This set is one of the larger (i.e., quantity of cards) and, at the time, one of the most accuracy-oriented Prehistoric Animal card sets ever produced. These cards are the key component of the Dino Hunt boxed game which was sold by retailers (see images below). The first card within the production run was the "Acanthopholis" which was never supposed to be included in the boxed game but because of a printing process error, the image and name of the Acanthopholis was erroneously printed on what was supposed to be the Triceratops card. For this reason, the Acanthopholis card contains the Triceratops’ "information table" on its front and the Triceratops' name & stats on its back. This error was not corrected and a Triceratops card with its own picture was never produced as part of this game.
The cards have plain borders (i.e., not gold), do not have a date under the dinosaur head logo on the backs of the cards, and the second paragraph(s) on the front of the cards (for those that have them) are in bold print with the first paragraph(s) being in regular thin font.
There are three confirmed design variations compared to the cards in the Demo Hunt Game:
- The Amargasaurus card front has a "4" value for the Energy and a "8" value for the Score whereas the Demo Hunt card has a "3" value for the Energy and an "6" value for the Score.
- The "Follow the Tracks" card has a picture of carnivore whereas the Demo Hunt set card shows a herbivore.
- The "Misfire" card has the word "Malfunction" in red lettering above the text on the front of the card whereas the Demo Hunt set card has no title above the text.
NOTE: A second print run of these cards was initiated in 2000. The cards are identical to the original boxed set (e.g., same 1996 copywrite, design, animals) including the errant Acanthopholis card and the lack of the Triceratops card. However, the contents of the boxes are different as outlined below.
1996 Edition: one game die, Full color game introduction sheet, two game chit cards, two Mesozoic Era bands (one with checklist and one without checklist), six Energy cards, six rubber dinosaur toys (two loose in box), full color 'To the Retailer' sheet, blue rules update sheet, blue merchandize order sheet, white Dino Hunt Questionnaire postcard, orange The Dinosaur Society subscription form, yellow Dinosaur Discoveries subscription order form, and black & white multipage Steve Jackson Summer Catalog
2000 Edition: one game die, Black & white game introduction sheet, one game chit card, one Mesozoic Era bands (w. checklist), four Energy cards, four rubber dinosaur toys, and two Limited Edition gold-border collectible booster packs. |