Archaeornithomimus is an ornithomimid dinosaur related, and similar, to Gallimimus and Struthiomimus, that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous period more than 90 million years ago. However, Archaeornithomimus has a shorter snout and tail than the other members of its group, but it still has a sharp beak and long hind legs. Discovered from dig sites in China, its size – weighing between 110 lbs and reaches around 3.3 meters in length – and physical features led to its name, which translates to "Ancient Bird Mimic". Archaeornithomimus likely had an omnivorous diet consisting of everything from plants to fruits to seeds and even lizards and small mammals. However, it was also prey animals for larger carnivores.

"Ever since I first encountered this dinosaur in the first JWE, I’ve been really amused by its appearance: a relatively short body with a rather large belly. In the end, I decided to pay tribute by creating a model of the first dinosaur the player encounters in the first game of the series—the one that kicks off nearly every challenge in the series, since it’s one of the cheapest."