Mattel & Jurassic World Nominated For Multiple ‘Toy of the Year’ Awards!

Calling all Jurassic fans! Mattel and Jurassic World need your help to win the Toy Association’s “Toy of the Year” award in several categories.

First up is Action Figure of the Year. This nomination includes all of the dinosaurs, humans, and vehicles sold under the Mattel/Jurassic World brand.

The nomination description reads: “The Mattel Jurassic World action figure line brings the blockbuster Jurassic World franchise to life with human and dinosaur action figures, vehicles and accessories – all to scale size – that allow kids and adults to recreate their favorite movie moments and fully build out their own Jurassic World.”

Competition for this category includes DJ Bumblebee by Hasbro, Pokémon 4.5″ Battle Feature Figures by Wicked Cool Toys, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figure Assortment by Playmates Toys, Stikbot Monsters by Zing, Treasure X by Moose Toys, and WWE Sound Slammers Figures by Mattel.

The next category Jurassic is up for is “License of the Year”. This is a broader category stemming from Universal and reaching out to all of the merchandise that shares a Jurassic World license.

The nomination description reads “Jurassic World ™: Fallen Kingdom, which is a part of the Jurassic World Franchise, is a license owned by Universal. In addition to a theatrical release, the property features an extensive cross-category assortment, ranging from toys in the construction category to hard and soft goods.”

Other competitors in this category include Hatchimals by Spin Master, Hot Wheels by Mattel, L.O.L. Surprise! by MGA Entertainment, Marvel Black Panther by The Walt Disney Company, Peppa Pig by Entertainment One, and PJ Masks by Entertainment One.

Finally, Jurassic World is also nominated in the “Playset of the Year” category with LEGO® Jurassic World™ Indoraptor Rampage at Lockwood Estate by LEGO Systems, Inc.

The descriptions says, “Play out an epic dinosaur battle and help Owen, Claire and Blue rescue Maisie from the hybrid dinosaur inside the 3-level building, featuring configurable walls, a museum, laboratory, office, bedroom, removable windows, collapsing roof function and a large buildable triceratops skull. Includes 6 minifigures and 2 dinosaur figures.”

Competition includes Disney•Pixar Cars Super Track Mack Playset by Mattel, Farm To Table Play Kitchen With EZ Kraft Assembly by KidKraft, Hidden Temple with T-Rex by PLAYMOBIL, L.O.L. Surprise! House by MGA Entertainment, LEGO® Creator Expert Roller Coaster by LEGO, and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 43” Epic Sewer Lair Playset by Playmates Toys.

The Toy of the Year awards are hosted by The Toy Association, Inc. Voting closes on January 6, 2019 so make sure to get your votes in by then! Are they any Jurassic World toys you think should have made the list? Do you have any of these in your own collection? Get out and vote for Jurassic World for Toy of the Year!

2-part Animated Prequel ‘LEGO Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit’ Debuting on NBC Later this Month!

Prepare to return to Isla Nublar, before the Indominus Rex broke free throwing the park into chaos, and before Mount Sibo erupted, forcing the dinosaurs to face extinction once again. Universal Brand Development in conjunction with The LEGO Group have announced ‘LEGO Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit’ an all new animated 2-part special which serves as a prequel to the 2015 film!

Have you ever wondered how Claire Dearing met Owen Grady, where the Carnotaurus came from, wanted to know more about the eccentric park owner Simon Masrani, and been eager to know just what else InGen had cooked up in those labs?

Check out the trailer below, and read on for all the exciting details!

NBC has partnered with Universal Brand Development and The LEGO Group for the upcoming debut of a two-part animated special:“LEGO®Jurassic World:The Secret Exhibit.” The all-new animated special–inspired by the blockbuster Jurassic World franchise –will air on Nov.29 at 8p.m. ET/PT on NBC.The story takes place before the adventures of Jurassic World in 2015.

With the grand opening of Jurassic World’s new super-secret dinosaur exhibit just days away, only one thing is missing – the dinosaurs! In order to get the job done, Simon Masrani enlists his newly-hired assistant, Claire Dearing, to ensure the new attraction opens on time…or else. Unfortunately, Owen Grady, the animal behaviorist Claire hired to deliver the dinosaurs, is late. Things aren’t looking too good for Claire…or for Owen, who just wants to deliver the dinosaurs, collect his paycheck and get off the island.

But the mission to deliver the dinosaurs turns out to be far more difficult than anyone could have imagined. From a runaway Gyrosphere, hang gliding with a Pteranodon (how did they get out of the Aviary?!), to a high-speed game of chicken with a T-Rex, Owen will earn his paycheck and then some. And Claire may just get promoted to Assistant Manager of Park Operations. Along the way, we get the first inklings of why Owen and Claire drive each other crazy, but despite their differences, they succeed and make a great team. Oh, and Owen meets Blue for the first time as he discovers he has a way with dinosaurs he never knew about!

The two-part special will be available to stream the morning after the NBC broadcast, Nov. 30, across multiple platforms, including the NBC app and NBC.com, where it can be viewed without a login, as well as on Hulu and On Demand. It will also be available for download from major digital retailers.

The DVD, with exclusive bonus content, drops Jan. 15, 2019.

While this animated special may twist some of the canonical accuracies for stylistic hi-jinks and fun, it’s great to hear mention of Isla Sorna, and have an explanation for new species spotted in Fallen Kingdom such as the Carnotaurus and Stygimoloch. Intriguingly, many of the key dinosaurs and characters seen in this special have accompanying LEGO sets – save for the Baryonyx. With rumors abroad of new sets hitting in 2019, it seems quite possible that species will make its brick debut soon!

The cute 2-part journey is sure to provide fun for all ages, all while offering adventure building laughs and thrills. For those in the UK, it will air on iTV the 6th of December.

Be sure to stay tuned over the course of this month, where we will debut exciting ways you can celebrate the release of this new animated LEGO Jurassic Park story, including product giveaways. As always, sound off in the comments below and let us know what you’re most excited to see in ‘The Secret Exhibit’, and what other types of expanded universe content you would like to see in the future!


Jurassic World: Evolution DLC unveiled: “Secrets of Dr. Wu”, releasing 20th November!

Following an tease earlier in the week while revealing what new features will be brought to the game with the 1.5 update, Frontier Developments has revealed the first piece of paid content since the release of Jurassic World: Evolution.

From the Press Release:

Hello there,
This is Dr. Henry Wu speaking. I know you’ve been working hard across the islands to design and breed the most awe-inspiring and, sometimes, fear-inducing creatures. You’ve had success, I can tell, and I like your methods. So I’m here to ask for your assistance. I’ve got a very, very special project for you, should you choose to join me in my efforts. Think about it, but do know: the reward we will reap is… compelling, to say the least.
I look forward to hearing from you.
-HW

“Secrets of Dr. Wu” will expand upon the base story of Jurassic World: Evolution, giving players insight into the shady dealings of the morally ambiguous geneticist. Not only will this see Jurassic series actor B.D. Wong reprise the role with all-new voice lines (as showcased by the trailer), but will include a plethora of new in-game content for players to sink their teeth into.

NEW FEATURES

Five new dinosaur species will be added to the ever-growing roster. First up are the giant hadrosaur Olorotitan and the nimble therapod Troodon, complete with a “poison bite attack” (Jurassic Park: The Game, anyone?).

In addition to these, there are three brand-new hybrid dinosaurs: Stegoceratops (cut from 2015’s Jurassic World, fans will recognise this one from the Hasbro toy released alongside the film), and Ankylodocus plus Spinoraptor which were both introduced in the LUDIA Jurassic World games.

Two of the five deaths will also see map expansions – new regions of Isla Muerta and Isla Tacaño will be opened up to the player to expand their hybrid testing areas.

Aside from the new narrative and missions, there will be a slew of new genetic modifications available to further tinker with your dinosaurs, including comfort genes, allowing the player to up dinosaur tolerance to conditions beyond their expected limits.

Most exciting of these is the Indominus Rex camouflage gene, finally bringing this iconic and long-requested ability to the Indominus’ in-game counterpart. Once bred with this gene activated, the Indominus Rex will be able to camouflage while hunting, idle, panicking or while in dense forests. You’ll want to keep an eye on her enclosure!

In addition to all this, there will be some new building upgrades, such as the additional incubation speed increase, the speed increase for the transport team, plus an advanced storm defense station to provide better protection against rough weather conditions.

UPDATE 1.5

Aside from the paid DLC, the free 1.5 update will be bringing many long-requested features into the base game.

First among these are modifications to existing dinosaur behaviours. The dinosaur with the highest prestige within a group will be appointed as the group leader, which other dinosaurs of the same species will now follow while drinking, eating and fleeing, keeping groups of dinosaurs together. Leadership contests will see the title be awarded to the victor, keeping your dinosaur populations dynamic and ever-changing. This now also means dinosaurs can be herded by staff vehicles.

Dinosaurs will also now sleep while comfortable and idle, not just while sick, and under the new group leader system, will nap as a group.

A full day/night cycle will be added to all game modes, introducing more dynamic and variable lighting conditions to the islands. This will be instantly available from the gameplay setting menu in the Isla Nublar Sandbox and Challenge modes, and will be unlocked for the Career islands after achieving 5 stars on each island.

The introduction of higher capacity feeders (in addition to regular feeders) will also remedy the frustration of constantly having to send out your ranger teams on resupply runs. And all-new contracts will see players sell dinosaurs with particular gene modifications and influence specific dinosaurs’ infamy ratings to skyrocket.

“Secrets of Dr. Wu” will be available for all systems on the 20th of November 2018, releasing alongside the free 1.5 update. Costing £12.99/$14.99/€14.99, the DLC will be available to download on Steam, and the Playstation and Xbox Stores, depending which platform you play on (base game required).

Frontier Developments will be holding a launch lifestream on the 20th November at 3PM UTC on www.twitch.tv/frontierdevelopments for those who may want to see some of the features in play before they buy.

Between the free update and paid DLC, it seems that Frontier are addressing many player’s complaints and are committed to improving general quality of life for Jurassic World: Evolution. But what are your thoughts on the revealed upcoming content? What are you most excited for, and what would you like to see in future updates and DLC drops – say a classic Jurassic Park visual overhaul?

Sound off in the comments below, and as always, stay tuned for the latest news!

Source: Frontier Developments

J.A. Bayona will not have an official role with Jurassic World 3

One of the biggest films of 2018, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is finally being released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on November 5th. In anticipation of the home release, Fallen Kingdom director J.A. Bayona and writer/executive producer Colin Trevorrow spoke with The Hollywood News about the middle film in the franchise’s second trilogy and even talked about their roles on the next film tentatively being referred to as “Jurassic World 3”.

It was announced earlier this year that Colin Trevorrow, who directed and wrote the fourth installment of the franchise and the first film of the second trilogy, Jurassic World, would be returning to the director’s chair for Jurassic World 3. The next installment in the franchise is set to hit theaters on June 11, 2021.

Trevorrow has been very involved with the creation of this new trilogy, and is the director on the next film, but what about Bayona’s possible role in the future of the franchise? Will he have any creative say or have an official role with Jurassic World 3? According to Bayona, it doesn’t sound like he will be involved, at least not in an official capacity. But he does leave the door open for a possible return to the franchise if there is another film. Jurassic Park 7 anyone?

J.A. Bayona – “Not really. I think it is great that Colin, who started it all, finishes the story. I would love to come back some day to the Jurassic universe but I think it is time for Colin to finish what he started.”

Though that doesn’t mean Bayona will not be consulted for the next film as Trevorrow goes on to acknowledge that he is now part of the “Jurassic” family.

Colin Trevorrow – “I am directing it but believe me I will be calling JA regularly to consult because he is part of our family now. When Steven Spielberg agreed that I wasn’t going to do the second one, he asked me if I would do the third and I promised that I would. I asked him to trust me that this choice was going to pay off and he did. He was a fan of Bayona as well. And I feel very good right now because I think that the choice did pay off. JA has directed a fantastic film. But it hasn’t changed my mind that we need to bring a strong new voice into each one of these films and for the third one I am bringing in a different writer, Emily Carmichael, who is working with me. I think doing that is something that keeps things fresh.”

Both Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom were box office monsters having grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide combined. It is a safe bet that Universal Pictures is pretty confident that Jurassic World 3 will continue that track and be another highly successful film for them. Trevorrow and newcomer Emily Carmichael are currently hard at work writing the script and targeting a shoot start date of early 2020.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and on our forums.

Source: The Hollywood News -Trevorrow interview, The Hollywood News – Bayona interview

First Look at 2019 ‘Jurassic World: Dino Rivals’ Toy Line from Mattel!

Since Mattel made their debut with the Jurassic license earlier this year, they have spared no expense bringing quality items to stores, and most importantly, fans and collectors. While the Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom tie-in line is wrapping up this Fall, the toys are not going extinct – in fact, they’re just getting started.

Take a first look at just some of the upcoming 2019 ‘Dino Rivals’ toys from Mattel, all only from the upcoming “Spring” wave (some of which are hitting shelves as early as THIS year!):

Attack Pack Assortment

Get ready to continue the thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World: Dino Rivals! these attack pack dinosaurs are inspired by the movie and are known to herd, hunt and attack in packs. Each attack pack dinosaur figure includes five points of articulation, realistic sculpting and authentic decoration. Choose from Velociraptor, Dracorex, Rhamphorhynchus, and many more!. Each sold separately, subject to availability. Colors and decorations may vary.

Savage Strike Assortment

Be a part of the Jurassic World adventure with the ultimate in dinosaur rivalry and battle action! These smaller-size dinosaur action figures capture the ultimate movie action with their Savage Strike™ attack moves iconic to their respective species. Play out movie action scenes with Savage Strike™ attack moves like biting, head ramming, wing flapping and more. Just press a designated area on the dinosaur action figure to make it move (each dinosaur activation varies). Figures also include articulated arms and legs, realistic sculpting and authentic decoration. Get ready to battle it out—Savage Strike™ style—with these fierce action figures! Each sold separately, subject to availability. Each dinosaur comes with a cool Dino Rivals™ collector card detailing the dinosaur’s key battle stats and attributes. For more dinosaur fun, download the Jurassic World Facts app (Android and iOS) to scan and watch each dinosaur come to life, learn attack facts, compare stats and more!

Battle Damage Assortment

Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! These Battle Damage dinosaur action figures have a spring-loaded damage panel feature that snaps back on impact to reveal the battle wound! Kids will love battling it out again and again to see the results. Just reset the Battle Damage action figure to play out favorite action battles from the movie again and again! Choose from Battle Damage Plesiosaurus, Battle Damage Pteranodon and many more. Each sold separately, subject to availability. Colors and decorations may vary.

Tracker ATV Set

Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World: Dino Rivals!Hit the road to adventure with this Jurassic World-inspired ATV vehicle with cool features! Front of the ATV transforms into a capture claw that you can use as you drive around to capture dinosaurs. Set comes with ATV vehicle, Owen figure, knife and gauntlet accessories, Dracorex dinosaur and card with dinosaur facts for complete storytelling play!

Mega Dual Attack Assortment

Experience Jurassic World dinosaur battle play in a whole new way! Jurassic World Mega Dual Attack dinosaur action figures come in a larger size and have dual-button activation for fierce battle action! Push the two buttons on each dinosaur to activate different battle features, such as tail strikes, head strikes and massive chomps! You can also press both buttons at the same time for dual-striking action! These dinosaur action figures have movie-inspired sculpting, an articulated head and tail, authentic color and realistic texture. Recreate all the epic Jurassic World battle-action scenes with these Mega Dual Attack dinosaur action figures! Choose from Stegosaurus, Suchomimus, Amargasaurus action figures and more (each sold separately, subject to availability). Each dinosaur comes with a cool Dino Rivals™ collector card detailing its key battle stats and attributes.

Bite ‘N Fight Tyrannosaurus Rex

Experience Jurassic World dinosaur battle play in a whole new way! This larger-scale Bite ‘N Fight Tyrannosaurus Rex has articulation and dual-button activation for fierce battle action! Push the back button on the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the tail strikes; press the front button and its head lunges forward with biting action and turns approximately 90 degrees. The harder you press the front button, the stronger the bite force becomes! You can also press both buttons at the same time for dual tail and head-striking action! This fan-favorite character has movie-inspired sculpting, an articulated head and tail, authentic color and realistic texture. Recreate all the epic Jurassic World battle-action scenes with this Bite ‘N Fight Tyrannosaurus Rex—but watch out—this Tyrannosaurus Rex has a huge BITE and swinging tail STRIKE! Comes with a cool Dino Rivals™ collector card detailing the dinosaur’s key battle stats and attributes.

Colossal Rex (re-release)

Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! Based on the iconic Tyrannosaurus Rex from Jurassic World, Super Colossal Tyrannosaurus Rex is approximately three feet long with realistic detail and decoration. Large figure features articulated arms and legs, and extra-wide jaws that can open and close. Super Colossal Tyrannosaurus Rex can swallow up to 20 mini action figure dinosaurs whole (sold separately)! To release the dinosaurs, open the door on the belly.

This is just a small sampling of the items that will soon be available in stores – the entire 2019 Dino Rivals line boasts 16 entirely new species joining many new versions of previous dinosaurs. Exclusive assortments likes Battle Damage (Walmart) and Legacy Collection (Target) are continuing to expand, and should provide many fun surprises in the future.

Some of the upcoming toys not pictured here, but revealed at San Diego Comic Con 2018 are the Colossal Brachiosaurus, Mega Dual Attack Amargasaurus, and Franklin Webb human action figure. Be sure to keep your eyes open, as more pictures of the Dino Rivals toys are likely around the corner!

While the other items have yet to become available, the Attack Pack’s are already available to order on Amazon (with many more pictures): Dracorex, Rhamphorhynchus, Coelurus, Protoceratops, Velociraptor, and Herrerasaurus.

What are your thoughts on the revealed items, and what else do you hope the new line of toys bring? Sound off in the comments below, and as always, stay tuned for the latest news!


Opinion: “Do you remember the first time you saw a dinosaur?” – The Neo-Jurassic Generation

“Do you remember the first time you saw a dinosaur?”

There is a photograph of me, at the young age of three years old, with my older sister in the back garden of the home I grew up in. We are surrounded by pulled up weeds standing in for tiny trees, dishes full of water in place of vast lakes, and between them, herds upon herds of plastic dinosaurs. I may not remember the moment, but this is a snapshot of the first time I saw a dinosaur.

We all have our own stories on how it first happened: some earlier in life, some not till later. But all equally important. There’s a reason you’re on this site, reading this piece right now. I saw the first Jurassic Park a couple years later on VHS, a birthday present from my father. I’m sure most of you reading understand what happened next. Life-changing moment leading to a lifelong obsession, so on, so on.

Michael Crichton mused on what it is that makes dinosaurs so fascinating to children. They are the legends of the modern age. They have the fantasy appeal of classical mythology, but they were real. Dinosaurs were scary: scarier than adults, scarier than school. But they can be controlled – by learning their names, what they ate, when and where they lived, children have power over them, and also power over their parents. Generally speaking, dinosaurs are one of the few subjects children are experts on, and can trump their parents’ knowledge hands down.

We’re all introduced to these myths at different ages, through different mediums. I’m sure many of us have fond memories similar to that I described above. These could be reading books, playing with toys, or more pertinent to this community, watching films. In our modern world, the Jurassic series has served as either an entry point to or a celebration of our favourite prehistoric reptiles for over two decades now.

As we grow older, some of us leave these legends behind, some of us treasure them for years to come, and some of us will defend the originals, what we hold dear. We all want whatever comes next to be as special  and fantastical as it was, and still is in our minds. Unfortunately, this can’t always be true for everyone. We all have our own desires and wishes for the future for the Jurassic franchise, and with each new installment, there is more chance of opinion between us to become fractured and divided. It all comes from a place of passion and love, wishing the best for our own personal favourite legend.

In the 1990s, public interest in dinosaurs and palaeontology was at an all-time high. This was in no little thanks due to Jurassic Park. It bled into other widespread media globally, reaching across generations. This ranged from a slew of animated dinosaur features coming off the tails of the 1993 blockbuster to the largest sitcom ever at the time featuring a palaeontologist as one of its lead characters. But the following decades saw a slump. Many museums even moved away from the display of prehistoric creatures to represent other aspects of the natural world. Dinosaurs just weren’t as fashionable anymore.

I am very honoured to work in a profession that allows me to directly engage with the public, discussing scientific topics such as natural history and dinosaurs. I grew up for the most part in the post-Jurassic Park III slump. When I was a kid, at least in my school and area, it wasn’t trendy to like dinosaurs. And due to having grown up in that period, I am consistently astounded by the renewed interest and knowledge that kids have these days. They come from all over and in droves, ready to share their knowledge and find out even more. Liking dinosaurs isn’t a fringe interest anymore. Dinosaurs are cool.

We have entered the Neo-Jurassic age. And that is thanks to Jurassic World and Fallen Kingdom.

No matter our opinions on these latest entries in the series as veteran Jurassic fans, the gates have opened to the next generation. These children are just discovering their legends, myths and stories for the first time, just as we did years ago. And most importantly, it’s getting them engaged in science at a rate unprecedented in recent years. I am consistently astounded by what children are coming out with now. They tell me where obscure creatures like Sinoceratops were discovered. What a strange little pterosaur called Dimophodon was speculated to eat. It’s not just the T. Rex anymore, they’re discovering all these weird and wonderful prehistoric species that were unknown to me as a kid. They’re even bringing in toys of real paleontological deep-dive species such as Metriacanthosaurus and Minmi, thanks to the fabulous prehistoric range of the Mattel toyline.

As it was for many of us, the Jurassic series serves as a gateway to further knowledge. It can lead to palaeontology, genetics, biology, ecology, chaos theory, or even tourism and theme parks. The list goes on and on. Even if they come in with misconceptions, such as believing a Mosasaurus was larger than a blue whale, or that many dinosaurs that we no know to be covered in feathers were completely scaly, they are engaging. This is the jumping-off point into real science, and they are looking for answers. It is this insatiable desire for knowledge that is what I believe makes dinosaurs so appealing to children. There’s always more to learn, always new discoveries to be made, mysteries to be solved. A new generation has been inspired by their own stories and legends.

And that is something worth treasuring.

Mattel Announce Incredible Jurassic World Interactive and Trainable Velociraptor Blue Animatronic Toy!

Blue – this one’s for you.

Ever want to be a Jurassic World raptor wrangler (animal behaviorist) like Owen Grady, as played by Chris Pratt? If you think you have what it takes to keep those clever girls in line, this incredible new toy from Mattel is for you. Touted as their most complex interactive toy ever, this animatronic Velociraptor allows you to adopt Blue into your home, and test your skills caring for one of InGen’s deadliest dinosaurs.

Introducing the ‘Jurassic World Alpha Training Blue‘.

Remember – it’s not about control, it’s about respect.

One part adorable, one part cunning apex predator, and all parts awesome this dinosaur toy is like no other. Read the official details below, and check out a video of her in action thanks to CNet!

Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! Relive captivating movie moments and exciting scenes with this line of film-inspired products featuring authentic detail, amazing design and incredible value fans will love!

Based on Velociraptor Blue, a fan-favorite character from Jurassic World, this fully interactive toy is operated with a remote control just like Owen’s clicker in the movie. With incredibly lifelike movement, Alpha Training Blue moves, blinks, roars, chomps and responds to your commands. With 4 modes of exciting play: Training Mode, Guard Mode, RC Mode, and Total Control Mode, you can learn to be an expert dinosaur trainer.

  • In Training Mode, the accelerometer-equipped controller allows Blue to mimic movements. You can give her treats, reward Blue by petting her, and move her using responsive motion commands. As you train, you unlock levels and her behavior improves.
  • Set Blue in a location and monitor movement in Guard Mode. When any “prey” gets within a foot of her motion sensors, the controller will vibrate. Issue appropriate commands to warn intruders
  • RC Mode uses the joystick portion of the controller to move around. Like a vehicle, you can control Blue to move forward, backward and side to side.
  • In Total Control Mode, you control your Blue’s movements, from her eyes and mouth to her head, you decide how she comes to life.
  • Blue is not your typical interactive toy – no matter how much you train her, she wont always listen, remaining slightly independent. However, the more you work with her and reward her good behavior, the more she’ll comply. The complexity of ways to play and train her will provide countless hours of fun – and the longer you leave her alone, the more she will revert to her wild state!

    Thankfully, Alpha Training Blue has an internal battery, meaning you can simply plug her in after play and do not need to spend extra cash buying batteries continuously. Further, she has a USB input, meaning if Mattel chooses to, she can be updated with new ways to play in the future!

    Pre-order now!

    Alpha Training Blue will release in time for the holidays this year, and retails for $249.99. Pre-order today from the following options:

    Amazon

    Entertainment Earth

    This is the perfect toy for Jurassic super fans of all ages, and is sure to take the shelves by storm this Holiday season. It was recently reported that Jurassic World toys are outselling Star Wars in the USA action figure sector, and we’re sure this will only aide further. For more on the strong Mattel sales, and how we think Universal can expand the brand beyond merchandise check out our article!

    Will you spare no expense, and take Blue home? Let us know in the comments below!

    Source: CNET, Amazon

    Jurassic World Toys Are Outperforming Star Wars – but How Can They Keep the Momentum? We Have Some Ideas!

    Star Wars has long been the gold standard for licensed media in the toy aisle, with a multitude of products, quality items, and strong sales. While the craftsmanship on the toys from Hasbro has seen a recent downward trend, causing their 2015 Jurassic World line to be met with much ire, Star Wars continues to perform successfully. It’s an evergreen property, with numerous movies, comics, books and cartoons to support interest and awareness with fans of all ages, driving toy sales forward.

    In 2016, it was announced Mattel had won the bid for the Jurassic World / Park toy master license, taking it from Hasbro who had held since 1993 (if you count that they owned Kenner). Mattel spared no expense, and hit the ground running with their Jurassic toy line which made its debut in Spring of 2018 to coincide with the latest sequel, Fallen Kingdom. With Mattel in charge of the license, they reaffirmed Jurassic as a quality industry leading brand, ripe with innovative and diverse play patterns, quality film accurate toys, topped off with incredible competitive pricing models not seen in current competition. These choices, along with the Jurassic presence in theaters now has led to kids, parents, and collectors all being enticed to purchase and play.

    With the latest waves of Mattel Jurassic World toys hitting shelves now, the dinosaurs are on a rampage of fun – according to the NPD Group, Jurassic is currently outselling Star Wars action figures in the US. Jurassic and Marvel led action figures sales to grow by 16%, which is no small feat given the closing of Toys R Us. While internationally, Star Wars is the number 3 overall brand (this encompasses more than action figures), and Jurassic has not broken top 10, this performance shows great opportunity for momentum moving forward – especially as dinosaur toys have grown in popularity by 77% year to date.

    Personally, I see incredible potential for Jurassic World moving forward – but it will take some work. As such, I’ve lightly outlined some of my proposed transmedia expansion concepts below.

    Room for Growth

    Universal Pictures in conjunction with Mattel and other brand partners are in the unique position to build upon this momentum to further strengthen brand awareness, diversity, and demand. Jurassic, regardless of a film in theaters, can and should become synonymous with dinosaur toys and products for fans of all ages. Dinosaurs have an everlasting appeal, and populate toy and product shelves even without expanded marketing. With Jurassic’s unique hold on pop culture, it can take hold of the forefront of dinosaur media and hardline sales, expanding it into new territory, just as Star Wars has become a prime staple of merchandise aisles.

    To fully leverage this opportunity, the brand itself need to expand its transmedia thumbprint and target as many different age groups and demographics as possible. While the films target a slightly older audience (around 7 and up) with a PG-13 rating, there is plenty of room for growth in the pre-school sector. To drive that brand awareness and acceptance amongst parents, something like a educational and friendly ‘Jurassic World Rangers’ animated series could do wonders – let it take place when the park was open, and follow the paths of vets and trainers working with the animals as they become sick or distressed. Let it be about aiding the animals, and let it teach young audiences all about the dinosaurs and characters jobs in exciting and positive scenarios. With the kids and parents on board, they’ll surely be fans for life as they grow into the core media and product offerings.

    To better sustain the core Jurassic brand, the possibilities and perhaps need for expanded media sustain programs are endless. This could range from toys backed by animated content targeting the appropriate age range and tone, animated series, books, comics, video games, and live action “spin-off” stories (be it film, TV, or shorts). Most importantly, this content must be high quality, representing the brands film legacy and reputation, delivering top of the line content no matter the outlet. In the age of social media, pop culture awareness and discussion is a self-running machine, but the more parts added into the mix, the more diverse, and prolific it becomes.

    Perhaps most unique to Jurassic, is the outlet for creative growth in the education sector. While the dinosaurs of Jurassic World are different from their real world namesakes, these differences can be fully embraced while collaborating with STEM partners to expand dinosaur knowledge. If Jurassic began partnering with the science community to expand real world dinosaur information in ways they cannot typically achieve alone, paleontologists, schools, museums, and other similar outlets will embrace the brand with open arms. Be it reinstating a website like Jurassic Park Institute, sharing news from Paleontological discoveries, or even sponsoring or curating dino-education TV or web programs such as documentaries, Jurassic would only further strengthen brand awareness while achieving a genuinely positive impact.

    The future for our very own Jurassic World is a vast expanse of endless opportunity of innovation and entertainment, fueling engagement across multiple platforms. My hope is new programs are continuously implemented to keep this momentum moving forward – spare no expense, and let dinosaurs rule the earth.

    Source: NPD Group (via Jedi Temple Archives)


    Get Papo Velociraptors from Dan’s Dinosaurs!

    Looking for new places to buy dinosaur toys? Check out Dan’s Dinosaurs!

    Dan’s Dinosaurs started in 2009 as a small business specializing in paleontological collectibles. Dan started the company for dinosaur enthusiasts (like us!) with the goal of having a store that carried all dinosaur products in one place. If you live near Mayfield, Kentucky, you can go check out the brick and mortar storefront in person! Be sure to say hi to Dan for us!

    They carry a wide range of educational products, high-end models, and fossil replicas. They currently sell well known brands such as: Safari Ltd, Papo, CollectA, Favorite, and Sideshow Collectibles. Many independent artists and other business owners also sell their work through the store and site. They sell and ship both locally and internationally.

    We received a Papo Velociraptor (2016 version). This version of Papo’s popular raptor figure is 6″ by 4″ and has paint that is similar in style to Delta and Charlie in Jurassic World. All of the Papo raptors have a similar sculpt, complete with an articulated jaw and yes, they have sickle claws. This figure has more detail and texture than the recent Hasbro and Mattel raptors, and I think the Papo raptors would make excellent additions to collections. Also, Dan is great to work with, and the shipping was very fast. The figure came in good packaging and was undamaged. Dan’s Dinosaurs is an excellent resource for finding dinosaurs to add to your collection!

    If you see something that you have to have, make sure enter “Jurassic Outpost” in the “How did you hear about us?” field during checkout to receive a free bonus gift with your order!

    Source: Dan’s Dinosaurs

    ‘Jurassic World Alive’: Collecting and Battling Tips and Tricks

    Jurassic World Alive, the mobile dinosaur catching game for Android and iOS, has been out since the end of May. Since then, we have managed to learn some strategies for maximizing your dinosaur collecting and battling techniques. These tips are aimed mostly towards free to play users, but pay to play users can also implement them. If you keep these in mind, you will be well on your way to becoming an elite member of the Dinosaur Protection Group!

    COLLECTING

    The most important aspect of the game involves collecting and leveling up the dinosaurs within your collection. Dinosaurs are found in the “wild” around your location and you send out a drone to collect their DNA. To collect the DNA, you fire darts at targets on the dinosaur as it moves around your screen.

    Tip #1: Hold, but do not fire your first shot until the target grows to maximum size.

    The longer you wait between shots, the larger the target on the dinosaur grows. The timer on your battery will not begin to run until you fire that first shot, but the target will still grow if you hold the screen and prepare to fire your first shot. Once it is at maximum size, let it rip and get your best possible chance at a direct hit!

    The targets will grow the longer they remain, but make sure not to wait too long on the rest of them or your battery will run out! Once you fire your first dart, the dino will start to move around the environment, getting faster and faster with almost every hit. That leads us to…

    Tip #2: Use the outer circle to gauge where to release the dart.

    As the dinosaur moves faster and faster around the map, it makes it harder and harder to hit the center of the circle for a direct hit. Except for the first shot, you should always be aiming ahead of the center circle. This is where the outside circle comes in handy. If you keep an eye on where you release and where the dart actually hits, you can use the outer circle as an aiming system for future darts. For example, if you released a dart while your crosshairs were right on top of the outer circle and the dart misses the direct hit mark, move your crosshairs that much farter outside the outer circle for your next attempt. It may sound a little hard at first, but the quicker you get used to using it as an aiming system, the faster you’re likely to start racking up direct hits.

    Like mentioned before, the dinosaurs will speed up as you hit them more often. Exactly how much it speeds up depends on the type of dinosaur. The faster it goes, the higher it’s overall speed characteristic is going to be. Faster dinosaurs are helpful in battles, so keep that in mind as you go out collecting!

    Tip #3: Learn where the targets are going show up on the common dinosaurs.

    Keep in mind, you are likely to encounter the same dinosaurs over and over again. As the dinosaurs go up in rarity, the more places a target could show on the dinosaur to hit. Common dinosaurs will only have the target show up in two places across their body. It’s pretty easy to learn the pattern of the common dinosaurs because the target switches places after every hit. For example, on the Einiosaurus, one of the most common dinosaurs I see, the target will either be located in the middle of its back or in the middle of its head, as seen below.  You can learn to anticipate where to position your next dart. The more you collect, the faster you will learn where the targets are likely to appear.

     

    Tip #4: Don’t miss the special event incubators.

    These incubators really pack a punch. When the AMC theater special was active, it could easily level your T-Rex up twice! If you are looking to have the most effective team and stay competitive at your level, do not skip out on any of the special event incubators.

    BATTLING

    Battling is the second aspect of the game that really amps up player interactions. Players select eight dinosaurs from their total collected bunch and place them on their “bench” of sorts. Once a battle is engaged, four of those eight are randomly selected and pitted against your opponent’s four dinosaurs. Here’s some strategies for your dinosaurs to win the day.

    Tip #1: Dinosaur Battles are just Rock, Paper, Scissors

    When you look at your dinosaur collection, you can basically categorize each type of dino into one of three categories (with some exceptions which we’ll cover later). These three categories are: Strength, Speed, and Armored. Strength dinosaurs are the attack powerhouses. These are your Tyrannosauruses, your Allosauruses, your Tarbosauruses, etc. Their attack, even on the low-end, pack a whallop. The second type of dinosaurs, Speed, include your Velociraptors, Utahraptors, Stygimolochs, etc. These are the ones that are usually going to end up attacking first because their speed characteristic is so high. Finally, there’s your Armored dinos like Stegosaurus, Einiosaurus, Triceratops, etc.

    Now, how does Rock, Paper, Scissors play into this you may be asking. In my experience, here’s how the match-ups end up playing out:

    Strength beats Armored, Armored beats Speed, and Speed beats Strength

    While the dinosaur levels and special attacks may throw some wrinkles into that formula, it will usually pans out in this general way. Keeping this “equation” in mind as you pick your dinosaurs, battles might start going your way more often. If your Velociraptor just got beaten by a Triceratops, you might want to throw your T-Rex or Allosaurus out next.

    Tip #2: Prioritize Leveling Your Bench

    If you have got a stellar bench of dinosaurs, make sure you’re spending some coin on them when possible. Yeah, that Gen 2 Ankylosaurus upgrade only costs 50 coins, but you’re probably not going to put it on your bench anyway. On the other hand, saving the coin for the next level Velociraptor could very well put your team near invincible status at your tier.

    That being said, if you are not close to any bench upgrade, go ahead and go for some other dinosaurs. Each upgrade gives you experience points towards your player level. Higher player levels get to collect more DNA with each shot, so it is still important to stay on top of your other upgrades.

    Tip #3: Battle Your Friends

    With its most recent update, Jurassic World Alive made the game even more social. Players can add other users and challenge them to battles when they are available. By battling your friends, you get to find out what dinosaurs on your team are working, and which of them aren’t. Each player is placed on equal footing for dinosaur levels, so it really boils down to your strategies, and maybe just a little bit of luck!

    Tip #4: Battle For Coins

    There are only four battle incubator spots available. Once your win four battles and fill those up, you are out of luck until one finishes opening. However, you can still battle for extra coins. Now it is entirely up to you whether or not you want to risk your trophies with extra battles, but if you are in need of some extra coins for a dino upgrade, battles can help with that. On the topic of battle incubators, they come in five different sizes: 15 minute, 3 hour, 8 hour, 12 hour, and 24 hour. The 15 minute incubator is available to open immediately if you watch a short ad. It usually does not contain much. On the other hand, the 24 hour incubator can really help your team. It’s guaranteed to include a few rare dinos to ramp up your team.

    Since the launch a few months back, Jurassic World Alive has seen 10 million game downloads around the world, over 4 million supply drop spins per day, and over 3 million dinosaur battles per day! Check out this infographic below which details some of these stats:

    There you have it folks, Jurassic World Alive tips & tricks. By keeping these in mind, you can take your own team of dinos from zero to hero. Do you have any other tricks that weren’t listed here? What eight dinos make up your bench? Sounds off in the comments below!