Here are some examples of early development photos for the first generation CommTech chips released with the POTF2 and Episode I figure assortments in 1999 & 2000. The early examples featured a large PCB (Printed Circuit Board) that was later reduced to a fingernail size for the production release. The early housing was created from scratch from plastic sheet stock and later produced in injection molded plastic. This early C-3PO chip is fully functional with production CommTech readers and recites the same phrases as the final production released chip.
While the chips were an interesting pack in, it was unfortunate the team couldn't get the concept of having the chips in the figures at the time.