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PROJECT UPDATE
TimJZheng - Vite Founder
CREATOR
4 months ago
Project Update: VKS Grey Market, and FILL OUT THE FORM IF YOU HAVEN'T
Hello everyone! Tim here.
We talked a bit about the Grey Market last update, and it's being launched now!
The intention behind this is to help continue funding the project after the tariff impacts, and still keep it lore oriented with some artwork and story. Also, anyone who backed got it all at a... REALLY good deal compared to what we need to price at now.
I've also seen that many people have not gotten an email about their kits, so I'm including the link below again. We know there's a lot of stuff that hasn't gotten through, so we're gonna still let people into the alpha program if they want to join.
You'll still be able to get the full experience afterwards!
We've been hard at work on this, but unfortunately, these products were finished recently, and were affected by the tariffs, meaning the material costs alone, without including the costs of paying illustrators, designers, and others necessary to this project, have put this project in the red.
That means we're releasing these kits early off the grey market to keep things moving along. These knives, cutting boards, peelers, and more are already in inventory.
The story and lessons aren't complete yet. The grey market kits will contain the functional items with minimal packaging, and without the narrative... though, hopefully, it'll still feel a bit like you got it from the world of VKS!
Let me know if you have any questions! Current Alpha Testers can probably tell you just how many pages of stuff I've dropped, and with waaaaaaay more to come, haha.
We talked a bit about the Grey Market last update, and it's being launched now!
The intention behind this is to help continue funding the project after the tariff impacts, and still keep it lore oriented with some artwork and story. Also, anyone who backed got it all at a... REALLY good deal compared to what we need to price at now.
I've also seen that many people have not gotten an email about their kits, so I'm including the link below again. We know there's a lot of stuff that hasn't gotten through, so we're gonna still let people into the alpha program if they want to join.
You'll still be able to get the full experience afterwards!
We've been hard at work on this, but unfortunately, these products were finished recently, and were affected by the tariffs, meaning the material costs alone, without including the costs of paying illustrators, designers, and others necessary to this project, have put this project in the red.
That means we're releasing these kits early off the grey market to keep things moving along. These knives, cutting boards, peelers, and more are already in inventory.
The story and lessons aren't complete yet. The grey market kits will contain the functional items with minimal packaging, and without the narrative... though, hopefully, it'll still feel a bit like you got it from the world of VKS!
Let me know if you have any questions! Current Alpha Testers can probably tell you just how many pages of stuff I've dropped, and with waaaaaaay more to come, haha.
Includes Backer-Exclusive Content
Bronze
Engaged with this project 3+ times 🌟
Hi, just saw the email for general sales of the complete set. Will ours ship out as well?
PROJECT UPDATE
TimJZheng - Vite Founder
CREATOR
7 months ago
Project Update: Update 3
VKS BACKERKIT UPDATE
Hello everyone - Khai’xur here! (you can call me Khai) and today I am excited to bring you our most recent updates for VKS products and some new ideas from Tim.
I just recently joined the team here at Vite and I am super excited to be getting hands on with the VKS project! I will be working together with Tim to provide updates like these, as well as narrative and character designs, and using your feedback to help us improve.
I just recently joined the team here at Vite and I am super excited to be getting hands on with the VKS project! I will be working together with Tim to provide updates like these, as well as narrative and character designs, and using your feedback to help us improve.
So let's get to it!
Tools:
The cutting board has new added grooves, for additional grip power!
The cutting board has new added grooves, for additional grip power!
Tim will be providing an update for all the shipping as well as The Grey Market Initiative, so keep reading!
-----
Hey, Tim here!
What’s going with the actual knives, cutting board, and all that other stuff? Also, what the hell is the Grey Market Initiative?
Here’s the good news: The VKS, VKP, QRC, VKS Sharpening Stones, VKS Honing Rod, VKS Peeler, are all done and floating on the great Pacific Ocean somewhere! Not literally(I hope). But rather, they’ve been packed on a boat, and are slated to arrive in 3-4 weeks, depending on how the sea treats things, and the customs process.
Bad news: They’re affected by the tariffs. But, we knew that, and even though it’s still a hit, we’ve been able to absorb it with your help!
Secondary bad news: That did wipe out the remaining funds we had for things like artwork, animation, etc.
Somewhat good news: Despite all the additional costs, we only spent $2,000 more than what we raised on BackerKit, after all the fees. To be fair, we DID basically double the amount of wood being used in the cutting boards(see the previous updates), and add new, free bamboo drying stands, and also bottles of mineral oil, but also those were all done before the tariffs, so...
Overall, coulda been worse. But that does bring up a bit of a problem. While all the physical items will arrive, our ability to fund the scope of what we originally wanted to incorporate in the launch has been diminished significantly.
Well, sorta.
Here’s the thing...
I’m Putting Together A Team
You’ve already been introduced to Khai, who was brought on as our loremaster and head writer. Doesn’t mean I’ll be not writing anymore at all! Just means that I’ll have more freedom to do all the other things associated with this project, like putting together the lessons, testing recipes, managing the art and animation, strategy, broad storyline stuff, kitchenware design, etc, etc.
We also now have a Full Time 3D Animator as well as a 3D Asset Artist to move the project forwards.
All of this is currently funded through the other projects we have going on at Vite. But here’s the thing... We have a lot of product that’s just kind of... sitting there. And importantly, we don’t have the final packaging for them, because the final packaging will require finalization of some of the story elements, artwork, and other things.
Right now, they’re in... well, cardboard boxes.
What we’d like to do, then, is to open up pre-orders in a Grey Market Initiative that allows those who missed the initial BackerKit to buy in. They will not be able to be an Alpha Tester, nor enjoy the kinds of discounts that BackerKit people got. They will also not receive the apron, stickers, and diamond sharpening stone that BackerKit Backers received.
Alpha Testers will be deciding what the Grey Market Initiative members see as behind the scenes as well... and more importantly, this will allow us to increase the scope of our planned content.
There’s also an interesting sub-project for knife skills that only Alpha Testers and BackerKit Backers will have access to as well, to be revealed later!
Here's a taste of what's in active development:
- Feed Hub VK-24601 3D environments and animations
- Character artworks for Vivian, Kat, Mira, and new characters
- Interactive Memstate sequences for knife training
- QRC recipes and skill tree
- Complete Chapter 1 narrative experience
- Secret sub-project that’ll make knife and sharpening skills easy to do
Every grey market sale directly supports our team, and more development time, more polish, more of what makes VKS special.
Grey Market users are going to get one of two options for how they can get involved.
Option 1: Get it now! You get the knives in simple, unmarked boxes, ready to go. No bells, no whistles, just pure cutting power.
Option 2: Pre-order the Grey Market kit and you’ll get the full experience once all items are ready to go! This option will likely be cheaper once all the pricing is done, and gets you the most stuff, without repeating what is already planned for Alpha Testers and Backers.
These options are a work in progress and we will be able to provide more updates as soon as we get more information on customs times, shipping costs, tariff adjustments, etc.
Right now, we're trying to target Q4 for the full launch of VKS, but it also kind of depends on how fast everything is moving.
Right now, we're trying to target Q4 for the full launch of VKS, but it also kind of depends on how fast everything is moving.
Thank you for your patience and support!
It’s been a good minute. Just want to know since lots has happened, including the tariffs. Thanks!
PROJECT UPDATE
TimJZheng - Vite Founder
CREATOR
about 1 year ago
Project Update: VKS Alpha Test Signups
Hello everyone!
We've been working on things in the background, with new characters, story arcs, designs, and concepts being worked on.
The scope of this project has always been large, but one of the things we've come to learn while making it is simply that something like this can't exist and be created in a vacuum-- that is to say, we need YOUR help to see if the lessons being created actually work as intended, and the experience is what we want it to be!
If you're not a backer, then... well, a second chance at it will be coming very soon! You just won't have all the benefits that the backers had.
Meanwhile, if you're a backer... then please make your selection on if you want to:
1. Join the Alpha Test
If you join the Alpha Test, you'll be sent an NDA to sign before being admitted. Afterwards, you'll join the Vite Discord, where we'll be conducting the Alpha Test, and be part of an exclusive group who will help review lessons, storylines, and the overall experience. You will not be allowed to share any information without authorized clearance.
You'll receive all the items as soon as they come in, in their default packaging and configuration when they arrive, and give feedback on the items, as well as how the lessons are constructed and how things can be improved.
There will be responsibilities to adhere to, else be removed from the group.
2. Get all the items without joining the Alpha Test
You'll receive the items once they arrive, but in their default packaging, without the full experience. You'll have the option to get the manual later for free, however, and an extreme discount if you'd like the full experience later. You will NOT be able to join the Alpha Test.
3. Wait for the full experience(6+ months)
Elect to wait for the full experience. If you choose this option, you WILL be able to decide to get all the items later, if you so choose, without the full experience. You will NOT be able to join the Alpha Test.
So if you're a backer:
Check in the "Exclusive Content" for the VKS Alpha Test link!
We've been working on things in the background, with new characters, story arcs, designs, and concepts being worked on.
The scope of this project has always been large, but one of the things we've come to learn while making it is simply that something like this can't exist and be created in a vacuum-- that is to say, we need YOUR help to see if the lessons being created actually work as intended, and the experience is what we want it to be!
If you're not a backer, then... well, a second chance at it will be coming very soon! You just won't have all the benefits that the backers had.
Meanwhile, if you're a backer... then please make your selection on if you want to:
1. Join the Alpha Test
If you join the Alpha Test, you'll be sent an NDA to sign before being admitted. Afterwards, you'll join the Vite Discord, where we'll be conducting the Alpha Test, and be part of an exclusive group who will help review lessons, storylines, and the overall experience. You will not be allowed to share any information without authorized clearance.
You'll receive all the items as soon as they come in, in their default packaging and configuration when they arrive, and give feedback on the items, as well as how the lessons are constructed and how things can be improved.
There will be responsibilities to adhere to, else be removed from the group.
2. Get all the items without joining the Alpha Test
You'll receive the items once they arrive, but in their default packaging, without the full experience. You'll have the option to get the manual later for free, however, and an extreme discount if you'd like the full experience later. You will NOT be able to join the Alpha Test.
3. Wait for the full experience(6+ months)
Elect to wait for the full experience. If you choose this option, you WILL be able to decide to get all the items later, if you so choose, without the full experience. You will NOT be able to join the Alpha Test.
So if you're a backer:
Check in the "Exclusive Content" for the VKS Alpha Test link!
Includes Backer-Exclusive Content
Community Leaders
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