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Ty, the creator of the Beanie Babies craze, is taking on the online virtual pet world with its release of Beanie Babies 2.0. Ty hopes to compete with the success of Webkinz. Webkinz has dominated the virtual pet world with little competition. Like Webkinz, Beanie Babies 2.0 will be sold as stuffed animals that come with a code that unlocks a virtual world on their website. Once online, the code provides access to games and chat with other Beanie Babies 2.0 owners.

How Do Beanie Babies 2.0 Compare with Webkinz?

Both Beanie Babies 2.0 and Webkinz provide a virtual world for children to interact with their pets. Webkinz has a jump on Beanie Babies 2.0 with far more games available and more ways to interact with the pets. However, Ty will no doubt be adding to their virtual world as they release more stuffed animals. Both sites allows users to chat. However, Ty's site allows open chat with other members with parental permission. Webkinz only allows safe chat, which limits users to programmed chat responses. Webkinz offers a lot of customization with its site. For example, you can decorate your pet's house, buy hats and clothes and even earn badges. Beanie Babies 2.0 site is still developing and will need to catch up quickly with the Webkinz site if it plans to compete online.

Where Can You Buy Beanie Babies 2.0?

Beanie Babies 2.0 are available in the same retail outlets where the previous Ty beanie products are sold. The stuffed animals retail for approximately $7 each. Some large grocery stores are selling the stuffed animals as well as drug stores like Walgreen's and Longs. As always, these stuffed animals will be found in Hallmark stores for collectors and gift buyers. Petsmart also will be selling them. Finally, if you can't find your favorite animal in a retail store, Amazon.com stocks the full line of the first release Beanie Babies 2.0.

Beanie Babies 2.0 Make the Perfect Gift for Easter Baskets

It's obvious that Ty planned to make their new Beanie Babies 2.0 an Easter favorite this year. The choices in the first release of animals are perfect additions for Easter baskets. Look for Babeet the lamb, Hopsy the bunny, Quackly the duck, Shearsly the lamb and Woolsy the lamb to be in huge demand as Easter draws closer. There is even an Eggs 2008 the bear for collectors, as well as Luckier the bear for St. Patrick's Day.

Ty hasn't forgotten the collectors with this new batch of Beanie Babies. They included Dutchess the poodle, Pico the chihuahua, Rascal the dog, and Purry the cat among its choices for this first release. Cats and dogs have been favorites for Ty collectors throughout the years of the beanie baby craze. Finally, ty remembered the cute factor for the children who will be playing with these animals online, Fluffball the hamster is already proven to be in short supply in stores, along with Leaps the frog. If you plan to add Beanie Babies 2.0 to your Easter baskets this year, be sure to shop early.