ZZT On ZZT

One of the unique aspects of ZZT is its capacity to be used as a medium for publishing about ZZT itself. Various company magazines, best-practice guides, and reference encyclopedias (collections of cool things you can do) were created throughout the years. However, the drawback of publishing information in this way is that you can't get to it easily without loading the world files in ZZT and actually playing them. The Museum of ZZT File Viewer helps greatly with this visibility problem, but the content is still spread across several publications.

This page will list out the topics of such files, specifically focusing on how-to guides. For company magazines and the official Demo and Tour worlds that Epic MegaGames released, see: ZZT Magazine Directory

Notes and Warnings

• For inquiries on this list, you can contact me. Keep in mind that this is mostly just hyperlinks to content on Museum of ZZT, which I have donated and submitted games to, but do not own or administer.

• The Title, Author and Year fields are taken from the Museum of ZZT directly, and could potentially change at any time. In-game copyright notices and such may be different.

• These links might contain offensive or NSFW content.

ZZT Syndromes

Author: Barjesse

Year: 1996

Description: A classic in its own right, Barjesse guides new ZZTers through issues and mistakes that were common in the AOL era.

• Museum of ZZT: https://museumofzzt.com/file/z/syndrome.zip

• MoZZT Closer Look: https://museumofzzt.com/article/318/closer-look-zzt-syndromes

Topics

Goofy Syndromes

• Big-empty-room Syndrome and Yellow-border Syndrome
• Big-pile-of-monsters Syndrome
• I-gotta-fill-in-the-board Syndrome
• A demonstration of Creative Contours
• One-way-board Syndrome
• Outta-sync-doors Syndrome
• ie-Ca'nt-spel Syndrome
• Zero-plot Syndrome
• Poor-man-with-a-big-dog Syndrome

Fatal Syndromes

• Not-enough-ammo Syndrome
• Not-enough-health Syndrome
• Overwhelming Opposition Syndrome
• Too-many-stars Syndrome
• Tryme-trap Syndrome
• Gimme-money Syndrome
• Ping-pong-path Syndrome

ZZT Encyclopedia

Author: Chronos30

Year: 1998, 2001

Description: A compilation of tricks, glitches and engine boards.

Notes: There are multiple versions of this preserved, and also earlier versions which are listed in a history file but don't seem to be available. The old version lists Chronos30 and JDMSonic as authors, but Chronos30 is the only author listed on the museum. I'm going to put off looking into this for now, and just list out the contents of the latest release as that seems to have the most utility. Descriptions and cross-referencing will have to wait another day.

Category 1: Colors v1.13

• (Title Screen)

• Fades
• Glowing
• #put any color
• #color 1
• #color 2
• Other colors
• Color flashes
• Color sensor
• Keep Background
• Carpet
• Text colors (updated)
• Activated Fades
• Scroll Random
• Color Password

Category 2: Player Clone v1.17

• (Title Screen)
• Object Transporter
• Give items
• Step Logger
• Coordinates
• Anywhere Transport 3
• directtype
• Key Transport
• #put LitBomb (old)
• Illusion, Illusion Room, Board w/passage
• Faster torch/energize
• #put LitBomb
• Anywhere Transport 2, Anywhere Transport 2b
• Anywhere Transport, New Board
• Direction Logger
• Bullet Logger
• Space Bar
• NextBoard Transport, Next Board
• Shooting Scrolls
• Player hold engine

Category 3: Weapons v1.15

• (Title Screen)

• Sword Engine
• Bomb Engine
• Machine Gun
• Grenades
• Better Bombs
• Anti-Shoot
• Nukes
• Indestructible Bombs
• Boomerang B
• Boomerang Engine
• Weapon Selector
• 6-Shooter
• SEEK Bug
• Enemy Ammo
• Infinite Ammo
• Wave Gun
• Super driller
• Remote Mines

The UNOFFICIAL ZZT Programming Guide

Author: Corey "Des" Garriott, Mark McIntire and Others

Year: 1996

Description: "Want to begin ZZT programing? This game may silence some discordant items in your games!"

Notes: Seems to start on the wrong board.

• Museum of ZZT: https://museumofzzt.com/file/u/coprogram.zip

Emon's Guild To ZZT

Author: Emon

Year: 2001

Description: "From basic stuff to cool tricks with ZZT-OPP." First topic is rooms with yellow borders.

• Museum of ZZT: https://museumofzzt.com/file/e/Emonsguild.zip?file=EMONGUID.ZZT

Cliche: a Guide for the Advanced ZZTer

Author: JoE

Year: 2000

Description: "It's kinda like a sequel to Syndrome. It tells you what NOT to do. Have fun and try to LEARN(barf) something!"

• Museum of ZZT: https://museumofzzt.com/file/c/clichegui.zip?file=CLICHE.ZZT

ZZT Crime

Author: Wong Chung Bang, Scorch3000

Year: 2000 (Version 2), 2001 (Versions 5 and 6), 2007 (Version 8)

Description: "A ZZT world for newbies. Points out what not to do in ZZT files."

• Museum of ZZT:
  • Version 2
  • Version 5
  • Version 6
  • Version 8

ZZT Programming Tricks and Techniques

Author: zzo38

Year: 2018

Description: A newly-minted ZZT-on-ZZT world!

• Museum of ZZT: https://museumofzzt.com/file/z/zztptt.zip