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Retro gaming classics Elite, International Karate coming to iPhone

Via Manomio's C64 emulator

Retro gaming classics Elite, International Karate coming to iPhone
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Elite is the very definition of a seminal game. Created by David Braben and Ian Bell and released in 1984, it represents a huge leap in the early evolution of video game design, and still makes it into top 50 lists today.

Now, thanks to Manomio and its C64 emulator, it looks like you'll soon be able to get it for your iPhone. If you're not sure what it's about, Elite is a massive wire-frame space trading game in which you hop from planet to planet buying, selling, landing, upgrading, and occasionally shooting things.

Elite came out when video games in Britain were made by small teams of men who wore jumpers, drank real ale, and spent their weekends at airshows. Joining it is another child of one of these pioneers: Archer Maclean's International Karate.

Like Elite, International Karate has been surpassed comprehensively since it first appeared in 1987, but it's still a tight, slick, funny game. How well it'll work without a physical joystick to yank and stab remains to be seen, but it could be great.

These are two of seven games spotted by a TouchArcade forum member in the C64 in-app shop yesterday. The others are:

Microprose Soccer
Jumpman
Druid
Wizball
Trailblazer

They're not available yet, it seems, but it looks like they will be soon.

Rob Hearn
Rob Hearn
Having obtained a distinguished education, Rob became Steel Media's managing editor, now he's no longer here though.