Difference between revisions of "Elite Systems"
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{{Infobox Company | {{Infobox Company | ||
| − | | Name = Elite Systems Limited | + | | Name = Elite Systems Limited |
| − | | Image = Elite Systems - 1.jpg | + | | Image = Elite Systems - 1.jpg |
| − | | Founded = | + | | Founded = Late 1983 |
| − | | Headquarters = Walsall, West Midlands, England | + | | Headquarters = Walsall, West Midlands, England |
| − | | Aliases = | + | | Aliases = Richard Wilcox Software<br />Hit Pak<br />Encore<br />Motivetime |
| − | | Website = | + | | Website = elite-systems.co.uk |
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''''Elite Systems | + | '''''Elite Systems Ltd.''''' (also known as '''''Elite''''') is an English game development company founded by Brian Wilcox and his sons Steve and Richard. They were known for their Commodore 64 games such as Airwolf, Commando, and Ghosts 'n Goblins. |
| − | Elite | + | Elite used the following names: |
| + | * '''''Richard Wilcox Software''''' was the initial company name. On 1984-09-27, Crash magazine reported the rename to Elite Systems Ltd. | ||
| + | * '''''Hit Pak''''' (late 1986–1988) was a publication label for compilations of new and mostly old games. | ||
| + | * '''''Encore''''' (1988–1990) was announced as a company founded to re-release Elite's best games for £1.99. | ||
| + | * '''''Motivetime''''' (late 1989–c. 1999) was a subsidiary originally intended for console games. Most of Elite's developers would move over to Motivetime who would pay their employees bonuses based on the company's profits, but over time, the profits eventually reduced to virtually nothing. One of the developers guesses that Motivetime kept their profits deliberately low so as not to pay out big bonuses, for example by leasing computer equipment and office space off Elite at inflated prices and using some of the remaining Elite staff as "consultants". | ||
| − | + | In 1986 or 1987, Elite temporarily changed some employees to freelancers. Some people founded competitors [[Future Concepts]], [[Arc Developments]], [[NMS Software]]. Many ex-employees hired [[Mark Cooksey]], mostly freelance, and often uncredited (particularly when Cooksey was employed elsewhere). Some Elite games (especially on the NES) do not have credits either, but it is unknown why. | |
==Games== | ==Games== | ||
| Line 19: | Line 23: | ||
==Music Development== | ==Music Development== | ||
| + | Around 1988, Elite got [[Mark Cooksey]] an Akai S950 sampler, a [[Korg M1]], and [[Notator]] for the [[Atari ST]]. | ||
| + | |||
===Commodore 64=== | ===Commodore 64=== | ||
| − | On games, according to HVSC, the first two soundtracks and driver are by Neil Bate. In February 1985, [[Mark Cooksey]] joined and was given Bate's driver | + | On games, according to HVSC, the first two soundtracks and driver are by Neil Bate. In February 1985, [[Mark Cooksey]] joined and was given Bate's driver for his first games. Apart from that, everyone used their own drivers. Programmers often asked Cooksey to arrange their favorite songs, believing computer music to be a gray area in copyright. |
On loaders, Elite initially used [[Novaload]]'s [[When a felon's not engaged in his employment|example song]], and from September 1985 to April 1986, [[Living on Video]], again arranged by Cooksey upon an unnamed programmer's request. | On loaders, Elite initially used [[Novaload]]'s [[When a felon's not engaged in his employment|example song]], and from September 1985 to April 1986, [[Living on Video]], again arranged by Cooksey upon an unnamed programmer's request. | ||
===NES=== | ===NES=== | ||
| − | All of Elite's NES games were composed by Mark Cooksey. He wrote the music in [[Notator]] | + | All of Elite's NES games were composed by Mark Cooksey. He wrote the music in [[Notator]] on an [[Atari ST]], and would use a utility to convert his music to his sound driver. Mark would use the same sound driver for his work with [[Spidersoft]] on their game [[Cliffhanger (NES)]] and [[NMS Software]] for a couple games. |
==Audio Personnel== | ==Audio Personnel== | ||
| − | * [[Chris Davison]] - Title music composer for [[Dragon's Lair (SNES)]] | + | * [[Chris Davison]] - Title music composer for [[Dragon's Lair (SNES)]] (1993). |
| − | * [[Chris Harvey]] | + | * [[Chris Harvey]] (employee 1984–1986). |
| − | * [[David Whittaker]] | + | * [[David Whittaker]] - Arranger and composer (freelance 1986–1989). |
| − | * [[Jason Brooke]] - | + | * [[Jason Brooke]] - Arranger and composer (freelance 1988–1989) |
| − | * [[Mark Cooksey]] - Lead | + | * [[Mark Cooksey]] - Lead composer (employee 1985–c. 1986, freelance 1987, employee c. 1988–c. 1991) |
* [[Paul Walker]] | * [[Paul Walker]] | ||
| − | * [[Richard Frankish]] - SNES sound driver programmer | + | * [[Richard Frankish]] - SNES sound driver programmer (1988–1995). |
| − | * [[Rob Hubbard]] - Composer | + | * [[Rob Hubbard]] - Composer on two games (freelance 1985, 1987). |
| − | * [[Rob Mann]] - Composer and sound programmer | + | * [[Rob Mann]] - Composer and sound programmer (1991–1993). |
| − | * | + | * [[Stuart Middleton]] - Sound programmer. |
| − | * [[Tony Williams]] - Composer for Power Slide ECTS Demo (SNES) | + | * [[Tim Round]] - Sound programmer. |
| − | * [[Trevor Scott]] - Credited for music in [[Dragon's Lair (GEN)]] | + | * [[Tony Williams]] - Composer for Power Slide ECTS Demo (SNES). |
| + | * [[Trevor Scott]] - Credited for music in [[Dragon's Lair (GEN)]]. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Picture Gallery== |
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Elite Systems - 1.jpg|Elite logo first used in 1985. | Elite Systems - 1.jpg|Elite logo first used in 1985. | ||
| − | MotiveTime - 1.png| | + | MotiveTime - 1.png|Motivetime logo used from 1990–1993. |
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
| − | * [https://www.mobygames.com/company/elite-systems-ltd mobygames.com/company/elite-systems-ltd] - MobyGames. | + | * [https://www.elite-systems.co.uk elite-systems.co.uk] - Official. |
| + | * [https://www.mobygames.com/company/108/elite-systems-ltd/ mobygames.com/company/108/elite-systems-ltd/] - MobyGames on Elite. | ||
| + | * [https://www.mobygames.com/company/20831/hit-pak/ mobygames.com/company/20831/hit-pak/] - MobyGames on Hit Pak. | ||
| + | * [https://www.mobygames.com/company/6769/encore/ mobygames.com/company/6769/encore/] - MobyGames on Encore. | ||
| + | * [https://www.mobygames.com/company/109/motivetime-ltd/ mobygames.com/company/109/motivetime-ltd/] - MobyGames on Motivetime. | ||
| + | * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Systems en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Systems] - Wikipedia. | ||
| + | * [https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/list?label_id=4345 spectrumcomputing.co.uk/list?label_id=4345] - Spectrum Computing. | ||
Latest revision as of 19:01, 13 March 2023
| Elite Systems Limited | |
 |
|
| Founded | Late 1983 |
| Headquarters | Walsall, West Midlands, England |
| Website | elite-systems.co.uk |
| Other Names | Richard Wilcox Software Hit Pak Encore Motivetime |
Elite Systems Ltd. (also known as Elite) is an English game development company founded by Brian Wilcox and his sons Steve and Richard. They were known for their Commodore 64 games such as Airwolf, Commando, and Ghosts 'n Goblins.
Elite used the following names:
- Richard Wilcox Software was the initial company name. On 1984-09-27, Crash magazine reported the rename to Elite Systems Ltd.
- Hit Pak (late 1986–1988) was a publication label for compilations of new and mostly old games.
- Encore (1988–1990) was announced as a company founded to re-release Elite's best games for £1.99.
- Motivetime (late 1989–c. 1999) was a subsidiary originally intended for console games. Most of Elite's developers would move over to Motivetime who would pay their employees bonuses based on the company's profits, but over time, the profits eventually reduced to virtually nothing. One of the developers guesses that Motivetime kept their profits deliberately low so as not to pay out big bonuses, for example by leasing computer equipment and office space off Elite at inflated prices and using some of the remaining Elite staff as "consultants".
In 1986 or 1987, Elite temporarily changed some employees to freelancers. Some people founded competitors Future Concepts, Arc Developments, NMS Software. Many ex-employees hired Mark Cooksey, mostly freelance, and often uncredited (particularly when Cooksey was employed elsewhere). Some Elite games (especially on the NES) do not have credits either, but it is unknown why.
Contents
Games
Music Development
Around 1988, Elite got Mark Cooksey an Akai S950 sampler, a Korg M1, and Notator for the Atari ST.
Commodore 64
On games, according to HVSC, the first two soundtracks and driver are by Neil Bate. In February 1985, Mark Cooksey joined and was given Bate's driver for his first games. Apart from that, everyone used their own drivers. Programmers often asked Cooksey to arrange their favorite songs, believing computer music to be a gray area in copyright.
On loaders, Elite initially used Novaload's example song, and from September 1985 to April 1986, Living on Video, again arranged by Cooksey upon an unnamed programmer's request.
NES
All of Elite's NES games were composed by Mark Cooksey. He wrote the music in Notator on an Atari ST, and would use a utility to convert his music to his sound driver. Mark would use the same sound driver for his work with Spidersoft on their game Cliffhanger (NES) and NMS Software for a couple games.
Audio Personnel
- Chris Davison - Title music composer for Dragon's Lair (SNES) (1993).
- Chris Harvey (employee 1984–1986).
- David Whittaker - Arranger and composer (freelance 1986–1989).
- Jason Brooke - Arranger and composer (freelance 1988–1989)
- Mark Cooksey - Lead composer (employee 1985–c. 1986, freelance 1987, employee c. 1988–c. 1991)
- Paul Walker
- Richard Frankish - SNES sound driver programmer (1988–1995).
- Rob Hubbard - Composer on two games (freelance 1985, 1987).
- Rob Mann - Composer and sound programmer (1991–1993).
- Stuart Middleton - Sound programmer.
- Tim Round - Sound programmer.
- Tony Williams - Composer for Power Slide ECTS Demo (SNES).
- Trevor Scott - Credited for music in Dragon's Lair (GEN).
Picture Gallery
Elite logo first used in 1985.
Motivetime logo used from 1990–1993.
Links
- elite-systems.co.uk - Official.
- mobygames.com/company/108/elite-systems-ltd/ - MobyGames on Elite.
- mobygames.com/company/20831/hit-pak/ - MobyGames on Hit Pak.
- mobygames.com/company/6769/encore/ - MobyGames on Encore.
- mobygames.com/company/109/motivetime-ltd/ - MobyGames on Motivetime.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Systems - Wikipedia.
- spectrumcomputing.co.uk/list?label_id=4345 - Spectrum Computing.
