Call of Duty: Black Ops Message Board older than one year ago

Following the tragic attacks last month in Norway by Anders Behring Breivik, several retailers have removed games cited by the attacker from their stores. "In light of Friday's horrific events, and out of respect for those affected, we have chosen to remove selected items from our range," a spokesperson for Coop Norway told Danish site Gamer's Globe. Local Norwegian paper Rogalands Avis reported that while the removals are "temporary," Coop Norway will "think twice" about restocking the games, adding, "Others are better qualified than us to point to the repercussions these games have." UK site Thinq also reports that Norwegian store Platekompaniet has removed "certain games" from sale.

The Coop-removed games include just about anything with the words "Call of Duty" in the title, including Black Ops, Modern Warfare 2, and World at War, along with other titles like Sniper: Ghost Warrior, Counter-Strike: Source, and World of Warcraft. This isn't a Coop-wide removal though; the chain in Denmark told Gamer's Globe that it hasn't removed any games and believed "that terrorism has been guided by motives other than computer game universes."

Brevik's 1500+ page manifesto references many of the above games, notably calling Modern Warfare 2 part of his "training-simulation."
[image credit: Flickr user potomo]

The next instalment of Blops multiplayer cash-for-maps, Rezurrection, is to be set on the moon. Activision claim that the DLC will feature an “enhanced zombie soundtrack”, whatever that means, but the core of it is a new “low-gravity” map set on Earth’s favourite orbiting rock. So Moon Zombies, then. The Windows version of the DLC will be available after 23rd of August (although precisely when isn’t clear) and the price isn’t yet clear either. This is a terrible news story. Must do better.

This concludes your Call Of Duty news for today. (Probably.)

While gaming still looks for its Citizen Kane, it has already found its McDonalds: Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg said on an earnings call today that the last two entries in the Call of Duty series, Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops, have sold 22 and 25 million units respectively.

The numbers may look impressive on the outside, but they don't answer the big question. Namely: What's the K/D spread?

First Strike, Escalation, Annihilation, and now Resurrection. The latest Activision earnings release names the new Call of Duty: Black Ops DLC, and provides a release window of sometime this fiscal quarter (which means July through September). It would be ironically poorly timed, but great for promotional purposes, if the DLC were to hit (on Xbox 360 first, as per exclusivity agreements) during the September 2-3 Call of Duty XP event.

Hey, the first initials of each of those spell out "FEAR"! Or "FSEAR," but ... no, we're going with "FEAR."

Update: Activision detailed the DLC in a press release. The bad news: it's actually called "Rezurrection." The good news: it's launching August 23 on Xbox Live, and includes three "re-mastered levels of Zombie lore: Nacht der Untoten, Verruckt, Shi No Numa and Der Riese, the Zombie factory that started it all," along with a brand new "Moon" level. It also includes an "enhanced Zombies Soundtrack" and a new Zombies Moon theme. Yes, by the way, this is really about fighting zombies on the moon.

The four "remastered" maps were previously included with the Hardened and Prestige releases -- if you already have one of those, the rest of this content will be free. Otherwise, it's the standard 1200 MS Points/$15. It'll be easy to acquire, too, according to One of Swords: " the short version is you'll be able to go into your Download History and re-download the classic pack you already own, and the fresh download will include the new Moon map. And you'll also get the soundtrack and theme, too."

First Strike, Escalation, Annihilation, and now Resurrection. The latest Activision earnings release names the new Call of Duty: Black Ops DLC, and provides a release window of sometime this fiscal quarter (which means July through September). It would be ironically poorly timed, but great for promotional purposes, if the DLC were to hit (on Xbox 360 first, as per exclusivity agreements) during the September 2-3 Call of Duty XP event.

Hey, the first initials of each of those spell out "FEAR"! Or "FSEAR," but ... no, we're going with "FEAR."

Update: Activision detailed the DLC in a press release. The bad news: it's actually called "Rezurrection." The good news: it's launching August 23 on Xbox Live, and includes three "re-mastered levels of Zombie lore: Nacht der Untoten, Verruckt, Shi No Numa and Der Riese, the Zombie factory that started it all," along with a brand new "Moon" level. It also includes an "enhanced Zombies Soundtrack" and a new Zombies Moon theme. Yes, by the way, this is really about fighting zombies on the moon.

The four "remastered" maps were previously included with the Hardened and Prestige releases -- if you already have one of those, the rest of this content will be free. Otherwise, it's the standard 1200 MS Points/$15.

First Strike, Escalation, Annihilation, and now Resurrection. The latest Activision earnings release names the new Call of Duty: Black Ops DLC, and provides a release window of sometime this fiscal quarter (which means July through September). It would be ironically poorly timed, but great for promotional purposes, if the DLC were to hit (on Xbox 360 first, as per exclusivity agreements) during the September 2-3 Call of Duty XP event.

Hey, the first initials of each of those spell out "FEAR"! Or "FSEAR," but "FEAR" is way cooler.

Activision will release the fourth Call of Duty: Black Ops "content pack," named Resurrection, by end of September on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, the company says. Resurrection will follow First Strike, Escalation and Annihilation. Details still to come... More »

Activision released the Annihilation map pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops today on the PC and PlayStation 3 for $15. Black Ops Annihilation Kills Montage It includes four new "regular" maps -- Hangar 18, Drive-In, Silo & Hazard -- as well as a new zombie map called Shangri-La. We posted o...

Annihilation — the third pack of DLC maps for Call of Duty: Black Ops – comes to the PlayStation 3 late tonight after 2am Pacific Time. The DLC offers four new multiplayer arenas and a new jungle-based Zombies survival experience in Shangri-Li. In celebration of the big release, developer Treyarch has deemed that the double XP will flow all weekend long. I’ll be hosting a gameplay session this Friday night to soak some of that up myself, and my favorite game type is Domination. Truth be told, I’m not that good a shot, so objective-based modes like this one let me help the team and keep leveing up even if I’m nowhere near the top of the K/D ratios.

In that spirit, I wanted to offer some tips for the four new maps. I don’t know if we’ll meet up on the same team or on opposite sides of a red dot sight, but I’m willing to take that risk in the name of having fun…

Drive In

I like this map a lot. Snipers perched in the projection room and in the screen will no doubt trade fire over the B flag in the middle of the map, but that also makes them susceptible to backstabs and grenades while they’re preoccupied. If you sneak up behind them, beware their defensive claymores. If you prefer to play defensively yourself, the box office near A is often underutilized as a hiding spot; you’ve got a good view of the flag and the most popular paths for advancing troops, so don’t be afraid to crouch in the ticket booth and guard your flag. Since all three flags fall in a line (more or less), consider Napalm Strike as a killstreak reward; if you drop a bit of linear fire, you can often shut down A & B or B & C and force the opponents to the edges of the map. Oh, and while you’re off to the left side, stop in the arcade and check out the pinball machines for a nice in-joke.

Hazard

This golf course is a sniper’s dream – the gazebo over A and the bridge near C give you clear lines of sight all the way down the fairway. As a result, expect B to be a nightmare to capture, especially since it’s easily attacked from the left or the right side as well. Gas grenades are great defensively at B, so consider a loadout with Tactical Mask to counteract that if you’re trying to capture. Personally, I prefer to try to control A and C and wait it out; sneak a claymore in near the chess table at C to help conceal it, and use the shadows at A to your advantage on defense.

Hanger 18

This level’s flags are spread out in a wide triangle pattern, with the B flag directly under the nose of the SR-71 Blackbird. B is particularly hard to capture because it’s so exposed and can be protected by long-range fire – there’s a building directly above on the A side that’s perfect for someone with a sniper or assault rifle, not to mention the tarped shipping crates that provide both height and cover for guards. But while everybody’s paying attention to the nose of the plane, don’t neglect its engines – flanking from the hangar itself (especially if you lead with a flashbang or concussion) is usually quite effective.

Silo

Silo can be overwhelming, as there are many blind corners and unusual pieces of cover – those cement cylinders, for instance. There’s a fair amount of verticality to the map; it doesn’t immediately look like Kowloon, but with several ladders, staircases, and scaffoldings to climb, it kind of plays like its Russian cousin. Plus, its highs are very high, giving snipers excellent views of B. However, A and C are less open from the most popular sniper perches – each has a tall wall between it and the middle of the map – so load up with shotguns and SMGs and storm them. The best team balance I’ve seen for Domination is two dedicated snipers and four roamers/cappers, working together. You really need teamwork on this one to be effective.

Above all, regardless of what map you play, use your voice! Most Domination games can be aided by simple status reports – every player can act as a scout. If three people took you out at A, say “Three at A” to prepare anybody else on your team. Simple, direct intel like that is always appreciated by teammates who want to work together.

Enjoy the new maps, enjoy this weekend’s double XP, and jump in for my Friday night session if you can; my PSN ID is OneOfSwords.

#paginationTop, #paginationBot, .ui-page-list ul {display:none;} The original concept of Call of Duty Zombies was that four people hold down a room that zombies are trying to break into. Over the years, that idea has been elaborated to the point that we're not even sure where the zombie...

If you're still rocking-out with Call of Duty: Black Ops on your PlayStation 3 or PC, you may have been eagerly awaiting the Annihilation Map Pack to freshen-up your online experience. Your friends with an Xbox 360 have already been playing these new maps, and now Activision has given an exact date as to when PS3 and PC gamers can get in on the fun, too...

Santa Monica, CA - Call of Duty: Black Ops is T-minus 13 days away from launching its latest content pack on the PlayStation 3 entertainment system and Windows PC with the worldwide release of Annihilation, the third DLC for the blockbuster title from Activision and Treyarch...

C'mon PC and PS3 gamers, you're starting to depress us. You press your noses against the window as you watch 360 gamers enjoy the new four new multiplayer maps in the Call of Duty: Black Ops "Annihilation" DLC. You drool like Dickensian orphans at a Golden Corral as they raze hordes of the undead in the new zombie scenario, Shangri-La. You wonder aloud what it must feel like to be them and, frankly, we've seen enough. It's time to reclaim your dignity.

Thirteen days. That's all you have to wait. Less than two weeks and you'll finally be back on even footing with those jerks.

... What's that, pumpkin? No, we're sure they haven't "used up all the fun." Oh, that's adorable. No, you'll see. On July 28, if you've got your $15 in hand, there will still be plenty of fun waiting for you. We promise.

#callofduty Call of Duty: Black Ops map pack Annihilation - already out on the Xbox 360 - will be available for PS3 users come July 28. More »

First Strike was fun. Retaliation rocked. But Call of Duty: Black Ops fans want more – they crave new battlegrounds and new experiences. Black Ops developer Treyarch knows this, so they’ve been busy creating another fresh batch of DLC maps: Annihilation. The newest add-on content will be ready for download from the PlayStation Store starting Thursday, July 28th.

Annihilation features four new standard multiplayer arenas – Silo, Hangar 18, Drive-In and Hazard – and the deadly jungle Zombies experience, Shangri-La. “The goals we set were about quality and variety,” says Treyarch’s Online Director, Dan Bunting. “We wanted to make everything feel unique and distinct.”

Annihilation delivers on those goals with five all-new environments:

Drive-In: This one-time American movie paradise once showed war movies; now it’s the location for one. The holes in the screen have been filled with snipers. The popcorn is stale, but they’re still serving up hot lead in the concession stand. “Drive-In is a small map, very fast paced,” says Treyarch’s Online Director, Dan Bunting (the nice bearded man from all those behind-the-scenes videos). “It’s similar to Nuketown in that it’s a fast, close-quarters map.”

Hazard: Ah, the Cuban good life! This swanky golf course features lush greens, oceanic driving ranges, and long-range sniping opportunities straight down its deadly fairway. Never mind getting a hole in one — try not to get lots of holes in you. Those skilled with assault rifles and sniper rifles will enjoy this one.

Silo: If you’ve ever said to yourself, “This is a great map, but what it really needs are missiles launching right next to my ear, so every time I line up to snipe someone, I pee myself instead” – and really, who hasn’t? – this is the map for you. Muddy sloped terrain, a smattering of construction equipment, and a few carefully placed sniper towers make this military outpost a tactical challenge regardless of game type.

Hangar 18: This one’s a tribute to the Groom Lake military base where the government developed the SR-71 Blackbird – or, depending on the conspiracy theories you choose to believe, where they stored a recovered alien spacecraft. Either way, you’ll be in an out of buildings frequently here, not to mention using a multi-million-dollar piece of reconnaissance aircraft for cover. But that’s not the only secret project it’s hiding. “Hangar 18 has a couple of fun easter eggs,” hints Bunting. “I can’t talk about them because it would ruin them.”

Shangri-La: Welcome to the jungle, where the Zombies have taken over an ancient shrine. But be extra careful – the environment’s many hidden tricks and deadly traps can be used against you as easily as your undead enemies. “It’s one of the more creative and clever map designs we’ve got so far,” says Bunting with pride. “The diehard fans are really going to appreciate the story hooks in this one as well.”

Annihilation will be available in the PlayStation Store July 28th — less than two weeks away. And as is the custom, the weekend that follows will offer all players double XP in celebration. See you at the drive-in!

Updates to Call of Duty: Black Ops have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:

Call of Duty: Black Ops

• Corrected several issues related to Mod Tools file downloading
  
• Ninja Pro Perk no longer makes sounds when mantling or diving to prone
  
• Theater screenshots, films, clips and custom games now display player ratings
  
• Addressed pathing issues in Call of the Dead
  
• Addressed various exploits in MP and Zombies
  

#fetish In approximately 90 days, walk into any bar in the State of Ohio. If there aren't any signs stating otherwise, feel free to carry your concealed weapon in that watering hole. But don't order a round. You can't legally drink if you are packing heat. More »

#watchthis Is it just me or are these zombie maps for Call of Duty: Black Ops getting increasingly complex with each new download pack? More »

According to UK sales snoops Chart-Track, Call of Duty: Black Ops has sold more copies than any other game in the region. That's, like, in all of history. As of June 25, Black Ops managed to move 3,722,411 copies, besting the previous top place holder, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which set a record with 3,702,410 copies sold.

And if we were a betting blog, we'd say that 3.72 million figure will only increase. With today's release of Annihilation, the latest map pack for the game, we're going way out on a limb here and suggest there's still some blood left to be squeezed from that stone.

#watchthis The Annihilation map pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops just hit the Xbox 360 bringing with it four new multiplayer maps and another zombie-killing cooperative adventure. More »

Black Ops takes Zombie Mode into the Jungle with the Annihilation DLC!

No, Activision -- stop it! We're all for the new zombies map coming in the next Call of Duty: Black Ops map pack, Annihilation, but we never, ever want to associate the joytime feelings we get from "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" with the feelings of desperation and panic in Black Ops' co-op survival mode. It's just two things that we never want to mix together, kinda like baby sea otters and Hellraiser.

#watchthis Pungee stick grenades, exploding wind-up monkeys all set to a catchy tune! More »

#blip "Shangri-La" is the new zombies map in Call of Duty: Black Ops, and it is far from paradise, as that anthropomorphic s'more (above) will attest. Available in Annihilation, releasing next Tuesday for Xbox 360, it offers five more achievements worth a cool 150 Gamerscore. They are: More »

Updates to Call of Duty: Black Ops have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:

Call of Duty: Black Ops

• Free For All matches in the Recent Games menu in Theater now appear as Free for All instead of being displayed as Team Deathmatch
  
• Addressed several items that did not correctly reset to their default state when using the Default System Settings option
  
• In the Combat Training Change map menu the player can toggle between the default and DLC maps using the arrow keys on the keyboard
  
• When the UAV is active the radar sweep movement is shown on kill streak menus that bring up a map for the player
  
• Added option to disable player emblems in the Settings, Multiplayer options menu
  
• Addressed crash when a player accepted a game invite while rendering a clip
  
• Addressed various exploits
  
• Allow modded servers to enable cheats
  
• Added ability for mods to remove dvar/commands from restricted lists. So mods can remove dvars they don't want user to have access to. Also increased the mods restricted list to 256
  

Call Of Duty: Black Ops is getting some kind of multiplayer expansion thing! I know, I can hardly believe it either, but it’s true. The trailer (below) shows off some elements of what to expect, and also a live action bit with some moustachioed dude in a diner. Why is that? I do not know. It makes little sense. But there are zombies, too. The zombies are from a fourth map, Shangri-La, which provides a supernatural alternative to the three standard multiplayer maps.

This expansion apparently turns up on the X-machine on the 28th and will then appear on our machine sometime thereafter. So that’s the mainstream Action News for the day. Let’s see if we can find an indie RTS to talk about. Aha, here comes one now!(more…)

Fresh combat gameplay from the Annihilation DLC!

#watchthis The third downloadable add-on for Call of Duty: Black Ops, "Annihilation," hits next week (for Xbox 360, that is), bringing with it four new maps and one new zombie-slaughtering "experience." Want to see? Watch that video. More »

That one hamburger-stand guy? "Gimme Shelter?" Fifteen dollars floating out of your wallet in anticipation? Yes, it's that time again: Activision posted a new Call of Duty: Black Ops DLC trailer, this one for the "Annihilation" map pack.

The Call of Duty: Black Ops Limited Edition hits Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 next week at North American retailers, packing in one game and one token for "First Strike" downloadable content that originally hit in February. Cost? $59.99 USD. More »