Essential Viewing
Documentary
The Story and Games of Telecomsoft
Kim Justice's comprehensive 2-hour history of Firebird, Rainbird, and Silverbird. Essential viewing - the definitive documentary on Telecomsoft.
The People Behind the Games
Developer Interview
David Braben - BAFTA Guru Interview
Braben discusses Elite's creation, the Firebird/BBC Micro era, Frontier Developments, and Elite Dangerous. High-quality extended interview.
See also the Interviews page for a curated list of developer talks and GDC presentations.
Play Through the Catalogue
Longplay
Elite - C64 (1985)
Full C64 Elite longplay demonstrating trading, combat, and the iconic Coriolis station docking with Martin Galway's Blue Danube SID arrangement.
Longplay
Carrier Command - Amiga (1988)
Amiga longplay of Realtime Games' 98%-rated carrier strategy sim. Demonstrates island capture, Manta fighter deployment, and carrier combat.
Additional Recommended Longplays
Elite - Amiga / Atari ST
Enhanced graphics Amiga and Atari ST versions of Elite. Search World of Longplays or YouTube for the 1988 Firebird ports.
Search YouTube →Elite - BBC Micro (original)
The 1984 original on BBC Micro. Acornsoft published, but the foundation of everything that followed.
Search YouTube →Starglider - Atari ST / Amiga
Jez San's CRASH GOTY 1986. Filled-polygon 3D space combat on 16-bit hardware.
Search YouTube →Starglider 2 - Amiga
The open solar system sequel. Wider scope, new mechanics, 1988 Rainbird.
Search YouTube →The Sentinel - C64
Geoff Crammond's unique 3D landscape puzzle game. Hypnotic and mechanically unlike anything else.
Search YouTube →Thrust - C64
Jeremy Smith's gravity-based shooter with Rob Hubbard's celebrated SID soundtrack.
Search YouTube →Virus (Zarch) - Amiga
David Braben's filled-polygon landscape shooter. Rainbird Amiga, 1988.
Search YouTube →The Pawn - Amiga
Magnetic Scrolls' illustrated interactive fiction - parser quality and artwork that set a standard.
Search YouTube →