The regular 48K game failed to work on the new 128K machines, so a new version of the game was released, without the contraption that was the lenslock which was universally hated by players, who would have to fight to get into the game they had paid for.

All the Z80 processor machines were handed over to the company Torus for conversion. Although not as smooth or fast as the BBC original, the team delivered a sterling conversion that sold very well and many Spectrum fans consider it to be one of the systems top games. 

The Spectrum version was completed first, but the authors only had a 6502 dump of the code, so decided to write it in Z80 assembler from scratch, this meant that the game was released a full year after the Acorn and C64 versions. The Amstrad version was completed rather more quickly as it was converted from the Spectrum.

Elite is the classic space trading combat title, and an early example of a sandbox game, in that the player can decide how they want to play it. Some would concentrate on the trading of goods between planets, while others would divert funds to increase the shields and weapons on the craft to take on the Space Pirates for their bounty.

Unlike the BBC and Electron cassette version (The disk edition does have two), there are secret missions to be found.

One of the first sandbox type games, it is a space trading game, where the player can buy and sell goods, flying between planets in the process. Upgrades to the ship such as better lasers can be purchased, as well as things such as docking computers to make life easier.

Space dog fights are also common as pirates will try and steal your cargo, and if you are unlucky, take your life as well.

The player starts the game with a harmless status, working all the up to Elite, judged on how many kills have been achieved.

The player does not have to play as a good guy, they can choose to be a pirate and steal other ship's cargo.

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