[attachimg=1 align=center]
WELCOME TO A WORLD OF COLOURFUL CHAOS
In a faraway location in the middle of a barren, sun-scorched wasteland, lies a certain city.
Hardened by the surrounding desert, the residing cephlapods have adapted to the post-apocalyptic environment, swimming, splatting, rolling and surging their way to be the very best!
GB LINK (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=124520.0)
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GB DATE
The group buy will run from February 17 to March 17 2025!
All GB orders will receive a free vinyl sticker featuring the KAM Soda Squid illustration I drew!
(https://i.imgur.com/tLGtEyg.jpeg)
Why not a preorder?
Whilst I would have preferred a preorder, I've decided to go ahead with a group buy as recommended by the vendors. Considering the past performances of recent KAM sets, I believe it is possible to reach MOQ, and with Keyreative's cleared-out queue there should be limited delays during production.
VENDORS
OCEANIA: Keebz N Cables
US: Dangkeebs
US: Keebs For All
EU: Keygem
CA: Mino Keys
UK: ProtoTypist
SEA: iLumkb
CH: ZFrontier
GLOBAL: Keyreative
PRICING
This will change depending on the regional vendors, so consider this a rough guide.
Base: $79USD
Numpad: $17USD
Novelties: $23USD
Spacebars: $15USD
Colevrak: $8USD
NordeUK: $17USD
Deskamts: $21USD
KITTING
This keycap set has been designed to let you the owner be as creative as possible, with the uniform profile letting you play around with the novelties!
By taking a minimal approach with the legends, the set aims to let the vibrant colours truly be the main highlight.
VIEW THE FULL ALBUM (https://imgur.com/a/KpfLvmr)
(https://i.imgur.com/r0CSiwk.jpeg)(https://i.imgur.com/fUcMwfn.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/j61mkkc.jpeg)(https://i.imgur.com/6WvsYqd.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/mm1VnjJ.jpeg)(https://i.imgur.com/i5cFZGg.jpeg)
RENDERS
Dalco 959 Mini by Dalco and Hand Engineering
(https://i.imgur.com/EKzioeZ.jpeg)(https://i.imgur.com/40uRNXZ.jpeg)
Frog TKL by Geonworks
(https://i.imgur.com/1wHS0fz.jpeg)(https://i.imgur.com/R5WnbHV.jpeg)
Paragon by Artemis
(https://i.imgur.com/fHYhhTB.jpeg)(https://i.imgur.com/6BysGVU.jpeg)
W1AT by Geonworks
(https://i.imgur.com/8OHP6Me.jpeg)(https://i.imgur.com/NQtjlP3.jpeg)
Amano by h40
(https://i.imgur.com/DVoQPQr.jpeg)(https://i.imgur.com/MMeT8Ul.jpeg)
DETAILS
[attachimg=3 align=center]
APPROVED SAMPLES
Left: Natural Light - Right: Artificial Light
(https://i.imgur.com/ZKsMPqyg.jpeg)(https://i.imgur.com/omPElhO.jpeg)
DESKMATS
The two deskmats that have won the popularity contest are:
Spilled Lemon Soda & Squid Party!
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DESKMAT SAMPLES
All KAM Soda Squid deskmat samples have been approved!
(https://i.imgur.com/stwnIOA.jpeg)(https://i.imgur.com/BWwkbRL.jpeg)
PACKAGING
(https://i.imgur.com/v6lW8dA.jpeg)
DISCLAIMERS
Please note: While these designs have been inspired by popular video games, they are the sole independent creation of the artist.
They are in no way affiliated with, sponsored by, associated with, endorsed by or created in collaboration with any gaming companies or studios.
Due to numerous factors like differences in lighting, monitor calibrations, etc, there may be some slight colour differences in the renders.
All renders are done by myself so please excuse any beginner mistakes
I had to fund the lawyer fees somehow
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Huge thanks to all my cephalopod friends for being guinea pigs for me and dubbing it Soda Squid.
Thanks to the people in the Keycap Designers Discord server for giving all their invaluable feedback in the initial stages of the design and answering any questions I had.
Special thanks to blur and Cylent!
I don’t think I would have any renders if ImperfectLinks’s Keyboard Render Kit didn’t exist so thank you so much for creating such an easy way to create keyboard renders.
Also, huge thanks to NoPun10Did for being an absolute GOAT and helping me figure out kitting because it was literally driving me crazy.
CONTACT
Keep up to date by joining my Discord server (https://discord.gg/YUTVKx6FeR) or following me on Instagram (https://instagram.com/kinnju).
I also created a small microsite (https://www.kinnju.com/kam-soda-squid) as well!
SIGNATURE
If you’d like to show your support for this set, feel free to add the following code to your signature!
[URL=https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=122637.0][img width=250 height=120]https://i.imgur.com/raCvUmN.png[/img][/URL]
(https://i.imgur.com/raCvUmN.png)
Some updates!
Adjusted enter novelties to use the blue to purple gradient instead of just the dark blue and yellow
Currently waiting for Pantone plastic chips before moving onto the next round of samples (I ordered them late February and only 3/7 have arrived)
Major kitting updates haven't been made as I'm waiting on more IC responses before any significant changes
Regional vendors are in the process of being confirmed
I've also added a fun matching illustration! Not sure what I'll do with this illustration. I might consider adding it as a print or sticker?
More
(https://i.imgur.com/l5xfmhC.jpeg)
Thanks to the power of Twitter, I've received some amazing feedback and have made some major changes to KAM Soda Squid!
Design
I’ve slightly adjusted the legends for the delete, scroll lock and home key. Also added a This Way and Booyah! novelty key.
Kitting
The responses in the IC form have asked for separate kits for the base, numpad and novelties. I’ve also added a spacebars kit for better layout support. My vision was to make the base be as close to the original source as possible. One of the key points of the source is the yellow splat so I’ve decided to keep the yellow and blue splat novelties in the base kit.
Deskmats
The people have spoken and the 2 deskmats that have won the popularity contest are Spilled Lemon Soda and Squid Party. There were some really great deskmat suggestions, however, I’m only able to run 2 deskmat designs.
Samples
My Pantone chips are finally on their way to me so round 2 of samples will start very soon.
There was some really great feedback in the form and I’d like to respond to a couple of popular suggestions that I am unfortunately not able to implement.
More
Pink and Green / More colours / Dark Alphas
KAM Soda Squid has 7 colours and even that is quite a lot for a keycap set so I’m unable to include more colours. Doing so will also make it easier for KAM Soda Squid to hit MOQ. The same goes for dark/black alphas. It would look really cool though!
Black version of the Spilled Lemon Soda Deskmat
I did render this out and it looked really cool! But unfortunately, I wanted to reduce the number of deskmats I’m running alongside the keycaps so this unfortunately won’t be made. I may possibly run a small run of alternate deskmat designs after KAM Soda Squid is over. My favourite was the gradient deskmat and I’m so sad that it won’t be running
More Language Support
I’ve decided to not create more kits for broader language support. I understand that this excludes a large group of people, however, this is my first keycap set and I’d like to keep things simple and make sure it’s successful before running a set with more kits.
Thanks again for all the support and any feedback is greatly appreciated!
KAM Soda Squid will now be doubleshot!
By using Keyreative's new hybrid material, the set will have more vibrant colours bringing it closer to the Splatoon 3 Switch. However, this will mean that the legends will be changing to use already existing doubleshot moulds - I'm currently in the process of udpating the renders.
For the eye novelties, they'll be using a combination of doubleshot and dyesub. There is an alignment issue with the novelties in the samples I was given, however, this will be resolved during production.
Here are photos of the latest doubleshot samples.
More
Natural Light
(https://i.imgur.com/kq2rpug.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/87EIdrz.jpg)
Artificial Light
(https://i.imgur.com/BIvsjH8.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/x8S5j8A.jpg)
I'm really happy with the majority of the colours and they are heaps closer to the original joycons than what PBT alone could achieve.
We'll need to go through 1 more round of samples to fix the blue gradient but overall, we're almost there.
The original goal was to get the set ready for a September 9 preorder date (Splatoon 3's anniversary), however, it won't be possible as it will be too tight of a deadline. The aim is to get the preorder open by the end of this year.
KAM SODA SQUID - MAJOR UPDATE
This is going to be a long one so apologies in advance for the wall of text
COLOURMATCHING
All samples have been approved and I'm very happy with the colours. They are incredibly close to the original joycons and I couldn't be more satisfied with the results. Please excuse my awful photos - I swear they look a lot better in real life.
Left is natural lighting and right is artificial lighting.
More
(https://i.imgur.com/ZKsMPqy.jpeg)(https://i.imgur.com/omPElhO.jpeg)
DESKMATS
The Squid Party deskmat has been approved and for the Spilled Lemon Soda deskmat, the stitching just needs to be adjusted. With the Spilled Lemon Soda deskmat, the yellow is not an exact match to the joycons, however, it would be very very difficult to achieve a fluro yellow on a white deskmat. I've been personally using the latest sample and while it's not an exact match, it's close enough that I'm happy to sign it off
More
(https://i.imgur.com/BWwkbRL.jpeg)(https://i.imgur.com/JxNkaSZ.jpeg)
RENDERS
I've updated all the renders to use Keyreative's existing doubleshot moulds and have adjusted the colours to get them as close as I could to the approved samples.
You can view the full render album here (https://imgur.com/a/KpfLvmr)
GROUP BUY DETAILS
Now that colourmatching is complete, we're able to schedule this in for a group buy!
Why not a preorder?
Whilst I would have preferred a preorder, I've decided to go ahead with a group buy as recommended by the vendors. Considering the past performances of recent KAM sets, I believe it is possible to reach MOQ, and with Keyreative's cleared-out queue there should be limited delays during production.
The group buy will run from February 17 to March 17 2025. February 17 is the day that Splatoon 3 was announced back in 2021!
All GB orders will receive a free vinyl sticker featuring the KAM Soda Squid illustration I drew!
More
(https://i.imgur.com/tLGtEyg.jpeg)
PRICING
I also have pricing! This will change depending on the regional vendors, so consider this a rough guide.
Base: $79USD
Numpad: $17USD
Novelties: $23USD
Spacebars: $15USD
Colevrak: $8USD
NordeUK: $17USD
Deskamts: $21USD
I'm very excited to say that KAM Soda Squid is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality!!!