Slight update, well not really, GMK did respond and it was the response I was expecting. It is basically contact Kono about it instead, so the situation isn't really changing so far. That being said, I've been seeing a few post that I feel like I have to reply to about the whole situation. About the splitting the base kit and numpad and ISO kits, it's still being considered, but I wouldn't consider it a done deal just yet.
For the split base and numpad/ISO, the kits would look more akin to these:
More
This isn't a confirmed change yet, but it's just to give an idea on how the new kits would look like. Even the base kit is subject to change under these new changes, feedback on the split kits would even be appreciated even if I decide not to split it.
This is what I got from Kono when I canceled my order:
Apologies, the designer for Shoko has been inconsistent — when he disappeared during the original GB we had to finish it without him.
He gave us the go-ahead for Round 2 and agreed to a rough timeline, but ghosted us again and stopped updating the set.
We kept the GB moving by using the files he submitted before the lapse in communications. The kits on the page are what was quoted with GMK for this run.
Hitting stop on the current set would result in delays and losses for everyone, especially during the pandemic.
I've cancelled your Order and issued a refund.
Please let me know if you need anything else,
It sounds like they're trying to blame OP for running this without his knowledge (even if there were communication issues, still don't see how it makes it OK to take OP's designs and do a GB on their own). Also not sure what "delays and losses for everyone" means since I wouldn't expect them to have paid for an order from GMK since GB didn't close yet.
I like to think that both me and Kono are in the wrong, since neither of us handled it well in my perspective. There's definitely communication issues and I think I should take a lot of the blame for it, that being said what they are saying isn't untrue either. I never gave them an update since I was waiting for the renders to be ready before presenting the second round's interest check, but they never updated me on a timeline or the renders being done either. There's multiple things I could've done better for sure like running the IC earlier without the renders or speaking to someone about the status of the renders or a proposed timeline. So to put it short, communication was weak on both ends from my perspective and I definitely should have spoke up earlier than I did to the involved parties.
To play devil's advocate, Kono probably invested in the renders (those renders look pretty nice) and probably couldn't wait any longer for design changes. There was probably an agreed upon timeline of some sorts.
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Yes Kono did pay for the MacSurfy renders as I stated in one of my previous posts. There wasn't an agreed timeline, but I did agree to the idea of running a second round. Again this is my side of the story, maybe they did have an agreed timeline within their HQ which is definitely plausible. To quote what I said in a previous post on this thread:
"I got notified that Kono would be paying MacSurfy for the renders and I handed him the KLE via Google Drive on the kits I wanted rendered as well as the board. I thanked Kono for paying for the renders. I never got a message back from Kono or MacSurfy afterwards, as you can see I'm not blameless either I could've kept in contact with them or MacSurfy about the status of the renders. Now MacSurfy gave the renders to Kono since they are the client, but he did assume that I would also receive the renders because I am the designer."
To be fair to Kono what was described here about R1 by Kono was what I observed as well. That was the reason many people did not join R1 afaik. You can still find those comments in the R1 IC page.
Hopefully, OP can come here more often and provide more communication for R2, and I will certainly join now the real pictures came out great.
Yeah I handled Round 1 really poorly and with how I handled it, I don't blame people for being skeptical on the first round and for the first round going poorly, I have no one to blame but myself.
Really liked Shoko and hope it will happen one way or another. Certainly, I would like to support OP as a designer and creator and refrain from buying from Kono at this moment, but hopefully, more clarity can be provided and it may not be too late to bring Kono on board again by communicating with them about possible new kits.
I even want to do work on some custom case colors for Shoko for Think2020...
Still hoping for that R3 PgUp and R4 PgDn to happen....
The kits on Kono are considered final, since for them it'd mean refunding all orders and then getting a new quote from GMK and then putting up the kits again for sale. They also didn't seem interested in adding a new kit if they weren't interested in adding the Hiragana kit to their group buy page.
Can't wait for Shoko Red, Shoko Happy Sky, Shoko Distorted, and Shoko Gold
Hi Venny, Shoko 11 Red will be in another uhh 9 years with the rate GMK is able to produce keysets.
Thanks for your patience everyone and thank you for keeping up with me throughout all of this, I really appreciate it! If I missed anything, please let me know and I'll try to address it as soon as possible.