We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kevin Kim. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kevin below.
Kevin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry
One of the biggest trends in the gaming industry right now is the explosive growth of UGC (User-Generated Content) platforms like Roblox. With daily active users (DAU) surpassing 90 million globally, Roblox is becoming a major player, especially among Gen Z and Alpha generations. This growth is reminiscent of the early days of the mobile game market in 2010. Just like mobile gaming transformed the industry, Roblox is reshaping how we think about gaming and social interaction.
As Roblox continues to grow and attract more creators and players, we see immense potential to scale alongside it. The platform’s ability to support user-driven content while fostering long-term engagement is a key factor in its success. Much like the rise of mobile games in the early 2010s, Roblox is on track to become a dominant force in the gaming industry, and we’re excited to be part of this transformation.
At BraveTurtles, we’ve been closely monitoring the UGC platform’s evolution and view it as a unique opportunity to build new, engaging experiences. The platform’s UGC model offers valuable user data that enables us to create more personalized and tailored gaming experiences. By analyzing these insights, we’re able to develop games that resonate with specific player segments, adapting to their preferences and behaviors. As we expand our presence within Roblox, our focus is on leveraging this data to create dynamic, personalized experiences that evolve alongside the platform’s growth.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Kevin Kim, and I’m the founder and CEO of BraveTurtles Inc., a metaverse gaming startup based in Los Angeles. With over 20 years in the entertainment industry, my career began in motion graphics, transitioned into CG animation and film VFX, and eventually led me to game development. During my time in film and VFX, I had the honor of earning both an Academy Award and an Emmy Award.
In my game career, I joined EA Respawn Entertainment as a Senior VFX Artist, where I contributed to the creation of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. These experiences were instrumental in shaping my expertise in high-quality production and interactive storytelling.
Growing up, I always dreamed of making games. About 10 years ago, I took the leap and started building a team with the goal of turning that dream into reality. After seven years of team building and honing our skills, we launched BraveTurtles Inc. with a talented group of experienced developers, and together, we’ve been creating innovative digital experiences.
BraveTurtles Inc. was founded with the vision of creating immersive digital experiences that blend gaming, creativity, and community. One of our most notable projects is The RunwayZ, a fashion show game that became the #1 title on the Zepeto platform for two years. The RunwayZ also successfully completed brand collaborations with five other fashion brands, including global brand Walmart, generating a total of 175 million impressions.
We then expanded into bigger ventures with the launch of Rift Hunters, a shooting game on Roblox. This game allowed us to tap into the rapidly growing Roblox market and has provided exciting opportunities for further innovation. We are also working on exciting collaborations with Spaceport and Toei Animation on HyperGalactic, which combines gaming and animation to create new, interactive experiences that blend storytelling and immersive worlds.
Most recently, we launched Force Master X, a high-energy action game designed around the concept of “Force” as a unique gameplay mechanic. Force Master X brings together the best features of popular Roblox game genres, featuring dynamic combat, customizable characters, and immersive environments that engage players in fast-paced, thrilling battles. This game has been instrumental in attracting a large influx of new users, and we are excited to see how it evolves within the Roblox ecosystem.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I first founded my startup, the original goal was to develop mobile games. However, everything changed when I had the chance to meet the US representative of Zepeto, a metaverse platform. This unexpected encounter introduced me to the world of metaverse gaming and opened my eyes to new opportunities. Seeing the potential of Zepeto, I decided to pivot and focus on creating a game for this platform.
That led to the development and launch of The RunwayZ, a fashion show game, which went on to become the top game on Zepeto for two consecutive years. This was an incredible success, and it not only exceeded my expectations but also gave me a deep understanding of the metaverse and the user-generated content (UGC) game market.
The success of The RunwayZ was a turning point for me and BraveTurtles. It expanded our knowledge of virtual worlds and gaming ecosystems, which ultimately allowed us to take the next step—expanding into the Roblox market. This pivot has been a key factor in shaping the direction of BraveTurtles, and it has given us the confidence to continue exploring and innovating within the metaverse space.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
My journey into building BraveTurtles Inc. is a story of unexpected opportunities and pivotal moments that led me to where I am today. Initially, I was focused on mobile game development, but everything changed after a chance meeting with the US representative of Zepeto. During our first meeting, I learned about his unique journey. He had started as a musician, then, by coincidence, visited a game company where he ended up becoming a sound artist. Eventually, that company was sold to a larger game company, leading to his exit and setting him on the path to becoming the head of Zepeto US.
This meeting was a turning point for me, as it led to collaboration with Zepeto on game development. Around the same time, I had to travel to Korea for funding, and through an introduction, I met the founder of the game company where the Zepeto US representative had previously worked. This connection led to meetings with Zepeto’s CEO and president, giving us crucial support for game development and investments that significantly helped BraveTurtles grow.
As the company expanded, I continued building valuable relationships, and one of the most important connections came through Roblox. Through a chance introduction from a Roblox developer, I was introduced to a member of Roblox’s Dev Support team. Over the course of nearly a year, we developed a strong working relationship, which ultimately played a major role in helping us navigate and succeed in the Roblox ecosystem.
These unexpected connections and relationships, built over time, have been integral to the growth of BraveTurtles Inc. and the success we’ve achieved today. They allowed us to pivot when necessary, build valuable partnerships, and ultimately position ourselves in the metaverse and UGC game markets.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://braveturtles.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braveturtlesofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/braveturtlesofficial/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/91548542/admin/page-posts/published/
- Twitter: https://x.com/braveturtlesinc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@braveturtles
