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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: Rumudiez on Thu, 20 December 2012, 03:36:48

Title: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: Rumudiez on Thu, 20 December 2012, 03:36:48: Is anyone interested in Tetris keycaps? I'm talking about colored keycaps arranged to form the famous Tetris blocks, but perhaps a couple dye sub keys that have a block or two placed on them?

I'll make some images tomorrow as examples, but for now, opinions, experiences, or advice?

Okay, here's just a quick mock up before I start doing fancier things.
(http://imgur.com/38YOC.png)

There are several different variations of how to represent the blocks in the keycaps and I don't think I'll have other examples ready until after Christmas and the family starts to dissipate. Sorry for the delay and my poor timing in starting the thread!
Title: Re: Tetris Keycaps
Post by: Lu_e on Fri, 21 December 2012, 14:58:04: tenkey set maybe? (but many incl. myself are TKL so maybe sales wouldnt be high enough). Could be paired with the DDR set, mario set, and more game-themed keys though. For a more 'though-out' vomit board, providing that's not an oxymoron. :p
Title: Re: Tetris Keycaps
Post by: precarious on Fri, 21 December 2012, 15:26:17: this would look great on a matrix keyboard.

kind of makes me wonder if you could install LEDs in all the switches and play tetris on a matrix keyboard with clear keycaps, though at an arguably terrible resolution. maybe something else instead. ;0
Title: Re: Tetris Keycaps
Post by: Rumudiez on Fri, 21 December 2012, 21:48:54: Thanks for the replies, I've turned out to be busier than anticipated but I have some of the images set up. I'll do my best to finish them by tomorrow.. I think they're going to look very nice, though ^_^
Title: Re: Tetris Keycaps
Post by: SmallFry on Fri, 21 December 2012, 21:54:07: Like the translucent ones from SP? TADA (polycarbonate caps about halfway down) (http://keycapsdirect.com/marketplace.php) You might be able to get special pricing if you contact Melissa...
Title: Re: Tetris Keycaps
Post by: razorsharpgears on Fri, 21 December 2012, 21:55:26: As long as the right color sets were to be used, I'd be very interested.
Title: Re: Tetris Keycaps
Post by: Rumudiez on Sat, 22 December 2012, 00:04:45: I was thinking solid color, and something to make them feel more Tetris-y with custom dye sub caps that have multiple blocks on them or perhaps just doubleshots of single blocks. I'll get back to working on those images, hehe.. :)
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: nereme on Mon, 24 December 2012, 06:37:20: Depending on colours and style I would be interested
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: razorsharpgears on Mon, 24 December 2012, 10:47:45: Yeah waiting on those images :3
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: Rumudiez on Mon, 24 December 2012, 18:09:42: Added an image, let me know what you think of the wide layout and exclusion of the modifier keys! I personally like the usage of the F-row as the queue for upcoming blocks.
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: longweight on Mon, 24 December 2012, 18:22:28: The numberpad looks really good but the alpha keys look really bad as they aren't in an aligned grid.
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: razorsharpgears on Mon, 24 December 2012, 18:25:53: Yeah the numpad really looks sick. I like the space bar as well.
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: kbfreak on Tue, 25 December 2012, 04:53:16: Very innovative idea...had to take a double look to realize that the tetris shapes are inside the key layout and not just the function keycaps.
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: TheGrey on Tue, 25 December 2012, 05:24:33: Ohh lawd, those function keys....I love em!
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: danielucf on Wed, 26 December 2012, 16:33:57: Looks pretty cool
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: funkymeeba on Fri, 28 December 2012, 14:43:21: This appeals to me. :D
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: rek55 on Mon, 07 January 2013, 23:00:11: I am very interested in the 10-key, the arrow keys, and the home/end/pgup/pgdwn/etc 6-keys above the arrow keys. Those are all pretty awesome.

What are other people's opinions on if the set should include the black keys as well as the colored?

Also, maybe we could get them with black sides and a blank colored top (doubleshot)... it would help make them look like tetris blocks rather than just colored caps...

Like the number keys here...
(http://geekhack.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=19574.0;attach=8269;image)
Except black sides with the colored top, and sharp corners on the top (so the top would look like a pixel block).
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: rek55 on Tue, 08 January 2013, 09:57:14: So, like this: (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/98668/tetrimino_kb_mockup.png)

Also, colors used are the ones wiki lists as the tetris company's standardization
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris#Colors_of_Tetriminos
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: i3oilermaker on Tue, 08 January 2013, 09:58:23: Quote from: rek55 on Tue, 08 January 2013, 09:57:14
So, like this:
Show Image
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/98668/tetrimino_kb_mockup.png)

Also, colors used are the ones wiki lists as the tetris company's standardization beginning with Tetris Worlds
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris#Colors_of_Tetriminos

Like this a lot!
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: rek55 on Tue, 08 January 2013, 10:00:23: Yeah me too. I'd definitely get a set of these although I think it would be better to keep the black keys out to keep the costs lower.
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: i3oilermaker on Tue, 08 January 2013, 10:07:04: Its potentially an expensive set since the MOQ's start over for each color in each profile.

2x Red R1
3x Blue R1
2x Red R2
1x Orange R2
1x Green R2
1x Blue R2
1x Orange R3
2x Green R3
4x Purple R4
2x Orange R4
1x Green R4

20 Keys

Unless we collect in the vicinity of 150 orders or more it will be about $1 per key.
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: rek55 on Tue, 08 January 2013, 10:17:08: EDIT: Totally changing because of midair collision. :D

Quote from: i3oilermaker on Tue, 08 January 2013, 10:07:04
Its potentially an expensive set since the MOQ's start over for each color in each profile.
...
Unless we collect in the vicinity of 150 orders or more it will be about $1 per key.
You are missing the dot key on the middle numpad, which I assumed would also count as a separate MOQ. I'd potentially be fine leaving it off but since there would be no lettering it seemed somewhat important.

Personally I also wouldn't mind losing the arrow keys, but considering those appear to be the cheapest ones to do I'm not sure it will matter much.

I'd be fine paying $20 for this set.
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: rek55 on Tue, 08 January 2013, 10:24:17: Actually I'd probably be in for a few sets (2-4).
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: funkymeeba on Tue, 08 January 2013, 13:38:10: You could eliminate the profile problem by going with DSA caps from SP, but I don't think everyone else likes those as much as I do.
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: rek55 on Tue, 08 January 2013, 14:15:54: Quote from: funkymeeba on Tue, 08 January 2013, 13:38:10
You could eliminate the profile problem by going with DSA caps from SP, but I don't think everyone else likes those as much as I do.
I checked with SP about the feasibility of this set and they said they could do the keys with DSA but that there would be no mounting stem. Not exactly sure what that means. I was going to send an email to QWERkeys next.

I agree with your assessment that not everyone like DSA. I'd much rather have the more normal profile.
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: jeroplane on Tue, 08 January 2013, 18:55:26: No mounting stem meaning they are essentially entirely useless (they won't go on your keyboard).

You've got some ambitious ideas rek55, but there are many limitations.

Quote from: rek55 on Mon, 07 January 2013, 23:00:11
I am very interested in the 10-key, the arrow keys, and the home/end/pgup/pgdwn/etc 6-keys above the arrow keys. Those are all pretty awesome.

What are other people's opinions on if the set should include the black keys as well as the colored?

Also, maybe we could get them with black sides and a blank colored top (doubleshot)... it would help make them look like tetris blocks rather than just colored caps...

Like the number keys here...
Show Image
(http://geekhack.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=19574.0;attach=8269;image)

Except black sides with the colored top, and sharp corners on the top (so the top would look like a pixel block).

Those keys are by QWERKeys, and the good news is they are open to group buys. Not sure what their limitations are in respect of colour, however. Also, making those keycaps with sharp corners will not be possible. This would involve the creation of an entirely new mold which would add CONSIDERABLE cost.

But it seems you're leaning towards SP anyway, which I think is a good move since they are very receptive to group buys :)
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: rek55 on Tue, 08 January 2013, 20:25:48: Quote from: jeroplane on Tue, 08 January 2013, 18:55:26
No mounting stem meaning they are essentially entirely useless (they won't go on your keyboard).
Yeah, so that's out.

Quote
You've got some ambitious ideas rek55, but there are many limitations.
So I'm discovering. But the best ideas are the ones that rub against those limitations, eh?

Quote
Those keys are by QWERKeys, and the good news is they are open to group buys. Not sure what their limitations are in respect of colour, however. Also, making those keycaps with sharp corners will not be possible. This would involve the creation of an entirely new mold which would add CONSIDERABLE cost.
Yeah, I'm going to contact QWERkeys next. I thought that the square corners might not be possible, but shoot for the moon and all that. Probably especially since they are all different profiles. Even still, I think the "b-series" style is better for these than normal solid blanks.

Another option would be to have the keycaps painted black and then have the paint etched off to expose the square. That would probably be the cheapest option, but I think that I'd rather deal with the tradeoff of losing the rounded corners with the B-series.

Quote
But it seems you're leaning towards SP anyway, which I think is a good move since they are very receptive to group buys :)
SP was just the first I contacted, but it doesn't seem they have the ability to execute on my ambitious plans. :D
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: rek55 on Wed, 09 January 2013, 14:41:36: QWERkeys can do this set, it would cost $16 a set and would have a MOQ of 25 sets, with no discount offered for larger buys.
All the keys would be the same profile, which is a similar height to the QWER row.
They also don't have the bright green or light orange, although they do have a very nice looking dark green and dark orange. I will adjust the mock up with the appropriate colors tonight.
See their colors here: http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0157/7886/files/keycap_colours.jpg?547
Brunswick Green, Orange, Red, Magenta, and Royal Blue are the colors I thought would be best.

So, who is interested in a set of Tetris B-Series keycaps at $16 a pop?
Title: Re: [IC] Tetris Keycaps
Post by: i3oilermaker on Wed, 09 January 2013, 14:46:53: I'm in