Best version of Elite for a BBC B+ 64k?

[GreyAreaUK]

Having got my B+ revived and a Gotek arriving soon, I'm naturally looking towards loading up some software. And naturally, Elite is going to be a big part of that.

So - which version of Elite is best for a 64k model B+ ? I know there are versions for the Master and Tube-equipped Beebs, but I've never been entirely sure where the B+ fitted in, Elite-wise - more than a B, but less than a Master. I suspect it uses the standard Model B disk version, but is there a better one?

Many thanks.

[MarkMoxon]

So - which version of Elite is best for a 64k model B+ ? I know there are versions for the Master and Tube-equipped Beebs, but I've never been entirely sure where the B+ fitted in, Elite-wise - more than a B, but less than a Master. I suspect it uses the standard Model B disk version, but is there a better one?

In terms of official releases, the only version that works on the B+ is the standard BBC Model B version.

Outside of the official releases, there are a few options.

There’s a sideways RAM version on the same disc as the Master 128 and Executive versions, which you can download from Ian Bell’s site on this page:

http://www.elitehomepage.org/bbc/index.htm

I’ve not got this working myself, but in theory it removes the need to load from disc every time you launch and dock (but I don’t think it adds anything else).

Then there’s musical Elite, which uses the sideways RAM to add music:

https://www.bbcelite.com/hacks/bbc_elit ... music.html

and you can run any of the BBC Model B versions too, such as flicker-free Elite:

https://www.bbcelite.com/hacks/flicker-free_elite.html

or Teletext Elite:

https://www.bbcelite.com/hacks/teletext_elite.html

That’s it, I think. Adding a co-pro will open up more avenues, but that’s a different story, of course!

Mark

[GreyAreaUK]

So - which version of Elite is best for a 64k model B+ ? I know there are versions for the Master and Tube-equipped Beebs, but I've never been entirely sure where the B+ fitted in, Elite-wise - more than a B, but less than a Master. I suspect it uses the standard Model B disk version, but is there a better one?

In terms of official releases, the only version that works on the B+ is the standard BBC Model B version.

Outside of the official releases, there are an few options.

There’s a sideways RAM version on the same disc as the Master 128 and Executive versions, which you can download from Ian Bell’s site on this page:

http://www.elitehomepage.org/bbc/index.htm

I’ve not got this working myself, but in theory it removes the need to load from disc every time you launch and dock (but I don’t think it adds anything else).

Then there’s musical Elite, which uses the sideways RAM to add music:

https://www.bbcelite.com/hacks/bbc_elit ... music.html

and you can run any of the BBC Model B versions too, such as flicker-free Elite:

https://www.bbcelite.com/hacks/flicker-free_elite.html

or Teletext Elite:

https://www.bbcelite.com/hacks/teletext_elite.html

That’s it, I think. Adding a co-pro will open up more avenues, but that’s a different story, of course!

Mark

I actually tried the standard model ‘B’ version as I found some semi-working drives. When I try to run it I get a message along the lines of “This programme can only be used on a BBC Micro”, so I guess I’m out of luck there.

But that was the official original Acornsoft version, and I’m wondering if the Superior Software release accounts for this.


It would be rather odd if a standard B+ couldn’t play Elite, but stranger things have happened!

[MarkMoxon]

I actually tried the standard model ‘B’ version as I found some semi-working drives. When I try to run it I get a message along the lines of “This programme can only be used on a BBC Micro”, so I guess I’m out of luck there.

But that was the official original Acornsoft version, and I’m wondering if the Superior Software release accounts for this.

It would be rather odd if a standard B+ couldn’t play Elite, but stranger things have happened!

That's probably the original version's loader complaining about the MOS version being wrong, as it pre-dates the B+, so you could try loading it with *RUN ELITE2. And the loader on the Acornsoft and Superior multi-format versions is probably less fussy, so that's also worth a go. The actual games are identical across all the various discs, but the loaders differ.

Mark

[GreyAreaUK]

I actually tried the standard model ‘B’ version as I found some semi-working drives. When I try to run it I get a message along the lines of “This programme can only be used on a BBC Micro”, so I guess I’m out of luck there.

But that was the official original Acornsoft version, and I’m wondering if the Superior Software release accounts for this.

It would be rather odd if a standard B+ couldn’t play Elite, but stranger things have happened!

That's probably the original version's loader complaining about the MOS version being wrong, as it pre-dates the B+, so you could try loading it with *RUN ELITE2. And the loader on the Acornsoft and Superior multi-format versions is probably less fussy, so that's also worth a go. The actual games are identical across all the various discs, but the loaders differ.

Mark

Suspect I’ll revisit this once my GoTek arrives - my ‘real’ drives aren’t working well so I can’t test the above. I think drive 0/2 needs the seek mechanism lubricating as I can’t hear it stepping at all.

Problem for another day, though. Thanks for your help

[MarkMoxon]

Suspect I’ll revisit this once my GoTek arrives - my ‘real’ drives aren’t working well so I can’t test the above. I think drive 0/2 needs the seek mechanism lubricating as I can’t hear it stepping at all.

Ouch! My real drives also started failing so I swapped to a Gotek - really pleased I did, it's such a great solution.

Incidentally, the later versions of Elite do explicitly work on the B+, according to the boxes. See this version, for example:

https://www.frontierastro.co.uk/Elite/bbc_master.html

So if you skip past the loader on the original or just go straight for a later version, you should be OK. The hacked versions (sideways RAM, music and flicker-free) ditch the loaders anyway, so those should also be good.

Hopefully you'll be launching from Lave in no time...

Mark

[GreyAreaUK]

Suspect I’ll revisit this once my GoTek arrives - my ‘real’ drives aren’t working well so I can’t test the above. I think drive 0/2 needs the seek mechanism lubricating as I can’t hear it stepping at all.

Ouch! My real drives also started failing so I swapped to a Gotek - really pleased I did, it's such a great solution.

Incidentally, the later versions of Elite do explicitly work on the B+, according to the boxes. See this version, for example:

https://www.frontierastro.co.uk/Elite/bbc_master.html

So if you skip past the loader on the original or just go straight for a later version, you should be OK. The hacked versions (sideways RAM, music and flicker-free) ditch the loaders anyway, so those should also be good.

Hopefully you'll be launching from Lave in no time...

Mark

Hopefully I’ll also be able to answer the question ‘does my BitStik still work?’