Toy companies are increasingly focusing on tech-savvy kids hitting their playtime peak, blurring the lines between computer games and real-world play.

Barbie's dollhouse has gone digital. Gigabytes power G.I. Joe and his Kung Fu Grip.

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The Ganz gift company claims more than 2 million units of Webkinz have been sold to retailers.

Enter Webkinz: a mishmash of fantasy and reality that has attracted over 1 million online users, largely ages 6-13.

The Ganz gift company has produced these stuffed animals, or "Webkinz pets," since April 2005.

Each Webkinz pet (suggested retail price $11.99 and up) comes with a code that corresponds to an online representation of the toy in the "Webkinz World" Web site ( http://www.webkinz.com/).

Kids spend time online to feed, exercise, play with and bathe their pets to increase their happiness. It is the dream of dolls coming to life, virtually.

Dallas mom Kaky Wakefield's 10-year-old twins, Will and Michael, became interested in Webkinz last fall.

"It's a kid-friendly Web site they can go on and play with their animals and learn how to take care of them and play games with them," Mrs. Wakefield said, adding that she hesitated initially about giving her kids access to the Web site. "But then I went online with them, and it was absolutely darling. So, each of them got a couple of Webkinz for their birthday last November and they would play with them nonstop."

The Toronto-based Ganz company claims more than 2 million units sold to retailers. And sales don't seem to be slowing, according to Hal Cook, who owns Learning Express in the Park Cities. Mr. Cook said he sells about 1,000 Webkinz a week.

Many of those sales come from repeat customers.

"A lot of kids have two, three, five. I heard of some who have as many as 20," Mr. Cook said.

Repeat purchases are part of the company's strategy. Buying a single toy allows a year's access to the Web site, after which a code must be entered from a new toy.

Combined with the plush animals' collectible nature, Mr. Cook says it's no surprise that many kids own more than one.

"The only thing similar to Webkinz sales was Beanie Babies," Mr. Cook said. "But while that was an adult-driven phenomenon, Webkinz is a child-driven phenomenon."

Chris Byrne, a 27-year toy industry veteran, said Webkinz is among the leaders in a growing market giving younger kids access to technology. Others include Shining Stars from Russ; Neopets, which was bought by Viacom in 2005; and the new Tamagotchi, with online features similar to Webkinz.

He sees Webkinz as a natural extension of previous playthings.

"Toys have historically always reflected our culture, and we live in an Internet culture right now," Mr. Byrne said. "[Webkinz] turns the Internet into a toy in the classic sense that it is an interpretation for children of something in the adult culture."