06/25/02
I've put the first 9 of what I hope will be a growing library of Zoids manuals up. I hope you find them of some use.

03/01/02
Well, it's only been 24 hours and I'm still dealing with the failout from the sad suspension of the Trading Post. First things first, the Post is not dead, it's just resting! The assault it received at the hands of foolish posters seeking free Zoids or Zoids they could readily purchase at their local Wal-Mart or Toys R' Us brought my hosting server to it's knees. The provider, Hostrocket, gave me an ultimatium; up your payment plan from the $10 a month deal to the $65 one or get off our system. Hey, I love the Post too, but I can't afford that. I am looking into another solution.

01/15/02
Way back in 1995 I signed up with an Internet company that my girlfriend at the time worked for. They were Tiac, a local outfit. Even after Lesley and I split, and Tiac got sold to first one, then another company, I stuck with them. I enjoyed the permanency of my e-mail address, and I enjoyed showing up first in the search engine queries for "Zoids".
It wasn't so much that I liked Tiac, it's just that they fit like a pair of old jeans. Comfortable, if a little ragged. Well, anyone familiar with my site knows that comfort ended this November, when their server crashed and all cgi scripts ceased to work. Gone was my "Trading Post", the only real reason people visited my site.
I'm a patient man. Too patent, in fact. E-mail after e-mail, call after call, and reassurances after reassurances followed. Well, my patience has run out. I've bitten the bullet.
Jerrydreiss.com is a pure vanity. The name may not be clever, but it is portable. If Host Rocket, the company who's server this page now resides on, ever screws up, I can always move to another company. Am I sorry to leave Tiac? Yes, I am. I always hate good-byes. But the choice was to move or close the site, and I love Zoids and Zoid fans far to much to do that!
So welcome to my new home. The first thing I noticed as I moved files over was that my site needs tons of work. It isn't so much as a site as it is a collection of pages that I have added over the years. Like an archeologist you can dig through the layers all the way back to 1995. I was not the first Zoid site, but for years I was the only one. Fear a web site operator with a new copy of Dreamweaver. I plan to give the site cohesion and add tons more images. Mostly the pictures will be of my own Zoids. But in the mean time the site is back and the Trading Post is online.
If you have read all this, and would like to give me any feedback, please e-mail me at gojulas@hotmail.com.

06/10/01
A couple of things this time around. I was invited to join a Japanese Zoids web ring and I have. Check out the link at the bottom of the mail page. Also, I've updated the bootleg section with some info about the Zooid bootleg out of Korea. I've have added a new section about the Zoid play set Whale King, which is designed to accompany small mini Zoids, also featured.
Finally, I have deleted Trading Post ads more then six months old. Since I don't know how people use the Post, I don't know if this is too soon or too long. Let me know.

02/24/01
Just some minor site maintenance. Lot's more needs to be done, but at least I've update the (in)complete list of Zoids. I've removed the banner ad to Aki's site until such time as it becomes active again, and I've change the link to the old Egroups discussion site to the Yahoo site.
P.S. If you have any knowledge of Brian Thompson's whereabouts let me know. There are people looking for him. Unhappy people.

08/13/00
Wow! I bet you thought you'd never hear from me again, huh? Another long period of neglect, another small update. I've added a link to Brian Thompson's new mailing list/ discussion board called ZOIDERS. Join it now. You'll learn more about new Zoids, where to get old ones, and can ask questions about all things Zoids to people like Francis Ng and Furball. Those are just two of the posters there who have forgotten more about Zoids then I'll ever know.
I've also added ActionAce and Justbetoys to the list of Zoid vendors. I've alphabetized the list too, to make it as impartial. E-mail me any other vendors, local or web based, and I'll link them up.
Now, about vendors... I am not partial to any vendor nor do I want to give that impression. I kept out of the discussion that first started on the trading post and then moved to the mailing list because I thought it was a healthy and important exchange of opinions. Now that Brian has started the discussion board I would like to ask that discussions be posted there, leaving the trading post as an area for actual trading and selling of Zoids. I don't censor (except ads for paintings and bacteria, what up with that?) so it's really up to you guys if this is what you want to do. Let me know what you think.

02/27/00
After a long period of neglect, I have updated the Zoids Nerve Center. In order to accommodate it's new size I had to move it to another web server. To keep it at Tiac would have cost me over $131 a year. At the new site are some very crude movies from the anime series. I hope to get a decent video capture card soon, and when I do I will upgrade those movies. So check it out, and when your finished don't forget to return to this site to leave your feedback.
New Zoids Nerve Center

08/15/99
Release dates and photos of the new Zoids await you at The New Zoids Nerve Center.

08/06/99
Big doings in Zoidland! First, I hope you noticed the banner I made for Toys Online JAPAN. This fan run web site hopes to sell Zoids to the world outside of Japan without massive markups. I hope you will give him your support, and any ideas you can provide him regarding the whole international money transfer thing would be appreciated. Sharp eyed and web savvy visitors may notice that I am tracking how many people click the links to his site. This is done at his request. I am not selling ad space. I wish only to help him get started. Mr. Yoshida is a genuine Zoider and a nice guy.
Brian Sejas, editor of the McFarlane Guide has posted a fun article on his site about the similarities between Techno Zoids and the upcoming Techno Spawn series. I think McFarlane puts out some great figures and to be mentioned on this site is really cool. The article is at this link.
But wait, the coolness doesn't stop there! Jeff Saylor at Figures.com has also put up an article about the re-release of Zoids and me! Sorry to crow. The toy collection field has been so saturated with action figures lately that it's nice to see Zoids get their due.
And last, but most definitely not least, there is a new Zoids web site to join the fold. Jeff Johnsen has created a growing robot toy site with a strong Zoids section. His page, Jeff's Robots has some great images and commentary. Surf on over there when your done here.

07/06/99
I invite you to check out my new section for Gilvader MK-II.
I tweaked the Incomplete List of Zoids to make it slightly less incomplete. I have also overhauled my list of Zoids I own which I haven't touched in years. It more accurately reflects what I own now.

06/15/99
I hope they don't mind, but I "borrowed" some images from Zoidstown of the new color schemes. Check it out at New Zoids Nerve Center.

06/12/99
It's not a rumor anymore, so go to the New Zoids Nerve Center for the new Zoid lineup!

05/27/99
It's looking better and better for new Zoids! Go to the updated New Zoids Nerve Center to learn more.

05/23/99
I've added a tasty rumor that I hope wont blow up in my face. Check it out, and if you can add to it, e-mail me. B.T.W. We have over 220 names on the petition now.

04/04/99
We now have 156 names on the petition and it still is growing. So keep spreading the word.
I want to welcome Ironwing to the Zoid webmaster family. He has put together an impressive site with the best English catalog of Zoids there is. He has other impressive stuff to add to his page in the next few months, including the translation of sections of the Japanese Zoids site, Zoidstown. I look forward to learning more as his site grows.

02/24/99
Wow! In 17 days we've collected 86 signatures for the petition. That's not bad for an obscure toy line from the Eighties that didn't even have a cartoon based on it. What is even more impressive is where the signatures are coming from. Sure, the States and Great Briton are well represented, but we've had signers from South Africa, Israel, Holland, Japan, Finland, South Korea, Germany, and more. Color me impressed. I'm still collecting, so keep spreading the word. If you belong to any toy collecting mailing lists or post on any of the newsgroups give our effort a plug! Remember, the URL is http://www.tiac.net/users/zoids/petition.html

02/08/99
The Petition is Going Great! In the first 24 hours we have collected 16 signatures. That may not seem like a lot to you, but we're just getting started. Don't forget to let other Japanese toy collectors know about it.
Let me fill you in on what Jeff's and my plans are. Jeff has been talking to Tomy US, where they are receptive to the idea of reviving Zoids. Problem is, Tomy US doesn't do any manufacturing, that's all handled overseas. They have asked that we gather as much signatures as possible to pass on the their corporate president.
First, we need a good cover letter. Please submit any suggestions. Second, I plan on converting all the individual entries into a word document that I will print out and snail mail to them. Real paper is much more impressive then e-mail. I expect to be doing a lot of cutting and pasting! Last, we plan our attack on Tomy Japan. We need to let them know that there is a large following of Zoids overseas. If Micronauts can make a comeback, why can't we?
I'll keep you all updated.

02/07/99
Sign the Zoids Petition! Zoider Jeff Caraway has been in contact with Tomy America, where they have indicated they would be willing to re-release Zoids if there is enough interest. Here's your chance to let them know just how much interest there is! Sign the petition and I'll forward it to Jeff's contact. This is an example of what the petition script generates:

  Subject: Zoids Petition
     Date: Sun, 7 Feb 1999 14:37:40 -0500 (EST)
     From: anonymous NFS user 
 Reply-To: zoids@tiac.net

fullname = Jerry Dreiss 
email = zoids@tiac.net 
city = Boston 
state = MA 
country = USA 
Zoid_Most_Wanted = Gorem 
other =  
comments_for_Tomy = Please bring back Zoids!

01/31/99
Mike Hogan, a Zoid fan in Michigan, innocently sent me some scans of his Zoids. Amongst them were some images of the Canadian Techno Zoids that I had long heard about but NEVER SEEN! I've updated my Techno Zoids page to show off the box art that Mike sent. Thanks Mike! I can't wait for your page to go up.

01/24/99
There are two additions to the web site today. For this site that's a lot! First up:
Ground Control To Major Kong! Wayne down in Texas has put up a page dedicated to his customized Zoids. WARNING! It's huge! Expect to wait a couple of minutes while it downloads, but it's well worth the wait. Wayne makes a strong case for painting and customizing Zoids. Look at any of the Japanese modeling magazines of the Eighties and you'll see that this was common practice amongst the Japanese "Zoiders". Personally, if I had Wayne's skills and some extra units I would try doing this myself. Sadly I have nether.
Second up is a new section on a Zoid bootleg. A shout out to Doug Mikkelson who not only alerted me to these, but procured some for me. I have put up a small page comparing my Zoid Gojulas and the "Dyno-Rasic T-Rex". That page also serves as a gateway to Doug's.

01/07/99
With the help of Mark Petrofsky and an afternoon going though the official Zoids site I've been able to update the (Almost)Complete List of Zoids. Now your mission is to go through it and come up with even more corrections and information. Then you will mail them to me.

01/03/99
A couple of quick notes:
1) I love to get images of Zoids, but please don't mail anything larger then a meg. My mailbox just got bombed with an eight MB file. It was so large Tiac's tech support couldn't even get a return address off of it. If you feel compelled to e-mail me a large file use Winzip to segment it into bit size pieces.
2) If you live in northern California and are looking for Zoids, check out The Toy Exchange. Their address is:

Toy Exchange
1224 Solano ave.
Albany Ca. 94706
(510) 527-3737
Hrs:. Mon-Sat 10-6

11/09/98
Two things. First, I added a link to Edward Holmes' Starriors Page. Sorry it took so long, Ed.
Second, what do you all think of the prices Zoids are fetching at Ebay? I know I've plucked down more then I had originally wanted to. Interestingly enough, when I lost a bid for Lidier and a small base unit at Ebay, I went over to Kimono My House and spent less for them! Post comments to me and I'll put them up here. What is the fair market value of an assembled Zoid, anyway?

10/25/98
As any of you who have tried to decipher the Official Web Site know, Tomy has produced a CGI Zoids film. This 4 to 5 minute long film was show at the Tokyo Game Show this month. A source who is in contact with a VP at Tomy Japan says this is a test animation. Tomy is considering doing a full blown CGI movie for possible release in 2000-2002. I wouldn't be surprised that the previous report that I got from Japan that Tomy was working on a Zoids PlayStation game was actually their work on this test animation instead.
Also, looking at the Official Site, didn't you salivate at all the Deathsaurers they were selling at the Game Show? My same source says they may be selling them over the internet soon. The same source goes on to say that Tomy has NO plans to re-release Zoids, but is considering an "entirely new line for release in the near future." More as this develops.

This web page has been up over two years now, and I'm finally getting around to making a "What's New" section? Well, there are two reasons for this. I have never seen a "what's new" page that was in the least bit interesting, and I wanted to avoid that. Second, since I update the site so infrequently I was embarrassed to advertise that. Well, here it is. As stuff happens, it will go here.