If you can picture a spacecraft simulator in 3D, arcade-style space battles and a trading strategy game all rolled into one you have a picture of what Acornsoft's new game Elite has to offer.

The object of the game is to achieve the status of "Elite", reserved for those who have successfully fought and traded their way across eight galaxies.

And if you think that's an easy task, think again. Apparently, staff at Acornsoft have been playing the game for four months and even the game's designers (Ian Bell and David Braben) have not achieved a rating higher than 'competent'. There is still 'dangerous' and 'deadly' to go before they reach 'elite'.

Acornsoft is running a competition to find the most skilful players. It isn't the kind of game you will get through in one sitting and a save routine is provided to enable you to continue from where you left off.

Included with the game is a 60-page "traders' trading manual" and a short story based on the game.

It is priced at £17.65 on disk, £14.95 on tape and £12.95 on tape for the Electron.

If you want to find out for yourself how good Elite is, go to the Acorn stand at the PCW Show where Elite will be on continuous demonstration.