original/33591a36c6a582ac.jpeg"> 2024-12-23T14:20:18Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqs944frqqgzhvgjxxplr5lv082lvneepzj7pkf4ltg2czxx4ksnjlszyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805k2h62wy Last week I released fully documented source code for Elite on the Commodore 64.<br/><br/>I&#39;ve now added this version to my <a href="https://elite.bbcelite.com">https://elite.bbcelite.com</a> website, where the source code is syntax-coloured, cross-referenced, indexed and categorised.<br/><br/>It fits in nicely with the seven other Elite sources on there!<br/><br/>My next task is to write about 10 deep dives into the unique aspects of C64 Elite, linking to the relevant bits of code on the website so you can follow along.<br/><br/>Then I&#39;ll move on to the Apple II version, which is the only version of 6502 Elite that I haven&#39;t yet analysed.<br/><br/>Going for the full house! 🙂 <br/><br/>#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #commodore64 #c64 #elite 2024-12-11T12:32:40Z https://njump.me/nevent1qqs9nxsfzyj5sldsgxkft5cznn4mkrcys04nyr783w449qe6cj0nwqgzyq7y58684d9qnl67m4fqgcn0q2286uhkx3fj5dat07xjg9hep805keepf4a I&#39;m really proud to present my fully documented source code for Elite on the Commodore 64.<br/><br/>This is the original 1985 source, recently released by Ian Bell, with every single line of code explained.<br/><br/>It’s a thing of beauty. Enjoy!<br/><br/><a href="https://github.com/markmoxon/elite-source-code-commodore-64">https://github.com/markmoxon/elite-source-code-commodore-64</a><br/><br/>#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #C64 #Commodore64 #Elite 2024-12-05T16:50:22Z