Toys: More Hasbro + LEGO
Well, looks like we got here even more toy pics from last week's Toy Fair, courtesy of ActionFigures.about.com. There's not much that we haven't seen in the last 300 or so toy pictures, though these pictures are pretty high-quality and detailed, for those of you who can't get enough of this stuff. Be sure to check out their full reports on the Hasbro toy line here and the LEGO toy line here. (Thanks 'ShaniCat' and 'JurassicPark')

JP3 Trailer Before 'Monkeybone'?
JP3HQ received a report from someone who says that he heard the long-awaited JP3 trailer will be playing before Friday's release of Monkeybone (along with 'Harry Potter' and LOTR spots), which would be odd since it is a 20th Century Fox release, not Universal. I'm checking with my sources, more as I get it...

February 17, 2001

February 16, 2001

February 15, 2001

Crichton Gets $30 Million For Next Two Books
This Reuters story details the agreement, which has Crichton leaving his 30 year relationship with Alfred A. Knopf publishers for the deep pockets of HarperCollins. The author's next book is due in 2002. "I'm slow," Crichton says (Just kidding).

JP3 Trailer! and Playskool Toys
Remember that I mentioned awhile back that Universal was planning on showing some footage from JP3 at this year's ToyFair? Well, IGN FilmForce got a glance at it in part 3 of their report. Here's their description:

At the beginning of the trailer, we met William H. Macy’s character, who offers to fund Dr. Grant’s (the returning Sam Neill) research if Dr. Grant will accompany him and his wife (Tea Leone) for a fly over of the island. Events occur during the flight, which force the plane down against Dr. Grant‘s warnings that they can not land on the island. All heck then breaks loose, and the humans must run for their lives. Even if the film appears predictable, the effect shots of the dinosaurs are great – and show that with each addition to the JP franchise, they’ve improved something.

Toys: Even More Hasbro
Aftimes.com has posted a few pictures of the JP3 action figures, inclduing "Human Figures and accessories otherwise know as bait!". Here they be: (Thanks 'Anti t-rex')

February 13, 2001

Toys: Robot Raptor Pic
Hanns Peter Glock sent in this pic of Tiger's upcoming "Interactive Raptor" as seen at the Toy Show, published in his local Austrian newspaper "Kronenzeitung". Some additional features of this thing, courtsey of a Tiger press release: "No two will behave the same way. When it's angry and agitated, it will stalk, growl and snap at the slightest provocation. There's even a built-in room guard mode!"

February 12, 2001

Shot from NYC Toy Fair
For the record, here's the picture from last Thursday's New York Times about Toy Fair, where we can see some guy setting up Hasbro's JP3 booth. Yeah, I know you can't make anything out, but that's what the pictures from Action-Figure.com are for. ;)

More Toy Pics
One of the first things the Action-Figure.com staff saw when they arrived at the Toy Show going on now in NYC was a big display of JP3 stuff -- here are some great pictures (a few more here). Thanks 'Tango9000'.

inGenNET Returns
Neo_Maze wanted me to let everyone know that inGenNET has returned after their extended hiatus, so certainly do check it out.

February 10, 2001

	Interactive Raptor - According to a Tiger press release: "Interactive Raptor is Tiger's biggest and most challenging 'pet' yet! When you first take dinosaur out of the box, you must 'capture' it -- which is no easy task, since it's over 3 feet long! You then tame the wild beast by feeding, nurturing, playing, and even wrestling it! As you develop a special raport with your Interactive Raptor, it will protect and defend you. It walks, stalks, and chomps its jaws, and it's eyes glow and change color. If provoked, it will even fight with other Interactive Raptors! ($99.99)" Holy coolness.
	JPIII Mini Action Game - This looks like one of the Tiger LCD games we've all grown to know and love, but with a cool scuplted dinosaur around the screen. "Players must help their dinsoaur catch it's dinner, avoid exctintion and hunters!"
	JPIII Action Game - A larger version of the previous game, though I don't think I'd be able to get me fingers in there... "Use the directional keys to locate dfferent dinsaurs, but watch out, if you don't complete the tasks within a time limit T-Rex might take your fingers off as he shuts his jaws tight. With many different levels, the more you succeed, the harder it becomes."
	JPIII 'Dino Dex' - "The Dino Dex features and encylopedia of 72 dinsosaurs, teaching you their vital statistics, likes/dislikes and favourite foods. There's a chance to create your very own Dinosaur using existing Dino DNA in the DNA lab section. Alternatively enter the battle dome where you can select a dinosaur and go head to head in battle to the death against an opponent."
	JPIII Dinosaur Keyring - Cool dino keyrings that "come with sound effects and flashing lights," according to Action-Figure.com. Might be good for older JP3 fans...

Toy Pics + Info: Hasbro
Hasbro has released a press article with some great pictures in preparation for Toy Fair 2001, including release date info... Here's the details: (Big thanks to 'Tango', 'EVA01', and 'Embryo')

Re-Ak A-Tak Basic Figure with Dino Assortment: ($5.99)
May 2001 – Alan Grant with Raptor, Billy Hume with Pteranodon, Dino Hunter with T-Rex, Eric Kirby with Alpha Pteranodon, Amanda Kirby with Spinosaurus
July 2001 – Alan Grant with Compies, Military Diver with Spinosaurus, Paul Kirby with Stegosaurus.


Electronic Deluxe RE-AK-A-TAK Biting Dino Assortment: ($10.99)
May 2001 – Spinosaurus, Pteranodon, T-Rex, Raptor, Dilophosaurus, Triceratops
August 2001 – Raptor #2, Tapejara, Spinosaurus #2, Brachiosaurus


Electronic Ultra RE-AK-A-TAK Dinosaur Assortment: ($22.99)
May 2001 – Pteranodon
August 2001 – T-Rex


Electronic RE-AK-A-TAK Vehicle Assortment: ($15.99)
May 2001 - Air Heli-Sabre Marine Commander with Figure
May 2001 - RE-AK-A-TAK Raptor Motorcycle Pursuit and Figure


May 2001 - Electronic Quad Track SUV Vehicle ($22.99)


August 2001 - Electronic Raptor Attack Playset: “Imagine and build your own Jurassic Park III island with the Raptor Attack Playset. Everything needed for spine-tingling adventures is included: Dr. Grant figure, raptor, projectile and net launchers, plus five fence pieces and gate to complete the adventurous scenario.” ($35.99)

June 2001- Electronic RE-AK-A-TAK Animatronic Spinosaurus : "The Spinosaurus from the film takes shape as the most realistic dinosaur toy imaginable. Realistic styling is accentuated by amazing animatronic features and sound effects. Control the RE-AK-A-TAK Animatronic Spinosaurus by moving its tail and pressing special sensors hidden on its body." ($56.99)

Also available: Diecast Vehicle with Figure and Dino Assortment ($4.99); Diecast Vehicle Adventure Set Assortment (12.99); Sound-Activated Walking Raptor ($19.99); Pteranodon Launcher ($9.99); Poseable Dinosaur Assortment (12.99); Electronic Hatching Dino Egg Assortment ($9.99) and Jurassic Park 3 Clip-On Dino Figures ($3.99).

February 9, 2001

News From Universal
An anonymous source sent Harry some info about what's left of the JP3 set at Universal Studios. As we've heard before, the informant says that "the enormous cliff/volcano set had been taken down," though he adds a few interesting tidbits about the structures they left standing:

"There is a large building [that] has an Ingen sign out front and a small moat in front of it. This is not the dilapidated visitor's center ... rather a ruined embryonic laboratory. The entire building was built over the existing Lost World Communications building... the chopped pad is still standing, as is the round, tall, odd bird-cage like structure at the top of the building.

Crossing the mini-moat is a large staircase leading to a large lobby with a security desk. All other set pieces were gone. The left front door of the building was the scene of (spoilers!) some glass breaking stunt. Gee, I'm guessing maybe a dinosaur breaks through? Shards of breakaway safety glass were everywhere. The entire set was crawling with vines and plastic ivy plants.

I also managed to get into the RV from the Lost World. All that remains of the interior are empty bulkheads - stripped of all the cool electronic gizmos. Lots of cobwebs too.

Toys: Robot Raptor Details
A tiny bit of information about the "robotic raptor" (story) that Hasbro is preparing for release around JP3-time: this Knight-Ridder wire article mentions that the raptor will be a beefy "three-feet long". I'll take two.

Raptor Pic
CHUD.com has posted another pic of what they say is one of JP3's dinosaurs, this time a shot of the new raptor from the film. I guess from this angle we can't tell if it has a feathered crest or not, but it looks pretty similar to the raptors in the first two movies to me. The Photoshop-like shadow along the edges (and the weird eye glow) suggest it may be a fake, so you may want to take some salt with this one.

February 8, 2001

Toy Show Pic
If anyone has a copy of today's New York Times, there's apparently a picture of someone setting up a display of JP3 merchandise for the start of Sunday's Toy Show on page B9. As luck might have it, the school library here didn't get today's issue. Anyway, if someone has it, please scan it in!

[News from Jan 19th through Feb 6th]