Keyboard Builders' Digest / Inspiration
ALIEN88
Hanachi is back with ALIEN88, a rather gaming-oriented low-profile keyboard with unique key spacing.
Published April 23, 2023
So Hanachi's name may be familiar from cutting-edge ergo projects like his Ergotonic F-24, but this time he posted a TKL keyboard with a seemingly much more conservative layout – at least until you take a closer look.
Split spacebar, extra thumb and macro keys, 3-way thumb switch, and a pretty uncommon 19x17 mm spacing make this keyboard unique. It seems Hanachi managed to define the DIY gaming keyboard kit genre:
The definition of "gaming keyboard" is not clear, but I think it has almost all the elements to call it a gaming keyboard. Well, if it lights up, it's gaming – Hanachi.
The keyboard is already being distributed as a DIY prototype, but you can still support the development by filling out this IC form.
By the way, the name comes from a manga called Area 88 by Kaoru Shintani, and the idea of the ALIEN88 design was born when the author talked to gamer friends about custom keyboards:
This development project began loosely with casual conversations among game-loving friends about whether it would be possible to use a custom-made keyboard to comfortably play games – Hanachi.
(If you are interested in the CFX caps showcased in the photos above, they are here. The KBDNEWS coupon code should work for a 5% discount on orders above $49.)
Specs
- compact TKL layout based on US ANSI
- low profile (8.6mm thick case, 20 mm to keycap top)
- hotswap
- 19x17 mm spacing
- extra macro keys
- split spacebar
- two extra thumb keys
- 3-way switch on the front side
- per-key LEDs
Resources
- ALIEN88 – blog entry
- ALIEN88 interest check
- Hanachi's kits on booth.pm
- ALIEN88 product page
- ALIEN88 on github – no PCB files.
Published on Sun 23rd Apr 2023. Featured in KBD #120 (source).
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