Chinese developer Red Mushroom apparently also has its own virtual world with a retail toy tie-in, just like Webkins, Be-Bratz or BarbieGirls. BaoBao-BengBeng integrates a virtual world with its own microtransactions system -- while the game is free to play without a purchase, a feature code that comes with the plush toy and purchase-able items within the game provide additional content.
The animals available are all enormously cute, if a bit strange -- there's a policeman dog, a Hawaiian panda, a baby chicken who's apparently into bowling, a rapping lizard and a telekinetic goat, to name a few.
[CORRECTION: The article originally stated that the toys use a USB key or require a code to access the world; we've received word that all retail purchases are optional.]
[Via Ypulse]
