If anyone is looking for a game similar to Elite to play on the side, then check out Starsector. I am currently hooked on this. It is a top down 2D sprite game, but don't let that put you off, the graphics are gorgeous and detailed. The game is like a cross between Elite and Mount and Blade, building up your fleet from nothing, trading, smuggling, bounty hunting, exploring, the usual Elite type shenanigans, plus you ultimately get to colonise and develop your own planets and create your own faction, and then prepare yourself to take on the [REDACTED]. The game is still under development and there are tonnes of mods for it, including one which changes the game into a full on 4x faction war type effort, which is where I think the official game will eventually go when it is finished. There is no demo unfortunately, and not available on Steam or GoG etc, but it is a pretty cheap game anyway and well worth the money.