Growing a buko tree isn’t just an overnight affair. It takes days, months, years, even decades — but under the right circumstances, a mighty coconut will eventually bear fruit.
If you Google what a buko is, you’ll be greeted by its definition: a young, green coconut. The story of Buko Studios is similar to how a buko tree is born — the fruit of years of experience between co-founders Kevin and Cherry Boase.
Having met through their game development careers in Kuju Manila (with Kevin being sent over to the Philippines), these two lovebirds started their studio journey in 2010 as a graphic design studio. Over time, Buko Studios grew into one of the oldest game development studios in the Philippines, earning a number of awards along the way. It may have taken a while, but through their combined efforts, it has reached great heights, so let’s talk about them both.
Have you met the Boases?
I had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin to learn more about Buko Studios, and looking back at our discussion, what they’ve done prior to even starting the studio sounds straight out of a rom-com. Kevin handled the art and development side of things, while Cherry focused on admin and HR roles in their previous company. Over time, one thing led to another and a romance blossomed.
This romance didn’t bear fruit just through their studio, but also through what they accomplished individually. On Kevin’s end, from starting at Acclaim Studios and working on the Extreme G series and other notable titles like Emergency Mayhem and Alias, to becoming the Development Director of Buko Studios — the grind never stopped. His awards, accolades, and even the praises from colleagues stand as proof of that.
Cherry, on the other hand, is a genuine globetrotter advocating for women in gaming and beyond. Apart from being the Chief Executive Officer of Buko Studios, Cherry is also one of the major contributors to the IGDA (International Game Developers Association). As one of the definitive faces for women in game development in the Philippines, she’s a trailblazer in her own right.
The Boases’ story, as they retold it, was inspiring — and when passion and inspiration mix together, something wonderful happens. But before that, there’s one more Boase we need to introduce.
Cat’s out of the bag
Usui Boase is a cat, and a wonderful little chonk at that. While it may seem out of place to introduce him, the truth is, he’s one of the main inspirations for Buko Studios’ game HypurrX.
HypurrX is a gritty, speed-run, cute-’em-up bullet-hell arcade game. It’s a combination of Kevin and Cherry’s passions: Kevin’s love of ’80s arcade games, particularly the Star Wars trench run racing game, and Cherry’s love of all things furry, cats especially.
You can tell that a lot of effort was put into this game, especially considering the various art styles used throughout. But at its core, our feline hero is the star of the entire journey. One of the game’s standout features is that, right from the start, players can put their own furry friend in the cockpit to race around in-game — a hook that makes pet lovers and gamers alike excited. Kevin’s work on racing titles and Cherry’s love for Usui and all feline friends clearly shine through — and in the hands of people who love what they do, I’m hyped.
The fruits of their labor
The story of Buko Studios is a long and storied one, and what I’ve written here is just the tip of the iceberg. Decades of experience take time to build, but for those interested in dipping their toes into game development, Kevin left this nugget of wisdom:
“The rate of change of technology is the fastest it’s been, but the biggest skill you can have now is being adaptable. For the Philippines specifically, you need to have that balance — being creative and technical. Through being technically savvy, you can push creatively! It all ties together with new frontiers of pushing the latest tech features!”
Age is just a number, and experience will come with time — but as a pet lover, I can’t wait to see my fat boy race across the stars.
For more updates and to learn more about them, check out Buko Studios and HypurrX over on these sites:
- Main Site: https://www.bukostudios.com
- Buko Studios Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BukoStudios
- HypurrX Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2479520/HypurrX/
