Interstate '76 Trivia
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Listed below are a few random anecdotes, trivialities, and did-you-knows about Interstate '76.
An unlikely inspiration for Interstate '76's story? The Watchmen. (Norman, 2025)
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Oddly enough, much like Jade Champion in the opening sequence to Interstate '76, the Interstate series of games died on Interstate '82. (Don't believe me? Listen to that opening I '76 movie again. Is that foreshadowing or what?)
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Taurus had a bad time on I '82 as well in the Nitro Pack intro. He'd have bit it for good if Jade hadn't been there to save him. Maybe that highway's bad luck.
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The Picard Jackrabbit is based on the Plymouth Superbird, itself an aero version of the Plymouth Road Runner, notable for it's extended front end and super high wing. Although the car model in I '76 retains the extended front, the wing's nowhere to be seen... or is it? In the game's cutscenes, the wing is still visible.
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At the Activision I '76 Homepage, look on top of the 8-track player. See that book labeled 'Auto-Vigilante's Guide to Multi-melee Combat'? It used to actually go to a page with the I '76 map builder and other multiplayer stories and tips on it.
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Originally, there were going to be more hand-held weapons than just the pistol. Also planned were a sawed-off shotgun, grenade launcher, and a Molotov slingshot. You can still see the weapons in the parts catalog.
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If you have a copy of Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries, pop it into your computer and check under the avi directory. You'll find an old preview for Interstate '76.
You'll see quite a few differences from the final game, including the 'Ranha's paintjob, in this early preview. -
I '76 producer Scott Krager had previously worked on the Bob Newhardt series "Bob" and on "Cheers," as well as "Real Monsters" and "Pig Sty." (Activision, 2006)
Also in the parts catalog, the 15" Krager wheels are a play on Cragar wheels and said producer's name.
In the original Nitro Pack (then known as Interstate '77) story, Taurus was to be hired by the Mexican government to escort illegal runs of gasoline into the United States and would face a Vietnam veteran only known as The General. (OGR, 1997)
Before becoming Nitro Pack, the add-on to I '76 was also known as "The Vigilante Files."
The role of Antonio Malochio is played by John de Lancie, perhaps most known for his role as Q on Star Trek: The Next Generation (IMDB).
Likewise, Taurus is voiced by prolific voice actor Greg Eagles who was the voice of, amongst many other projects, the Grim Reaper in Cartoon Network's The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and Grim & Evil (IMDB).
Prominent members and "gangs" of the I '76 community had their likeness included as brief cameos in Nitro Pack. Play the first mission as Taurus and hear tale of the Magnificent Bastards causing some trouble. Don't remember them? They were an anti-hack I '76 gang that tore up the Southwest. In Taurus' second mission, there's talk of "Debacle" on the radio. Yes, that's right, the same Debacle that created the classic I '76 map Intercept & Pursuit. In Episode 6, Crimson mentions that she's pissed at Jade for killing Wingnut, another online I '76er of the time.
The Carmageddon Splat Pack (of all things) has a reference to Interstate '76. Characters Carkey & Clutch resemble a blonde mustached dude and a 70's 'fro guy with sunglasses both dressed in '70s duds. Let their profile pic sit on the sreen for a moment and it'll briefly flicker to a flat-shaded, polygon render. Just to make it a little more obvious that this is Groove and Taurus, their bio reads:
"This dynamic duo look like they're trapped in a timewarp. Flares, afros and a muscle car... it's the 'In-a-state '76' pair!"
This duo drive some classic fictional '70s muscle, the Stodge Barger (Dodge Charger) with a 76 on the car and some bullhorns on the front.
Vigilante 8
Vigilante 8 is a spinoff of the Interstate '76 series. In fact, the connections are pretty deep:
- The vehicle makes and models are the same.
- Central V8 character Convoy has a couple of audio cameos in the I '76 Nitro Pack. In the intro, Taurus radios for Convoy. In the mission Auto-Vigilantism 101, Taurus mentions that Convoy trained him.
- Development wise, Vigilante 8 originally started as a Playstation port of Interstate '76. Developer Luxoflux was hired to port the game. Significant changes in level size had to be made to accommodate the Playsation, resulting in smaller battle areas and a more action-focused flavor of auto-combat. Speaking on this, developer David Goodrich recalls asking Activision: "Hey, this is nothing like I-76. It's turning out to be a completely different experience. A great one, but completely different. Can we make this our own thing?"
- Taurus and Groove obviously became John Torque and Convoy, respectively.
- In fact, early in Vigilante 8's development, Taurus and Jade were playable characters. See these images from the December '97 issue of Next Generation (#36) below:
An early alpha version of Vigilante 8 shows Jade and Taurus on the character select screen.
- Catch a glimpse of Jade in-game.
Jade and the 'Rhana in an early Vigilante 8.
Last update: 8/24/26