[IC] GMK Blue Alert R2 - Preorder runs Sep 6-27, 2024

[The Pig]

Wowza really great kitting and banner  hope all kits reach moq 

[TyPo.mk]

I’ll give you a dollar to put alert row in base

[LightningXI]

I’ll give you a dollar to put alert row in base

😔dollar put back on the table, sorry. Just get both kits!

[blacksimon]

This is lovely, thank you Diego!

[LightningXI]

Just wanted to mention that there is possibility of an International kit. More news on this soon.

[IMZO]

first time in awhile im buying all the kits.

[Nihadoid]

Just wanted to mention that there is possibility of an International kit. More news on this soon.

Hoping for this If it was to be done would it be possible to have the num row keys in the V4 colourway?

[twitchytheinsideman]

in for all sets i think. or at least base and extension

[culain]

Just wanted to mention that there is possibility of an International kit. More news on this soon.

Good point!


Hoping for this If it was to be done would it be possible to have the num row keys in the V4 colourway?

[Adelscott]

Just wanted to mention that there is possibility of an International kit. More news on this soon.

I guess what you call International is in fact Nordeuk ?

[Yus]

Nicely done, Diego.  I need this for my keyboard. 

[LightningXI]

Will be adding a U9 beige Cherry on V4 blue base key to the Extension kit. Kitting (as shown in this thread) is now final and quotes are underway. Thanks for the interest and support, everyone!

[LightningXI]

Just wanted to mention that there is possibility of an International kit. More news on this soon.

I guess what you call International is in fact Nordeuk ?

Yes, this would likely be the case. The kitting is not designed by me but by the two vendors running it -- Oblotzky and Jae[Prototypist]. It is likely there won't be ES/FR unless requests are made. I would suggest communicating this to them if there's significant interest.

[Lhiebig]

An ESFR kit or a true international kit (like the one in GMK 2048 Extended) would be really awesome!

[extrapriusplease]

Can't wait dude!!

[MSA_Vision]

Very pog

[IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES]

> Will be adding a U9 beige Cherry on V4 blue base key to the Extension kit

Ayyy that’s awesome

[udller]

oh yeah, the number rows got me excited. i love my blue alert. timeless classics/

[EdgeOfInfinity]

glwic Diego!

[FoxandFoundry]

Is there any reason you're not using CP instead of L9? It would be cool if the alpha base color for GMK Blue Alert matched GMK Red Alert.

[LightningXI]

Is there any reason you're not using CP instead of L9? It would be cool if the alpha base color for GMK Blue Alert matched GMK Red Alert.

It’s the same colors as R1. Likewise, Red Alert replicated its first round which had those colors (CP for alpha base).

They didn’t run at the same time or by the same runner. They’re just different sets albeit close conceptually.

[FoxandFoundry]

Okay, no worries. Just asking because GMK Red Alert is perfection imho and it would make so much sense to build on that. Also for people who have both sets they would look really great together.

[FoxandFoundry]

It’s the same colors as R1. Likewise, Red Alert replicated its first round which had those colors (CP for alpha base).

They didn’t run at the same time or by the same runner. They’re just different sets albeit close conceptually.

Okay, no worries. Just asking because GMK Red Alert is perfection imho and it would make so much sense to build on that. Also for people who have both sets they would look really great together.

[Razer1987]

Espfr would be awesome

[dyrdevil]

Really great to see this, thank you Diego!

Seems like my question will be too late, but I am curious if R4 bottom rows might make a return to modern base kits like this.  Would it increase the price of the base kit considerably?

I really appreciate the comprehensive coverage for Alice and f13 layouts in recent base kits, but I’ve found that I tend to prefer r4 bottom rows over r5. 

GL!

[LightningXI]

Really great to see this, thank you Diego!

Seems like my question will be too late, but I am curious if R4 bottom rows might make a return to modern base kits like this.  Would it increase the price of the base kit considerably?

I really appreciate the comprehensive coverage for Alice and f13 layouts in recent base kits, but I’ve found that I tend to prefer r4 bottom rows over r5. 

GL!

Hey! Thanks for the kind words.

I would say that generally the choice of bottom rows depends solely on the designer's choice. I think for cost effectiveness, it is necessary to choose either one and to stick with it.

At least in the case of Blue Alert, it was both a deliberate choice to keep it the same as its predecessor set (Blue Alert R1 that ran with Originative, except back then, the R5 1.25u molds did not exist), as well as a personal preference of mine, especially for classic schemes such as Beige/Classic Retro, WoB, and Dolch.

If you think about it the other way, a comprehensive kit that were to include both R4 and R5 keys to cover required layouts would imply adding at least a few dozen keys in R4 (even with 6.25u and 7u rows alone, you are thinking 20+ additional keys). Unfortunately, this either would have to be an additional kit to hit its own MOQ (150 units for stock color sets, 250 for custom colors), or a significant increase in kit pricing (especially the base, which matters most).

Hope this perspective helps inform folks wondering this across several sets they like.

[Amamiya_nana]

It's not often you see a single color OG keycap in a vibrant color anymore, I like it!

[LightningXI]

A few quick changes!

• Final kit and board renders have been updated.
• Preorder dates have been set! GB will run from September 6 through September 27, 2024.
• Tentative artisan keycap collaborations listed on main post. Please note that these are tentative and may change or drop depending on makers' availability. These may also happen weeks or months after the GB window. Please understand that they are not obligated or bound to creating keycaps for the set! I am immensely thankful for their support of the set.
• Pricing to be announced in the following few days.

Thank you again all for your interest and support.

[kno]

Lets goo!! So excited for this Like many others my keycap sets now rotates between WoB, beige and Dolch. Some more beige with some some vibrant color is always welcomed.  I'm in for all sets 

[macclack]

Happy this is running again. Planning on joining 

[udller]

i forgot to say this earlier, but this set would go great with a BAE in blue.

[VXQN]

Kinda wish that the Accent keys used alpha beige as the legend colour instead of mod beige. Even though it's "technically" correct, it looks a little off.

[IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES]

I think the l9 vs u9 was a vote on discord. R1 also used mod (u9) didn’t it?

[LightningXI]

I think the l9 vs u9 was a vote on discord. R1 also used mod (u9) didn’t it?

The Esc / Enter accents would have not changed regardless. But yes, R1 used U9 beige for all blue accents.

The only difference on this run is that there is a stripe kit and it will use the lighter cream L9 color for legends.

[LightningXI]

Hi all,

Blue Alert GB will open at the end of the week!

NovelKeys and ProtoTypist have provided pricing on their kits, which is as follows:

Base $135
Extension $55
Hangul $50
Blue Stripe $35

ProtoTypist prices with excluded / included VAT:

Base: £ 106.67 - 128.00
Extension: £ 43.33 - 52.00
Hangul: £ 39.17 - 47.00
Blue Stripe: £ 27.50 - 33.00

Prices will be updated onto the table in the OP as proxies follow-up with their final preorder pricing. You can expect other vendors' pricing to be similar or close.

Thank you for the interest!

[Kokaloo]

Not to be that guy but I don't understand the trend of separating the stripe from the base kit. FTRO stripe is hard to get because they all sold out exceptionally faster than the base kits once in stock, and I feel this would be the same result if ran in a child kit. Not only that but it becomes far more expensive than just pairing it in base, and people are already going to want to attach the stripe kit so why not pair both together? I'd hate to miss out on the main gimmick once this hits in stock.

[LightningXI]

Not to be that guy but I don't understand the trend of separating the stripe from the base kit. FTRO stripe is hard to get because they all sold out exceptionally faster than the base kits once in stock, and I feel this would be the same result if ran in a child kit. Not only that but it becomes far more expensive than just pairing it in base, and people are already going to want to attach the stripe kit so why not pair both together? I'd hate to miss out on the main gimmick once this hits in stock.

Because it'd bring the pricing of the base kit up a significant and non-negligible amount. The target is for the base kit to hit MOQ; the Blue Stripe is a luxury add-on that's happening this time around because it's possible. Totally understand wanting something in-stock that's paired together. At the same time, I think, if anything, past sales data on similar kitting shows that people prioritize a purchase on just the base, and the accents / novelties / add-ons are for those who can afford the extra luxury.

Hope that makes sense. It's unfortunately just the way it goes in making these concessions for kitting.

[Kaptain Mike]

Not to be that guy but I don't understand the trend of separating the stripe from the base kit. FTRO stripe is hard to get because they all sold out exceptionally faster than the base kits once in stock, and I feel this would be the same result if ran in a child kit. Not only that but it becomes far more expensive than just pairing it in base, and people are already going to want to attach the stripe kit so why not pair both together? I'd hate to miss out on the main gimmick once this hits in stock.

Be that guy if you are that guy. Why not buy during pre-order? Calling it a gimmick is a choice...

[ZavaZ86]

Not to be that guy but I don't understand the trend of separating the stripe from the base kit. FTRO stripe is hard to get because they all sold out exceptionally faster than the base kits once in stock, and I feel this would be the same result if ran in a child kit. Not only that but it becomes far more expensive than just pairing it in base, and people are already going to want to attach the stripe kit so why not pair both together? I'd hate to miss out on the main gimmick once this hits in stock.

Be that guy if you are that guy. Why not buy during pre-order? Calling it a gimmick is a choice...

He just wants the stripe for his 40% 

[Kokaloo]

Not to be that guy but I don't understand the trend of separating the stripe from the base kit. FTRO stripe is hard to get because they all sold out exceptionally faster than the base kits once in stock, and I feel this would be the same result if ran in a child kit. Not only that but it becomes far more expensive than just pairing it in base, and people are already going to want to attach the stripe kit so why not pair both together? I'd hate to miss out on the main gimmick once this hits in stock.

Be that guy if you are that guy. Why not buy during pre-order? Calling it a gimmick is a choice...

It's called blue alert. It's called an alert row. It's integral to the design of this set.
And I simply don't buy during gb- sorry "pre order", especially when the designer himself is worried about moq to the point where we are using separating kits as a way to ensure it hits moq even though just the base kit is definitively more plain without the stripe.  Have been an in stock exclusive buyer for a while now after seeing everything this hobby has been though. I think many people would understand!

[IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES]

Lets R1 people get it too, and that was also in play for red alert where r1 didn’t have the stripe and then you could buy it. GMK Toxic had both rows in base and I don’t think that’s the reason it didn’t sell well, but that does the idea no favors. FTRO goes for two colors and “making an expensive inclusive base kit”has been a bad idea for a long time. Was it also a condition for Blue Alert rerun permission or am I thinking of something else?

I suppose the opposite idea is to preorder two rows and sell one, as I think you’re right, the child kit will sell for a larger percent of preorder than base. You’re totally right on vendors dropping like flies too, to the point I get stuff from another countries vendor not the USA one, but Novelkeys changes the risk assessment for me.

[LightningXI]

It's called blue alert. It's called an alert row. It's integral to the design of this set.
And I simply don't buy during gb- sorry "pre order", especially when the designer himself is worried about moq to the point where we are using separating kits as a way to ensure it hits moq even though just the base kit is definitively more plain without the stripe.  Have been an in stock exclusive buyer for a while now after seeing everything this hobby has been though. I think many people would understand!

The thing is this -- it's not. The set name and that particular perception of the set do not match up. The original sets that ran with GMK years back -- Red Alert (2015, photekq & Team Hammer) and Blue Alert (2017, Originative) -- neither of them had a colored row.

This set is effectively a re-run of that set with tweaks. I purposefully named the colored accent kit a Blue Stripe kit to avoid ambiguity with people's perception of "alert". The concept of stripe is taken from DSA Skull Squadron (2014), which implemented it in a similar format.

For what it's worth, the very first set run with said "stripe" was in fact called DCS Rebel and dubbed "Red Alert" by the community. The stripe keys were simply add-on keys outside of the "full kit" and were just "inverse" colored keys. In fact, the second, GH-centric DCS run did not even have the white-on-red keys either.  The idea of "Alert" is misconstrued and has changed over the years.

[bigmaxnonions]

Would you ever consider blue accent arrow cluster in the alert kit?

[LightningXI]

Would you ever consider blue accent arrow cluster in the alert kit?

Hey! Did consider accent arrows. Rid of them in favor of providing accents to the 40s community (Esc/Enter) in base, and at this point we have finalized the kitting. Sorry about that!

[airs]

Thanks for running this, I got in on the Originative run set back in 2017 and will be in on this for a number of kits. My only constructive criticism is that Geon's approach to kitting with Evil Dolch is a lot friendlier on the wallet.

[LightningXI]

Thanks for running this, I got in on the Originative run set back in 2017 and will be in on this for a number of kits. My only constructive criticism is that Geon's approach to kitting with Evil Dolch is a lot friendlier on the wallet.

Glad to hear and thanks for the support.

I hear you on that. The main difference would be that GEON's approach requires a good amount of capital to ensure that certain MOQ levels are hit to maintain the price level they have, regardless of the final number of sales. I'm certain that it wouldn't be too cheap to split kits at lower levels. This was the only way to guarantee things would go smoothly for all the desired kits at the end. Thanks for the feedback!

[TyPo.mk]

Thanks for running this, I got in on the Originative run set back in 2017 and will be in on this for a number of kits. My only constructive criticism is that Geon's approach to kitting with Evil Dolch is a lot friendlier on the wallet.

That kitting only works because geon has a million bajillion dollars to preemptively decide to buy out thousands of kits. Not feasible for every design or designer. If this was priced at 3000 moq it would be very affordable too

[FatefulStranger]

I assume it’s too late for any kitting changes, but shouldn’t there be a blue ‘Pause’ key in the stripe child kit so as to fit G80-1800 layouts? Thanks!

[D3RS]

Is the groupbuy still happening on Novelkeys? Or do I have to get this shipped from outside the US?

[HubertThemad]

Is the groupbuy still happening on Novelkeys? Or do I have to get this shipped from outside the US?

It's going live in 8 minutes (or so it seems based on NK's discord)!