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 = MotiveTime | + | | Aliases = Richard Wilcox Software<br />Hit Pak<br />Encore<br />MotiveTime |
| − | | Website = | + | | Website = elite-systems.co.uk |
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''''Elite Systems, Ltd.''''' (also known as '''Elite''') is an English game development company founded by Richard and Steve Wilcox | + | '''''Elite Systems, Ltd.''''' (also known as '''Elite''') is an English game development company founded by Richard and Steve Wilcox. 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''''' (c. late 1986–c. 1987) was a publication label for compilations of new and mostly old games. | ||
| + | * '''''Encore''''' (c. 1987) was a publication label for budget games. | ||
| + | * '''''MotiveTime''''' (late 1989–c. 1993) was a subsidiary originally intended for console games. Most of the development team from Elite would move over to MotiveTime and 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 as well as using some of the remaining Elite staff as "consultants". | ||
| − | + | In 1986 or 1987, Elite temporarily "demoted"<!--quotes needed?--> 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 28: | Line 32: | ||
==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]] - Arranger on | + | * [[Jason Brooke]] - Arranger on two games, composer on [[Supertrux]] (freelance 1988–1989) |
| − | * [[Mark Cooksey]] - Lead composer ( | + | * [[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. | * [[Stuart Middleton]] - Sound programmer. | ||
* [[Tim Round]] - Sound programmer. | * [[Tim Round]] - Sound programmer. | ||
| − | * [[Tony Williams]] - Composer for Power Slide ECTS Demo (SNES) | + | * [[Tony Williams]] - Composer for Power Slide ECTS Demo (SNES). |
| − | * [[Trevor Scott]] - Credited for music in [[Dragon's Lair (GEN)]] | + | * [[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 logo used from | + | MotiveTime - 1.png|MotiveTime logo used from 1990–1993. |
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
| + | * [https://www.elite-systems.co.uk elite-systems.co.uk] - Official. | ||
* [https://www.mobygames.com/company/elite-systems-ltd mobygames.com/company/elite-systems-ltd] - MobyGames. | * [https://www.mobygames.com/company/elite-systems-ltd mobygames.com/company/elite-systems-ltd] - MobyGames. | ||
| + | * [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. | ||
Revision as of 10:03, 11 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 Richard and Steve Wilcox. 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 (c. late 1986–c. 1987) was a publication label for compilations of new and mostly old games.
- Encore (c. 1987) was a publication label for budget games.
- MotiveTime (late 1989–c. 1993) was a subsidiary originally intended for console games. Most of the development team from Elite would move over to MotiveTime and 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 as well as using some of the remaining Elite staff as "consultants".
In 1986 or 1987, Elite temporarily "demoted" 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
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 for the 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 on two games, composer on Supertrux (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/elite-systems-ltd - MobyGames.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Systems - Wikipedia.
- spectrumcomputing.co.uk/list?label_id=4345 - Spectrum Computing.
