[IC] PBTfans Block Game - Major Update: Design Tweaks & Proto Shots

[oay]

"Tetris established itself as one of the greatest video games ever made."
                                                      ——Excerpt from the Tetris Wikipedia entry.


[April 2, 2025] Major Update!

Hi everyone, oay here. 
Following your feedback and to avoid potential controversies,
 we've decided to rename PBTfans Tetris to PBTfans Block Game.

 The official release date has also been finalized: keycaps will be available
for in-stock purchase on the KBDfans website starting June 16, 2025, per their scheduling.
The price and vendors have not been finalized yet, and I will follow up in subsequent updates.
 
Thank you all for your support!


Below are the design tweaks based on the IC form feedback and photos of the keycap samples :

-------------- Design Tweaks --------------

1.Base Kit Updates



・Added green and multicolored arrow keys

・Streamlined/removed some novelties

・Added 3 LED indicators + 2 R4 1.25u spacebars

・Adjusted the "N" and "M" alpha keys



2.New Kits Added

・Spacebars Kit



・40s Kit



3. Color Adjustments for Mod

・Switched to a lighter shade (GMK U9)

4. New Novelty Pixel Deskmat

・Dimensions: 735*342mm
・Material details included in sample photos



--------------- Proto Shots ---------------

I’ve been using the sample set for a while now!
The PBTfans dye-sub keycaps deliver a crisp and bouncy typing feel
with their glass microspheres. The updated colors are understated yet
elegant, and the dye-sub legends remain sharp. Can’t wait to see the final production!


Photos of the keycap samples

Notes:
・ Samples may differ from the final production version.
・Some keys in the samples are placeholders due to incomplete prototyping—please disregard any inconsistencies.

・Under sunlight:




・Under indoor lighting:



・In dim lighting:



・Packaging



Thank you all for your continued support. I hope you love the new updates!

More

Hello, I'm Oay.
After many days, I'm glad to bring to you a new keycap design.
The inspiration for this came from a game ——Tetris



When I was thinking of designing a set of retro-colored keycaps, it came to mind.
I'm pleased that it started with pixel blocks, and keycaps are also square, making everything serendipitously appropriate.

In the design, I wanted the keycaps to be retro and durable-looking.
I chose low-saturation beige and gray, accented with blue-green, giving the feel of old monitor screens with grayish-white subtitles.



To go further and satisfy my initial instinct, I redesigned the fonts and pixelated them.

Base kit

This set of keycaps took about half a year from conception to completion.
 During this time, I intermittently researched, added and deleted content, and it gradually became complete and rich.







I'm not sure if this design will be liked by the majority, as it contains too many of my personal aesthetic preferences.
I sincerely hope to receive your affirmation and suggestions.


(Design inspiration for novelties)

Renders

Targeting MOQ

300

Targeting Price

$65

Material

PBT

Production Method

Dye-sub

GB Schedule

TBD

Other

The keycap pictures above are rendered.
Due to the difference in different monitors, the color may be slightly different from the final product.
 I have tried my best to stay close to the color chart when rendering.



Please fill out the IC form to let me know your thoughts. I'd love to hear your thoughts and get your feedback.

Instagram   IC form    

Warmest regards

[keepoto]

is tetris gray

[tactilesbad]

not a fan of the manu but the project looks really nice

[PrizeOcelot5911]

The price is very beautiful

[Bobatype]

Just a heads up, you'll have to rename the keycap set, as I'm pretty sure the term 'Tetris' can't be used without commercial/licensing rights. As such I also suggest removing the text of 'Tetris' from the novelties too.
BTW the joystick ISO novelty is fire.
I suggest using alternative term such as 'Sys' instead of 'Sup' for the 1u OS key.

As someone who is a fan of the game, and also proposed a similar themed set (PBT Blocks) many years ago, I earnestly wish you the best of luck with this!

FYI, I locked that thread and as it was a circular discussion about whether the tetromino was under copyright, so I paused the project. I note that I did execute it in a much more abstract/controversial manner (inspired by GMK Dots and Geekark Triangle), and yeah I've since thought of revising/revamping it to be less 'weird', with pixel style text alphas/icon mods too (similar to PBT Rex), including making the full blocks modifiers as optional novelties, ; but yeah I never managed to gain the confidence to touch the idea again for now.

[oay]

Just a heads up, you'll have to rename the keycap set, as I'm pretty sure the term 'Tetris' can't be used without commercial/licensing rights. As such I also suggest removing the text of 'Tetris' from the novelties too.
BTW the joystick ISO novelty is fire.
I suggest using alternative term such as 'Sys' instead of 'Sup' for the 1u OS key.

As someone who is a fan of the game, and also proposed a similar themed set (PBT Blocks) many years ago, I earnestly wish you the best of luck with this!

FYI, I locked that thread and as it was a circular discussion about whether the tetromino was under copyright, so I paused the project. I note that I did execute it in a much more abstract/controversial manner (inspired by GMK Dots and Geekark Triangle), and yeah I've since thought of revising/revamping it to be less 'weird', with pixel style text alphas/icon mods too (similar to PBT Rex), including making the full blocks modifiers as optional novelties, ; but yeah I never managed to gain the confidence to touch the idea again unless I got the official go ahead.

Thank you for your suggestions. Copyright issues do need to be taken seriously, and I will modify the name of this keycap set and related text in the novelties.
Additionally, 'Sys' does indeed better fit the theme, and I will consider changing it.

[treypop]

I absulutly LOVE Tetris but is that an AI render? its very uncanny valley. Cheers!!

[Nevrest]

This set looks awesome. If it hits the target price of $65 this is a must buy for me

[Kiririn]

Love how the set looks. Though Tetriminos are trademarked by Tetris Holdings not under copyright as per the quoted copyright/trademark description I found from a Tetris stream description. As Bobatype has already stated, it will a bit thorny regarding novelties.

©SEGA  Tetris ® & © 1985~2024 Tetris Holding.  Tetris logos, Tetris theme song and Tetriminos are trademarks of Tetris Holding.  The Tetris trade dress is owned by Tetris Holding. Licensed to The Tetris Company.
Tetris Game Design by Alexey Pajitnov.

[Dmitri]

65

[jsntzjw]

I really need R1 PgDn and End

[Thumb Key]

I love these renders, they bring back memories of my younger days.

[Cylent]

I like the retro legends, second bobas that some changes will be named to the name of the set and font due to legal reasons. What language are the sublegends on the alt alphas kit? Also, pbtfans is doing dyesub now? I thought they only did doubleshot.

[Uguubox]

Great concept for a set, it'd be sweet to see a GMK set designed by the community around the theme of Tetris - maybe something classy with tetris novelties, instead of something that looks incredibly cheap, tacky, and kinda like you would find it in a gamestop next to several Joker funkopops.

I'm sure such a community designed Tetris set, wouldn't use stolen AI art either, lmao who are you fooling with that stuff, just hilarious guys. I wonder how much money you planned to make based off renders that at the end of the day used stolen art - in reality, probably none, this won't pass IC.

[oay]

I like the retro legends, second bobas that some changes will be named to the name of the set and font due to legal reasons. What language are the sublegends on the alt alphas kit? Also, pbtfans is doing dyesub now? I thought they only did doubleshot.

Thanks! The sublegends on the alt alphas kit is cyrillic. As far as I know, PBTfans can produce dyesub, and they already have projects like that on their website in the IC stage.

[oay]

I really need R1 PgDn and End

Adding！

[Vulxan]

Any chance of adding a 40S kit?

[dvorcol]

Looks like name has changed - https://kbdfans.myshopify.com/collections/interest-checks/products/pbtfans-block-game

[KeebRehab]

I absulutly LOVE Tetris but is that an AI render? its very uncanny valley. Cheers!!

Please answer this question.

[NihonCK]

its pretty obvious that its an AI background and then they added in the keycaps in place of whatever the AI had generated.

I don't see a problem with it, they are just trying to go for a certain aesthetic from my point of view. Just trying to interest you into dye sub keycaps, nothing more.

[kalyl]

Looks like name has changed - https://kbdfans.myshopify.com/collections/interest-checks/products/pbtfans-block-game mapquest directions

Show Image

Yes, it has been renamed.

[dvorcol]

KBDfans update 29 March 2025 - "Estimated production completion date 16 June 2025"

[AerosolFNTM]

I really like the theme and the price for this set, Don't currently have a board this would look good on but interested to see the final production May have to get a set to hold onto.

[oay]

[April 2, 2025] Updates
1. "PBTfans Tetris" renamed to "PBTfans Block Game"
・Launching June 16, 2025
2. Base Kit Tweaks
・Added green and multicolored arrow keys
・Streamlined/removed some novelties
・Added 3 LED indicators + 2 R4 1.25u spacebars
・Adjusted the "N" and "M" alpha keys
・Changed "sup" key to "sys"
3. New Kits Added
・Spacebars Kit
・40s Kit
4. Color Adjustments for Mod
5. New novelty pixel deskmat
6. Photos of the keycap samples
7. Packaging Finalized

Thank you all, see you next update!

[ggggggg]

One tiny thing: the green swirly R1 novelty isn't pixelated.

[konstantin]

Show Image

FYI, the Cyrillic sublegends on the Q, V and ,< keys are incorrect. The first one, й, is missing the breve above the letter; the second one, м, looks like a cursive Cyrillic т (which is similar to Latin m); and the third one, б, isn't tall enough. Additionally, a lot of the sublegends, especially on the home row, are vertically misaligned. Make sure all of the letters' baselines are at the same height.

Edit: This kit is missing some num row keys, namely `~ё, 2@", 3#№, 4$;, 6^:, 7&?. Also missing are the R2 1.5u and R3 1u \|/ keys (plus, the current R2 1u pipe should be moved to R1). The R4 /?ё key should be changed to /?., (bottom right: period, top right: comma).
Here's an example kit with correct sublegends.

Edit 2: The non-homing Jо key should probably have a regular J legend instead of the tetramino.

What language are the sublegends on the alt alphas kit?

The sublegends on the alt alphas kit is cyrillic.

Cyrillic is a writing system (of which Russian Cyrillic is only one variant). Russian is the language in this case.

[oay]

One tiny thing: the green swirly R1 novelty isn't pixelated.

Good catch! I pixelated other keys but kept the R1 swirl as PBTfans' original logo for brand integrity.

[oay]

Show Image

FYI, the Cyrillic sublegends on the Q, V and ,< keys are incorrect. The first one, й, is missing the breve above the letter; the second one, м, looks like a cursive Cyrillic т (which is similar to Latin m); and the third one, б, isn't tall enough. Additionally, a lot of the sublegends, especially on the home row, are vertically misaligned. Make sure all of the letters' baselines are at the same height.

Edit: This kit is missing some num row keys, namely `~ё, 2@", 3#№, 4$;, 6^:, 7&?. Also missing are the R2 1.5u and R3 1u \|/ keys (plus, the current R2 1u pipe should be moved to R1). The R4 /?ё key should be changed to /?., (bottom right: period, top right: comma).
Here's an example kit with correct sublegends.

Edit 2: The non-homing Jо key should probably have a regular J legend instead of the tetramino.

What language are the sublegends on the alt alphas kit?

The sublegends on the alt alphas kit is cyrillic.

Cyrillic is a writing system (of which Russian Cyrillic is only one variant). Russian is the language in this case.

I'll adjust based on the example. Thanks for the feedback.