Has anyone received / installed the diffuser from Chicago gaming?

Diffuser?

So I just got home from work and checked the mail. Looks like the diffuser kit for my MMR just showed up. The diffuser is a large sheet of styrene plastic and a few smaller pieces(for the smaller led boards) and it looks like you install it in between the PF and the main board(and smaller led boards) using existing screws and holes. I have my daughter tonight so I won't be able to install it until tomorrow after work (or maybe tonight after she goes to sleep) but here are a few pics in the meantime.

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OK so I installed the diffuser tonight it wasn't as complex to install as the directions sound. Basically what you have to do is remove the 5 small light boards from the playfield you can keep them plugged in and let them hang then unplug all of the connectors from the top blue solenoid driver board (I used my daughters washable markers to color code each plug ) then unplug 23 plugs along the right side of the big green board (GI and Switches) from JS28 clockwise all the way to J8. All of those plugs were color coded from the factory or at least on mine it was. Then unplug the 2 troll switches (SW74 and SW75) also unplug the Ethernet cable and the thick green cable from the board. Next unscrew the screws holding the green board to the Playfield but keep them in the standoffs. Also remove the 2 steel wire bundle hangers that in the way and let them hang. Here comes the part that took a bit of patience. You need to slowly work the board up each side between the sling shot coils it's a bit tight and tedious because of all the connectors that snag so just go slow. Once that's done maneuver the diffuser sheet between the board and th PF. Once you get it lined up you hand tighten a few screws in the green board's standoffs to hold the diffuser sheet now gently work the board back between the sling coils and line the mounting screws back up with their holes. Make sure you don't trap any plugs between the board and the PF. Tighten down the board and plug everything back in. Then reinstall the small light boards with their matching diffuser piece. Overall it took me about a hour and a half (including a cigarette and cold beer break lol) it is a huge difference on the inserts. The best way I can describe it is that it looks exactly like an incandescent bulb and gets rid of that bright spot in the middle. It doesn't make the ink look solid jet black or anything but I can read them with no issue during game play even the king inserts are readable. Here are some pics of the process

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Heres my thoughts on diffuser kit.Theres am improvement on all but three of the inserts.Psycho,Bourbon and Breath(dragon) are still hard to read. I preferred the nice brightness b4, its now more akin to a matte finish instead of glossy.Dissapointed how its killed the nice brightness of battle for kingdom insert and dulled that row that was a never a problem.So at end of day id say just under satisfactory.Still got me miffed as to why earlier runs had good inserts with the nice brightness and very readable text.QC or sum1 needs to have their arse kicked for making so many playfields this way when sum are perfect. To make a diffuser kit admits there was an issue and this issue should never have passed QC again,

The first question everyone will ask on the secondary market will be regarding the inserts. How is the print quality of the inserts? Does your machine have the diffuser?

The answer to that question is moot.

The fact is the machines with the diffuser and poor print quality are worth less, but how much less?

Which is more valuable one with sling-chop damage, a shiny undamaged PF with thin ink and a diffuser or a perfect standard MMR with no shaker, plaque, trim, or ply bottom/finished cab. At the end of the day value is what someone is willing to pay for it just because one person thinks it should be cheaper and won't pay asking price doesn't mean there isn't someone out there that will. Here's another example there are 2 MMRLE's for sale both at the same firm price. one is local and has the diffuser and "thin ink" the other is located farther away and will require shipping but the seller says it has dark text. which do you choose is it worth risking shipping and an extra $400 to have dark text or is it better to get one with text that is a slight bit thinner but still legible for $400 less with no shipping risk?

Folks here seem to care a lot about what the high end restorers think about such issues. If someone showed up with one of these diffuser games and wanted it restored down the road I can't image they would take all that off and polish it and put it back on. I'm guessing they would insist on a playfield to swap in or they wouldn't touch it. And then you have all the different degrees of issues associated with this (games that should have the kit and never got it, etc). For folks to have to accept this there should have been some compensation, that they are paying the same (very high) full price is pretty hard to believe, even for this industry.

I didn't get an MMr, but I may have to get one of those diffuser kits to hang on my wall.

Serious question here. I've read about paint touchup kits, slingshot kits, and diffuser kits that probably cost pennies to make, but with all these issues listed here is that the extent of CGCs backing their product? Or have they sent anybody any replacement parts of substance?

I see that diffuser kits are being SOLD for $30. Are you f'ing kidding me??? They send out some inferior playfields, come up with a half-assed fix for it, then want you to pay for it??

If CGC is trying to dissuade me from ever buying another game from them, they're certainly succeeding.

Guess that's what they'll say, but if you're one of the ones that got good ink, why would you need the diffuser?

If I were CGC I'd hand out the diffuser kit to anyone with a registered game that asks. Why ask for "proof" at that point??

Edit: By the way, the diffuser does nothing to fix transparency. It does get rid of the hotspots and makes it legible though.

I am going to pass on any $8000 remakes but may pony up the $30 so I can get a diffuser sheet as a wall hanger.

Are there now degrees of sh*ttiness with respect to the print quality of the inserts?

"Yes, the print quality of your inserts is not perfect, but we've seen worse. Therefore, you do not qualify for the free diffuser."

Not too sure what their criteria is for deciding if one is warranted or not. In my opinion every dissatisfied customer that wants one for their MMR should get one no questions asked but then again I'm not them. Did you file a ticket for a diffuser for your MMR? What did they tell you? Are they sending you a diffuser? How is the ink on your MMR? Can you post your pics here for comparison?

It is kind of interesting how they have spun the diffuser to now be viewed as an upgrade to existing machines. They are actually generating demand for something that was created as a band-aid to quiet people that received a defective product. I swear, Rick and company could be the greatest businessmen I have ever witnessed.

One of the problems with buying NIB is not being able to examine your machine before purchase.

For example, I've seen glassy smooth clear coat and rippled clear coat on lots of machines so I expect this is typical production variation. Sure, everyone wants the glassy smooth but should the manufacturer be expected to replace all playfields that have some ripple? How much ripple is too much?

In the case of MMR, I don't think CGC should have to replace all the playfields that have thinner black lettering (again, subjective), but offering the diffuser for free to all owners who request it seems like a no brainer, PR wise.

Edit: It also sounds like a pain to install, so why would someone want to go through that unless they felt it was needed?

Here's the part I don't get. It seems on the unboxing thread that some MMrs might be shipping with the diffuser already installed. Did those owners have to pay another $30? If not then why should those that didn't come with it?

hardest part bout installing diffuser was getting bottom part around trolls mechs

I installed the diffuser today. I actually wasn't sure I needed it, but asked my distributor and they got me one. (No charge)

Not too hard to install.

And what I like the best is you can no longer see the green circuit board behind the king of Payne insert. And a few other Inserts that you could before. But otherwise I don't really think my Inserts needed it. As there is not a huge difference in the lettering. Just a difference in actually seeing the leds behind them not spotting now.
Now it's like they went from superbrights to frosted bulbs.
It just makes the leds not quite so bright through the Inserts.

And as we all know leds don't photograph well. The print on the lit Inserts is actually darker in reality.

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Hopefully, they will release a plastic sound diffuser to place over the speakers.