Telltale Games

When we launched the newly revamped Jurassic Park: The Game official site we promised you'd be able to explore Isla Nublar soon enough and sure enough, today is the day - welcome to Jurassic Park! 

Much like John Hammond's original plans for his wildlife preserve, where only a portion of the attractions were to be accessible on opening day with a more robust lineup of rides and exhibits to follow, we've expanded the original site and opened the gates to Jurassic Park for all to get a look at the wildlife that calls Isla Nublar home!

We've also uncovered some files that Dennis Nedry had hidden away deep in the InGen databases but haven't been able to crack the password needed to access what's behind those firewalls. It keeps asking us for the magic word. Please do try your luck at getting past Nedry's pesky security as what's behind his password protection is likely valuable pieces of information about the park that was not meant to be seen by the Jurassic Park visitors. 

So what do you think of the expanded look at Jurassic Park? 

• Visit the official Jurassic Park: The Game site - now with a park tour!

In the words of Jurassic Park's indomitable chief engineer John Arnold, "hold on to your butts" as we introduce you to our brand new Jurassic Park: The Game site! This site, along with the Telltale Games blog, is your best resource for information about the upcoming return to Isla Nublar - launching on November 15.

What you see today is "stage one" of the site, much like John Hammond planned the development of Jurassic Park to be rolled out, first with the wildlife preserve followed by the amusement park. Soon, you'll be able to return to the site and enter "stage two" where we'll have more information about various sites around Isla Nublar and the types of animals InGen has brought back to life. 

So now, make your way over to the new Jurassic Park: The Game site and get the latest scoop on the park that paleontologist Alan Grant has decided not to endorse.

• The NEW Jurassic Park: The Game Site

As many of you know, Japan was hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami recently and the nation is still reeling from the terrible disasters. A group of video game industry folks have come together to form Play For Japan to help in the recovery efforts by organizing auctions of rare video game memorabilia and donating the proceeds directly to the cause. 

You can learn more about Play For Japan and stay up to date on the ongoing auctions, including one for a signed Sam & Max statue and print set that 1UP.com has generously agreed to host for us, by visiting and bookmarking the site. 

Of course, you can donate directly to the relief efforts via The American Red Cross, the Japan Society, and Save the Children as well. Spreading the word about the game industry's work in getting aid to Japan is also much appreciated. 

• Visit Play For Japan - A Game Industry Relief Effort
• See the signed Sam & Max statue and print set auction - eBay
• Donate directly to The American Red Cross
• Donate directly to the Japan Society
• Donate directly to Save the Children

We revealed the first trailer for Jurassic Park last week and opened up pre-orders for the game that's been "65 million years in the making" so I figure it's time to start bringing in some folks working on the game in for the "Three Questions" series. 

I had a chance to sneak four questions in to Jurassic Park designer Mark Darin recently, and here's what he had to say!

Q: What has been your favorite part of working in the world of Jurassic Park?

Mark Darin: I've really been enjoying exploring the lives of these characters who have been left behind on the island and those who have been sent in to get them. For the most part, these are just regular folks; not scientists or dinosaur experts. But I think my favorite part so far has been imagining what the other areas of the park are like. In the movie, we only got to see a few areas and I've always wondered, "what other attractions did they have planned?" Well now we get to answer some of those questions!

Q: Was Nedry's missing Barbasol can always the crux of the Jurassic Park story you and the team have been crafting? What led you to that story thread?

Mark Darin: The Barbasol can with the stolen embryos was at the top of the list from day one. It's an iconic piece of the film and seemed like bit of a loose end. It just seemed fun to follow that thread just a little longer to see what would have happened next! We tossed around a lot of ideas in the initial pitch meetings, with some ideas being better than others! One pitch that didn't make it dealt with smugglers capturing civilian boaters and forcing them onto the island to collect trapped dinos which were then sold to the black market as commodities - food, skin, horns, etc. Think Blood Diamond, but with dinosaurs!

Q: What, to you, are key elements of a story told in the Jurassic Park universe?

Mark Darin: For me, two key elements common in every Jurassic Park Story are respect (and conversely a lack thereof) for the dinosaurs, and the exploration of the bonds that make a family. A Jurassic Park story is about people and how they come together to face forces of nature that are much bigger them them, in this case literally.

Thanks for your time Mark. I rather like ichthyosaurs myself; he was my favorite character on the cartoon from the late 80s, Dinosaucers. 

What are some questions (that would realistically get answered) that you'd like to ask folks from the Jurassic Park team? Let's hear it in the comments.