Roblox raises $2.3M to help kids build casual games

Join the must-attend GamesBeat flagship event. This summer in Los Angeles, GamesBeat Summit brings together top leaders, CEOs, and dealmakers on May 18–19 to spark connections and close major deals. Don’t miss where gaming and business converge. To celebrate one year of going independent, enjoy a limited-time buy one, get one free offer—ending soon while supplies last. Secure your spot now before tickets sell out.

robloxlogoRoblox, a casual games and virtual world site aimed at children, has raised about $2.3 million in a first round of funding, according to a regulatory filing.

It looks like Roblox allows users to create free games using building blocks that look kind of like Legos, though the site emphasizes that the Redwood City, Calif., company is not affiliated with Lego or similar products. The Roblox site also says the product is still in early alpha testing and describes it as “straddling several rapidly-developing aspects of internet entertainment: virtual worlds, casual gaming, and user-constructed content.”

I emailed Roblox for confirmation or comment and haven’t heard back yet. Here’s a rather eye- and ear-popping demo video.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBUlpvyInzg&w=560&h=340]