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Did You Ever Want Hot Chicks and Loads of Free Games?


Well This is not the place to find them. But If you Think you can do a better job of posting or reporting on news stories? Prove it. OLGn is searching for talented writers to assist in the site’s daily news writing duties.

We are looking for smart, capable freelance news writers to lend a hand in daily coverage of gaming news on OLGn.net. Here is the kicker: All of these positions are voluntary! *Gasp!* What, you don’t make a load of cash from the site? HAHAHA … don’t let the ads around this site fool you – OLGn is about as financially profitable as, ‘trying to hit Bill Gates up for a loan’.

Put simply, we’re looking to grow, and I’m going to need your help. I opened the doors at OLGn a little over 6 years ago now and it’s been just me working this site and I need some help. People have said in the past that “Hay, I will help” post 3 or 4 times and POOF! never to be seen again. It’s not instant fame or easy money you have to love games and writing about them.

The Basics:
You keep the copyright to your work
posted to OLGn Under the site wide Creative Commons license. So feel free to post what you post on OLGn on your blog, just give a link back is all we ask.

  1. You must search the internet for worthwhile news stories. Examples of news worthy material: Nearly everything having to do with Xbox, wii, PS3, PC, Apple, PSP, DS, Previews or Reviews of Games. You can write articles about games, computer, internet or technology in your life not just news.
  2. Must have good grammar
  3. Must be willing to devote time, not just posting once a month

Even though it’s voluntary, Please stick to deadlines or a schedule when posting.

You might Ask What Do I get from all the *Cough* Work! You’ll get your own @olgn.net email address and the smugness of being able to say you work in the “Gaming Industry” as a Free Lance writer. Occasionally you’ll get freebies from game publishers, but that won’t happen often unless pig’s can fly.

If you stick around and all work together, one day we might even be able to pay you or hell even pay for hosting! Sound good to you? Fill out the form below.

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  3. (required)
 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

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PS3 Firmware 2.0 Details

Filed under ps3 on November 8th, 2007

Sony has released the new Firmware 2.0 update for the PS3 today, adding a few new features.

The main features for this update are:

  • Remote Start - your PSP can turn on your PS3 remotely
  • Information Board - Scrolling RSS headlines though the list is provided by Sony. A future patch will allow users the ability to add their own RSS News Links.
  • View Media while downloading - Watch movies while you download them off the PlayStation Store
  • Themes - Users can now customize their backgrounds, icons and fonts using companion PC software found on the PlayStation.com
  • Enhanced Music & Photo Playlists
  • Additional Sorting Options for the assorted media libraries
  • XMB Color Selector
  • DualShock 3 support
  • New “PlayStation Network” XMB group
  • Canon printer support
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Red Spiderman 3 PSP for Europe and red PSP for Japan - No PSP Love For The US

Filed under General news and Rants, Handheld News on November 6th, 2007

spidermanslite.jpg

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has announced that it will release two PlayStation Portable bundles for Japan and one for the Europe, Sony recently announced two different types of red PSPs for Europe and Japan. Europe will receive the Spider-Man PSP, which features a red face with black buttons and back. It will also include Spider-Man 3 the game and the UMD movie. Japan they will receive a 2 new deep red limited edition PSP models. We don’t have any details on the Europe Spiderman version.

Details on the 2 new bundles for Japan:

“PSP Deep Red Value Pack” and “PSP Deep Red 1 Seg Pack” will be available beginning Thursday, December 13th 2007 for a limited time, for 22,800 ($198) and 29,800 ($260) respectively.

The Deep Red Value Pack, which the company says is intended as a “starter pack” for new PSP owners, includes a new “Deep Red” PSP, a pouch, a hand strap, a cloth and a 32MB Memory Stick Duo. The Deep Red 1 Seg Pack bundles one of the red PSPs with a 1 Seg tuner (for mobile audio and digital broadcast in Japan), a stand to hold the PSP during long TV-viewing sessions, a strap, a cloth, and a 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo. It’s marketed as an all-around entertainment pack, clearly highlighting the mobile TV feature.

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You Cant Buy Manhunt 2 At Target So Dont Try

Filed under Handheld News, wii on November 5th, 2007

manhunt2.jpgMore trouble for Rockstar Games Manhunt 2, it looks like Target will refuse shipments at the store level and only sell the game online. Gee I bet they will still sell unrated edition DVD’s along side the ultra gory horror movies, BUT OMG we can’t sell manhunt 2 to people 18 and over in the store.

I just spoke to a contact at my local Target store, who informed me of an interesting internal memo. Apparently all Target stores are to stop selling Manhunt 2, going so far as to tell managers to refuse shipments of the title for all systems, with Take 2 agreeing to take back all unopened copies of the game.

Why is this action being taken? The extreme violence in the game is the given reason, but my contact (an employee but not a manager) was told that it was due in greater part to the unfavorable coverage the game got in the national press the last several days. Target stores had been selling the game since it’s launch, but it was only today that they were told to pull the product and refuse further shipments.

The listing for Manhunt 2 on the Target website shows that the item is “not available in stores.”

I’ve spoken to employees of several other large retailers (Best Buy, Gamestop and Circuit City) and none of them are, at this time, taking similar actions.

[Source Evil Avatar]

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ESRB Response On Keeping Manhunt 2’s M Rating

Filed under General news and Rants, wii on November 2nd, 2007

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board now has the full statement from its president Patricia Vance on keeping the M rating for Manhunt 2 even with the hacked code on the PSP version:

Manhunt 2 was rated Mature by the ESRB for ages 17 and older for Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content and Use of Drugs.

Earlier this week we learned about a hack into the code of the PSP and PS2 versions of the game that removes special effects filters that were put in place to obscure certain violent depictions. We have investigated the matter and concluded that unauthorized versions of the game have been released on the Internet along with instructions on how to modify the code to remove the special effects. Once numerous changes to the game’s code have been made and other unauthorized software programs have been downloaded to the hardware device which circumvent security controls that prevent unauthorized games from being played on that hardware, a player can view unobscured versions of certain violent acts in the game. Contrary to some reports, however, we do not believe these modifications fully restore the product to the version that originally received an AO rating, nor is this a matter of unlocking content.

Our investigation indicates that the game’s publisher disclosed to the ESRB all pertinent content in the authorized Mature-rated version of Manhunt 2 now available in stores, and complied with our guidelines on full disclosure of content.

What parents, and indeed all consumers, need to be aware of is that computer software and hardware devices are susceptible to unauthorized modification. Parents should be cognizant of whether or not their children are engaging in unauthorized modification of their games, consoles or handhelds, as those modifications can change game content in ways that may be inconsistent with the assigned ESRB rating. That being said, the vast majority of consumers have not made the unauthorized modifications to their hardware necessary to view the content at issue.

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Rockstar and ESRB In Trouble In California Over Manhunt 2 PSP Hack

Filed under General news and Rants, wii on November 2nd, 2007

California State Senator and noted anti-video game critic Leland Yee has slammed both Rockstar Games and the ESRB ratings system after it was revealed that the PSP “M” rated version of Manhunt 2 could have some of the “AO” content of the game unlocked:

Not only should the AO rating immediately be reinstated on this game, the Federal Trade Commission should investigate Rockstar and the ESRB to determine how this was allowed to happen again, said Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo), the author of California’s law attempting to prohibit the sale of extremely violent video games to minors.

This does not even mention that the procedure to unlock the “AO” content in the PSP version of Manhunt 2 is extremely complicated and it requires making hacks in a moded PSP system. The content is not accessible when people just play the game with a normal PSP.

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WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2008 Demo Hits live

Filed under Handheld News, Xbox, ps3, wii on October 15th, 2007

The Xbox 360 demo of THQ’s upcoming WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2008 should now be available on Xbox live. This year’s incarnation of THQ’s wrestling franchise is currently scheduled to be released on November 13th on 360, PS2, PS3, Wii, DS and PSP

“The WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 playable demo on Xbox Live Marketplace will offer players a taste of what the game has to offer prior to its release this November,” said Nelo Lucich, vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. “The new Superstar Fighting Styles and Struggle Submission System significantly enhance gameplay, and players can take advantage of Superstar and arena options from RAW, SmackDown and ECW(R).”

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Still No ManHunt 2 For the UK Says BBFC

Filed under Handheld News, ps3, wii on October 8th, 2007

The British Board of Film Classification has announced that it has rejected Rockstar’s Manhunt 2 for a second time, following the recent submission of a revised version of the game.

An appeal against the organisation’s original decision in June was planned by Rockstar, but that was suspended while the revised game was considered for classification.

The director of the BBFC, David Cooke, explained, “We recognise that the distributor has made changes to the game, but we do not consider that these go far enough to address our concerns about the original version. The impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone, or the essential nature of the gameplay, is clearly insufficient. There has been a reduction in the visual detail in some of the ‘execution kills’, but in others they retain their original visceral and casually sadistic nature.

“We did make suggestions for further changes to the game, but the distributor has chosen not to make them, and as a result we have rejected the game on both platforms. The decision on whether or not an appeal goes ahead lies with the distributor.”

Manhunt 2 has only been confirmed for release in North America, where it’ll debut on Wii, PlayStation 2 and PSP on October 31, with an M rating for Mature audiences aged 17 and over.

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Spider-Man: Friend or Foe In Stores Now

Filed under General news and Rants, Handheld News, Xbox, ps3, wii on October 3rd, 2007

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe hits Retail Stores Nationwide.

It’s time to experience the ultimate fighting team as Spider-Man unites with popular super-heroes and powerful super-villains from the movie trilogy and beyond in Spider-Man: Friend or Foe from Activision, Inc.. Throughout the game’s original story and thrilling battles, players are challenged to defeat and then join forces with notorious movie foes including Doc Ock, Green Goblin, Venom and Sandman, as well as others from the classic Spider-Man family of characters, and embark on a global quest to overcome an evil threat.

“Inspired by both the Spider-Man film trilogy and the classic Spider-Man comics, Spider-Man: Friend for Foe is a unique take on the most successful Super Hero franchise of all time,” said Rob Kostich, vice president, global brand management, Activision, Inc. “For the first time ever in a Spider-Man game, Spider-Man: Friend or Foe features a unique co-op mode in which a friend can join the game at any time and take control of Spider-Man’s sidekick as they battle side-by-side and replay favorite levels.”

As the Spider-Man: Friend or Foe experience unravels, Spider-Man and his sidekicks unlock a variety of arenas and secret areas containing special tokens which allow players to revisit previously explored levels at any time as well as fortify their cache of collectables and power upgrades. Gamers can also replay levels as Spider-Man’s darker, more mysterious persona, Black-Suited Spider-Man, and experience a robust Versus mode, with multiple arenas, where players match up any two characters and battle it out to see who wins.

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is available now for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the Wii home video game system from Nintendo for a suggested retail price of $49.99, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and PSP (PlayStation Portable) system for $39.99, the Nintendo DS for $29.99 and the PC for $19.99. The game is rated “E10+”

Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.
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Japanese Airlines Ban Next-Gen Handheld Gamers

Filed under General news and Rants, Handheld News, PC News on October 2nd, 2007


Playing wireless hand-held video games on Japanese airplanes no longer will be allowed after a revised law enforcing an earlier ban went into effect Monday. This includes PSP and the DS (but not Laptops) Also wireless computer mice and headphones that are not provided by the airlines have also been banned aboard flights. Battery chargers and toys that give off electronic sounds can’t be used during take-offs and landings, the ministry said.

Hold on here is the Good stuff - The law also has been relaxed to now allow the use of electric razors, calculators and cassette players. (Give me an F-ing break here!! Cassette players, Does anybody even still own one?)

Previously, passengers were only asked by the airlines to refrain from using gaming systems with built-in wireless functions, like Nintendo’s popular DS or Sony’s PSP.

It seems the problem lies with the handhelds’ built-in wireless functions, which, Japan’s transport minister has declared, have the ability to interfere with aircraft navigation systems and well that could be bad. Passengers will still be allowed to play game devices which don’t have wireless functions, so break out your old Game Boy because that’s about all your going to get to play.

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