Chicksilog, my take and how it came to be
It was when the first successful MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) hit the Philippines. Gamers (not all) from all over the country was hooked to this gaming phenomenon. It was Ragnarok Online, which was called pRO (Philippine Ragnarok Online) locally, that changed the “offline” gaming community to switch online. It was also the game many female got into gaming in the first place. The online game, that was dominated by male players, now has almost equal female players. And now with our Internet connection getting faster and cheaper, online games are now more accessible to most Filipinos.
But how did the term Chicksilog came to be? I don’t know which came first the chicken or the egg. Actually, even I didn’t know where the term started first. Is it in the game itself, or because of our very own local band Kamikazee?
But what is Chicksilog? Chicksilog is a female character in-game, played, used, and controlled by a male in real life (not to be confused with male piloting a female character). “Chicks-” meaning female as chicks, and “-ilog” meaning itlog (egg in Tagalog). Or in a straightforward way of defining it, chick na may itlog (chick with an egg). The international online gaming community also has another term for that, somewhat jokingly, is MMORPG or Many Men/Males Online Role Playing (as) Girls.
Now with the term out of the way, I will share to you how did I managed to create a Chicksilog character. And eventually adapting it to other online games.
Back when I was still active in pRO, I was using a male character (I’ll tell you my pRO days story on another post). Anyway I tried to get my girlfriend, Joanne, to play the game. So I created an account for her using a female character (of course). Her first character was an Acolyte, and eventually leveling up to become a Priestess. She played occasionally, and enjoyed the game. But as time passed, I began to use her character. I was initially a pilot to her Acolyte, but eventually began to use her character more than I use my own. Since she owned the account and character, when an in-game player asked me if I’m a female I always answered yes. I also began adapting a female personality so that I won’t get “caught” in-game as a male using a female character. So when my girlfriend actually use her character, she will still refer to herself as a female in-game, since the game also stores your online friends in a sort of in-game messenger.
A year has passed, I was using both my (male) account and my girlfriend’s (female) account. Soon afterwards I transfered to another server to start over. But this time adopting the Chicksilog style of playing. I created my characters as females, an Acolyte (to Priestess), a Thief (to Rouge), and my pen-ultimate character a Merchant (to Alchemist, to a Biochemist). Here is a screenshot of my most powerful character in pRO. A level 99 second-class AB (Acid Bomb) Biochemist with her pet a level 99 Vanilmirth. Level 99 characters always have an aura beneath their feet.
My Biochemist, named after my girlfriend Joanne, is wearing a Jewel Crown as a headpiece. Dark Blinkers covering her eyes, and a Romantic Flower in her mouth. Sporting Lord’s Clothes and Angelic Hood, plus the Shoes of Undead Slayer. And as weapons, the sword Fireblend and a Bucklet of Counter Attack. Oh and she is an Acid Bomber type of Biochemist. (Non Ragnarok players may not know what I’m talking about here)
After more than 3 years of playing pRO, I decided to try out other online games. R.O.S.E. Online (distributed locally by Level-Up Games, the same with pRO) caught my fancy and need for gaming, locally called pROSE. My first character is a male Hawker, but as you’ve probably guessed, it didn’t lasted long. I created a female character, this time a Muse (leveling up to become an offensive type Mage that has healing powers, hehe) as my main character. I played for a couple of months before quiting the game since I was already becoming busy with other things. I couldn’t post my screenies because I lost my copy (I can’t find it in my backup CDs). That was my second stint on using a Chicksilog character.
My third, and currently active playing character online, can be found dancing at Audition: Dance Battle Online (AU for short, or Audition Online). I started at Audition Philippines (distributed by E-Games Philippines) with a male character and eventually abandoning him in exchange for a female character. My reason? because of her cuteness. Haha.
This is not my actual get-up when I go to the dance floor, well I changed the clothes to hide protect her identity. She is known as a female in real life, and she even has her own Friendster (a female) account. Having a blue Mid Parting hairstyle and the basic Girl Face, for a head. Wearing a light pink Sleeveless T-shirt and a School Girl style mini-skirt plus a Sneakers for footwear. This is my basic newbie-look get-up.
So that’s it, my Chicksilog characters. You are probably wondering why there are men, guys, males, or whatever you may call “US” that likes to use a female character (avatars) in-game. What are our reasons? What are our agendas? Well I can summarize a few reasons, mostly my own and some other Chicksilogs I encounter in-game.
1. A female character “visually” appears as a non-threatening character or some would say weaker looking than males. Some use this to their advantage as males usually lower their guards down on a female character. That is until they come to a PVP (Player vs Player) match, and the male avatar gets PAWNED by a female avatar.
2. Males usually use a female avatar in-game to pick-up chicks. As female is more open and converse easily with other females, this is the first step in asking their Friendster account.
3. My favorite. Most female avatars are more cuter than males. Yes most of them are totally KAWAII!!! I like my character cute, don’t you?
4. Female avatars are also used to expand friends and relations. Since female avatars are more often “chatted” with both the male and female avatars.
5. Another thing to note is that female avatars are less likely to be bad-mouthed by other players.
Whatever the reason, or purpose, why many men uses a female avatar in-game it’s just mostly for fun and the enjoyment of the game. Sometimes to have a variance in playing the game, since most are already fed-up using their male avatars and just want to try the other side. As for me, female avatars are more cuter the males. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a straight guy last time I checked, its just that I like cute avatars. Haha.
BTW, here is the lyrics of the song Chicksilog, popularized by Kamikazee as a soundtrack of the Philippine Ragnarok Online. As you can see from the lyrics, a Chicksilog is using a Swordsman class female avatar named Maldita. Also for the non-pRO gamers, Prontera is a place in-game. It is the place where most people hang out or congregate.
Chicksilog by Kamikazee
Magdamag nag-aabang maglalaro kaya
Ang dalagang nagtatago sa alyas na Maldita
Sa dating tagpuan, sa bayan ng prontera
Sa tabi ng tindahan, ng magic at sandata
Nung minsan nga ay nag-alay ka pa ng buhay mo
Nang kinalaban natin ang mga bagong dayo
Natalo nga sila at nagyaya kang magsaya
Tanging hinihintay, ang makita ka
Alas dos nung linggo (sa Gotesco)
Nag polo pa ako (at nagpabango)
Nananabik habang (hinahanap ka)
Tumigil ang mundo (nang makita ka)
Chicksilog
Ako ay nahulog
Nilinlang, niloko
Alam ko nang siikreto mo
Chicksilog
Ako ay nahulog
Nilinlang, niloko
Alam ko nang siikreto mo
Walang saysay mag-level up pantasya ay nasira na
Ang inipong lakas, naglahong parang bula
Kaya pala… ang husay mo sa espada
Si Maldita, ay lalake pala
Alas dos nung linggo (sa Gotesco)
Nag polo pa ako (at nagpabango)
Nananabik habang (hinahanap ka)
Tumigil ang mundo (nang makita ka)
Chicksilog
Ako ay nahulog
Nilinlang, niloko
Alam ko nang siikreto mo
Chicksilog
Ako ay nahulog
Nilinlang, niloko
Alam ko nang siikreto mo
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