March 14, 1998

Zen Tri-Pack Map Trilogy for the Interstate '76 Nitro Pack
An Interstate '76 Multiplayer Map Conversion/Modification
by Ax-L (firehrse@silcom.com)

Original Map by Ax-L and Stingray (stingray@jetcity.com)


*** You must install both the 8- and 16-bit versions for the maps to work correctly!!! ***


Zentripk.zip

Zip Contents:	Zentri8.zip (8-bit files for Zen Rollerball, Zen Melee and Zen Speedway)
			Zentri16.zip (8-bit files for Zen Rollerball, Zen Melee and Zen Speedway)
			Zentripk.txt (this file)
			zenrules.txt (original version of Zen Rollerball rules)
			zenrocks.txt (report on first-ever game of Zen Rollerball)
			zenguide.hmt (newer outline of Zen Rollerball rules/play)
			zenmanta.txt (sample car for Zen Rollerball referenced by zenguide.htm)
			zenrahna.txt (sample car for Zen Rollerball referenced by zenguide.htm)
			Zenrace.jpg (Original conceptual sketch by Ax-L for a "Zen Race")
			README.TXT (this file)


Installation:

Unzip the contents of Zentri8.zip to your C:\Program Files\Activision\I76Nitro\miss8 folder.
Unzip the contents of Zentri16.zip to your C:\Program Files\Activision\I76Nitro\miss16 folder.
*** YOU MUST INSTALL BOTH PARTS FOR THE MAPS TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY!!! ***


Author's Notes:

The orginal Zen maps, Zen Rollerball and Zen Melee (also known as Zen-R and Zen-M), were the second maps I helped create for Interstate '76. It started out as a desire to build a cool, continuous-loop racetrack. The yin-yang idea quickly popped into my mind and I began sketching. Knowing the restrictions in editing I'76 maps (bridge placement, road placement, terrain quirks), I knew this would be a tricky map not only to sketch, but also to edit.

That's when I called in Stingray. <G> I sent him Zenrace.jpg (see included image file) and explained my ideas to him. I knew he was a good mapmaker from seeing the various maps he had created - 76th Precinct, Gumball Rally, and R66 Speedway (I think), as well as the later L.A. River, are just some of the excellent maps Sting's done. Not only is he good, but he's FAST! And creative! The "base" Zen maps came together really quick, and this was where I first started using the 2-person map designing/building technique, with both people constantly critiquing and tweaking for the ultimate product.

When we were done, we decided to release two maps, one specifically for the Zen Rollerball game, and another for general melee (this one has the "upper" regen activated, and the lower melee "floor" is slightly different). The re-releases of Zen Rollerball and Zen Melee for the Nitro Pack remain almost entirely true to the orinals - the only changes are better placement of the original spawn points, addition of two more spawn points to make a full eight (there's even one "trick" spawn on Zen Melee <G>), and the use of a newer, greener, Nitro Pack palette combination. (I always considered the map green - things were green when I first made it, and even EMP Ironside once commented something about how he didn't know what I was smokin', but whatever it was sure helped me make cool maps! <G>)

However, there is one new thing here - Zen Speedway! My original dream of the Zen race has come to fruition! This is a fast race skilled drivers - get too far off the road around some corners and you might just go airborne! And, there are two interesting shortcut possibilities, again intended for advanced or insane drivers only. Regens could even be allowed as "pit stops" in endurance races here, if you like, since they're both out-of-the-way, hehehe.... (Both of the regens from Zen Melee are active here - esentially, the map is Zen Melee with racing checkpoints and the start/finish line.) In this map, I did hold it to six spawn points, all located ready-to-race up top.

As with the original Zen maps for I'76, these are all "release" renders, which should keep the terrain around "grid lines" in check. Enjoy! :-)

-- Ax-L

