BBC Micro Elite Not Displayed Properly [Solved]

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Alkadian
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BBC Micro Elite Not Displayed Properly [Solved]

Unread post by Alkadian »

Hi Guys,

Not sure if somebody else has been experiencing the same issue. Basically when I lunch Elite, the image on my LCD TV screen is not displayed correctly (Please refer to the picture below). It happens only with this game. All the others I have tried run fine.

Any suggestion would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks
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Re: BBC Micro Elite Not Displayed Properly

Unread post by Chris23235 »

Same problem here, I guess it's the core not handling correctly the 2 different screen modes that the game uses simultaneously:
The BBC version of Elite featured a clever piece of programming which enabled two display modes to appear simultaneously on screen.

The lower part of the screen was in the BBC's Mode 5, which allowed four colours at a resolution of 160 pixels across the screen. The upper section was in Mode 4, which provided 2 colours but twice the resolution.

This enabled the space scenes to be shown in greater detail, while the scanner section added some welcome colour to the display.
https://www.frontierastro.co.uk/Elite/bbc_tape.html
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Re: BBC Micro Elite Not Displayed Properly

Unread post by Alkadian »

Hi,
Interesting reading, thanks for sharing the link. I wasn’t aware of the two (4 a d 5) modes at all. What a shame, such a unique game it was!
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Re: BBC Micro Elite Not Displayed Properly

Unread post by _paul_ »

It works better if you use analogue RGB out on a 15KHz monitor. The image is a bit skewed on the line where the mode switch is done, but at least it is playable.

EDIT: just saw this is also mentioned in the other post about Elite on the BBC Micro: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=560
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Re: BBC Micro Elite Not Displayed Properly

Unread post by Alkadian »

Guys,
Super news! This has now been fixed by Sorgelig!!! It is now working like a charm! :mrgreen:
@Sorgelig thanks a lot for that!!!
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Re: BBC Micro Elite Not Displayed Properly [Solved]

Unread post by caffeinekid »

That's great news. :)
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Re: BBC Micro Elite Not Displayed Properly [Solved]

Unread post by ZigZag »

Fantastic. I really want to play the BBC version.
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Re: BBC Micro Elite Not Displayed Properly [Solved]

Unread post by _paul_ »

The issues have been fixed for Elite. Regrettably the mid screen pallette split used by Revs still does not work correctly. It now fails in a less spectacular fashion though.
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Re: BBC Micro Elite Not Displayed Properly [Solved]

Unread post by Chris23235 »

ZigZag wrote: Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:15 pm Fantastic. I really want to play the BBC version.
You can also use the BBC Master version, it works now as well and looks even better then the already fluid and beautiful BBC version.
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Re: BBC Micro Elite Not Displayed Properly [Solved]

Unread post by ZigZag »

Chris23235 wrote: Mon Feb 01, 2021 6:48 am
ZigZag wrote: Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:15 pm Fantastic. I really want to play the BBC version.
You can also use the BBC Master version, it works now as well and looks even better then the already fluid and beautiful BBC version.
Haven't heard of the Master version. Will have to check it out, thanks. I'm most familiar with the Amiga version, spent many hours playing it. I've always wanted to try the original. I remember using the BBC in primary school. Unfortunately I just recall programming a shitty Teletext style Xmas tree, we didn't get to play Elite! BBC is one of the few computer systems I haven't owned at some point. Another is the Archimedes & I've always been keen to play Elite on it too. I have tried it briefly, but thought I'd save that version for a special occasion.
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Re: BBC Micro Elite Not Displayed Properly [Solved]

Unread post by Chris23235 »

From the 8-Bit versions the Master version is by far the best, it has coloured vectors and runs at a very high framerate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnzPZ_o-H90

The 16-Bit versions were better in general due to their filled polygons.
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