Call of Duty: Black Ops

"We live in a world where seeing is not believing."

- Frank Woods in the world premier trailer

Call of Duty: Black Ops (also known as simply Black Ops) is the seventh main installment of the Call of Duty series and is currently being developed by Treyarch. The confirmation of the game's development was leaked by David Kim, a senior animator at Treyarch, in May 2009. Black Ops is said to be set in various locations, including Vietnam and Cuba, and judging from weaponry and dates given in the trailer, it is set between 1960 and 2010. It is planned to be released on November 9, 2010. Treyarch has stated that Black Ops will be much grittier than Modern Warfare 2 and that the differences between World at War and Black Ops will be as significant as the differences between Call of Duty 2 and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The trailer released on May 18, 2010 indicated that the game will be significantly more story-oriented and will focus on military cover-ups during the Cold War. Treyarch has also said that Black Ops will feature considerably more stealth than any previous entries in the Call of Duty series.

Settings
Vietnam, Cuba, the Arctic, Laos and Russia have been confirmed as locations in the game.

Friendly

 * Studies and Observation Group
 * 1st Cavalry Division
 * USMC

Enemy

 * North Vietnamese Army
 * Viet Cong
 * Russian Forces

Characters

 * Frank Woods - Member of the Studies and Observation Group
 * Hudson - Playable character and a member of SOG.
 * Mason - Playable character and a member of SOG.
 * Reznov - Returning from Call of Duty: World at War and a member of SOG.
 * Thomas - Playable character and the pilot of the SR-71 Blackbird in "WMD".
 * Weaver - Character in "WMD".
 * Swift - Character in "Victor Charlie".
 * Brooks - Character in "WMD".
 * Harris - Character in "WMD".
 * Kravtchenko - Antagonist conducting a black operation in Laos.
 * Bowman - Member of SOG.

Missions

 * "WMD" - "WMD" is set in 1968 in the Ural mountain range. "WMD" features the SR-71 Blackbird and a new weapon, the Crossbow.


 * "Payback" - In "Payback," the player is able to pilot a helicopter.


 * "Victor Charlie" - "Victor Charlie" begins in a crashed helicopter, where the player must swim up the Huong River with only a knife.


 * "Slaughter House" - The action-packed mission "Slaughter House" takes place in Huế, Vietnam, in 1968.

Co-Op Missions

 * Black Ops will feature a dedicated co-op campaign, supporting up to four players, which uses different levels than the single player campaign.
 * The 4 existing zombie maps from Call of Duty: World at War will return as part of the Prestige and Hardened retail editions.

General

 * The highest killstreak is 11 kills
 * Highest level of rank is level 50 and prestige mode is still in online ranks.
 * Vehicles will return, but they will be very different than those in Call of Duty: World at War.
 * Some campaign levels will be based off multiplayer maps instead of the typical vice-versa. This change is because some multiplayer maps had been made before the campaign was finalized.
 * The PC version of Call of Duty: Black Ops will feature dedicated servers.
 * Players can now record, manage, edit and upload in-game video clips.
 * Matchmaking is being changed so that it is easier for friends to play together.
 * In-game currency will be used to purchase weapons and upgrades.

Confirmed Multiplayer Maps

 * Summit
 * Launch
 * Slaughter House
 * Radiation
 * Cracked

Gametypes

 * Team Deathmatch will return; however, points for headshots and other bonuses will be added to the team's score.
 * Combat Training: Fight against enemy A/I in a training mode.

CoD Points
CoD Points are a new major feature of Black Ops. CoD Points will become the new in-game currency and will allow players to buy weapons, attachments, and Contracts. In addition to this, players are also allowed to wager these points in certain game modes.

Contracts
Contracts are a new system replacing the old challenge system in Black Ops. A player is able to buy a contract with CoD Points, which will then direct them to complete an object. Completion of a contract will yield a higher CoD point payout than what was originally paid for the contract itself.

Wager Matches
A new mode with a separate ranking structure than the standard online modes, will allow players to gamble with their money. However, only the top three will receive the prize. They will be placed into one of four random modes:


 * One in the Chamber - each player is given a pistol with one bullet and a knife. For each kill achieved the player will receive one more bullet. However, each player will only have three lives.
 * Sharpshooter - each player is given the same random weapon. The weapon will be used for 45 seconds before being switched out for another one. Kills will award the player with perks and score mulipliers.
 * Sticks and Stones - each player receives only a crossbow, ballistic knife, and a Tomahawk. The catch in this gamemode is that if the player was able to hit an enemy with a Tomahawk, the enemy player will go "bankrupted".
 * Gun Game - players start out with a pistol. For each kill they move up a level, granting them a better gun. First person to achieve kills with all 20 weapons wins. However, someone who is knifed will move down a level.

Create a Class

 * Create-A-Class 2.0 will allow players to customize their appearance in addition to their loadout. Players may see what their character looks like while choosing a class, as the player's basic appearance will be determined by Tier 1.
 * Customized killstreaks will return, but the game-ending Tactical Nuke will not. Kills earned from killstreak rewards will not count towards increasing a player's killstreak.
 * The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 perks Commando and One Man Army are not going to return.
 * The smiley face on the Red Dot Sight and engraving on the Commando are most likely features of Create-a-Class 2.0.
 * Paint schemes are available for the gun (camouflage).


 * Clan Tags are marked onto the guns.
 * Tier One Perks: Lightweight. Scavenger. Ghost. Flak Jacket. Hardline.
 * Tier Two Perks: Hardened. Scout. Steady Aim. Sleight of Hand. Warlord.
 * Tier Three Perks: Marathon. Ninja. Second Chance. Hacker. Tactical Mask.

Weapon-related info

 * Shotguns and Machine Pistols as secondary weapons are not expected to return, as Treyarch stated in an interview that they give the player "too much firepower.". Fortunately, they did return as seen in some gameplay videos and the Wager Match Trailer, but for certain games. Some of these games are The Gun Game and possibly Sharpshooter.
 * Pistols, Crossbows and Launchers can be used as secondary weapons.

Killstreaks

 * 3 kill streaks: Spy Plane, RC-XD
 * 4 kill streaks: Counter-Spy Plane, SAM Turret
 * 5 kill streaks: Care Package, Napalm Strike
 * 6 kill streaks: Sentry Gun, Mortar Team
 * 7 kill streaks: Attack Helicopter, Valkyrie Rockets
 * 8 kill streaks: Blackbird, Rolling Thunder
 * 9 kill streaks: Chopper Gunner
 * 11 kill streaks: Attack Dogs, Gunship

PC-only information

 * The PC version of Call of Duty: Black Ops will feature dedicated servers.
 * Modding tools and the leaning feature will return, though it is likely that the modding tools will come out a bit after the game has been released.
 * The PC version will be using Steam as DRM and will be using VAC as an anti-cheating tool.
 * Players can choose a server via a server browser screen or use matchmaking to send a lobby to a server chosen by the game.
 * Dedicated servers must be rented.
 * Unranked servers are completely customizable while ranked ones let the renter choose levels and gametypes.

Console-only information

 * Treyarch has confirmed that it will be close to impossible to use any kind of mods in Call of Duty: Black Ops.
 * Matchmaking is being changed so that it is easier for friends to play together.

Beta

 * Activision has denied that a public beta for Black Ops will be released. For info on the matter, click here.

Assault rifles

 * M16A1
 * Enfield
 * M14
 * FAMAS
 * Galil
 * AUG (Black Ops)
 * FAL
 * AK-47
 * Commando
 * G11

Submachine guns

 * MP5K
 * MAC11
 * AK-74u
 * Skorpion
 * UZI

Light Machine Guns

 * RPK
 * M60
 * HK21
 * Deathmachine

Sniper Rifles

 * L96A1
 * Dragunov
 * WA2000
 * M40

Bows

 * Crossbow

Shotguns

 * SPAS
 * KS-23
 * Ithaca
 * Beretta
 * Stakeout

Pistols

 * M1911
 * Python
 * Makarov
 * ASP
 * CZ75

Launchers

 * RPG-7
 * China Lake pump-action grenade launcher
 * M72 LAW
 * Strela
 * Grim Reaper

Attachments

 * Extended Magazines
 * Dual Mag
 * ACOG Scope
 * Red Dot Sight
 * Reflex Sight
 * Masterkey Shotgun
 * Flamethrower
 * Infrared Scope
 * Grenade Launcher
 * Suppressor
 * Swarovski Scope
 * Snub Nose
 * Flashlight
 * Dual Wielding
 * Speed Reloader

Alternate Ammo Types

 * Dragon's Breath
 * Explosive Bolts

Equipment

 * Jammer (Presumed to be a radar jammer)
 * Motion Sensor
 * Tactical Insertions
 * C4
 * Claymore
 * Camera Spike

Tactical Grenades

 * Willy Pete (Smoke Grenade)
 * Nova Gas
 * Flashbang
 * Concussion Grenade
 * Decoy Grenade

Lethal Grenades

 * M67
 * Semtex
 * Tomahawk

Other

 * Knife
 * C4
 * Ballistic Knife

Retail Editions
So far, there have been three confirmed retail editions:


 * The normal edition, with just the game, box and manual.
 * The Hardened Edition will come with the game, a Black Ops Medal, a Woods avatar for Xbox Live/PSN Home, and four exclusive co-op maps, which have been revealed to be the four zombie maps from Call of Duty: World at War. This edition will cost $79.99 /£64.99
 * The Prestige Edition - which will come with a usable RC-XD with a video camera and microphone attached, transmitting footage to the controller; included are the contents of the Hardened edition. This edition costs £129.99 /$149.99

News

 * Nazi Zombies has been confirmed to be included in Black Ops, following a Twitter update from jd_2020.


 * The Multiplayer teaser trailer can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_fsM6LBi54


 * Hardened and Prestige editions of Black Ops will be released.


 * Call of Duty: Black Ops has been confirmed to be coming out on the DS.


 * Controllers themed for Call of Duty: Black Ops, designed and produced by Mad Catz have been announced.


 * Activision confirmed to Eurogamer that Call of Duty: Black Ops will launch on the Nintendo Wii.


 * An official website has been launched by Treyarch.


 * It has been reported that players will be allowed to play as members of the SAS in a close-quarters mission based off "Prince's Gate," a terrorist attack on the Iranian embassy in the 1980s.

Nintendo DS Version
A Nintendo DS version of Black Ops has been confirmed. The game is being developed by n-Space, the developers of the previous three Call of Duty DS games.

Videos
 Video:Call of Duty 7: Black Ops Official Teaser Trailer Video:Call of Duty 7: Black Ops - World Premiere Teaser Trailer Video:Call of Duty: Black Ops Demo Video:Call of Duty: Black Ops Remix feat. Eminem Video:Call of Duty Black Ops Multiplayer Teaser Trailer

Trivia

 * In the beginning of the trailer, the numbers 2010:3:2 are visible on a digital clock. This was the day Call of Duty: Black Ops was announced, March 2, 2010.
 * At the end of the trailer, a man is holding an M1911. The name "Sally" can be seen scratched into the slide the pistol.
 * The "Sally" pistol has roughly eight tally marks on it. These tally marks probably represent kills.
 * Treyarch will employ a motion capture technology similar to the one used in James Cameron's Avatar film, which captures the whole performance of the actor, as well as allowing accurate facial expressions.
 * Call of Duty: Black Ops is the first game that Treyarch has ever devoted their entire staff to with no other games in development.
 * Both Major John Plaster, who served in the MACV-SOG during the Vietnam War, and Sonny Puzikas, a former Soviet special forces operative, are being consulted by Treyarch for the game.
 * Players can destroy small buildings and huts with the M202 "Grim Reaper" rocket launcher as shown in the reveal trailer. This feature may mean that there will be destructible environments throughout the game.
 * When the password is entered, GKNOVA6 looks very similar to the radio equipment and televisions seen in the teaser trailer.
 * In the worldwide reveal trailer, the narrator speaks about truth and that the "truth" is full of lies. Captain Price also talks about the "truth" in the cutscene of "Endgame" in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
 * A recent promotion for Black Ops featured in the Gamer Informer magazine stated that the first 300,000 to pre-order the game will get a two sided poster, and on the other side is something potentially helpful to the player.
 * It appears as if Treyarch has focused on the fact that "the player has a body," as in the trailer the player's legs are visible.
 * Studio head Mark Lamia said there is a huge difference between the Vietcong soldiers who charge at you in an almost suicidal style and the Russians who are much more stealthy and will hide behind objects.
 * In the multiplayer trailer, it appears that players can dive to cover.
 * The new game-mode Gun Game originated in a Counter-Strike mod of the same name, wherein the players must kill opponents to level-up so that they may gain access to better weapons much like in the new game-mode.