Chat Gem - Revision history

Rushster: Text replacement - "(?m)^\s=\s([^=\n]+?)\s=\s$" to "== $1 =="

2025-10-04T20:00:47Z

Text replacement - "(?m)^\s*=\s*([^=\n]+?)\s*=\s*$" to "== $1 =="

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:00, 4 October 2025
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	''This is another page resurrected from the Diabloii.net archives. We all known by now that the Chat Gem doesn't do anything, but back in 2000, shortly after D2's release, players were in a panic and rumors ran wild. We played along a bit, letting people talk themselves into things, as this page demonstrates.		''This is another page resurrected from the Diabloii.net archives. We all known by now that the Chat Gem doesn't do anything, but back in 2000, shortly after D2's release, players were in a panic and rumors ran wild. We played along a bit, letting people talk themselves into things, as this page demonstrates.
			== Introduction ==
	=Introduction=

	A lovely blue gem adorns Battle.net, below center in the window of the Diablo II interface or client. The gem is blue, that is, until it is clicked, a which time it turns to a bright lavender. The gem/button is clickable, and each time you click, it gives either a "Gem Activated" or "Gem Deactivated" messages. But what do those messages mean? And what does it do?		A lovely blue gem adorns Battle.net, below center in the window of the Diablo II interface or client. The gem is blue, that is, until it is clicked, a which time it turns to a bright lavender. The gem/button is clickable, and each time you click, it gives either a "Gem Activated" or "Gem Deactivated" messages. But what do those messages mean? And what does it do?
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	But during the Stress Test, most of the speculation revolved about what, if anything, the gem in the chat does in terms of the spawning gems or Gem Shrines in particular. We posted some news about it, and asked for people to test it out and send in their results or thoughts about it. Lots did, the majority thinking, or at least hoping, that it did do something. A few of the many emails are quoted below.		But during the Stress Test, most of the speculation revolved about what, if anything, the gem in the chat does in terms of the spawning gems or Gem Shrines in particular. We posted some news about it, and asked for people to test it out and send in their results or thoughts about it. Lots did, the majority thinking, or at least hoping, that it did do something. A few of the many emails are quoted below.
			== Blizzard's Official (early) Comment ==
	=Blizzard's Official (early) Comment=

	Blizzard employees consistently avoided saying much on the record about what the gem in chat does, or doesn't do. Our feeling, from early days, was that it was just a joke, a sort of Easter egg they put in to give people something to poke at while they're in chat. Their early official statement on it can be seen on their Multiplayer FAQ.		Blizzard employees consistently avoided saying much on the record about what the gem in chat does, or doesn't do. Our feeling, from early days, was that it was just a joke, a sort of Easter egg they put in to give people something to poke at while they're in chat. Their early official statement on it can be seen on their Multiplayer FAQ.
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	Our take on this somewhat cryptic comment was that it was all a joke. The "exceeded our expectations" part meant their expectations of how interested people would be in the gem and what it might do, and also how many people would spend time poking at it. The fact that all public and private mentions of this gem by Blizzard employees have been sarcastic or sort of snickering seemed to reinforce the idea that it had no real function, other than just as a small Easter egg.		Our take on this somewhat cryptic comment was that it was all a joke. The "exceeded our expectations" part meant their expectations of how interested people would be in the gem and what it might do, and also how many people would spend time poking at it. The fact that all public and private mentions of this gem by Blizzard employees have been sarcastic or sort of snickering seemed to reinforce the idea that it had no real function, other than just as a small Easter egg.
			== Expansion Update ==
	=Expansion Update=

	So the consensus for months was that the gem didn't do anything. That it was just a little chat Easter Egg, you can click and play with it, but there's nothing connected to anything on the Realms, it doesn't make more gems drop, or perfect gems drop, or more gem shrines appear, or any of the other numerous theories we still get emailed about all the time. If you get disconnected from Battle.net, but are still showing the chat room (as in no other people appear and you can't get a list of games to join) you can still click to your heart's content on the gem, and get the occasional "Perfect Gem Activated" message.		So the consensus for months was that the gem didn't do anything. That it was just a little chat Easter Egg, you can click and play with it, but there's nothing connected to anything on the Realms, it doesn't make more gems drop, or perfect gems drop, or more gem shrines appear, or any of the other numerous theories we still get emailed about all the time. If you get disconnected from Battle.net, but are still showing the chat room (as in no other people appear and you can't get a list of games to join) you can still click to your heart's content on the gem, and get the occasional "Perfect Gem Activated" message.
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	Bill is saying it doesn't do anything, but if you are of the conspiracy mindset, you could just assume he's saying that to try and throw us off the track of what the gem really does! In fact, sure enough, we got e-mails saying just that as people continued to poke at it.		Bill is saying it doesn't do anything, but if you are of the conspiracy mindset, you could just assume he's saying that to try and throw us off the track of what the gem really does! In fact, sure enough, we got e-mails saying just that as people continued to poke at it.
			== You Gotta Believe! ==

	=You Gotta Believe!=

	Quotes from players feeding their own dreams.		Quotes from players feeding their own dreams.
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	:There were three of us in the game and I had to pay the guys in there to not take the gem shrines (10k each per gem shrine = 40k! Ouch!)<br>		:There were three of us in the game and I had to pay the guys in there to not take the gem shrines (10k each per gem shrine = 40k! Ouch!)<br>
	:I have the Flawless Sapphire (soon to be perfect, once I get another gem shrine) to prove it. Thanks."		:I have the Flawless Sapphire (soon to be perfect, once I get another gem shrine) to prove it. Thanks."
			== Gem Shrine Frequency ==
	=Gem Shrine Frequency=

	For some actual game info, Gem Shrines are rare, but not all that uncommon. (We have full info on what you do with Gems, and what they do at higher levels on our Gem Stats Page.) The frequency at which they spawned was tweaked a number of times during the Closed Beta, but for the Stress Test they were set back to their least frequent rate, the same rate they spawned at for the start of the Closed Beta. At that rate, which was carried to the actual released game, you'll get one Gem Shrine every three or four games, according to Blizzard North employees. This figure is very rough though, and needs to be leavened with a reflection on how many shrines there are in just one game, and how unlikely you are to actually find each and every one of them. With the Expansion, you have another land in which to find them, but the frequency was not bumped up, to the best of our knowledge.		For some actual game info, Gem Shrines are rare, but not all that uncommon. (We have full info on what you do with Gems, and what they do at higher levels on our Gem Stats Page.) The frequency at which they spawned was tweaked a number of times during the Closed Beta, but for the Stress Test they were set back to their least frequent rate, the same rate they spawned at for the start of the Closed Beta. At that rate, which was carried to the actual released game, you'll get one Gem Shrine every three or four games, according to Blizzard North employees. This figure is very rough though, and needs to be leavened with a reflection on how many shrines there are in just one game, and how unlikely you are to actually find each and every one of them. With the Expansion, you have another land in which to find them, but the frequency was not bumped up, to the best of our knowledge.
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	The highest level of gem is "perfect", not "flawless", but you see his point. With this sort of "publicity," and people's willingness to believe, even today there are D2 players who are sure to activate the gem before they play, since it's fun and "you never know". And then if they don't find anything, they tend to not remember, but if they do find something interesting, then the fact that they had the gem activated will stick in their minds, and perception/wishful thinking makes things happen		The highest level of gem is "perfect", not "flawless", but you see his point. With this sort of "publicity," and people's willingness to believe, even today there are D2 players who are sure to activate the gem before they play, since it's fun and "you never know". And then if they don't find anything, they tend to not remember, but if they do find something interesting, then the fact that they had the gem activated will stick in their minds, and perception/wishful thinking makes things happen
			== No, it Doesn't Do Anything! ==
	=No, it Doesn't Do Anything!=

	On the other side of the coin are people who tested it and by bad luck didn't find anything cool or notable in the game when they had it activated. Many testers tried it with no results, or no clear results, and we here post a few of their mails. Admittedly, there were a lot fewer "no" mails than "yes" emails. But again, given Bill Roper's comments below, it was clearly all about "wishful thinking." And a person is more likely to write as a believer than as a nay-sayer.		On the other side of the coin are people who tested it and by bad luck didn't find anything cool or notable in the game when they had it activated. Many testers tried it with no results, or no clear results, and we here post a few of their mails. Admittedly, there were a lot fewer "no" mails than "yes" emails. But again, given Bill Roper's comments below, it was clearly all about "wishful thinking." And a person is more likely to write as a believer than as a nay-sayer.
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	So if we were determining it by majority vote, the "it does... something" crowd would apparently be way ahead. The reporting of it in email is another factor, since a person who thinks they have a exciting new discovery is much more likely to want to email and share the news than someone who has just played half a dozen games and found nothing of any interest.		So if we were determining it by majority vote, the "it does... something" crowd would apparently be way ahead. The reporting of it in email is another factor, since a person who thinks they have a exciting new discovery is much more likely to want to email and share the news than someone who has just played half a dozen games and found nothing of any interest.
			== Theories and More Theories ==
	=Theories and More Theories=

	More fun than just whether it does or doesn't give you more gems or Gem Shrines are the semi-wacky theories about other aspects of it. How about a way to get the Perfect Gem Activated more quickly:		More fun than just whether it does or doesn't give you more gems or Gem Shrines are the semi-wacky theories about other aspects of it. How about a way to get the Perfect Gem Activated more quickly:
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	The person who sent this in wasn't trying to trick us, they were fooled into believing the person they were talking to was indeed a real Blizzard employee. You can't trust anyone these days. ;)		The person who sent this in wasn't trying to trick us, they were fooled into believing the person they were talking to was indeed a real Blizzard employee. You can't trust anyone these days. ;)
			== Conclusion ==
	=Conclusion=

	What does the gem in chat do? Nothing, other than change colours and put up the occasional unusual message. As was explained to us by a Blizzard employee, it was not set up to send data to the server, and that would be necessary in order for it to have any other function than to just "look good."		What does the gem in chat do? Nothing, other than change colours and put up the occasional unusual message. As was explained to us by a Blizzard employee, it was not set up to send data to the server, and that would be necessary in order for it to have any other function than to just "look good."

82.41.176.69: /* Introduction */

2009-11-18T22:59:23Z

Introduction

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:59, 18 November 2009
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	<center>		<center>
	{\|		{\|
	[[Image:Gem-chat1.jpg~~\|frame~~]]		[[Image:Gem-chat1.jpg]]
	\|-		\|-
	[[Image:Gem-chat2.jpg~~\|frame~~]]		[[Image:Gem-chat2.jpg]]
	\|}		\|}
	</center>		</center>

82.41.176.69: /* Introduction */

2009-11-18T22:58:46Z

Introduction

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:58, 18 November 2009
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	<center>		<center>
	{\|		{\|
	[[Image:Gem-chat1.jpg]]		[[Image:Gem-chat1.jpg\|frame]]
	\|-		\|-
	[[Image:Gem-chat2.jpg]]		[[Image:Gem-chat2.jpg\|frame]]
	\|}		\|}
	</center>		</center>

82.41.176.69 at 22:58, 18 November 2009

2009-11-18T22:58:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:58, 18 November 2009
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	[[~~category~~:~~archives~~]]		[[Category:Diabloii.net Archives]]
	[[category:battle.net]]		[[category:battle.net]]

82.41.176.69 at 23:46, 7 March 2009

2009-03-07T23:46:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:46, 7 March 2009
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	::''This is another page resurrected from the Diabloii.net archives. We all known by now that the Chat Gem doesn't do anything, but back in 2000, shortly after D2's release, players were in a panic and rumors ran wild. We played along a bit, letting people talk themselves into things, as this page demonstrates.		''This is another page resurrected from the Diabloii.net archives. We all known by now that the Chat Gem doesn't do anything, but back in 2000, shortly after D2's release, players were in a panic and rumors ran wild. We played along a bit, letting people talk themselves into things, as this page demonstrates.

	=Introduction=		=Introduction=

82.41.176.69 at 23:46, 7 March 2009

2009-03-07T23:46:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:46, 7 March 2009
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	A lovely blue gem adorns Battle.net, below center in the window of the Diablo II interface or client. The gem is blue, that is, until it is clicked, a which time it turns to a bright lavender. The gem/button is clickable, and each time you click, it gives either a "Gem Activated" or "Gem Deactivated" messages. But what do those messages mean? And what does it do?		::''This is another page resurrected from the Diabloii.net archives. We all known by now that the Chat Gem doesn't do anything, but back in 2000, shortly after D2's release, players were in a panic and rumors ran wild. We played along a bit, letting people talk themselves into things, as this page demonstrates.
	~~{\| align="right" width="33%" style="clear~~:~~right; margin~~:~~20px 0px 10px 10px;"~~
	\| This is another page resurrected from the Diabloii.net archives. We all known by now that the Chat Gem doesn't do anything, but back in 2000, shortly after D2's release, players were in a panic and rumors ran wild. We played along a bit, letting people talk themselves into things, as this page demonstrates.
	\|}

			=Introduction=

	~~=Introduction=~~		A lovely blue gem adorns Battle.net, below center in the window of the Diablo II interface or client. The gem is blue, that is, until it is clicked, a which time it turns to a bright lavender. The gem/button is clickable, and each time you click, it gives either a "Gem Activated" or "Gem Deactivated" messages. But what do those messages mean? And what does it do?

	Rumors began flying when we first saw the interface. Some of the more colourful stories are detailed below. The most common ones are that activating the gem improved your odds of finding gems, Gem Shrines, or just good items in general. Whether or not it actually did any of these things was uncertain in the beginning, but that was almost beside the point. People love to believe in luck, and coincidence and chance, and these fun things are played to by the mysterious gem. It's not as fun to just think you got an item totally by chance. You want to think that it was meant for you, or your destiny, or that you somehow did something special (even if you didn't know you were doing it) that got the game to drop you that skull gem, or Unique sword, or spawn that Gem Shrine.		Rumors began flying when we first saw the interface. Some of the more colourful stories are detailed below. The most common ones are that activating the gem improved your odds of finding gems, Gem Shrines, or just good items in general. Whether or not it actually did any of these things was uncertain in the beginning, but that was almost beside the point. People love to believe in luck, and coincidence and chance, and these fun things are played to by the mysterious gem. It's not as fun to just think you got an item totally by chance. You want to think that it was meant for you, or your destiny, or that you somehow did something special (even if you didn't know you were doing it) that got the game to drop you that skull gem, or Unique sword, or spawn that Gem Shrine.

82.41.176.69: The Chat Gem moved to Chat Gem

2008-10-29T12:41:30Z

The Chat Gem moved to Chat Gem

← Older revision	Revision as of 12:41, 29 October 2008
(No difference)

82.41.176.69 at 12:14, 7 July 2008

2008-07-07T12:14:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:14, 7 July 2008
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	A lovely blue gem adorns Battle.net, below center in the window of the Diablo II interface or client. The gem is blue, that is, until it is clicked, a which time it turns to a bright lavender. The gem/button is clickable, and each time you click, it gives either a "Gem Activated" or "Gem Deactivated" messages. But what do those messages mean? And what does it do?		A lovely blue gem adorns Battle.net, below center in the window of the Diablo II interface or client. The gem is blue, that is, until it is clicked, a which time it turns to a bright lavender. The gem/button is clickable, and each time you click, it gives either a "Gem Activated" or "Gem Deactivated" messages. But what do those messages mean? And what does it do?
	{\| align="right" width="33%" style="clear:right; margin:~~10px~~ 20px 0px 10px;"		{\| align="right" width="33%" style="clear:right; margin:20px 0px 10px 10px;"
	\| This is another page resurrected from the Diabloii.net archives. We all known by now that the Chat Gem doesn't do anything, but back in 2000, shortly after D2's release, players were in a panic and rumors ran wild. We played along a bit, letting people talk themselves into things, as this page demonstrates.		\| This is another page resurrected from the Diabloii.net archives. We all known by now that the Chat Gem doesn't do anything, but back in 2000, shortly after D2's release, players were in a panic and rumors ran wild. We played along a bit, letting people talk themselves into things, as this page demonstrates.
	\|}		\|}

82.41.176.69 at 12:13, 7 July 2008

2008-07-07T12:13:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:13, 7 July 2008
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	A lovely blue gem adorns Battle.net, below center in the window of the Diablo II interface or client. The gem is blue, that is, until it is clicked, a which time it turns to a bright lavender. The gem/button is clickable, and each time you click, it gives either a "Gem Activated" or "Gem Deactivated" messages. But what do those messages mean? And what does it do?		A lovely blue gem adorns Battle.net, below center in the window of the Diablo II interface or client. The gem is blue, that is, until it is clicked, a which time it turns to a bright lavender. The gem/button is clickable, and each time you click, it gives either a "Gem Activated" or "Gem Deactivated" messages. But what do those messages mean? And what does it do?
	{\| align="right" width="33%" style="clear:right; margin~~-top~~:10px 20px 0px 10px;"		{\| align="right" width="33%" style="clear:right; margin:10px 20px 0px 10px;"
	\| This is another page resurrected from the Diabloii.net archives. We all known by now that the Chat Gem doesn't do anything, but back in 2000, shortly after D2's release, players were in a panic and rumors ran wild. We played along a bit, letting people talk themselves into things, as this page demonstrates.		\| This is another page resurrected from the Diabloii.net archives. We all known by now that the Chat Gem doesn't do anything, but back in 2000, shortly after D2's release, players were in a panic and rumors ran wild. We played along a bit, letting people talk themselves into things, as this page demonstrates.
	\|}		\|}

82.41.176.69 at 12:13, 7 July 2008

2008-07-07T12:13:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:13, 7 July 2008
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	A lovely blue gem adorns Battle.net, below center in the window of the Diablo II interface or client. The gem is blue, that is, until it is clicked, a which time it turns to a bright lavender. The gem/button is clickable, and each time you click, it gives either a "Gem Activated" or "Gem Deactivated" messages. But what do those messages mean? And what does it do?		A lovely blue gem adorns Battle.net, below center in the window of the Diablo II interface or client. The gem is blue, that is, until it is clicked, a which time it turns to a bright lavender. The gem/button is clickable, and each time you click, it gives either a "Gem Activated" or "Gem Deactivated" messages. But what do those messages mean? And what does it do?
	{\| align="right" width="33%" style="clear:right; margin-top:20px;"		{\| align="right" width="33%" style="clear:right; margin-top:10px 20px 0px 10px;"
	\| This is another page resurrected from the Diabloii.net archives. We all known by now that the Chat Gem doesn't do anything, but back in 2000, shortly after D2's release, players were in a panic and rumors ran wild. We played along a bit, letting people talk themselves into things, as this page demonstrates.		\| This is another page resurrected from the Diabloii.net archives. We all known by now that the Chat Gem doesn't do anything, but back in 2000, shortly after D2's release, players were in a panic and rumors ran wild. We played along a bit, letting people talk themselves into things, as this page demonstrates.
	\|}		\|}

Chat Gem - Revision history

Rushster: Text replacement - "(?m)^\s*=\s*([^=\n]+?)\s*=\s*$" to "== $1 =="

82.41.176.69: /* Introduction */

82.41.176.69: /* Introduction */

82.41.176.69 at 22:58, 18 November 2009

82.41.176.69 at 23:46, 7 March 2009

82.41.176.69 at 23:46, 7 March 2009

82.41.176.69: The Chat Gem moved to Chat Gem

82.41.176.69 at 12:14, 7 July 2008

82.41.176.69 at 12:13, 7 July 2008

82.41.176.69 at 12:13, 7 July 2008

Rushster: Text replacement - "(?m)^\s=\s([^=\n]+?)\s=\s$" to "== $1 =="