Interstate '76

Interstate '76
Developer(s)	Activision
Publisher(s)	Activision
Engine	MechWarrior 2
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	NA March 28, 1997
Genre(s)	Vehicular combat
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Input methods	Keyboard, Joystick, Wheel, Gamepad, Mouse

Interstate '76 is a vehicular combat video game for Windows. It was developed and published by Activision and released in March 1997.

Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Plot 3 Characters 4 Vehicles 5 Locations 6 Soundtrack 7 Movie adaptation 8 Sequels and spin-offs 9 External links

Synopsis

The game is set in the south-western United States of America in an alternative version of the year 1976, during a prolonged oil crisis. The game is based on the engine used for Activision's MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat, and requires a fair amount of strategy through the course of the game, as the player must balance the vehicle's armor and weapon load-outs appropriately in order to successfully complete the various missions. In the game's story mode, the player must also manage and repair equipment salvaged from the wrecks of opponents.

There are four play modes available in the game: the "T.R.I.P." (an acronym for "Total Recreational Interactive Production"), which follows the game's protagonists in an episodic story; "Multi Melee", an on-line deathmatch version of the game; "Auto Melee", a deathmatch with computer-driven cars; and "Scenarios", short free-standing adventures featuring the game's protagonists. The primary difference between the scenarios and the T.R.I.P., length of play aside, is that the player has a much broader choice of vehicles in the scenario mode, while the player is limited to only one car during most of the T.R.I.P. mode. The game's vehicles are faithful reproductions of various cars and trucks from the era, both in appearance and driving characteristics, though the names have been changed.

Plot

The game focuses on the daring exploits of Groove Champion, his partner Taurus, and their mechanic, Skeeter. A powerful but shadowy figure is recruiting autovillains (also known as "creepers") from around the country for a private army. Groove's sister, Jade, and Taurus are investigating the movements of the army when, on the night of July 3, 1976, Jade Champion is murdered outside Lubbock, Texas. Taurus recruits a reluctant Groove to the cause, with Groove operating Jade's heavily armed Picard Piranha. The game follows Groove and Taurus' quest for revenge and the truth.

Taurus serves as mentor and partner to Groove in the first few missions, until he is seriously wounded in an ambush. His own car ("Eloise") is destroyed and he spends the rest of the T.R.I.P. riding along in the team's van with Skeeter. This allows Groove, the player's character, to take center stage.

The trail leads to Antonio Malochio, a smuggler with a questionable past. Malochio has purchased a hydrogen bomb on the black market and plans to use it to destroy the West Texas Federal Stock - the largest oil reserve in North America. If he succeeds, the gas crisis would become a gas panic, leading to anarchy, during which time Malochio and his army of auto-villains (secretly backed by OPEC) would seize power.

In the course of the T.R.I.P., Groove's driving and shooting skills are put to the test against members of Malochio's organization (some of whom, like Cloaker and Disco Cat, are quite colorful for minor characters); the creeper Patriot and his cronies, former foes of Jade's who may actually be ghosts; a corrupt county sheriff and his deputies (the "fuzz") who've been paid off by Malochio; and even the Jeep-driving operators of a mysterious desert testing range.

Groove and company finally arrive at Fort Davis, Malochio's hideout, just as he has armed the bomb and is preparing to leave; however, Groove taunts Malochio into one last duel. When the player wins, Groove kills Malochio and disarms the bomb, saving the oil supply and completing the game.

Characters

Because of the limitations of the game's engine, the characters are only seen in prerendered cutscenes, and then as figures constructed of colored but untextured ("flat") polygons. This simple design was chosen to make them easy to animate and to fit in with the overall look of the game. Part of Interstate '76's introduction takes the form of opening credits for a television action series; in this cutscene, each of the characters is credited to a fictional actor.

Groove Champion (played by "Everett Mann", voiced by Andrew Heckler)

The protagonist of Interstate '76 and middle Champion child, Groove reluctantly accepts the responsibility of the auto-vigilante lifestyle, takes the CB handle of "Swinger" and drives with Taurus to fight against Malochio's goons. He inherits his sister's 1971 Picard Piranha at the start of the game.

Taurus ("James W. Styles", voiced by Greg Eagles)

Taurus isn't his real name- it's what people call him. He lived as a poet in New England with a wife and daughter, who were killed by criminals. He helps Groove to adjust to being a vigilante, guiding him along his quest. His poetry could be sampled by pressing the 'C' key while in driving mode. He goes by the handle "Stampede" and drives a 1966 Jefferson Sovereign he has named "Eloise".

Jade Champion ("Katherine Knolls", voiced by Lisa Picotte)

For many years, Jade lived a secret life as an Auto-Vigilante. The rest of her family never knew a thing, presumably because Jade wanted to protect them from her enemies. The game begins with Groove taking up her cause, symbolized by his inheritance of her car. Her handle was "Vixen."

Skeeter ("Willard Dicot III", voiced by Tom Kane)

Skeeter serves as the mechanic and Greek chorus for the series' heroes. He repairs the player's vehicles between missions and occasionally is the focus of the in-game missions. He goes by the handle "Monkey Wrench." He drives a 1971 Street Van which acts as the team's support vehicle.

Antonio Malochio ("Carlo DeFungi", voiced by John de Lancie)

The primary villain of Interstate '76, a shady businessman with a history in Vietnam and Cambodia. Originally believed to be using the handle of "Cloaker", it is revealed that his codename is in fact "Giotto" and that "Cloaker" is merely one of his lieutenants. He drives a 1969 Courcheval Manta.

Vehicles

One of the most interesting aspects of Interstate '76 is that all the in-game vehicles are based on actual automobiles, including many period American muscle cars. A list of the cars, as well as their real-world counterparts, is as follows:

• ABX (American Motors Corporation)
  • '70 AMZ (AMC AMX)
  • '76 Leprechaun (AMC Gremlin)
  • '76 Strider (Although the name would suggest inspiration from a AMC Pacer, the physical design is more likely derived from a Meyers Manx dune buggy)

• Courcheval (Chevrolet)
  • '69 Cavera (Chevrolet Camaro)
  • '75 Thunderbolt (Chevrolet Camaro)
  • '70 Courchelle (Chevrolet Chevelle)
  • '69 Manta (Chevrolet Stingray)
  • '76 Royale Special (Chevrolet Caprice Classic)
  • '76 Royale Police Cruiser (Chevrolet Caprice Police Cruiser)
  • '76 Chevelle

• Dover-Picard Corporation (Dodge/Plymouth)
  • '68 Dover Lightning VX (Dodge Charger)
  • '70 Dover Stag Pickup (Dodge D Series)
  • '71 Dover TowMaster (Dodge D SeriesTow Truck)
  • '69 Picard Jackrabbit Banshee (Plymouth Road Runner Superbird)
  • '71 Picard Piranha (Plymouth Barracuda)
    • This is the car driven by the game's protagonist, Groove Champion, and is the only one available during the TRIP mode.

• Glenn Incorporated (Jeep)
  • '73 Bushmaster (Jeep CJ)
  • '73 Glenn 4x4 (Jeep CJ)

• Jefferson Motors (Lincoln Motor Company)
  • '69 Sovereign (Lincoln Continental)
    • This is the car driven by the game's co-protagonist, Taurus.

• Moth Trucks (Mack Trucks)
  • '72 Mammoth (Mack RW)
  • '74 Groundhog (Tank)

• Phaedra Motor Company (Ford Motor Company)
  • '70 Clydesdale (Ford Bronco)
  • '32 Coupe (Ford Model B Deluxe Coupe)
  • '67 Findley Rattler Taladega (Shelby Cobra)
  • '70 Palomino (Ford Mustang)
  • '76 Pony SS (Ford Pinto)

• Vikea International (Volvo)
  • '73 420LG Wagon (Volvo 240 Station Wagon)

• School Bus (Blue Bird Corporation)
  • '70 Incarcerator (Blue Bird All American)

• Street Van (Dodge)
  • '71 GrooVan (Dodge Street Van)

Locations

Whilst set in an alternative timeline, in which the 1973 oil crisis is still ongoing, the game progresses through real towns and locations in the south-western United States including Lubbock, Seagraves, Seminole and Pecos in Texas and Roswell and Carlsbad in New Mexico. The game's final showdown takes place at Fort Davis, Texas, although the real Fort Davis National Historic Site, a surviving Indian Wars' military post, bears little resemblance to the high-walled compound depicted in the game.

Soundtrack

The Interstate '76 soundtrack was composed by Arion Salazar who would later achieve fame as a founding member of Third Eye Blind. The music was performed under the name "Bullmark" with Salazar on bass, Santana-alumni Tom Coster on keyboards, and Bryan Mantia, who among his performing credits previously played with Primus and Guns N' Roses, on drums. The soundtrack recreated the funk sound of 70's film and television theme music. Some are sly variations of popular 70's funk tracks, such as "Never Get Outta The Car"'s pastiche of The Brothers Johnson's 1976 hit "Get The Funk Out Ma Face." The soundtrack was recorded using vintage instruments and recording technology in order to as closely reproduce this sound as possible. Activision released a separate official soundtrack CD which contained all tracks from the game and unreleased tracks from the recording sessions. Versions of the background music tracks can also be found on the game play disc as redbook audio.

1. Interstate '76 Theme (1:00) 2. In The Junkyard (1:38) 3. Revenge Rocco Style (2:32) 4. Think About It (0:16) 5. Pimp Like Me (1:30) 6. The Cake (1:31) 7. Vigilante Shuffle (1:59) 8. Code Six Pack (0:11) 9. Mission Code: B.F.A.M. (2:10) 10. Speed Is Your Salvation (0:51) 11. They Call Me Swinger (3:18) 12. Bring'em Back Alive (0:28) 13. Skeeter Gettin' Medieval (1:13) 14. Desert Sky Groove (2:26) 15. Roswell (0:47) 16. Jackin' For Good (0:30)

17. Parlay'in (2:21) 18. Helicopter Fuzz (0:40) 19. The T'aint (2:22) 20. Stampede (0:37) 21. Spineless Funk (3:06) 22. Little Daffodil Gas Parade (0:40) 23. Jade'll Get You Thru (0:18) 24. Tulip Waltz (3:35) 25. Ass Retreat (0:10) 26. Payback Recon (1:23) 27. Fort Davis (0:40) 28. Never Get Outta The Car (Extended Slap Mix) (3:28) 29. Malochio Down (1:46) 30. Reggae Fusion (0:59) 31. Macadamia Medley (5:39) 32. Unknown, Mega Mix (0:41)

Movie adaptation

The film rights to the game were acquired in March 1998 by 20th Century Fox and Davis Entertainment with Todd Smith and Danny Simonds producing. There have been no reports since then and the project has likely been permanently consigned to development hell.

Sequels and spin-offs

Interstate '76 spawned a prequel/expansion pack, Nitro Pack and a direct sequel, Interstate '82, as well as spun off the Vigilante 8 series for home video game consoles. A graphically enhanced version of the original game, Interstate '76: Gold Edition, was also released as well as a standalone version of the Nitro Pack expansion entitled Interstate '76: Nitro Riders. The Gold Edition was later bundled with the Nitro Pack expansion as Interstate '76 Arsenal.

In a move that angered many loyal fans of the original game, Interstate '82 and Vigilante 8 were designed more like the simplistic Twisted Metal series. Most importantly, the sophisticated damage model of Interstate '76 wherein armor on different sides of the vehicle and components within the vehicle were damaged based on which direction damage came from (the classic Car Wars model) was abandoned. Instead, cars in the sequels had only a simple damage meter. Without the conundrums of vulnerable facings and damaged weapons, many of the interesting tactical decisions of the original game were absent in the successors.

Other games made that are based on the Interstate series include the following:

• Interstate 82 - A total conversion mod for the game Battlefield 1942.
• Interstate Outlaws - An open source auto combat simulation with a public alpha available for download.
• American Funk - An auto combat simulation developed by l33t labs. Currently on hold, until after their début title is released.

Activision stated that as of 1999, the franchise is dead and there will be no further sequels. However, a sequel to Vigilante 8 was released on Xbox Live Arcade in 2008.

External links

• http://www.interstate76.com
• Interstate '76 at GameFAQs
• Interstate '76 at MobyGames
• The Interstate '76 Arsenal - Unofficial fan site