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⌂ ∞ ▽ Elite on the 6502

Compare code for features of advanced Elite

The following table shows code variations related to the extra features that are found in the advanced versions of Elite (i.e. the 6502 Second Processor and BBC Master versions).

Click on a name to see all the code differences for that part of the codebase, or click on an individual variation to focus on that particular feature.

NameComments
BRP
Missions
  • The Master version shows the mission briefings in cyan, while the 6502SP version shows the text in white and rotating ship in cyan, and the disc version shows the whole thing in white.
    See the code variation for this feature
DEATH
Start and end
DEBRIEF
Missions
  • In the disc and 6502SP versions, killing the Constrictor at the end of mission 1 gives you 256 kill points, but only when you attend the debriefing. In the Master and NES versions, you get the kill points the instant you kill the Constrictor.
    See the code variation for this feature
ECBT
Dashboard
  • The "E" indicator bulb on the dashboard is four pixels wide in the advanced versions, while it is only three pixels wide in the cassette and disc versions. It is seven pixels wide in the Electron version, though the latter is in monochrome mode 4, so this is equivalent to 3.5 pixels in the colour versions.
    See the code variation for this feature
Ghy
Flight
  • The original versions of Elite start the galactic hyperspace countdown from 15, just like the normal hyperspace countdown, but the advanced versions don't muck about and start the galactic hyperspace countdown from 2.
    See the code variation for this feature
HFS2
Drawing circles
JMTB
Text
  • The 6502SP version has an extended jump token for switching to white text, while the Master version uses the same token for displaying the currently selected file system (though this token isn't actually used in the Master version, as this is unused code from the Commodore 64 version).
    See the code variation for this feature
KILLSHP
Universe
  • There are rock hermits in the advanced versions, and they are classed as junk (along with the escape pod, alloy plate, cargo canister, asteroid, splinter, Shuttle and Transporter).
    See the code variation for this feature
LASLI
Drawing lines
  • In the original versions, both sets of laser lines converge at the same pixel. In the 6502SP version, the upper pair of laser lines aim one pixel higher than the lower pair, so they overlap less, and in the Master version, the top lines aim two pixels higher than the lower lines. Because EOR logic is used when drawing, this gives the lasers in the 6502SP version a sharper point, and the lines in the Master version an even sharper point, as the tips overlap less and don't cancel each other out.
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Main flight loop (Part 3 of 16)
Main loop
  • In the original versions, you can launch your escape pod in witchspace (though it may be fatal, depending on the version). You can't even launch it in the advanced versions, as the launch key is disabled in witchspace.
    See the code variation for this feature
Main flight loop (Part 5 of 16)
Main loop
Main flight loop (Part 11 of 16)
Main loop
Main game loop (Part 1 of 6)
Main loop
Main game loop (Part 2 of 6)
Main loop
Main game loop (Part 3 of 6)
Main loop
Main game loop (Part 4 of 6)
Main loop
MESS
Flight
  • The original versions display in-flight messages at column 9 on row 22, at the bottom of the screen. The advanced versions go one better and centre their in-flight messages on screen, rather than always starting them at column 9.
    See the code variation for this feature
NWSHP
Universe
RUGAL
Text
  • The source disc variant of the 6502SP version overrides the extended system description for Lave, and the Executive version overrides both Lave and Riedquat. The Master version also has an override for Lave, but this time it's only for Lave in galaxy 16 (i.e. the 17th galaxy).
    See the code variation for this feature
RUPLA
Text
  • The Executive version, the source disc variant of the 6502SP version, and the Master version all use token 26 to override the extended system description for Lave. The Executive version also uses token 27 to override the extended system description for Riedquat.
    See the code variation for this feature
RUTOK
Text
  • Some of the advanced versions have an extra token for overriding the system description for Lave. The source disc variant of the 6502SP version has the bizarre: "Bits'n Pieces - End Of Part 1". The Executive version has: "This message is available only on the executive version of this program". And the Master version has: "WELCOME TO THE SEVENTEENTH GALAXY!", which is only shown if we are in galaxy 17 (though it isn't possible to get there, so this never gets shown).
    See the code variation for this feature
SCAN
Dashboard
  • In the original versions, ships are shown on the scanner with a green stick, while missiles are shown in yellow (if an escape pod is fitted, they are shown in cyan and white respectively). In the advanced versions, each ship has its own colour for when it is shown on the scanner, as defined in the scacol table.
    See the code variation for this feature
SHIP_ADDER
Drawing ships
SHIP_ANACONDA
Drawing ships
SHIP_ASP_MK_2
Drawing ships
SHIP_ASTEROID
Drawing ships
SHIP_BOA
Drawing ships
SHIP_BOULDER
Drawing ships
SHIP_CANISTER
Drawing ships
SHIP_COBRA_MK_1
Drawing ships
SHIP_COBRA_MK_3
Drawing ships
SHIP_COBRA_MK_3_P
Drawing ships
SHIP_CONSTRICTOR
Drawing ships
SHIP_CORIOLIS
Drawing ships
SHIP_DODO
Drawing ships
SHIP_ESCAPE_POD
Drawing ships
SHIP_FER_DE_LANCE
Drawing ships
SHIP_GECKO
Drawing ships
SHIP_KRAIT
Drawing ships
SHIP_MAMBA
Drawing ships
SHIP_MISSILE
Drawing ships
SHIP_MORAY
Drawing ships
SHIP_PLATE
Drawing ships
SHIP_PYTHON
Drawing ships
SHIP_PYTHON_P
Drawing ships
SHIP_SHUTTLE
Drawing ships
SHIP_SIDEWINDER
Drawing ships
SHIP_SPLINTER
Drawing ships
SHIP_THARGOID
Drawing ships
SHIP_THARGON
Drawing ships
SHIP_TRANSPORTER
Drawing ships
SHIP_VIPER
Drawing ships
SHIP_WORM
Drawing ships
SHPPT
Drawing ships
SPBLB / DOBULB
Dashboard
SPBT
Dashboard
  • The "S" indicator bulb on the dashboard is four pixels wide in the advanced versions, while it is only three pixels wide in the cassette and disc versions. It is seven pixels wide in the Electron version, though the latter is in monochrome mode 4, so this is equivalent to 3.5 pixels in the colour versions.
    See the code variation for this feature
TACTICS (Part 2 of 7)
Tactics
TACTICS (Part 4 of 7)
Tactics
TKN1
Text
  • The disc and 6502SP versions support a "FILE TO DELETE?" prompt when deleting files via the disc access menu, but the token for this prompt isn't present in the Master version. Instead the Master version contains a token for the error message "ILLEGAL ELITE II FILE"; this message is also present in the other versions, but there it is hard-coded into a BRK block rather than being a token, and is in sentence case.
    See the code variation for this feature
  • In the disc version, the extended system description override that's shown at Usleri in galaxy 1 during mission 1 refers to the Constrictor pilot as a "WHORESON BEETLE HEADFLAP EAR'D KNAVE", which is a slightly incorrect quote from Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. In the advanced versions, this has been corrected to the more accurate quote "WHORESON BEETLE HEADED FLAP EAR'D KNAVE".
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TT151
Market
  • In the advanced versions, the Market Price screen doesn't list any prices when you're in witchspace, while the other versions still show the prices from the system you jumped from.
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TT22
Charts
TT26 / CHPR
Text