Today TotalBiscuit announced that Axiom eSports is now sponsored by wasdkeyboards.com, which will provide keyboards and other hardware for the Axiom players.
WASD Keyboards produces custom mechanical keyboards that give the customer the freedom to completely customize their keyboard to their play style and design preferences without sacrificing quality. WASD will soon roll out version 2 of their custom keyboards which introduces a sleek new case design and a lower keyboard to aid in alleviating stress from the wrist. To show their support of Axiom, WASD is providing each player their own WASD v2 keyboard.
This new sponsorship is quite the surprise for a team that many believed was not interested in gear sponsorships. Axiom owner Genna Bain clarified the team’s stance on hardware sponsors, stating she did not want to force her players to use sponsored gear they were not comfortable with. “We aren't ‘against’ hardware sponsors. We do, however, want to allow our players to use gear that they actually want to use instead of being forced to do so. There are certain brands in common that our players enjoy using, so we are filtering offers based on certain criteria.”
"I have discussed this with my teammates,” said team captain CranK. “We are excited to create our new [WASD custom] keyboards. We are really thankful they will let us customize our keyboard, so we think we will feel comfortable when we play." WASD previously provided CranK with a WASD Keyboard in August 2012 before the founding of Axiom. Crank opted for MX Browns with 40A-R O-rings.
For more information about WASD Keyboards and to start building your own custom keyboard, visit WASD Keyboard’s website. Feel free to voice your support for WASD and Axiom’s partnership by liking their Facebook page.
On June 01 2013 07:46 Gamegene wrote: Really cool that they're going to be playing on boards they're going to actually like.
There's a lot of players sponsored by poor quality hardware and suffer from technical problems :x
Is this a Razer reference? I just had my 170 dollar Razer Megalodon's mic cable short out and my Razer Abyssus's left click die on me haha. Interestingly, though, my Razer Lycosa keyboard is still working fine. I'll be keeping an eye on it though. Damn Razer products man...
The customization tool lets you do amazing things to create your own keyboard, and I'm pretty sure they also allow you to design keyboards using other tools and send them the files to create them. Seriously, they are only beneath full custom artists in that regard, and even then the base keyboards they use probably aren't on par with these ones.
Seriously great company, lets you customize pretty much as much as the average customer is going to want. (Okay, they won't build you a monster frankenboard, but then again maybe if you asked them, they will.)
Great work from Axiom, and great work from the fans taking down their website.
Sounds like a great company, and actually their prices are pretty competitive too! And as far as mechanical keyboards go, once you go... Cherry brown (not black!), you never go back.
I have the O-rings on my Ducky Shine Purple LED with Brown Switches. Pretty nice, quiets it down to around rubber dome levels, a tad louder. Grats on the sponsorship, was wondering how no one had WASD yet.
Oh, and they have pretty sick service. Contacted them to ask which O-ring was right for me and they got back to me super fast.
I'd love it if someone made a mechanical keyboard with LEDs you could customize or a large array of colors to choose from when customizing. I'd also like if they made backlightable key caps. The only way I could get a purple LED brown switch keyboard was having it imported from Taiwan. There really isn't an option in the US unless you want some color forced upon you (like blue or green). If you want something to fit your computer setup there are really no easy options. I'd have had a custom WASD made if I could have gotten purple LED. Dunno if TB would have any sway to help them broaden some of their product lines. But god knows we gamers are anal and vain =) Might be a market to corner.
Love it. The idea of custom made keyboards is brilliant for a team if performance is a high priority. I never heard of them before but will now check them out for sure.
I am also typing on a WASD keyboard right now, which I love dearly. A clanmate of mine just pointed out that this is kind of a reverse sponsorship, where I'm more likely to keep an eye on Axiom than I was because of their WASD sponsorship :p
I think this is extremely smart though. A company who specifically creates their keyboards to the customer's specifications, allowing them tons of customization essentially means they will always have something they can be happy with.
I do hope that WASD starts offering Axiom Keycaps, and I expect to see pictures of the completed keyboards the team members use, because that shit will be awesome.
Awesome that WASDKeyboards is supporting eSports, and even better that they're sponsoring Axiom! I was very close to buying one of their boards around the time they opened, but opted for a Quickfire Rapid only because I wanted a TKL. WASD is next on the list when I need a new keyboard. I've ordered keycaps from them before and the experience was great.
New sponsors entering the field is always a good thing, and it's especially nice when it's one that's a quality business and whose products are legitimately helpful for the players.
On June 01 2013 09:10 AxCranK wrote: Yay!
Congrats, and hopefully you enjoy your new keyboards!
Never heard of these people before. Only problem for me is not being able to change the actual keyboard, rather than the keys. Having a few different keyboard styles would be awesome.
On June 01 2013 11:28 Oakenshield wrote: Is it true that mechanical keyboards wear out and if so how long can a 5 hour a day gamer expect one to last?
The switches are "rated" for up to 50 million keystrokes each. Basically, as long as you don't douse it in water or hit a wall with it, it should last you many years.
was wondering if you can customize your keyboard so that the f-keys are exactly on top of the number keys. for example f1 is right on top of the 1 key, the f2 key right on top of the 2 key. you can find these on the noppoo choc mini's, which is the keyboard i have and if i am ever going to change i don't think i can because im so used to the f-key placement for camera hotkeys.
Great keyboards if you get the cherry reds they are a step above the other switches once you go red you can't go back. Also got a sick green and yellow checkered layout from them. (probably on their gallery as one of the last pics since they were still new) They sent me the wrong order and were nice enough to let me keep it and sent me what I ordered. So I got 3 key sets^^. But seriously my green and yellow I get flooded with questions about my keyboard every time I go to a lan tourny, Always tell them wasd keyboards
On June 01 2013 07:46 Gamegene wrote: Really cool that they're going to be playing on boards they're going to actually like.
There's a lot of players sponsored by poor quality hardware and suffer from technical problems :x
Is this a Razer reference? I just had my 170 dollar Razer Megalodon's mic cable short out and my Razer Abyssus's left click die on me haha. Interestingly, though, my Razer Lycosa keyboard is still working fine. I'll be keeping an eye on it though. Damn Razer products man...
my razer diamondback 3g is working ifne for like 5 years now
this news is nice for axiom; feels kinda weird to have that kind of advertising video to represent a news like this though
On June 01 2013 07:46 Gamegene wrote: Really cool that they're going to be playing on boards they're going to actually like.
There's a lot of players sponsored by poor quality hardware and suffer from technical problems :x
Is this a Razer reference? I just had my 170 dollar Razer Megalodon's mic cable short out and my Razer Abyssus's left click die on me haha. Interestingly, though, my Razer Lycosa keyboard is still working fine. I'll be keeping an eye on it though. Damn Razer products man...
Wish I could say the same, mine just goes apeshit sometimes, scrolling through my playlist, random keys refusing to work, making me having to restart PC (replugging it causes BSOD even though it fixed the problem before) and to top it all, it becomes stiff not even a month after thorough cleaning Wish I've done my research before sinking money into it.
Another sponsor in the bag, I'd so love to know the monetary value of these sponsors out of curiosity but I'm sure thats privileged information... atlas good job!
On June 01 2013 09:05 Noobity wrote: I do hope that WASD starts offering Axiom Keycaps, and I expect to see pictures of the completed keyboards the team members use, because that shit will be awesome.
That's a great idea for both points
I have a Filco at home and I was just thinking about getting a new Leopold to use on my second station. But... customized keyboard? gonna check out WASD right away (:
Honestly not a fan of either but I am SUPER pleased to see a team get a sponsor. Hell, if I hated a team and hated EVERYTHING I would still be happy to see esports get a sponsorship (Note that I would hate esports in this metaphor; that's how much I approve of esports sponsorship)
As far as keyboard looks go, this seems to be the premier site right now, unless there is a site that allows you to dye the base of the keyboard as well.
To be objective though, they keyboards don't even seem to have media player function-keys on F1-F6 like just about all mechanical keyboards (even the 6gv2) have. Hopefully it's just me not being able to find any declaration that they have the function, cause if you're behind the 6gv2 at this point in time,..
I heard TB mention something about a "version 2" coming. Hopefully that's when they include these function keys (if they're currently missing), along with NKRO on usb.
Are there keyboards for larger hands and larger people? I've been looking for one that is bigger in the sense of wider in total, not just keys spaced more widely apart, but a keyboard entirely that is wider - - as if for a bigger shoulder span. My hands have to join together on the keyboard to narrowly.
I've had a friend who's been eyeing a WASD keyboard for well over a year now. I really wonder if he'll ever take the plunge and go for it. I'm happy with my Thermaltake Meka G1, but I'd heavily consider getting a WASD cherry mx red with O-rings as my next mech kb.
On June 01 2013 18:19 Hermanoid wrote: As far as keyboard looks go, this seems to be the premier site right now, unless there is a site that allows you to dye the base of the keyboard as well.
To be objective though, they keyboards don't even seem to have media player function-keys on F1-F6 like just about all mechanical keyboards (even the 6gv2) have. Hopefully it's just me not being able to find any declaration that they have the function, cause if you're behind the 6gv2 at this point in time,..
I heard TB mention something about a "version 2" coming. Hopefully that's when they include these function keys (if they're currently missing), along with NKRO on usb.
Apparently they have indeed included media keys, but not on F-keys:
Multimedia keys were frequently requested, but we didn't like the way this was implemented on other keyboards. The hotkeys were generally set up in a way that either required two hands or required you bend and twist your hand around in unnatural ways. We positioned our hotkeys in the Ins, Del, Home, End, PgUp, PgDn cluster. It's designed for you to press the Fn/Menu Key with your right thumb so you use your middle and ring fingers to comfortably access the multimedia hotkeys.
couldnt hear a thing from these keyboard because totalbiscuit was speaking the whole time. next time try to stop for a second so people can get an idea of what mechanical keyboard is and sounds.
On June 01 2013 07:46 Gamegene wrote: Really cool that they're going to be playing on boards they're going to actually like.
There's a lot of players sponsored by poor quality hardware and suffer from technical problems :x
Is this a Razer reference? I just had my 170 dollar Razer Megalodon's mic cable short out and my Razer Abyssus's left click die on me haha. Interestingly, though, my Razer Lycosa keyboard is still working fine. I'll be keeping an eye on it though. Damn Razer products man...
same thing happend to me with steelseries, i think it only depends on costumers luck :D
On June 01 2013 07:48 MichaelDonovan wrote: Is this a Razer reference? I just had my 170 dollar Razer Megalodon's mic cable short out and my Razer Abyssus's left click die on me haha. Interestingly, though, my Razer Lycosa keyboard is still working fine. I'll be keeping an eye on it though. Damn Razer products man...
Had 3 Razer mouses and the left click has worn down on all of them, really poor quality plastic that pushes on the button inside the mouse.
I've heard of them before, but never really bothered to check them out – until now. Damn, I got so tempted to buy one, but I neither have a reason to (I've got a keyboard I'm satisfied with) nor the money to (I live in Sweden, shipping and taxes would be a pain...).
On June 01 2013 20:11 Golgotha wrote: its cool and all to customize the switches...but what about the keyboard layout? can u get a mini keyboard?
I think the WASD Keyboard v2 that TB was talking about in the video is a tenkeyless version, meaning it does not have a numpad.
Damn those keyboards look pretty sweet. I already have a keyboard i really like, but if i was in the market for one. I would deff check those guys out. And i really like TB and Axiom, so its nice to see them get additional sponsors.
On June 01 2013 20:01 bGr.MetHiX wrote: couldnt hear a thing from these keyboard because totalbiscuit was speaking the whole time. next time try to stop for a second so people can get an idea of what mechanical keyboard is and sounds.
Or y'know you could just watch the original video
Does this sponsor include acer as well since the two teams are partnered?
No this barely ever happens. Acer are our partners for GSTL only.
On June 01 2013 20:01 bGr.MetHiX wrote: couldnt hear a thing from these keyboard because totalbiscuit was speaking the whole time. next time try to stop for a second so people can get an idea of what mechanical keyboard is and sounds.
But i still will always feel "gaming/mechanical" keyboards are no different than any other keyboard. You dont need a fancy-shmancy $100+ keyboard to get into GM or anything.
Its honestly a state of mind how you feel about one.
On June 02 2013 11:00 SoOJuuu wrote: But i still will always feel "gaming/mechanical" keyboards are no different than any other keyboard.
This is factually false. The keyboards are obviously very different; that said, you are correct, the performance of most players would be almost completely independent of the keyboard used (within reason).
On June 02 2013 11:00 SoOJuuu wrote: You dont need a fancy-shmancy $100+ keyboard to get into GM or anything.
Into Korean GM? Most players there are pros, and they all carefully choose their keyboards and mice.
But more generally, you are right -- a player can be very good (not sure about GM, but probably mid-masters) and not use custom equipment. Past a certain level, however, equipment can affect the results, even if nowhere near as strongly as the player's practice regiment, talent, coaching, attitude, psychology, and similar factors.
On June 02 2013 11:00 SoOJuuu wrote: Its honestly a state of mind how you feel about one.
What does this sentence mean? If you are trying to say "there is no measurable difference between player performance with generic and custom keyboards" - this is factually false, almost all professionals use custom keyboards, frequently unrelated to their sponsors. And there is a good reason for this.
On June 01 2013 11:28 Oakenshield wrote: Is it true that mechanical keyboards wear out and if so how long can a 5 hour a day gamer expect one to last?
My one year old mechanical has written several dozen pages of essays plus some other class work. I play video games at least 3 hours a day if not much more. I can really say my keyboard feels fresh-out-of-the-box new whereas a rubber-dome one would be getting softer keys and who knows what else. Mechanical keyboards can also be very easily and very thoroughly cleaned.
I see a many positive experiences with the WASD Keyboard in this thread alone. The base models also looks like it costs less than a Das Keyboard which I own and paid something like 130. That is a pretty good reason to purchase it IMO
On June 01 2013 18:19 Hermanoid wrote: As far as keyboard looks go, this seems to be the premier site right now, unless there is a site that allows you to dye the base of the keyboard as well.
To be objective though, they keyboards don't even seem to have media player function-keys on F1-F6 like just about all mechanical keyboards (even the 6gv2) have. Hopefully it's just me not being able to find any declaration that they have the function, cause if you're behind the 6gv2 at this point in time,..
I heard TB mention something about a "version 2" coming. Hopefully that's when they include these function keys (if they're currently missing), along with NKRO on usb.
Apparently they have indeed included media keys, but not on F-keys:
Multimedia keys were frequently requested, but we didn't like the way this was implemented on other keyboards. The hotkeys were generally set up in a way that either required two hands or required you bend and twist your hand around in unnatural ways. We positioned our hotkeys in the Ins, Del, Home, End, PgUp, PgDn cluster. It's designed for you to press the Fn/Menu Key with your right thumb so you use your middle and ring fingers to comfortably access the multimedia hotkeys.
I've been strongly considering new keycaps for my Das, this might push me over the edge. Is there a way to say during checkout "thanks for sponsoring Axiom" or the like?
Seems like they just got their keyboards in the house! :D Still looking for the keycap to buy it though, TB replied to me that they are available, but I can't find any place they are on the wasd site.
I love WASD, I had just bought my KeyCool 84 before I heard WASD, so i decided to trick out my new keyboard Colorado Style with some new key caps. Can't wait to see what the rest of the teams boards look like!
A question for people with the sound dampeners especially for people with MX Blue, does it feel any different to actually click the keys after applying em? Cause I love the original feeling of the Blue ones and I wouldnt want that ruined if im going to order one with dampeners.
On July 27 2013 13:39 Thalandros wrote: Seems like they just got their keyboards in the house! :D Still looking for the keycap to buy it though, TB replied to me that they are available, but I can't find any place they are on the wasd site.
EPT
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