The story of the creation of Elite:

“Evidence began to trickle back to Acornsoft that people were exploring the bottled universe more obsessively even than the publishers had dared to hope: for hour after hour, day after day, week after week. Word reached them that an intrepid explorer had, indeed, discovered a Planet Arse in one of the seven galaxies, which Bell and Braben hadn't checked for expletives.”

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/oct/18/features.weekend

Happy Birthday to the venerable MOS 6502

https://hackaday.com/2025/08/04/happy-birthday-6502/ #6502

Look at this little beauty! It's my new BBC Micro B+, signed by David Braben himself, and it’s the inspiration for my latest project:

"BBC Master Elite, backported to run on the unexpanded B+, and with lots of extra features"

Here are the links:

* About this project: https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/bbc_micro_b_plus_master_elite.html

* Download the disc image: https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/bbc_micro_b_plus_master_elite_downloads.html

* How I did it: https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/bbc_micro_b_plus_master_elite_technical_information.html

JSBeeb doesn't emulate the B+, so no browser link I'm afraid. This one’s for the B+ owners out there!

Right on, Commanders!

1985

“BASIC was a fine tool to learn programming with. But #programs in it occupied far too much of the limited working #memory of a #microcomputer, and it was horribly slow.

The way to get anything ambitious done was to write the program directly in the language #BASIC translated into: #assembly code, only one layer up from the #silicon.

Suddenly, you were responsible for the entire flow of very simple commands that allowed the computer to function.”

40 years ago, Elite was created and released by #IanBell and #DavidBraben.

#Software / #Elite / #programming / #Cambridge / #computing / #BBCMicro <https://theguardian.com/books/2003/oct/18/features.weekend>

Mistodon: everywhere else in the world, #Pride is celebrated in June, but in area code 604, where Mist is traditionally run from, the occasion is celebrated in August. So here is a #BBCMicro hirez image by @pixelblip drawn for the occasion, included in our recent MIST0625 artpack collection. The artist notes: "Keep on fighting, everyone!"

My new project is a version of BBC Master Elite, but with a twist.

Sure, it’s pretty niche, but this has never been done before, which is always fun.

Can you tell what it is yet? The clue's in the clip...

Uploaded a fork of the amazing JSBeeb by @matt.godbolt.org to add to my browser-based retro computer and console emulators for the upcoming continuation/reboot of my retro C programming tutorials

https://bbc.retrogamecoders.com/?autorun&loadBasic=%2Fhello.txt

Up next on All the Adventures, a truly British and truly bizarre "learning game", an anti-game of sorts with possible bonus social commentary on capitalism and guns?

Also, the overall history lands at Nintendo, somehow.

https://bluerenga.blog/2025/07/20/on-the-way-to-the-interview-1983/

Mistodon: somewhere out in the wilds of London, @pixelblip encountered a #graffiti portrait of Hanna-Barbera's #TopCat cartoon character, and reproduced it as a #BBCMicro finger painting. This piece was included in the new unthemed MIST0625 artpack collection.

Retro computer people, you might be interested in these PeerTube playlists:

ACORN BBC, ELECTRON, ARCHIMEDES
https://fedi.video/w/p/m6ptC81c7dWqt9Skc4hHPb

AMSTRAD CPC
https://fedi.video/w/p/ciiLuybi7qkWyzWy38vTrD

MSX
https://fedi.video/w/p/pfLJRRyNFjbGPhcG6AFdZX

ORIC
https://fedi.video/w/p/9L2WiwAaNsd54ieA5bds6B

cc @retrocomputing

Mistodon: many years ago, @pixelblip was in possession of a colourful framed poster of some geometrical computing algorithm's output. It was hung proudly above his sofa, and one day for no apparent reason it fell off the wall and was destroyed in splintered wood and broken glass when it crashed into the floor. After 10 years of many false starts and fruitful distractions, this year he finally succeeded at rolling his own reproduction of the doomed poster using the #BBCMicro's Acorn Graphics Extension ROM -- the entire reason he got into making computer art to begin with. (That poster has a lot to answer for!) This piece was included in the new unthemed MIST0625 artpack collection.

My treasured Microvitec CUB monitor for my #BBCMicro died after the one-before-last retro computer event.

Whilst I plan to get that repaired (paging my twin brother!), I have sourced a very good condition super-early model. The one with a very light grey phosphor.

It is certainly MUCH better in darker rooms, but still pleased with its performance for such an elderly unit.

It's done! I have just released the Compendium version of #Elite for the #Acorn #Electron.

This massively enhanced version of the original game contains pretty much every feature of #BBCMicro Elite, but on the Electron. Just add 16K of sideways RAM.

Here are the links:

* Play in your browser: https://0xc0de6502.github.io/electroniq/?dfs&autoboot&ram6&disk0=https://elite.bbcelite.com/versions/elite_compendium/elite-compendium-acorn-electron.ssd

* More info about the Electron version: https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/elite_compendium_acorn_electron.html

* Download links: https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/elite_compendium_downloads.html

* All about the Compendium: https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/elite_compendium.html

Right on, Commanders!

Today's addition to #Acorn #Electron #Elite is the energy bomb animation from the Apple II, BBC Master and NES.

In the original Electron version, the energy bomb did little more than beep gently. Now it rages with lightning bolts! That's much better.

Important testing.

@0xC0DE6502

The Compendium version of #Acorn #Electron #Elite now has missions - three of them, in fact.

Here's the briefing for the Constrictor mission, backported from the #BBCMicro; I've also ported the Thargoid plans mission, and the Trumbles from the #C64 and #NES.

My new version of #Acorn #Electron #Elite is feature-complete! Now for some testing.

Here's the feature list. It’s big! Big enough that this is effectively a Compendium version of Electron Elite; to sit proudly alongside the #BBCMicro Compendia.

Not long now!