‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ Soundtrack By John Williams Gets A New 2-CD Release!

‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ may not have the same cultural impact as ‘Jurassic Park,’ but it features one of composer John Williams’ most intense and exciting music scores. Loaded with percussive action, memorable jungle rhythms, and alluring atmosphere, this score holds a strong identity for the entire franchise. Now, over 25 years after it premiered, this incredible music score gets a definitive release in a brand-new 2-CD set from La-La Land Records. But how definitive is it, and what sets it apart? To find out, let’s embark to this “lost world” together!

In 1997, the soundtrack was released on CD in the form of a 69-minute album via MCA records (also available on audio cassette). John Williams assembled this 1-CD release himself, combining some cues together to form certain tracks, and arranging it all in his own personal sequence. While this album featured a large chunk of the score it did leave off several cues that were heard in the film. Some of these were favorites of those who had seen the film, expecting to find them on the album but ending up disappointed.

Interesting to note is that the CD version of this album featured a pop-up foldout display and housed the CD within its cardboard assembly. It was called, fittingly, a “3D Dinorama”. Collectors often criticized the packaging due to it falling apart easily, but worst of all, it would scratch the CD if not removed carefully. The cassette version had a 2D paper foldout-only version of the same scene as well. A Taiwan CD release also included a digital “Tamagotchi-styled” dinosaur pet. While the 1997 CD Album is now out of print, it can at least be bought for relatively cheap prices in the secondary market and is also easily available for digital purchase.

This same music program was replicated in the year 2000 for a CD re-release of the score. It was included in a neat “Collector’s Edition” set with the films and soundtracks for ‘Jurassic Park’ & ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park.’ It featured unique cover art that mimicked the DVD release at the time. Unlike the 1997 version, there is no 3D Dinorama and it is instead housed in a typical jewel case. For a long time, many collectors would seek this version of the album for this reason alone.

Finally, in 2016, La-La Land Records released a 2-CD expanded and remastered edition for the first time, as part of a 4-CD collection that had included John Williams’ score to ‘Jurassic Park’ (also expanded and remastered). Apart from the remastering, La-La Land Records also went back to the original elements and provided every cue of the score for the very first time. This was a godsend for fans after yearning for the missing cues for so long. This included “On The Glass”, when Sarah Harding is terrifyingly on the glass portion of the Mobile Lab as it hangs over a cliff; “Ripples”, when the T-Rex parents make their attack on the hunter’s camp; and the intense conclusion in the abandoned village as the raptors’ chase after our heroes in “High Bar and Ceiling Tiles”.

While many units of the 2016 set were produced, it did eventually go out of print. This led to second-hand sellers taking over the reins of offering this CD release to people online, often selling for well over $100. The perfect sound quality and the complete score presentation it contained was otherwise hard to find for fans of the score that wanted more than the 1997 or 2000 albums had to offer.

Now seven years later, La-La Land Records returns with a brand-new 2023 re-release. Only this time, it is focusing on just ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park,’ with some additional improvements to truly make this be the definitive release of this thrilling score:

La-La Land Records, Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Geffen Records present THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, a limited 2-CD re-issue presentation of maestro John Williams’ (JAWS, E.T., JURASSIC PARK) original motion picture score to the 1997 blockbuster THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, the first sequel in the legendary JURASSIC PARK franchise, starring Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore and Pete Postlethwaite and directed by Steven Spielberg. Maestro Williams’ sensational and powerful orchestral score thrills and awes, ranking as one of the composer’s most celebrated and unique works. Produced, edited and mastered by Mike Matessino, the 96k/24 bit master files utilized in our previous 2016 collection have been newly output and remastered, including minor sonic improvements throughout. Newly added to this 2-CD expanded reissue are never before released takes of “On The Glass,” “Rescuing Sarah” and “The Raptors Appear,” all featuring alternate instrumentation, plus the unique film version of “Ripples.” The 28-page CD booklet features liner notes by Matessino (adapted from our 2016 collection) and the new art design is by Jim Titus. This is a limited edition of 5000 Units.

This release’s additional new bonus tracks make or an appealing reason for super-fans of the score to seek it out! The first new track is a partial alternate (the second half) of “On The Glass.” It covers the section where Eddie is arriving and trying to figure out how to save the characters hanging over the cliff. It’s mostly just an alternate performance with some other unique touches. The alternate for “Rescuing Sarah,” the sequence where Eddie uses his car to pull the trailer as Sarah and the others attempt to climb the rope, is not only a quite different performance but also feels more subdued and eerie. The percussion feels less active, and features what the sheet music calls “a low animal moan” and “synth breaths” in prominent ways that add to this unique version.

The film version of “Ripples” is an interesting one. The middle of this cue is where the alterations happen, but not from an alternate performance. It was created editorially, using isolated elements of the orchestra and synths to create a unique version that removes most of the active percussion and instead builds on a rhythmic pulse-pounding escalation with strings into the T-Rex’s attack at the campsite. While John Williams apparently did not create this alternate version, it was memorable in the film for many people and was included this time since there is no viable way to re-create it without having access to isolated elements of the score. Lastly, the alternate for “The Raptors Appear” is a completely different performance and features unique mixing, the removal of certain elements (like the swelling gong when the first raptor attacks), but the additions of others (different wild percussion, slashing strings, and a different “crying sound”).

Overall, these new additions give fans of the score incredible new insight into the process of its creation! It is also noteworthy that some of these alternate versions have been featured at Universal Studios Islands Of Adventure theme park in Orlando! The overall sound quality of the entire release also sounds slightly better (although not as punched-up in the mastering, which may be a positive or a negative depending on how loud one likes the quieter moments of the score), and features some smoother transitional edits such as “To The Island” and the mid-section of “Rescuing Sarah.”

The booklet included in this release is very much the same as the one from the 2016 release, but only focuses on ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ this time. The cover is of course different (with a striking cityscape against the Rex skeleton!), making it unique enough to stand on its own. There are some additional credits this time as well, including a special thanks to Jurassic Outpost friend Bernard A. Kyer!

By far the most important aspect of this release isn’t what is new, but simply the fact that it is available again. Generations of old and new film score fans, and even those who would like to study such a masterful score as this, should have a comprehensive presentation that is accessible. As good as the previous releases were for their time, having every single cue available, and now different variations of them, is integral for preserving this important milestone of music.

If you have never purchased the music score to ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ before, this release is a massive no-brainer. It is a fantastic release, finally back in print and with some great new inclusions. If you only have the 1997 Album (on CD or digital), the additional music alone makes it worth the price. For those that have the 2016 CD set paired with ‘Jurassic Park’… I can understand skipping this, despite the improvements and some new alternate tracks. Those extra perks may not be enough to fully justify shelling out more money for it again, but that will just depend on who you are.

Since this is one of my favorite music scores of all time, from my favorite film franchise… the choice was pretty easy. This new edition is a must-have. And who knows, perhaps ‘Jurassic Park 3’ will similarly be revisited next? We can only hope!

But don’t just take my word for it. Listen to some of the clips for yourself below! Then, be sure to order your copy today from La-La Land Records!

TRACK LISTING (with select sound clips):

DISC 1

SCORE PRESENTATION

1. The Lost World 3:33

2. The Island’s Voice 3:34

3. Revealing the Plans 2:17

4. To the Island 3:39

5. The Stegosaurus (Extended Version) 5:28

6. Fire at Camp and Corporate Helicopters 3:20

7. The Hunt 3:35

8. Big Feet 1:40

9. Spilling Petrol and Horning In 5:06

10. Up in a Basket 3:24

11. In the Trailer 2:20

12. On the Glass 4:04

13. Rescuing Sarah (Extended Version) 5:09

14. Reading the Map 3:07

15. The Trek 5:24

16. The Compys! 4:29

17. Ripples 5:50

18. The Long Grass 2:29

Disc 1 Total Time: 68:58

DISC 2

SCORE PRESENTATION (Continued)

1. Finding Camp Jurassic 3:04

2. The Raptors Appear 3:42

3. High Bar and Ceiling Tiles 4:10

4. Heading North 2:12

5. Ludlow’s Speech 3:14

6. The Wrecked Ship 2:22

7. Monster on the Loose 2:36

8. Visitor in San Diego (Extended Version) 7:40

9. Ludlow’s End 2:51

10. Tranquilizer Dart 3:00

11. Jurassic Park Theme (End Credits) 5:30

Total Score Time: 109:25

ADDITIONAL MUSIC

12. The Lost World (Alternate) 3:34

13. On the Glass (Alternate Excerpt) * 2:18

14. Rescuing Sarah (Alternate) * 5:07

15. Ripples (Film Version) ** 5:51

16. The Raptors Appear (Alternate) * 3:41

17. Tranquilizer Dart and End Credits (Film Version) 4:53

Disc 2 Total Time: 66:00

Total Additional Music Time: 25:33

Total Two-Disc Time: 2:15:00

*previously unreleased

**contains previously unreleased material

Still available from La-La Land Records is their 2-CD remastered/expanded reissue of ‘Jurassic Park! Don’t miss your chance to own the ultimate version of that score as well, and if you haven’t already: check out my review on that soundtrack & its release history!

NOTE: At the time of posting this article, the soundtrack is temporarily out of stock directly from La-La Land Records. They are awaiting for the next pressing of discs to arrive. If temporarily unavailable there, it can also be purchased from other reliable soundtrack CD venues, such as Screen Archives and The MovieMusic Store.

Are you going to get this new release of music from ‘The Lost World’? Would you like La-La Land Records to tackle ‘Jurassic Park 3’ next? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and as always stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!

More The Lost World Love from Mattel Showcased in Latest Beyond The Gates Episode!

Last month on Beyond The Gates we unveiled the tall titan from The Lost World: Jurassic Park, the Mamenchisaurus. Mattel are showing no signs of slowing down their love for the second Jurassic Park movie with this month’s unveilings!

Join Chris in today’s Beyond The Gates to explore the two juvenile dinosaurs from the movie, the juvenile Stegosaurus, and juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex which are joining the Hammond Collection!

Mattel’s Gregory Murphy runs us through the design of these fan favourite dinosaurs, while special guest Matt Winston talks how the Stan Winston team designed the animatronics used in the film! This one’s not one to miss!

These two dinosaurs are now available to pre-order exclusively (in the US) at Target.com! Don’t miss your chance to grow your own The Lost World collection!

There are some very exciting unveilings still to come – stay tuned for more!

Jurassic Deck: Magic the Gathering to Add ‘Jurassic’ Inspired Cards

Yesterday, news broke that the popular deck-building card game Magic: The Gathering will be adding Jurassic Park/Jurassic World themed cards to its roster.

They will be a part of the new Lost Caverns of Ixalan line, the ninety-eighth expansion for Magic which is currently set to be released in November of 2023, and will most likely be found in special expansion bundles and booster packs. Typical Magic booster packs start at around $7.99, and expansions usually are $35+, depending on the size.

While there are no real specifics yet as to what we can expect the line to entail, it’s reported that the Jurassic cards will be themed around all six of the films, spanning thirty years.

There is a history of Magic the Gathering having beautifully illustrated dinosaur and prehistoric-themed cards, and the inclusion of Jurassic dinosaurs, events, and powers in this game will certainly make for interesting gameplay in the near future!

The Lost World’s Mamenchisaurus Joins Mattel’s Legacy Collection in New Beyond The Gates!

The second sauropod to appear in the Jurassic Park franchise has joined Mattel’s Legacy Collection! The Lost World: Jurassic Park briefly introduced us to a very large and in charge species – the Mamenchisaurus.

Join Chris in the latest episode of Beyond The Gates to dive deep into the development and design of this fan favourite dinosaur! Mattel’s Rafael Bencosme joins to discuss the development of this toy and to show us the process from screen to toy shelf.

Check out the exciting unveiling and behind the scenes look at The Lost World: Jurassic Park below:

This season of Beyond The Gates has been filled with items to celebrate Jurassic Park’s 30th Anniversary, with last month’s unveiling of the Hammond Collection Brachiosaurus!

The Legacy Collection Mamenchisaurus is now available to pre-order exclusively (in the US) at Target.com! Don’t miss your chance to bring home this Sorna Sauropod.

There are some exciting unveilings still to come – stay tuned for more!

Jurassic Park Gates, ‘Buck’ T. rex and MORE Available as Mattel Creations Crowdfund Set!

Hold on to your butts – the first ever Mattel Jurassic World Crowd Fund is here, and it’s a showstopper. Continuing the Jurassic Park 30th Celebrations, Mattel Creations have unveiled brand new and exclusive items from Jurassic Park… and a long-awaited item from The Lost World, incredible items that debut their first Jurassic crowdfund.

There is a lot to look at with this announcement, so let’s jump in!

Right out the gate (no pun intended) we’re gonna say we want the stretch goals to be hit, because they all deliver something special – so if you want this set to be made, and you want all the goals to be hit, help spread the word! 

So what is the core set? It’s a Hammond Collection version of the Jurassic Park gates that also comes with a premium Ford Explorer Vehicle – there’s a lot to dive in to with those, but before we get into the details we wanted to give a quick explanation on what a crowd fund is, and why they’re done:

Essentially, in this capacity, crowd funds exist to develop and sell items and sets that would be more difficult, if not impossible to have major retailers carry, usually due to their price, size, and maybe their demand. Items best suited to this crowdfund platform are items geared even more towards the fans and collectors than regular items that has to focus on the whole audience.

The crowdfund ensures a certain number of items are guaranteed – in this case at least 5000 – which covers the development costs. Ultimately, it means the designers at Mattel get to cater even closer to what the fans want to see in the Jurassic toy lines, and that fans more of a say 

As more people commit to the sets, as in, the more backers this gets, Mattel earn more wiggle room in costs and can add more value to the orders via stretch goals… and believe us these stretch goals are GREAT!

Let’s take a look at the set, and how this crowdfund works:

The centerpiece of the campaign is a fan-demanded motorized entry gate, accompanied by a first-ever replica of the Ford Explorer #5. Attention to detail has been a priority, ensuring an authentic recreation of the iconic movie scenes. The crowdfund also offers additional unlockable extra stretch goals at different tiers.

The Jurassic World Hammond Collection Gates measure 20.7 inches in height, 22.8 inches in width, and 12.1 inches in depth. They require four AA batteries (not included) to operate. These structures are accurately scaled to fit with the Hammond Collection figures, faithfully capturing every crack and crevice. 

The motorized door gates can be manually adjusted to any desired position, and flickering torch lights illuminate the entrance, providing a truly immersive experience. The gates also play the original movie theme music and ambient jungle sounds, adding to the atmosphere. The set includes the Ford Explorer #5, complete with rubber tires and enhanced design details, such as film-accurate hang tags, navigation screen, and antennas. This exclusive crowdfund offering is only available through the campaign.

To bring this extraordinary set to life, a minimum of 5,000 backers based in the United States is required. Once this threshold is reached, international backers will also be able to join the campaign. (As of Friday June 30th, the set is available to be ordered internationally!) As the number of backers increases, additional figures and accessories will be unlocked, enabling fans to recreate more thrilling Jurassic Park moments.

When the campaign reaches 6,000 backers, a post-electrocution Tim figure and enclosure fences will be added to everyone’s collection. Accompanying Tim are enclosure fences measuring 9.0 inches in height and 14.8 inches in width.  

At the 8,000 backer milestone, the Hammond Collection male “Buck” T. rex from The Lost World: Jurassic Park will be included bringing to life that T rex variant for the first time in collector level toy form from Mattel. This Rex is a MUST HAVE. 

Finally, with 10,000 backers, the set will be complete with the addition of a Lex Murphy figure, this time with some mud decals and her hat, plus a goat with a removable hind leg.

There’s an additional incentive for early backers. If the campaign achieves 5,000 U.S.-based backers within the first two weeks (by July 11), a set of six Jurassic Park Paddock Signs will be given to ALL participants, including international fans.

Interested supporters are encouraged to join the campaign promptly as it concludes on July 26, 2023, at 11:59 PM PT. Fans are urged to spread the word and invite other Jurassic Park enthusiasts to contribute, as their collective support will enable the creation of the ultimate Jurassic Park collection.

The cost to support and pre-order this set is $250, and that cost will include every stretch goal met! So what are you waiting for, help spread the word to ensure the entirety of the set can be created, and support this project now directly at Mattel Creations!

UPDATE: Mattel hosted a livestream to further unveil the set and featured special guests, and a much closer look at the items!

COMMON QUESTIONS

Does backing the set count as purchasing it?

Yes! Your backing of the set counts as a purchase if the set is funded; if it is not funded you will be refunded.

Will Mattel let fans outside of the US back the crowdfund?

Yes – as of Friday June 30th the set is available to be ordered internationally!

If funded, will the set be available at retailers or online?

No – the only way to purchase this set is via Mattel Creations through July 26th. It will not be available afterwards in any capacity.

If the stretch goals are met, does it cost extra?

No! The cost of the set does not change, so the more people that back the crowdfund the better value the set receives via more collector items.

Why is this set a crowdfund – shouldn’t they just release it in stores?

Were it so easy. While we would love for retailers to carry items and sets like these, they simply do not have any desire to carry them due to high prices and large box sizes cutting down on shelf space profitability.

Isn’t it unfair that they’re limiting the run of such desired items?

There is no limitation on this set besides time – if you want to join the crowdfund, you can (international backers just need to wait a bit longer). Every item even at mass retail has limited production numbers and limited time for distribution, this just cuts out the middleman of items trickling out of warehouses to store shelves. 

Why is the male “Buck” T. rex from The Lost World in a Jurassic Park set?

Fair question – it simply comes down to the fact that they already have the Hammond Collection Jurassic Park T. rex on store shelves now, and had offered an alternate exclusive version last year, so they wanted to add something to this set that hasn’t been done before.

Q: Does “Buck” have his facial scars?

Yes! Toy designer Greg Murphy made sure to highlight them on the live stream.

Is there anything else unique about the T. rex – and might it ever hit store shelves separately?

Yes, it has new sculpting for the head and neck, sharper teeth, plus all-new film accurate smaller feet. As for the store shelves question, it’s hard to say, but we would wager there is a chance over some years – however its painting would likely not be as detailed & premium.

Does this set count as ‘Hammond Collection’?

Yes, this set has been designed as a Hammond Collection collector level set making full use of premium stylings.

Revisit Isla Sorna in Fan-Made Trespasser VR for Quest 2

If the filmmakers won’t revisit Isla Sorna, then the fans will!

The Lost World’s Legendary video game Trespasser has had a breath of new life with a new fan project, Trespasser VR. Originally a remake (Trespassing Petrolia) the developer recently turned his efforts towards virtual reality, and has now unveiled a soft “demo” of the game so far.

Trespasser VR runs on the Quest 2 headset and the developer states:

“…this is a very simplistic version for the Quest 2 and I’m intentionally sticking as close to the source material as I can, with little improvements and fixes where needed. The detail is low, the textures are low res, it’s basic, it’s supposed to be. A lot of people wanted a more traditional looking version for VR and a lot of people wanted a version they could play on the Quest 2. This is it. I will be building upon this version for the PCVR version, as there are optimisations done for this version that I had planned to do for the PCVR version, but would have been a huge amount of work.”

Despite the release in 1998 being panned by critics for being released in an unfinished state, the game holds a special place in many fan’s hearts and has a great community over at Trescom!

Fans of Trespasser should also check out Derrick’s work over at Jurassic Time, which explores the fascinating John Parker Hammond narration that guides you across the island, and reveals recordings omitted from the original game.

Derrick also recently interviewed the creator of the game, Seamus Blackley – this one’s not one to miss!

Exclusive: Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary Captivz Collector Figures Roaring Into Walmart Soon!

Are you looking forward to Jurassic Park’s 30th Anniversary on June 11th, 2023? I know we are, and the good news is the celebrations are starting much sooner: the 30th Anniversary Captivz collection will be roaring onto Walmart shelves January 2023 in the US!

This all-new lineup of mini pop-and-lock collectible dinosaurs come packaged within mystery eggs, and feature every on-screen dino from the first Jurassic Park (plus select dinosaurs from The Lost World and Jurassic Park 3 in the second wave), sporting movie accurate details and colors. From the Gallimimus to the baby Velociraptor, your favorite species and moments can be brought to life in your collections. Best of all? Each dinosaur comes with a collector token inspired by the collector cards included with the classic Jurassic Kenner toys, featuring beautifully rendered art bringing the scenes to life in unique ways.

Check out the exclusive sneak peek below!

Jurassic World CAPTIVZ 30th Anniversary Slime Egg (Wave 1)

Celebrate Jurassic Park’s 30th Anniversary with a new exclusive release of CAPTIVZ Build N Battle dinos!

Featuring 9 species to collect from the original movie and a rare gold baby velociraptor to chase – this collection will be the most authentic release yet.

Just crack your egg, ooze through the stretchy AMBER slime and reveal your epic species and build to BATTLE! Collect them all!

Each Slime Egg contains:
1x Build N Battle Dinosaur with epic paint detail
50g Amber slime
1x Collector guide
1x Exclusive Collector Card

$4.99 MSRP

Alongside the standard eggs, there are also the larger eggs with the super-sized Captivz dinosaurs inside:

Jurassic World 30th Anniversary Surprise Build N Battle Dinos by CAPTIVZ

Celebrate Jurassic Park’s 30th Anniversary with the all-new SURPRISE Egg by CAPTIVZ!

DIG through Pre-Historic Sand, SLICE through Amber sap gel and OOZE through Biosyn Lab Slime to discover which ALL-NEW super-sized exclusive species you have unearthed!

Featuring 6 super-sized species to collect from the original Jurassic Park movie. Collect them all and get ready for the ULTIMATE BATTLE!


Each SUPER SIZE Surprise EGG contains:
1x Super-sized Build N Battle Dinosaur with epic paint detail
53g Amber Sap Gel
35g Pre-historic Sand
120g BioSyn Slime
1x Sticker sheet
1x Collector guide

$12.99 MSRP

For more on the Captivz collections check out their website and be sure to stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for more Captivz, Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary, and everything else Jurassic!

Ankylosaurus & Geosternbergia Join The Hammond Collection in Latest Beyond The Gates Episode!

Mattel’s Hammond Collection has grown rapidly this year, with last month’s episode of Beyond The Gates introducing The Lost World’s Pachycephalosaurus, and Jurassic Park’s Ray Arnold to the adult-collector line.

This month, the Hammond Collection grows once again with two new items: Jurassic Park 3’s Ankylosaurus, and the concept creature considered for The Lost World: Jurassic Park, the Geosternbergia! Check out the unveiling below:

In this episode, host Chris is joined by Mattel’s lead designer on the Hammond Collection Gregory Murphy, who runs us through the intricate and detailed design process that goes into making these two new items.

Greg explores the reasons behind the decision to include the Geosternbergia in the Hammond Collection, and gives us a detailed run-down of the species’ existence in Jurassic Park lore!

These two items are wonderful and unique additions to Mattel’s Hammond Collection – be sure to check out the full episode for a deeper look and insight into the making of these Jurassic Park toys!

Did you expect to see these two species join Mattel’s line-up? Share your thoughts down below!

Head to Target.com to pre-order now, and stay tuned for more exciting reveals on Beyond The Gates!

The Hammond Collection Expands with Ray Arnold & Pachycephalosaurus in New BEYOND THE GATES Episode!

Last month’s episode of Beyond The Gates unveiled two brand new Hammond Collection figures, Dr. Ellie Sattler and the Dilophosaurus from Jurassic Park!

This month, The Hammond Collection continues to expand with two new items: the Pachycephalosaurus from The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Jurassic Park’s Chief Engineer, Ray Arnold.

This penultimate episode of Beyond The Gates’ second season is hosted by the very one and only Chris “Feather Agenda” Pugh and Mattel’s leader designer on the Hammond Collection Gregory Murphy runs us through these brand new items!

But not only that, we are once again joined by Matt Winston from the Stan Winston School of Character Arts. Matt walks us through the animatronic dinosaur design for the Pachycephalosaurus!

These two items are wonderful additions to Mattel’s Hammond Collection – be sure to check out the full episode for a deeper look and insight into the making of these Jurassic World toys!

Head to Target.com to pre-order now, and stay tuned for more Beyond The Gates!

Seamus Blackley Reveals The Story Behind The Mysterious ‘Jurassic World’ Game Pitch Trailer & Its Inspirations For The Films

Several years ago, a trailer was leaked on YouTube that featured a Quetzalcoatlus wreaking havoc on a beach. After flying around, it eventually snatches a surfer on the waves, taking him into the air, then crushing him with its beak. Its then joined by another Quetzalcoatlus, as they bond for a moment before going their separate ways.

For years, this trailer confused many people. It was originally said to be for an unreleased game, but others claimed it was for a movie-pitch. The strangest thing of all was its title: ‘Jurassic World’. Was this an inspiration for the film of the same namesake, or something else entirely?

To learn the story behind this trailer, we must, appropriately, go back in time.

“Trespasser- The Lost World: Jurassic Park” was released in 1998; an early PC experience that was advertised as “the evolution of first-person 3D gaming”. You played as Anne, voiced by Minnie Driver: a woman who just wanted to go on a vacation to escape from the drama of her life. Unfortunately, Anne got more than she bargained for when her plane crash-lands on Isla Sorna. Also known as “Site B” – the abandoned island that was once used by billionaire John Parker Hammond to experiment with the extraordinary science used to recreate extinct dinosaurs. His success becomes Anne’s folly, as she must traverse through the island’s dinosaur-infested ruins alone to find any hope of rescue. Her only company are Hammond’s memoirs, voiced by Lord Richard Attenborough, that are recalled as the island’s myth becomes a reality.

Seamus Blackley produced and programmed “Trespasser”, introducing realistic environments, physics, and artificial intelligence that were ahead of its time for the gaming industry. Unfortunately, release dates and budgets were pushed, cutting off the game from reaching its intended potential. This led to an incomplete experience when it was released, ridden with technical bugs and an engine that ran sluggish on the lackluster 90’s graphic cards. It became a critical and commercial flop, despite a dedicated fan-base that was mesmerized with what the game still achieved and went on to inspire.

Thankfully, Seamus made a massive comeback in 2001 when he created Microsoft’s “XBOX” gaming system. To this day, it is the only true rival against Sony’s “Playstation”, spawning many classic games including the “Halo” series.

Then, a decade later, Seamus had the unexpected chance to revisit what he had explored with “Trespasser”. He was tasked to make a “gaming sequel” to the first three Jurassic Park films. It led to the creation of concept art, detailed documents, and even a fully-completed “pitch trailer” that was shown to executives. Sadly, the game never got made. But its remains were not left to fossilize…

That trailer was, indeed, the one that leaked years ago. Thankfully, Seamus Blackley was kind enough to speak with Jurassic Time and finally tell the story behind the game and its inspirations on the upcoming film series.

Part One of the 3-part interview delves into the “Trials Of Trespasser”. Seamus goes into the details of that game’s inception, creation, and ultimate failure thanks to forces beyond his control with the studio. It’s an honest and dark look into the history of the game, but a necessary starting point to put the rest of his story in context. As he tells his story, footage of every level from the game plays to offer everyone a glimpse of the world he and his team created. Despite its flaws, it’s still impressive, even now.

In Part Two, Seamus reveals the “Origins Of Jurassic World”. What’s fascinating is that the origins of his unproduced ‘Jurassic Park’ game are also part of the origins of the ‘Jurassic World’ film series itself. Thanks to some extra sleuthing, Jurassic Time presents the game’s pitch trailer for the first time in HD, as well as some rare footage of the game’s early stages, and even some concept art. While Seamus tells it best, Steven Spielberg himself appointed him to come up with a game sequel to the original ‘Jurassic Park’ trilogy before a fourth film was truly underway. While great work was done that had been met with approval from everyone, including Spielberg when he saw the pitch trailer, its fate came before it got any further. Ownership in the company changed and focus on producing a game became dashed. Instead, the materials that had been made were carried over into the film’s production department for the fourth entry in the series. Various ideas clearly inspired the studio, including the title of the game itself: ‘Jurassic World’. Coincidence?

As a special bonus, the second part of the interview also has a brief appearance by his wife, Caroline Quinn. She was the art department coordinator for the original ‘Jurassic Park’, and she shares a brief story behind the film’s famous joke: Do-You-Think-He-Saurus! Included are several never-before-seen photographs.

The third and final part of the interview is where the gloves come off as Seamus delves into the “Remnants Of A Lost Jurassic World”. A story reel that was made of concept art from the game (featuring work by David Krentz, Iain McCaig, & Mishi McCaig) starts it off with a bang, leading into the reasons behind Seamus’s choice of the game’s protagonist: Billy Brennan from ‘Jurassic Park 3’. As pictured in all the artwork, Billy was meant to have a relationship with the raptors, and other dinosaurs, based on the same level of communication and respect that was seen in ‘Jurassic World’ with Owen and the “raptor squad”. The lead raptor also, just happens, to be “blue”. What’s awesome about the raptors in this game were that they were all feathered: an evolution of the creatures since we saw them in ‘Jurassic Park 3’, via DNA “correcting itself” on its own from generation to generation.

These revelations, and many more, can be found in the complete and extensive conversation with Seamus Blackley. While it is a shame that we never got this game, at least pieces of it lived on via the ‘Jurassic World’ trilogy. Owen’s relationship with the “raptor squad”, a prehistoric reptile attacking a surfer on the beach waves, and a Quetzalcoatlus wreaking havoc in the skies were among the many inspirations drawn from this unproduced game.

Do you still wish this game could be made today? What do you think about its connections and inspirations for the ‘Jurassic World’ trilogy? Share your thoughts below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!