Ty, the company responsible for the Beanie Baby fad in the 1990s, is trying to steal 15 more minutes of fame. It has recently released new Beanie Baby 2.0 dolls and an accompanying online environment to compete with Ganz’s Webkinz dolls and game. Like Webkinz, each Beanie Baby 2.0 toy comes with a secret code which allows the owner to go online and play with the virtual pet in a virtual, flash-based world.
Its too little, too late Ty. The Beanie Babies 2.0 site has only just launched, and Webkinz has been around for over a year. Also there are only 13 initial Beanie Babie 2.0 toys available, while there are tons of Webkinz, the Webkinz spin-off Lil’Kinz, Webkinz trading cards, Webkinz carriers, Webkinz cosmetics, Webkinz school supplies, Webkinz mousepads, Webkinz jewelry and Webkinz figurines. Sure, the Beanie Baby 2.0 dolls will be cheaper than Webkinz, at $6.99 versus the $9.99 Lil’Kinz and $12.99 Webkinz, but price doesn’t matter to throngs of children desperate for the hottest toy. Instead of setting up for failure, Ty should just chalk this up as defeat and start brainstorming the next big thing..
I have to admit that I almost feel bad for Ty. I had a couple Beanie Babies when I was younger. The company really needs to know when its moment in the spotlight is over. Good effort, nice try, but the company’s best just wasn’t good enough. We’ll always have the 1990s.
Read [Animax Entertainment] Site [Webkinz] Site [Beanie Babies 2.0]
The new TY 2.0 online world is a poor second to the Webkinz world. On Webkins, you can have your pet earn money by doing a job. You can have your own interactive garden that you water every day, and even harvest food from it. You can add rooms to your pet's home and decorate them as you please. You can change your pet's clothes, and tons of other things. In the TY world, all you do is walk back and forth in your room. You can play games, but the rewards in TY world are limited to stickers and things you can put on one page of your "book". The Ty rooms are 2 dimensional, while Webkinz homes are three dimensional, so your pet can actually climb into bed or even use the toilet.
When you put it like that Bobo, it really does make the Ty site seem to pale in comparison to everything that Webkinz offers. Thanks for the additional information!
Never mind how simple it is compared to Webkinz; I bought two pets for my kids for Valentines Day and we were all horrified with the "virtualization" by electrocution, complete with creepy music and with the poor little creatures eyes bugging out and trying to escape a "cloud" out of which items related to the pet fly out until it becomes a virtual pet. This literally scared us all, and I have tweens. I can't imagine how you'd explain this process to a child under 10! My kids were frightened of the stuffed pet after seing that scene!
That sounds really disconcerting Kathy. I can't imagine a sane explanation for that process.
You would think a company like Ty, which has had experience making toys for so long, would have a little more sense.
ok i feel wierd because i am a member on each website but i cheer on both of them!!!
o.k. i feel wierd because i am a member on each website. but i cheer on webkinz!!!
Good-bye TY and hello Webkinz!
@ Lauren: As long as you're happy playing on both and having fun, that is all that matters. After all, that's the point of having a Ty 2.0 Beanie Baby or Webkinz toy.
@ CeSi: It certainly does look that way, at least on the collectible toy front. Perhaps in a few years another company will come up with an even more innovative toy.
i actually like beanies 2.0 better! webkinz doesn't let you chat freestyle. i think TY did a great idea in making their own version of a virtual beanie game. sure there aren't as many beanies as there are webkinz, nor as many games on ty as webkinz but TY is just getting started. =)
I think the reason for Ganz making chats so structured adriana is to protect the kids who are playing and talking.
Ty's new endeavor is something to keep an eye on and see how it progresses.
I can't really figure out how to get the keys on Ty. Can anyone help me?
Hi Rachel,
I've looked online, but I couldn't find anything about keys and Beanie Babies 2.0. Perhaps check out a fan site or fan forum for more information?
What kind of keys do you mean? If you provide more information maybe I can help you find out more.
lol i'm on beanie babies right now and webkinz are really dominate b/c i was freestyle chatting and people got into a chat about webkinz and for all of you Shearsly the sheep owners(purple sheep) I am emfraz96, the one who has the high score in Shearsly's egg rescue!!!
oh person w/ key problem, they are in ur backpack
Hi Emily!
That is pretty ironic that on Ty 2.0 they'd be talking about Webkinz.
Also thanks for helping out Rachel with her key question.
i no its so wierd and i don't know how they got into it because you can't say webkinz on there! Also they pretty much use the same system on freestyle chat that they do for kinzchat plus! I have a few new friends on webkinz from chatting with people on there
That is strange.
At least you made some new friends thanks to it though!
I LOVE WEBKINZ SO MUCH I HAVE 50 OF THEM!!!!!!!
Wow Jose! Sounds like you have an amazing collection of Webkinz!
I remember back when I liked toys because they were cute and fun to play with. I didn't need to go online to have fun with my beanie babies, I would bring them along on trips with me and make up little stories with them. Now it seems like you have to have "online play" connected to things for kids to enjoy them.
That's not to say I don't like virtual pet games. I have a GoPets account and back when I was younger I played Neopets a lot. But I wouldn't buy an actual stuffed animal JUST to go online with it! I have a Shining Star dog that I can play with online, and I did register it online (I got it as a gift) because I wanted to "name a star" but I don't play on the site often anymore. And in April I'll be getting the Webkinz mouse, but I won't be playing with that online either. I just think it looks adorable and mice are my favorite animals.
I'm pretty much the same way. I had beanie babies when I was a kid, and a Neopets account as well. Occasionally I'll log in to Neopets to see how things are, but I just don't have the patience for it anymore.
That Webkinz mouse does look pretty cute – I've seen pictures and it looks adorable.
I think with the prevalence of home computers and the internet, parents are looking for safe online activities for their children and Webkinz just kind of fits.
webkinz are so much better than beanie babies there the best thing out there so dont think beanie babies are better than webkinz becuse they arent.i have 17 webkinz and 0 beanie babies becuse they stink like shining stars.webkinz can bet all that stuff out there. and you can talk to people on webkinz world to on kinz chat +.webkinz rock
Hi jonathan! I'm glad to hear that you like Webkinz so much and I'm sure that they'll continue to grow in popularity. If any breaking Webkinz news comes up, there'll be a story on it here.
I just got a Beanie Baby 2.0 guinea pig yesterday, and I think I will be getting more for Easter. I have mixed feelings about them–it is fun, but does not have very much. I have fifty-nine Webkinz, whilst Ty only has around ten Beanie Baby 2.0 plushes out.
Personally, I sort of feel like Ty should have kept to the Beanie Baby world. It seems much more true than putting them online.
Wow! You have quite a collection Willowtail!
I agree, Ty seems to be out of its league in the whole online thing.
Actually Ali, they just had an update before Easter, where a new pink room theme was added. Also there was a spring festival this past weekend. So Ganz does update the site.
I must totally agree with this. I joined Webkinz in November, and have adopted a new pet every month since. To mix things up, I decided to give Ty 2.0 a chance. He sells Webkinz on Ebay, and wanted to know if looking into Ty 2.0 would be worthwhile. I must say, I'm 21 and the site scarred me. I adopted a little dog, Rascal, and on the beginning page, little Rascal was struck by the Ty 2.0 lighting. All of a sudden this big dust ball encompases him. Next thing I know there is a sharp claw sticking out of the dust ball, like he was being killed by a monster or something. I mean, what are the little kids going to think? Mommy, a monster is killing my puppy! Make it STOP!! Creepy, honestly, that turned me off, and their virtual world is a pale comparison to Webkinz.
*Oh, and by he sells Webkinz on Ebay, I meant my boyfriend. He was wondering whether it would be profitable to invest in Ty 2.0.*
Yeah, it seems like the Beanie Babies are definitely a thing of the past now.
The whole pet virtualization process for the Ty virtual pets is seriously messed up. It almost makes games like Mortal Kombat seem more tame. I played that when I was like 8 or 9 and that seems to pale in comparison of a 'monster' nearly attacking a stuffed puppy.
Dued!2.0 is way better it has way more stuff to do than webkinz that gets old QUICK!!!2.0 i got when t just came out ad its still awsome to me! I have at least 20 webkinz just because they are cute!I been playing webkinz forever nd now BORE SNORE!!!!
Its good to hear that 2.0 is working out so well for you Stacy.
THAT IS SO MEAN OF STUPID WEBKINZ! I HATE WEBKINZ NOW AND I AM A MEMBER OF BOTH AND I LIKE TY BETTER! ANYWAY, WEBKINZ IS JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING GREEDY AND WANT more MONEY!!! TY IS way way way way WAY BETTER!!!!!!! I HATE STUPID WEBKINZ AND I'M NEVER GOING ON AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its a shame that Webkinz isn't fun for you anymore Kayla. At least you've found a fun online game in Ty 2.0.
i like to play with beanie babies online and it will be fun
that is cool
webkinz sucks! They just want money. They never update their website and they make your account expire. I have Webkinz, Ty Girlz, Shining Stars, Be-Bratz, Kookeys, and Ty Beanie Babies. Webkinz is the worst of them all!
that is a shame that they just want money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, if you like beanie babies and playing online, then that Ty 2.0 site might be perfect for you Logan.
I collect ty beanie babies and Webkinz gets really really boring fast! I HATE WEBKINZ NOW AND I WASTED MY MONEY ON THEM!! I cheer on Ty!!! I hope Ty looks at this and sees my comment!!! Me and my friend Jeromy are going to give out Ty Beanie Babies and we are both against Webkinz!!!!!! WE ARE NEVER GOING ON WEBKINZ AGAIN!!!!!!!!! go on Youtube and type in 'Webkinz Vs. Beanie Babies Revered' and you can see how Webkinz TOTALLY COPIED TY BEANIE BABIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah, it says I am from Bob.com, I am not, I am from VA, I just don't want to share my REAL info
hey Jenni, Do u have any Webkinz or Ty 2.0?
P.S I think Webkinz is BORE SNORE!
@ Kayla –
Its just a fad thing. When I was in high school beanie babies were huge. Before that there was the whole race to collect power ranger toys and… well, I forget what was before that. Probably in a year or two there'll be something new.
I don't have either actually. My cousin collects Webkinz and plays on the site, so whenever something bad happens there he'll tell me and (if its newsworthy) I'll learn and write about it.
I luv webkinz more than ty, but they're both pretty cool 2 me!
Hay man like i love this website evean though I just hered of it so see ya later.
People have a lot of webkins I have 5 webkins.It it AWESOME to play on it!!!!!!!
i like doin this.
I HATE WEBKINS LIKE ON HALLAWEEN THE DR. KILLED MY PET
I LOVE GOING ON WEBKINS IT IS AWESOME!!!
beanie babies rocks.
ALLRIGHT WHO SAID WEBKINZ COPIED TY??!!
WEBKINZ IS GETTING COPIED SO MUCH I FEEL SORRY FOR THEM!!!!!!! SHINING STARS, TY GIRLZ, YOU NAME IT! I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT TY 2.0'S CAME OUT 1 YEAR A-F-T-E-R WEBKINZ! HAHA, SO THERE!! TY 2.0 IS SO MUCH MORE BORING THAN WEBKINZ!! I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE DONT UNDERSTAND THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they upgraded 2.0s and it is way better than boring webkinz I am also a member of ty girlz and I love them so much i litterly have half the colection. I fave 13 ty girlz and 7 beanie babies 2.0s
I love my ty products and take them everywhere with me. webkinz na who need s them when you have softer ty products
I HAVE 59 WEBKINZ!!!
webkinz rock!!!! webkinz rule!!! love webkinz!!! love to get new webkinz!!!
I love beanie babies!!!
i put my code in even my mom tried my dad tried my sister tried and i tried we cheked the code 17 times and it was right but it did not work can you please help me when you resieve my important message good bye By:netanya Asmaro
webkinz rocks lol i have over 100 and i went on beanie babys today its a disaster iwish they just stuck with stuffed animal
anyone want my beanie account i bout one last week it was a dissaster email me at webkinz.lolpop25@g-mail.com
I love WEBKINZ way more than 2.0's because WEBKINZ has mail,vacations,more variety of pets,and YOU ACTULLY GET TO NAME YOUR PET!!! Also i have 16 WEBKINZ and 1 2.0!
any body got a webkinz account they dont want anymore i only have one and my mom says thats enuff so please i need one becouse i only have one week befor it dys so PLEASE email me at webkinz.lolypop25@g-mail.com and give me the pass and user. thanx!
if someone gives me a webkinz skunk code,ill give UNUSED webkinz codes.DEAL????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are lying if you go to Target Lil'Kinz are only $4.99 so ha!
Does anyone know if you can create more than one room on TY and how?
i have one beanie baby right now and i am going to get another one
You can name beanie babies too ya know! And beanie babies are cheaper! HA HA!