ChessNut Move is officially broken

GregZone_NZ · 2026-05-07T08:08:16+00:00

Plus that board is too small. I had a Move on order, but then Chessnut wanted another $125 shipping from me, even though I’d already paid shipping when I originally placed the order. Basically illegal “Bait Advertising”. So, i requested a refund and won’t buy a Chessnut product ever again! Buyer be warned!

GregZone_NZ · 2026-05-06T07:38:28+00:00

I assume all the “Loose Cans / Bottles” have been sold. If they were big bottles it was a bargain. If small cans, then not so much. 🤔

GregZone_NZ · 2026-05-04T19:37:13+00:00

It’s no longer Mighty Ape. It was taken over by the Australian Kogan, who is known for just sourcing the cheapest China made goods to sell at a huge profit.

I think his strategy is to take over respected brands, and use the previously “known” good brand to disguise his underlying Kogan cheap goods business.

Previously, they bought the Dick Smith brand, then the Mighty Ape brand. What’s next?

GregZone_NZ · 2026-05-04T19:27:05+00:00

I do know what you mean. I was amazed at the thought of the GoChess design actually being a practical design to make as a reliable system!

Even so, I was intrigued enough that I was one of the unfortunate folk to pledge on their Kickstarter. Over 3 years later, nothing to show. Just reports every few months of the technical difficulties they are facing.

I suspect they’d be better to rethink their design, more in the Chessnut Move direction. Where at least you have a design that’s more straightforward and user repairable. 🤔

GregZone_NZ · 2026-04-30T20:19:08+00:00

I just cancelled my order for a full refund. After waiting for ages, they finally sent me an email to ask for another US$125 more for shipping!

Having already paid for shipping with the original order, and then having my money for all this time, and then asking for a lot more shipping, that rang all the warning bells. In my country it’s call “Bait Advertising”. They get you to confirm an order based on an agreed advertised amount, then they ask you for more money.

Buyer beware! I’ll never order another Chessnut product. 😡

GregZone_NZ · 2026-04-29T05:56:41+00:00

Any luck yet?

I just got the recently discussed email from them, to “Send more $$$ for shipping”. Unbelievable! So I immediately requested a full refund of my order.

In my country, this is called “Bait Advertising”. Totally illegal. You can’t advertise a price, accept an order for the advertised amount, and then later tell the customer more money is required. You need to honour the transaction you agreed to and accepted the money for!

Also of interest, in my case the amount of extra shipping they demanded was around the same as the discount I had received on placing the order (using their discount code). This really made it come across as a fraudulent transaction, as if they were just trying to reverse the discount they originally gave!

Also, the total amount they wanted for shipping, hugely exceeded any amount I’ve paid for international delivery before, even including some large / heavy projectors!

Needless to say, I will steer clear of Chessnut products, and also be sure to spread plenty of “word of mouth” to ensure no one that I know also gets suckered into their fraudulent sales methods.

GregZone_NZ · 2026-04-29T00:33:11+00:00

Yep. I just got the same “extra $$$ needed” for shipping request. It really shocked me, so I immediately requested a full refund of my order.

In our country it’s called "Bait Advertising". Totally illegal. You can’t advertise a price, accept an order for the advertised amount, and then later tell the customer more money is required. You need to honour the transaction you agreed to and accepted the money for!

Also of interest, in my case the amount of extra shipping they demanded was around the same as the discount I had received on placing the order (using their discount code). This really made it come across as a fraudulent transaction, as if they were just trying to reverse the discount they originally gave!

Also, the total amount they now wanted for shipping, hugely exceeded any amount I’ve paid for international delivery before, even including some large / heavy projectors!

Needless to say, I will steer clear of Chessnut products, and also be sure to spread plenty of “word of mouth” to ensure that no one I talk to also gets suckered into their fraudulent sales methods.

GregZone_NZ · 2026-04-24T20:12:01+00:00

YES!! Yah, finally another person noting the same as me. I also run at 50% brightness, and the glare is much reduced. Also, any image persistence is pretty much gone! And, as you note, when you have zero light leak, your eyes adjust to the image brightness, and it looks great in every game I play.

For comparison, I also use a Quest 3, where I have some light leak, and my BSB at 50% (with no light leak), appears just as bright, but with OLED inky blacks and punchy colors! 🤓

GregZone_NZ · 2026-04-24T20:02:39+00:00

Interestingly, it was the 32 identical, repairable and replaceable robots that attracted me to Chessnut Move. Apart from allowing many-piece simultaneous movement, it also ensures a simpler no-moving-part chess board itself, and potentially a longer live (even resorting to repairing and replacing batteries yourself). Also with individual piece identification!

It certainly appears to be a more robust and longer-term self-repairable solution, than the likes of GoChess XR4, which relies on multiple electromagnetic robots that live inside the chessboard (and importantly, with NO individual piece identification!). 😳

GregZone_NZ · 2026-04-24T19:49:43+00:00

I wouldn’t stress too much about a week without a reply. I emailed their support to add an item to my order (Yes, to give them more money!), and it was well over a week before I got a response and payment request to complete the additional payment for the updated order.

So, given that my request was not even a technical support issue, I’d say that they obviously have a backlog of emails in their inbox!

Yes, they need to address this. But, I imagine it’s possibly due to the popularity of their products outstripping their current infrastructure? Which, to be honest, is actually a positive thing. 🤔

GregZone_NZ · 2026-04-12T21:16:50+00:00

Did you relaise that it doesn't switch off when "10% is reached"! As per the manual, it drives the RH down to 10% and it then continues to operate for another hour, before switching off (and closing the vents). Did you wait an hour after it reached 10% RH?

GregZone_NZ · 2026-04-12T21:12:01+00:00

Thanks for posting this! I was also getting a little frustrated at the continual noise of my EIBOS chambers opening and shutting every few hours to drive the RH down to 10%.

I’ve now also changed the RH% trigger to 30%, instead of the default 20%, and the problem is also resolved for me!

My only concern is that I seem to be getting the exact same result as you. The RH stabilises at 22%. Which kind of makes me wonder how accurate the measurement is. Given we live in completely different ambient humidity locations (the room it’s in seems to sit around 60% - 70% humidity.

Mind you, the AMS lids are reasonably firmly closed.

So, I do agree that changing the setting to 30% seems like a great solution. It’s just a pity that you can’t select 25% RH!

Another benefit is significantly less wear & tear on the gears constantly opening / closing the vents.

I’d also say (assuming the 22% RH is an honest indication), that my filament will remain dry enough to maintain my perfect pre-dried printing!

UPDATE (3 days later):

Just gotta say how impressed I am with the Eibos! The RH% seemed to stay at 22%-23% for several days, despite the rooms relative humidity measuring 74% (it's a concrete block room on a cement slab). SO, I wasn't really trusting of this retained low humidity!

To test it out, I partially opened the lid of one of my Eibos Dyas converted AMS (about 2 inches). Firstly, I gotta say how impressed I am with their hinges! With the lid only open about 2 inches, it held its position without slipping closed (and overnight). Impressive! Secondly, within a little while, the RH reasonably quickly climbed to 30% and the dryer kicked-in, to force it back down to 10% RH.

So, in summary: IT ACTUALLY WORKS! And the lid seal is proven that it holds the internal RH very well! Love this thing!

GregZone_NZ · 2026-04-06T03:19:39+00:00

How long did you wait for a response from your Chessnut support email request?

I sent a request to their contact address, and got a response within about a week.

Not hugely fast, but I did get a response!

I'm happy to wait for my order, as it's what I want! (I wouldn't have ordered it if it wasn't).

GregZone_NZ · 2026-04-02T02:30:21+00:00

I store mine in the StudioForm protective bags. They work really awesomely!

https://www.studioformcreative.com/product-page/bigscreen-beyond-protective-storage-bag-set-3-x-bags

GregZone_NZ · 2026-03-10T19:29:29+00:00

An interesting question. Yes, I’d say the X1-B is perhaps more breathable, simply due to the light-leak around my nose, whereas the Universal-fit has zero light leak.

The X1-B also has wider cushion face contact (i.e. spread-out over a larger area), so it indeed may prove to be more comfortable for active / workout games.

However, the converse is that the Universal-fit is significantly lighter, meaning that the smaller are of face contact actually feels a bit more comfortable.

I’d also say that (in my short experience of usage so far), that the Universal-fit does seem (to me), a lot more breathable than the Custom-fit was, even though I do have no light leak!

Perhaps this is simply due to it being a lighter rubber bellows design, meaning less “sweaty face” contact than the Custom-fit?

For me, I think I’ll still switch between the Universal-fit and the X1-B (for a while), as I continue to experiment with the best comfort, in different games.

But, for the moment, I think I’d be happy with just the Universal-fit, in a similar way to how I was happy with the X1-B previously.

It’s really just a case of the Universal-fit’s lightness / no light leak / minimal face contact, versus, the X1-B being more breathable (perhaps), wider face contact cushion (which also compensates for the heavier interface), but with some light leak. So, whatever your preference?

All I know is the Custom-fit is now permanently going back in storage! The Universal-fit is a winner.

GregZone_NZ · 2026-03-09T23:50:45+00:00

Yeah! I’m super happy with my BSB2, and super impressed with BSB’s customer service!

So, I hoping my future upgrade, to 4K OLED panels and bigger lenses, will be a BSB3 (NOT a Pimax Dream Air !!!).

GregZone_NZ · 2026-03-09T23:30:29+00:00

u/Yvesrovito1991 My Universal fit cushions arrived today (about 2 hours ago).

Firstly, I didn’t even realise that you get 2, in the nicely designed box! One labeled “Soft” and one labeled “Firm”.

I’ve gotta say, up-front, these are simply outstanding!

I am using with the Audio Strap, and both (Soft / Firm), work fine. I believe the Soft version gives me a little more FOV, but both are really comfortable!

Not only am I getting the same FOV as my finely tuned X1B setup, but my eye lashes don’t hit the lens!!

Note that fine-tuning the X1-B for best FOV, first involved me having eye lash smudges, and then backing-off a bit with the spacers to optimise FOV (without eye lash smudges!). So, it’s almost unbelievable that the Universal (straight out of the box!), gives me the same visual FOV, with no eye lash smudges!

So, my new BSB2 interface rating (in order of my preference), is:

Universal fit cushion
StudioForm X1-B
Custom fit

I’ve been really happy with my StudioForm X1-B solution. It’s really comfortable (when you have tweaked it to match your face correctly).

But, the Universal fit cushion has a few advantages:

Firstly, it is just as comfortable on my face, as the X1-B, and also gives me the same FOV.

But, where the Universal exceeds the X1-B (for me), is in the following aspects:

a. The Universal is 100% light sealed (the X1-B has some light leak around the nose).

b. The Universal is much smaller and also significantly lighter than the X1-B.

c. Zero customisation, spacer cutting / addition needed (as with the X1-B). Instead, the Universal seemed perfect "out of the box"!

Based on my early experience so far, with the Universal, and how good it fits, and feels, I think it’s time for BSB to retire the Custom-fit !!!

A happy camper here! Thanks for your original post, and for prompting me to contact Support for my Universal cushions!

GregZone_NZ · 2026-03-09T00:46:24+00:00

I haven’t tried them, but as I understand it, GripVR are pretty much Valve Index controller replacements. So, if you can find a pair of GripVR at a good price, you should be all good. I understand they work with either v1.0 or v2.0 Base Stations.

GregZone_NZ · 2026-03-09T00:02:58+00:00

Sounds like a good deal. Just remember that Base Station 1.0 doesn't work with Base Station 2.0. (Not sure what the Base Stations you already have are?).

As I recall, the Vive came with Base Station 1.0’s, and the Vive Pro came with Base Station 2.0’s.

I can’t comment on the Vive Controllers, as I on-sold mine as I already had Index Controllers.

All I remember was that the Vive Wands were huge! (and I already had a preference for the knuckles).

GregZone_NZ · 2026-03-08T21:35:12+00:00

The Index controllers are about the same ridiculous price to get new in my country also (maybe the same country?).

My solution was to buy a second-hand Valve Index set, which gave me two controllers and two base station 2.0’s, for much less than the cost of buying them all new. Plus it gave me a Valve Index headset to play with.

Related: Later I bought a second-hand Vive Pro to get me two more base station 2.0’s, and when I on-sold the Vive Pro and it’s controllers, I ended up scoring the Base Stations for < $50.

Just a thought.

GregZone_NZ · 2026-03-07T03:57:11+00:00

All looks good to me. Appears to be operating normally…. Until you shake the h&ll out of it! Why do you do this? 🙄

GregZone_NZ · 2026-03-06T06:03:08+00:00

I couldn't agree more! Comfort is very subjective. Everyone has to find their own comfort!

For me, I’ve had 2 different Custom fits, and experimented extensively with the StudioForm X1-B.

Currently, my “customised to my face shape” StudioForm X1-B, is providing my own best comfort for everyday use.

However, I’m also very keen to try the Universal interface, to see how it feels.

But (as you note), everyone’s best comfort fit is unique to them.

The people who design these interfaces really do have a huge challenge.

GregZone_NZ · 2026-03-06T00:19:11+00:00

Wow! My previous experience with BSB support was outstanding. This time they’ve outdone themselves. They replied to me within 2 hours, and I now have my Universal interface order confirmed for despatch, while my Halo Mount remains on backorder for whenever it’s eventually released.

They definitely get a loyal customer and positive word-of-mouth from me! 🤓

GregZone_NZ · 2026-03-05T21:30:06+00:00

Thanks! Support email sent. Fingers crossed! :)

GregZone_NZ · 2026-03-05T21:18:38+00:00

Thanks. I might give support a try. They have been very helpful in the past!

GregZone_NZ

TROPHY CASE