Is ‘Black Ops 2 – Origins’ New ‘Call of Duty’ DLC or Something Else?

Earlier today a teaser video for something called Black Ops 2 – Origins appeared on Call of Duty developer Treyarch‘s YouTube page sans explanation. The video, which features several exotic locales, close-ups of four characters, and a mech, is as mysterious as it is intriguing, but it may be a clue towards future Black Ops 2content.

Over the past few months, Treyarch has been slowly rolling out DLC map packs for Black Ops 2, most of which fit into the traditional mold of “four multiplayer maps and a co-op map.” In Black Ops 2‘s case, those co-op maps have been for Treyarch’s fan-favorite Zombies mode.

However, this latest teaser video suggests Black Ops 2 might be looking to break the mold, and offer some story-based downloadable content. This is just me going out on a limb, mind you, and there’s no evidence aside from the video to corroborate that theory, but it could be interesting if it were true.

For more than half a decade, the Call of Duty campaign has been a singular experience that lasts maybe 8 hours at most. Sure, players can log 100s of hours in online multiplayer, but when the credits roll on the story there’s little incentive to go back.

However, if Black Ops 2 – Origins is new story content, this would mark a first for the series, a chance to go experience a completely new story. That being said, it’s rather strange that Treyarch would roll out new single player DLC now, especially when their DLC schedule is seemingly coming to an end.

It’s also entirely possible that we’re reading too much into the Black Ops 2 – Origins video and that it’s nothing more than a fun little Call of Duty-themed treat. It wouldn’t be the first time that a fan-made Call of Duty video got serious attention either.

Or maybe Black Ops 2 – Origins is a teaser for more traditional DLC, like a new map pack or another zombies level. It’s been about a month since the most recent DLC pack, Vengeance, launched on the Xbox 360, so maybe Activision is gearing up for this final pack before focusing on marketing efforts for Call of Duty: Ghosts.

Hopefully, we’ll find out more about Black Ops 2 – Origins in the coming days.

What do you think Black Ops 2 – Origins is? Do you think it’s time for Activision to focus on Call of Duty: Ghosts or do you want more Black Ops 2 content?

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Activision Officially Unveils ‘Black Ops 2: Uprising’ DLC With Star-Studded Trailer

 

For last year’s Call of Duty installment, Treyarch took advantage of multiple time periods to tell a unique story ba
sed both in the ’80s and 2025. The near-future setting had intriguing implications for the multiplayer features of Black Ops 2 with new weapons and advanced military tech.

The first DLC map pack for Black Ops 2 (watch the Revolution videos here) debuted in January and later this month, the second multiplayer content expansion will release. Activision has (officially) unveiled Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Uprising and as rumors and leaks indicated, it adds four new maps and a new zombies mission that plays with the idea of different time periods.

Where the original Black Ops featured the popular Call of the Dead DLC featuring the likenesses and voices of Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street), Danny Trejo (Machete), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy: The Vampire Slayer), or Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead), Uprising adds another star-powered zombies mission with a specific theme. Titled Mob of the Dead, the zombie element of Uprising is based during on the prison island of Alcatraz during prohibition-era 1920-30s. Players play as four mobsters planning an epic escape: Billy Handsome (Ray Liotta), Al “The Weasel” Arlington (Joe Pantoliano), Salvatore “Sal” DeLuca (Chazz Palmenteri), and Michael “Finn” O’Leary (Michael Madsen).

Mark Lamia, Treyarch’s Studio Head:


“With Uprising, the team has really outdone itself again. In addition to creating four amazing new multiplayer maps, the Studio has been hard at work on the Zombies front to surpass what we accomplished with ‘Call of the Dead.’ What they’ve done this time around is nothing Zombies fans have seen before – and if you don’t believe me, just wait until you get into Purgatory.”

In line with the theme of Mob of the Dead, the playable mobsters – who oddly look graphically dated – must utilize old school weaponry, from basic blunt instruments to time-peripd-approriate firearms, to fight off zombified guards and prisoners. This zombies co-op mission features a new mode called “Purgatory” where dead players return (sort of) but in the afterlife.

For the competitive players, Uprising offers much more than another zombies arena, and as the leaked photos from retailers  indicated, there are four interesting and uniquely themed adversarial maps shipping with Uprising as well. As seen in the video up top, the new maps joining the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2playlist:
Magma – Modern Japanese village with volcanic eruptions carving multiple paths throughout the town.
Encore – Takes place in the aftermath of a deserted London music festival. (run-and-gun, close quarters combat)
Vertigo – Futuristic high rise in India housing a high-tech lab featuring dizzying vistas and multi-tiered pathways.
Studio – Contemporary remake of the fan-favorite “Firing Range” and a Hollywood movie back lot with a variety of cinematic themes that range from Sci-Fi to the Old West. (sniper friendly)

Are you picking up the DLC or waiting for the announcement of the first next-gen Call of Duty that may just look like this.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Uprising releases April 16, 2013 first on Xbox 360 as a timed-exclusive for 1200 Microsoft Points. The Uprising DLC Map Pack is also included in the Call of Duty: Black Ops II DLC Season Pass.

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‘Black Ops 2′ Update: Micro-transactions, Nuketown & More

Since the Revolution DLC dropped in January, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has certainly been keeping players busy. While today’s title update isn’t throwing 4 all-new maps into the mix, it still remains one of the largest updates to Black Ops 2 yet – introducing several options for an all-new micro-transaction market, regular title updates and the public release of the fan-favorite Nuketown 2025 map.

Micro-transactions have been a controversial issue ever since horse-armor came to Oblivion, so the reaction may be mixed as they enter the realm of Black Ops 2. Thus far, none of the available micro-transactions will give players an unfair boost over others, but rather offer gamers options to customize their experience. Players will now be able to purchase custom content for their weapons, badges and player calling cards. Those playing from countries without any on-disc flag representation can now purchase a flag for $1 (80 MSP).

Hardcore gamers unsatisfied with having only 10 slots to allocate player classes will also have the option to purchase another 10 for $2 (160 MS Points). This will have the added bonus of allowing those players to use 20 more emblems, 32 more films and 40 more screenshots.

The popular Nuketown 2025 map, which was originally available only to those who pre-ordered the title, is now available for everyone. The zombie edition, however, still runs $5 (400 MSP).

Treyarch also pushed out some standard updates for Black Ops 2 that address issues like weapon balancing and spawn point balancing, and include several bug fixes. The studio has also made improvements to CODCasting, allowing gamers to go back and watch previous League Play matches in their entirety. Support for background downloads now enables gamers to play Black Ops 2 whilst DLC is being downloaded.

What do you think, Ranters? Will you be buying into any of the offered micro-transactions? Do you want a bacon-themed SMG?

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‘Black Ops 2′ Revolution DLC Multiplayer Map Video Walkthroughs

The first Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 DLC, Revolution, has arrived, and in lieu of a traditional review, we thought we’d try something a little different and provide video walkthroughs of each of the new multiplayer maps. We’ve still included our thoughts on the maps, and how they function as part of the Black Ops 2 multiplayer, but at the same time this is also an opportunity to check out the make-up of each map and see if Revolution’s $15 price tag is worth it.

So check out the first video walkthrough below:

Downhill is the first snow map created for Black Ops 2, but unlike previous maps it’s filled with plenty of buildings and interesting structures to break up the monotony of the milky white. Of particular note are the gondola lines that run horizontally through the middle of the map, which provide mobile cover but are also deadly to those who don’t pay careful attention.

Matches played on Downhill can sometimes be frustrating because of its long sight lines, but there’s typically an alternate route to get behind the enemy and stop campers. It’s not Call of Duty without a snow map, and Downhill should be counted among the better versions.

Mirage looks more like a multiplayer map for Uncharted 3 with its intricate detail and sand-swept terrain. Set on a Chinese resort that has been ravaged by a sandstorm, Mirage offers plenty of uneven terrain for players to feel protected, but not hindered by too many obstacles.

The map also offers a few areas for close combat encounters, specifically the lobby in the center, which provides a straight line between spawns, but is also vulnerable from above and below. Most of Black Ops 2‘s multiplayer maps focus on rundown urban environments, whereas Mirage takes that idea and flips it totally on its head.

Hydro is another one of those dynamic scenario maps like Express in the main game. Rather than avoiding a speeding train however, players must be mindful of the rising stream, which can kill anyone caught in its path.

Of the four maps, Hydro is the most symmetrical, and offers an even playing field for both teams. It’s also a rather small map, meaning firefights will come early and often. It might be the most plain of the set, but that dynamic “flood” still keeps things interesting.

Grind is perhaps the most unique multiplayer map Call of Duty has seen in quite some time, and is actually my personal favorite from the collection. Set on an abandoned skate park, Grind offers loads of curved obstacles and walls, with plenty of structures to use as unconventional cover.

The general make-up of the map is somewhat familiar, but what it lacks in originality in terms of design it more than makes up for in terms of its aesthetics. Fans of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater will feel right at home in Grind, and will love the many different vert ramps, half-pipes, and grind rails that are scattered throughout.

As well as these four new multiplayer maps, the Revolution DLC also offers a new weapon, a new Zombies map, and a new Zombies mode, to essentially cover all the requisite bases. The new Zombies map, Die Rise, is a unique offering with an emphasis on verticality, and will serve Zombies fans well as a new battleground against the undead.

The new Zombies mode, ‘Turned’, offers players their first opportunity to play as the undead in a mode that resembles Halo‘s Infected mode, but its utility is largely dependent on gamers’ willingness to play as a lumbering zombie for potentially long stretches at a time. It breaks up the monotony of the main Zombies modes, and is new and exciting the first few matches, but part of the appeal of Zombies is trying to survive for as long as possible, which is lost in Turned.

The new ‘Peacekeeper’ weapon provides players with a more accurate SMG, but one that doesn’t pack as much of a punch as some of the higher tier options. It’s range is farther than most SMGs, but there are several attachments that can remedy that issue and still retain the damage profile.

Treyarch claimed the Peacekeeper was a cross between a SMG and an assault rifle, and that’s an appropriate label in terms of what it offers. Unfortunately, there are more powerful options available in both the assault rifle and submachine gun categories, so most won’t end up using the gun beyond that initial trial period.

All in all Revolution is a suitable first offering for Black Ops 2, one that doesn’t shy away from being innovative and bountiful, but is still bound to the usual strictures of Call of Duty DLC — meaning it’s only for hardcore fans. The $15 price tag is still there, and nothing about the pack fundamentally alters the make-up of the multiplayer, so don’t expect to spend the money and get anything “better.” The major appeal of the DLC is the promise of “more,” but only for those that are hungry for it.

Have you had a chance to check out the Black Ops 2 Revolution DLC? Which map is your favorite? What do you think of the new Zombies map and mode?

Black Ops 2 – Revolution is out now for the Xbox 360. A PC, PS3, and Wii U date have not been announced.

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‘Black Ops 2′ Revolution DLC Trailer Introduces ‘The Replacer’

In typical Call of Duty fashion, the Black Ops 2 Revolution DLC has had a somewhat interesting journey toward official confirmation. Bringing five new maps and a new Zombie game mode, Revolution was first leaked, then confirmed (accidentally), before finally being outed and paired with an extensive walkthrough video outlining the incoming content.

In an effort to remind everyone that no game series carries more clout than CoD, Activision has called on the talents of Peter Stormare (Minority Report, Fargo) for their latest Revolution trailer. Dubbed ‘The Replacer,’ Stormare will be on hand to help cover all the aspects of a gamer’s life, now that the DLC is sure to swallow them up for the foreseeable future.

Famous faces in Call of Duty advertising is nothing new, but Stormare’s appearance must rank among our favorites. And although the trailer may be all in jest, there is a bit of truth to the claims made of Treyarch‘s upcoming DLC. Adding four new maps – Hydro, Grind, Downhill, and Mirage – is going to give the existing player base more than enough reason to expand their daily/weekly/hourly gaming sessions. But then we get to the zombies.

As if the Nuketown Zombies map coming to PS3 and PC players wasn’t enough to bump playtime, Revolution will be introducing Die Rise, a Zombie map set in a crumbling skyscraper. Bringing verticality to the game mode (along with some labyrinthine, unlit corridors) will be making the mode more like living in a zombie movie than ever before. Thanks to the new Hunted mode, that’s not where the changes end.

With the new Turned game mode, the player takes the role of one of several zombified characters pursuing a single shooter; kill the uninfected, and take his place. The new spin on multiplayer is an interesting one, and one of the Revolution additions we’re most interested in trying out for ourselves.

Which aspect of the Revolution DLC are you most looking forward to? The new modes, or merely taking the existing multiplayer to new locations? Sound off in the comments.

Black Ops 2: Revolution releases first for the Xbox 360 on Jan. 28, 2012.

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Black Ops 2: ‘Revolution’ DLC Coming January 29th?

Black Ops 2 may have gotten off to a suspicious start where sales numbers were concerned, but proved the franchise still has staying power unrivaled in the entertainment industry. Of course, Call of Duty has become synonymous with the now-infamous array of downloadable Map Packs. But to this point, what shipped with Black Ops 2 has been all that players had at their disposal.

A few new images leaked online imply that the wait is nearly over, as theRevolution Map Pack DLC will will be bringing new arenas and weaponry come January 29, beginning with the Xbox 360.

Now that the controversy over the Nuketown 2025 map has been somewhat addressed, Treyarch has the opportunity to pleasantly surprise their sizable player community. Thanks to a few images of in-store promotional materials that popped up on Reddit, we have an idea of how they’ll be doing it. Specifically, with five new maps and a bonus weapon.

The maps in question are Hydro, apparently taking place along or next to a hydroelectric dam, Grind, set among a graffiti-ed skate park, Downhill, this particular DLC’s arctic locale, and Mirage, a map set in an East-Asian locale. Along with the four multiplayer maps is Die Rise, what seems to be a location for the game’s Zombie mode in a post-apocalyptic urban setting.

With the map pack comes the ‘bonus’ Peacekeeper SMG, although its particular details or game modes it will be available to aren’t clear. Infinity Ward and Treyarch have both cited balancing and technical hurdles as an explanation for a lack of additional weapons once their respective games had shipped. Exactly how this has changed with the Peacekeeper is anyone’s guess, but at this point all we have to go on is the name and appearance (could it only be an addition to Zombie mode?).

The promotional materials claim a release date of January 29, 2013, with exclusivity to Xbox 360 owners at launch. Pricing and specific details are still unannounced, but expect Activision and Treyarch to release some screenshots or a trailer in the near future.

Which if the new maps looks most promising to your eyes? Does the arctic setting mean a celebration is in order, or has the format become a tired one in this day and age? Most importantly, has Black Ops 2′s League Play shifted your attention from new maps to honing your own skills, or are the existing locations already feeling a bit tired?

Black Ops 2 is out now for the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U and PC. The Revolution Map Pack is expected January 29, 2013.

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‘Black Ops 2′ Sales Down 14% from ‘MW3′: Has ‘Call of Duty’ Peaked?

Ever since Modern Warfare 2 surpassed $3 billion in revenue, the gaming community has watched with interest as each subsequent Call of Duty installment carried the record-breaking bar even higher. At the same time, fans of the series (as well as detractors) have wondered if (and when) the mega-successful bubble might burst.

Now, after setting a new franchise milestone, with $1 billion in week one sales, it’s looking as though Black Ops 2 might be the first title in Call of Duty console history to sell less copies (long term) than its predecessor. Of course, a decline in sales does not mean that the game (and larger series) won’t continue to bring in big bucks for Activision but has Call of Duty reached its peak?

The news comes from Gamasutra, who crunched NPD numbers for first month Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops 2 sales and found that, comparatively, console series sales have declined by 14 percent overall this year (so far). To be clear, the report is based on comparisons using PS3 and Xbox 360 numbers – not PC (though its unlikely that console gamer patterns are significantly different in this case).

According to a report from industry analysts Cowen and Company, based on adjustments for available days on the market, even if Blacks Ops 2 had move 7.9 million copies in the first month across all console platforms (including Wii U and handhelds), it would have still seen an 11 percent drop from Modern Warfare 3. Black Ops 2 has only sold around 7.4 million – and, while Wii U and handheld numbers are not available, there’s no reason to think they’d make up that 1.4 million difference (especially with only 400k Wii U’s on the market in November).

Black Ops 2 is still a massive success for Activision; however, looking at Gamasutra‘s comparative chart, it’s clear that, should that first month sales decline continue into 2013, some gamers no longer consider Call of Duty titles a must-have annual purchase – as the year over year differences are, at the very least, tightening:

That said, analyzing NPD numbers is not an exact science and there are other factors that could play into the perceived month one sales decline – as pointed out by Longbow Research’s James Hardiman (via MCVUK):


“We do not believe that Activision did itself any favours by putting out a press release touting that Black Ops II had crossed $1bn in just 15 days, faster than the 16 days required for Modern Warfare 3 to reach the $1bn mark [...] What management did not mention is the fact that with an earlier release date, Modern Warfare 3 was able to reach $1bn a day before Thanksgiving, whereas Black Ops II was not able to get there until after Cyber Monday.”

The earlier Modern Warfare 3 release date is accounted for in Gamasutra‘s calculations but NOT the increased revenue that was likely generated by a pre-Black Friday launch (likely helping to push the game’s own $1 billion number in 16 days). Still, Hardiman’s insight doesn’t undercut possible decline in the Call of Duty series – though it may indicate that Modern Warfare 3 sales were a bit inflated and, as a result, the Black Ops 2 drop might not be quite as sharp as the numbers appear. It’s also worth noting that with higher month one numbers, there might not have been as many Modern Warfare 3 purchases throughout December 2011 – meaning Black Ops 2 could still gain some ground before 2012 is over.

Players have also pointed to direct competition from the highly-anticipated release of fellow shooter Halo 4 as a possible reason for lower Black Ops 2 numbers but, given that Gamasutra reports Call of Duty sales falloff on both PS3 and Xbox 360, it’s unfair to use the Microsoft exclusive as a scapegoat – especially consideringModern Warfare 3 went toe-to-toe with Battlefield 3 across all platforms last year.

Not to mention, even if Halo 4 did have a dramatic impact on Call of Duty sales this year, it would still serve as potential symptom in Call of Duty decline – i.e. some potential Black Ops 2 players did choose Halo 4 over the latest Call of Duty title. That’s the challenge that Activision now faces with the Call of Duty series, whetherBlack Ops 2 represents a downturn or not: There’s no doubt that the Call of Dutybrand is very strong but with so many great titles available in the market, how can the publisher bring enough shooter fans back with each installment in order to continue record-setting sales year after year after year after year after year?

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2012 Spike Video Game Awards Winners List

The 10th Annual Spike Video Game Awards are now behind us, and while in past years we have criticized the shows awards but applauded its ability to secure some pretty high profile exclusives, this year was almost a complete role reversal. While the trailers on display during the event were still intriguing there was a significant lack of new or unexpected “stuff” on display, even if there was plenty of trailers to go around.

Save for the reveal of The Phantom Pain — a game that may or may not be Metal Gear Solid 5 — gamers knew exactly what they were going to get out of the show. Yes, it was nice to see some of BioShock Infinite‘s sandbox-esque gameplay and to better understand when Gears of War: Judgment resides in the timeline, but this show is usually the winter E3, and it really wasn’t this year.

That could be due to a lack of content — a byproduct of the generational transition from PS3 to PS4, Xbox 360 to 720, and so on and so forth — or it could just be that the mystery titles are not yet ready for public criticism. A similar sentiment was felt after E3, with most coming away with the impression that if developers showed their in-development projects they would, at the same time, be forced to discuss Sony and Microsoft‘s new consoles.

Nevertheless, this is an awards show we are talking about after all, and on that front we were pleasantly surprised to see some of the year’s standout titles receive some recognition. Even more surprising is the fact that new IPs or smaller franchises were able to come away with hardware in some pretty high profile categories. Games like Journey and Dishonored were able to beat out the likes of Assassin’s Creed 3 and Borderlands 2 — something we could never imagine happening even one year ago.

But most impressive of all is the fact that The Walking Dead — a downloadable title that is arguably more an emotionally moving experience than a game — was able to come away with Game of The Year. Granted, the competition might not have been as stiff (where was Halo 4?), but giving The Walking Dead the highest honor of the night makes a bold statement.

See what else came away with the coveted monkey award below:

Game of the Year
Assassin’s Creed 3
Dishonored
Journey
Mass Effect 3
*The Walking Dead*

Studio of the Year
Gearbox Software
343 Industries
Arkane Studios
*Telltale Games*

Best Xbox 360 Game
Assassin’s Creed 3
Dishonored
Borderlands 2
*Halo 4*

Best PS3 Game
Assassin’s Creed 3
Borderlands 2
*Journey*
Dishonored

Best Wii/Wii U Game
*New Super Mario Bros. U*
The Last Story
Xenoblade Chronicles
ZombiU

Best PC Game
Diablo 3
Guild Wars 2
Torchlight 2
*XCOM: Enemy Unknown*

Best Shooter
*Borderlands 2*
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Halo 4
Max Payne 3

Best Action Adventure Game
Assassin’s Creed 3
*Dishonored*
Darksiders 2
Sleeping Dogs

Best RPG
Diablo 3
*Mass Effect 3*
Torchlight 2
Xenoblade Chronicles

Best Multi-Player Game
*Borderlands 2*
Guild Wars 2
Halo 4
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Best Individual Sports Game
Hot Shots Golf World Invitational
*SSX*
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13
WWE ’13

Best Team Sports Game
FIFA Soccer 13
Madden NFL 13
*NBA 2K13*
NHL 13

Best Driving Game
Dirt: Showdown
F1 2012
Forza Horizon
*Need for Speed: Most Wanted*

Best Song in a Game
“Castle of Glass” by Linkin Park – Medal of Honor: Warfighter
*”Cities” by Beck – Sound Shapes*
“I Was Born for This” by Austin Wintory – Journey
“Tears” by Health – Max Payne 3

Best Original Score
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Halo 4
*Journey*
Max Payne 3

Best Graphics
Assassin’s Creed 3
Dishonored
*Halo 4*
Journey

Best Independent Game
Dust: An Elysian Tail
Fez
*Journey*
Mark of the Ninja

Best Fighting Game
Dead or Alive 5
*Persona 4 Arena*
Street Fighter X Tekken
Tekken Tag Tournament 2

Best Handheld/Mobile Game
Gravity Rush
LittleBigPlanet (Vita)
New Super Mario Bros. 2
*Sound Shapes*

Best Performance By a Human Female
Emma Stone as Amanda Cartwright – Sleeping Dogs
Jen Taylor as Cortana – Halo 4
Jennifer Hale as Commander Shepard - Mass Effect 3
*Melissa Hutchison as Clementine – The Walking Dead*

Best Performance By a Human Male
*Dameon Clarke as Handsome Jack – Borderlands 2*
Dave Fennoy as Lee Everret – The Walking Dead
James McCafferey as Max Payne – Max Payne 3
Nolan North as Captain Martin Walker - Spec Ops: The Line

Best Adapted Video Game
Disney Epic Mickey 2
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
*The Walking Dead*
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

Best DLC
*Dawnguard – The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim*
Leviathan – Mass Effect 3
Mechromancer Pack – Borderlands 2
Perpetual Testing Initiative – Portal 2

Best Downloadable Game
Fez
Journey
Sound Shapes
*The Walking Dead*

Best Social Game
Draw Something
Marvel: Avengers Alliance
Sim City Social
*You Don’t Know Jack*

Game of the Decade
Batman: Arkham City
BioShock
*Half-Life 2*
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Mass Effect 3
Portal
Red Dead Redemption
Shadow of the Colossus
Wii Sports
World of Warcraft

Most Anticipated Game
BioShock Infinite
*Grand Theft Auto V*
South Park: The Stick of Truth
The Last of Us
Tomb Raider

Character of the Year
Connor Kenway - Assassin’s Creed III
Commander Shepard - Mass Effect 3
*Clap Trap - Borderlands 2*
Master Chief - Halo 4
Raul Menendez - Call of Duty: Black Ops II

What do you think of Spike’s choices for winners? Are you surprised to see thatThe Walking Dead won Game of the Year? What did you think of the show in general?

Make sure to check out all of our coverage of the 2012 Spike Video Game Awards including all of the new trailers here.

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‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 2′ Wii U Review

Treyarch did an admirable job porting the Call of Duty: Black Ops experience to the technically inferior Wii and its unique motion controllers back in 2010, and for all of its graphical weaknesses, it was more or less the same game sans a few zombie maps and splitscreen multiplayer. With Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, nothing is holding Treyarch back from being able to deliver the same, perhaps even more enchanced, version of the game thanks to the Nintendo Wii U.

Does Black Ops 2 on the Wii U offer a comparable console experience to the proven PS3 and Xbox 360, and is it worth the switch? Read on for our review.

We’ve already reviewed Black Ops 2 on the other consoles (giving it a 4/5), analyzing its campaign, zombies mode and multiplayer offerings, so in this review we’re going to focus on what new features it brings to the Nintendo Wii U and how it compares to the traditional console experience for the franchise over the years of the current console generation.

With the Wii U, players now have a second screen which Treyarch does utilize to a certain extent. In adding a second player with split-screen mode, one player can play on TV screen and another on GamePad to avoid wasting screen space and it totally works, usually without any graphical hiccup. During the campaign there are no Wii U specific features outside of controlling the options menu and being able to display the game on the GamePad if you want that HD mobile experience or if someone else needs the TV set. In multiplayer however, the GamePad comes with new exclusive features as players can change their load out, look at the map, or call in Killstreak rewards from the GamePad’s screen on the fly.

While the Wii U GamePad is light weight and features the control scheme and twin sticks the Wii lacked, it’s design does not lend itself as well to fast-paced FPS titles. The ABXY buttons are practically out of reach during gameplay due to their below-the-right-stick positioning and players will never have time to look down to the GamePad’s map in multiplayer. For that reason, serious players looking to play online will need to invest in the Pro Controller, as recommended by Treyarch. It does also support the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, but that’s a death sentence in competitive multiplayer.

With the Wii U, buyers of Black Ops 2 are getting what amounts to the same game the PS3 or Xbox 360 players, but that’s not necessarily the best thing. It’s great that the Wii U finally lets Nintendo-only players experience a Call of Duty game – and all of its modes – with legitimate dual-stick controls and optimal graphics, but what about newcomers to the franchise?

By porting over the identical game, Treyarch fails to construct game modes and menus that are friendly to new players. It’s easy to assume the same people playing the Wii U game are those who play every year and that the audience knows the game, but that’s not the case. From building a custom class, to hosting a custom game with bots (more on that later), the menus are not new-user-friendly, and this may make the biggest problem of Black Ops 2 on the Wii U even worse.

The biggest problem may (or may not be) the most shocking of all: there’s no community. The day after the Wii U hit store shelves, with the network and update issues mostly out of the way, we found only 600+ players online in the multiplayer for the entirety of the evening, and the day after, nearly 500 with the majority of the playlists having zero players in them. This is a serious issue because matchmaking relies on a large pool of active players and right now, the console doesn’t have that for the best-selling game of the year. At the moment, players cannot play most of the game modes because there’s no one in them.

‘Black Ops 2′ Wii U Matchmaking Woes

There’s a partial solution available in that players can create custom matches with up to 11 bots, but that still doesn’t allow for the larger online game types and bots are not the same as playing against real players. With the original Wii console unable to grow an online community or embrace online multiplayer, Treyarch is essentially starting from scratch with the Wii U in community building. The simple fact is, Call of Duty has such a massive and loyal fan base that the vast majority of year-to-year players have already picked the game up for the consoles they’ve been playing the game on for on the regular. The Wii U won’t win over Xbox 360 or PS3 COD players so it must make the best of what it has, and while the numbers aren’t quite there, Black Ops 2 is a step in the right direction for growing the Call of Duty target audience.

Hopefully this holiday sales season will rectify this issue by growing the player base, but for newcomers to the franchise and for players who’ve not experienced theCall of Duty series in a long time, the Wii U version of the game and its corresponding online community are for you. Just reading through the Black Ops 2 community posts in the Miiverse, it’s abundantly clear that with the Wii U, Call of Duty is expanding its audience, and it’s refreshing to seeing pleasant, fun, and genuinely happy Call of Duty related message threads online (for the opposite, read our main Black Ops 2 review). There are players talking about this being their first Nintendo shooter or the first COD off the PC, players looking to join their first clan, people amazed by a Nintendo console’s visuals – players who’ve not been following the series or perhaps don’t have a PS3 or Xbox 360.

While the Wii U version amounts to being the same game – with significantly less multiplayer options due the the number of players – it does ship with more bugs than its counterparts. Players who don’t have the latest update may experience crashing when accessing saved files and starting up the game will require a lengthy (or at least, slow) update. Too many times did the game freeze and the only way to fix it is to unplug the power cord of the Wii U console, wait at least 10 seconds, and plug it back in and restart. It seems to be a common issue according to Miiverse community messages. There are also more in-game bugs, from objects getting stick in environments where they’re not supposed to be, floating objects, NPCs moving against script, players getting stuck coming out of in-game cinematic event, NPC mouths occasionally not moving while talking, etc., but those are minor surface details and not frequent.

In the end, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is a hardcore title the Wii U needed to qualify as a console that truly play the third-party games available on the PS3 and Xbox 360. For newcomers interested in a shooter, Black Ops 2 is an easy recommendation and they’ll find a large amount of content and fun in the game’s campaign, zombies mode and multiplayer. The GamePad is sufficient for a quality gaming experience, but for competitive play, a Pro Controller may be required. It’s a pretty game with the same high-end presentation values the series is expected to deliver, but for hardcore/veteran players, there are reasons to not make the switch from your current platform preference to the Wii U.

Note: At this time we haven’t been able to get the home button to work with the game on, meaning there’s no way to take screenshots or… exit the game. We’ve emailed Activision and will update.

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‘Black Ops 2′ Nuketown 2025 Playlist Removed; Treyarch Provides Solution

Since the unveiling of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2‘s multiplayer, one of the major selling points for the mode has been the Nuketown 2025 map. A redesigned version of Black Ops 1‘s fan-favorite map, Nuketown 2025 was promised as a pre-order bonus to any and every gamer that pre-ordered a copy of Black Ops 2, regardless of retailer.

However, what Activision failed to mention when hyping Nuketown 2025 was the limited availability of the map. While over the weekend gamers were able to get their fill of Nuketown 2025 in its own unique playlist, they have today discovered said playlist to be gone. And, to make matters worse, Treyarch has announced that the playlist – the only way to play Nuketown 2025 outside of a custom game – was only part of last week’s double XP weekend.

Of course, this decision was met with a considerable amount of fan backlash, since Nuketown 2025 was a major determining factor in gamers’ decision to pre-orderBlack Ops 2. To then prevent gamers from readily accessing the map is in poor form.

Thankfully, Activision and Treyarch have responded with a compromise: a ‘Chaos Moshpit’ playlist that will incorporate many of Black Ops 2‘s smaller maps, including Nuketown 2025. Whether or not the playlist will require Nuketown 2025 is unclear, but our guess is that it will. Splitting the playlist between gamers who pre-ordered and did not would only complicate the matter further.

It might not be the solution gamers were looking for – a better choice would have been treating Nuketown 2025 as a DLC map across all matchmaking – but it’s a serviceable compromise. And more importantly it justifies the Black Ops 2 pre-order.

Treyarch announced that the ‘Chaos Moshpit’ playlist should be rolling out to consoles as we speak, and will go live for the PC tomorrow. For now there’s 14 other maps out there to enjoy.

Also make sure to read our Black Ops 2 review for our thoughts on the game.

Were you disappointed to learn the Nuketown 2025 playlist was originally intended for the double XP weekend only? Do you feel cheated by the inclusion of the map as a pre-order bonus?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is out now for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

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‘Black Ops 2′ Makes $500 Million In A Day; New Game Modes In Development

It’s been five years since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare changed the face of gaming, and the series’ success still hasn’t let up. Black Ops 2 was released to not only critical praise, but stronger sales than any of its predecessors.

Activision confirmed today that in its first twenty four hours, Black Ops 2 was able to rake in more than $500 million dollars in revenue. This smashes the record set by Modern Warfare 3, which was able to bring in 775 million in just five days. While series critics believe the games have began to stagnate, it’s clear that consumers are still enjoying the yearly releases.

Making the numbers even more jaw dropping, is that these are sell-through numbers. That $500 million represents numbers from income from copies sold at retail, not from Activision to stores. These numbers are only sure to grow this Sunday, when Black Ops 2 releases on the Wii U. At the current moment, Activision’s Bobby Kotick claims that “life-to-date sales for the Call of Duty franchise have exceeded worldwide theatrical box office receipts for “Harry Potter” and “Star Wars.”

However, there is still the matter of Black Ops‘ Vita counter part, Black Ops: Declassified. The Vita title – handled by Resistance: Burning Skies developer Nihilistic Software – was not mentioned in Activision’s press release. The game was long hyped by both Sony and the PlayStation community, and even came in a bundle with the Vita and a 4GB memory card. It’s obvious that the title wouldn’t perform as well as its console counterparts, however, it is interesting that Activision wouldn’t even mention it.

Activision’s not done with Black Ops 2; however, and has even more content planned to be coming down the line. Earlier this month they announced that Call of Duty: Elite would be free to all users, and a fifty dollar season pass would be made available for all upcoming downloadable content. There’s even the likelyhood that Black Ops 2 will receive new game modes, according to Treyarch’s David Vonderhaar.

“Absolutely. Although we haven’t released any details, or even decided which ones, nor could I give you a count or time, we have several games modes we play in development.”

Throughout the course of 2012, Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare 3 was regularly updated with new game modes. The most prominent being Face Off, a free add-on that put a focus on smaller teams. The game also received numerous community modes, such as Drop Zone and the ever popular Infected mode.

It will be interesting to see how Black Ops 2 fairs in the coming months. While the game has obviously been met with tremendous success, there are still a few hurdles it needs to overcome. The PS3 version in particular is suffering from server issues, which make it difficult for players to even get in a game. Sales themselves could prove to be problematic, as while Modern Warfare 3 also had a strong launch, monthly sales weren’t as strong as its predecessor. Whether or notBlack Ops 2 has better legs remains to be seen, but after Tuesday’s launch, it’s clear Activision isn’t done with the Call of Duty brand.

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Activision: ‘Black Ops 2′ Could Be The Best-Selling Game of All-Time

It’s a test many followers of the games industry subject Call of Duty to on an annual basis: Will Activision’s first-person shooter franchise, which exploded commercially after 2007′s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, continue to push the boundaries of record-breaking sales?

It’s passed unequivocally in the last three years: Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops, and Modern Warfare 3 have successively generated the largest 24-hour openings in entertainment history, and last year saw Call of Duty: Black Opssurpass Wii Play as the best-selling video game of all-time. Today, with Call of Duty: Black Ops II releasing in less than a week, Activision has set the bar for its next game even higher.

Speaking during Activision Blizzard’s Q3 earnings call today, Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision’s publishing unit, optimistically suggested that Call of Duty: Black Ops II could overtake its 2010 predecessor as the best-selling video game of all time.

Hirschberg presented a litany of promising marketing data — a Forbes brand loyalty list where Call of Duty ranked 7th worldwide; pre-order numbers for Black Ops IIoutpacing Modern Warfare 3 (the most pre-ordered game of — you guessed it — all time); YouTube and Facebook traffic for Black Ops II showing significant spikes — and made his case for the innovation Black Ops II is contributing to the franchise:

“Black Ops II had several meaningful innovations and firsts for the franchise. One key innovation has been the decision to take Call of Duty into the near future, which has opened up many new play mechanics, new weapons and new story opportunities. We believe Black Ops II is a shining example of keeping the Call of Duty franchise fresh, exciting and engaging, while still staying true to its core appeal.”

That Activision is hyping Call of Duty: Black Ops II in an investor conference call just days before the game is set to launch shouldn’t be surprising. But their optimism is far from blind. Call of Duty has rebuked predictions of sales declines, fading popularity, and secret-communist-Moon-base desperation storylines for years now, and Activision’s efforts to increase its societal exposure (think Call of Duty Elite and today’s announcement of YouTube live streaming for Black Ops II) have only a boon for longevity.

We’ll find out how well Call of Duty: Black Ops II is received soon enough, when it releases on November 13, 2012 for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, and November 18th for the Wii U.

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‘Black Ops 2′ Leaks to Torrent Sites Early, Treyarch’s Design Director Jabs Pirates

With so many highly anticipated titles releasing in a strong concentration over the past couple of weeks there was bound to be more than a few copies of those games leaking into the public here and there. Halo 4, for example, doesn’t officially hit store shelves until tomorrow but it has already fallen victim to the dreaded leak.

343 Industries‘ response to the leak, however, was one of swift vengeance and they, along with Microsoft, promised that any gamer caught online without a legitimate copy (i.e. not a member of the press) would suffer the wrath of the ban hammer.

Following right along in Halo 4‘s unexpected footsteps it was revealed over the weekend that Black Ops 2, arguably the most highly anticipated title of the year, has also leaked onto torrent sites. Both the PC and Xbox 360 versions of the game have made their way online, but only the Xbox 360 version appears to be a confirmed retail copy.

And, just to prove that they have it first, gamers are posting videos of the campaign and Zombies mode online to showcase what this next entry in the Call of Duty franchise has to offer. As of right now, neither Treyarch or Activision have yet to respond with a course of action – how they are going to respond to the leak – but Design Director for Black Ops 2, David Vonderhaar has taken to Twitter to get his potshots in.

There’s no denying the anticipation for titles like Black Ops 2 and Halo 4 has reached a fever pitch, and gamers would do nearly anything to get their hands on an early copy, but doing so illegally never ends up well. There are probably far more gamers who get away with torrenting games or obtaining a copy early from a retailer than who are caught and punished, but nonetheless it devalues the experience.

Moreover, it sets those honest gamers up for features like the Season Pass, which Black Ops 2 and Halo 4 are now offering for the first time in their respective franchises’ history. Obviously a few pirated copies here and there for Black Ops 2are merely a flash in the pan, but nonetheless Treyarch can’t be pleased. If Activision does respond with a course of action we’ll make sure to update the story as it develops.

How do you feel about gamers pirating copies of Black Ops 2? How should Activision/Microsoft respond?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 releases November 13, 2012 for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, and November 18th for the Wii U.

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Live-Action ‘Black Ops 2′ Trailer Feat. Robert Downey Jr.

While the franchise’s rapidly-record-breaking success has generated a love-hate relationship between gamers and Call of Duty no one can deny the impact each game has in the industry every fall. The pop-cultural acceptance and mainstreaming of Call of Duty owes much thanks to the marketing folks at Activision, especially in recent years with the smart use of live-action trailers to add buzz to each annualized release.

Call of Duty: Black Ops made waves when it featured the likes of Kobe Bryant and Jimmy Kimmel in a live-action TV ad, and its followup, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is continuing the tradition, this time throwing Hollywood A-lister Robert Downey Jr. into the cockpit of a jet fighter.

Highlighting the Call of Duty tagline “There’s a soldier in all of us,” the latest creative live-action venture (directed by Guy Ritchie) follows an everyday guy (with a fro and a mustache) nonchalantly calling in a tactical strike while being sniped, while the sniper has a tomahawk thrown at them, and so on and so forth. From there, the commercial goes tech-heavy, highlighting the future-setting of Black Ops 2.

There are drones, armored mechs, hovering jets and more. Watch the video up top, also featuring FPS Russia, who helped launch the marketing campaign for the title with a video on the Quadrotor.

In addition to the obvious Iron Man nod with the AC/DC music and the “gunfight” line, there’s even a little love for the zombies thrown in. For more COD zombies fun, check out the live-action trailer for zombie Rezurrection DLC for Black Ops 1. Zombies of course return again after first appearing in World at War, this time getting their own story campaign.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 releases November 13, 2012 for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, and November 18th for the Wii U. Iron Man 3 hits theaters on May 3, 2013.

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Treyarch: ‘Black Ops 2′ Matchmaking Latency- and Ping-Based

Though a compelling single player element and engaging cooperative modes like Zombies have always been subheadings on the calling card of Call of Duty, the franchise’s real bread and butter is its multiplayer. Beyond keeping players engaged for dozens of hours upon end, the multiplayer helps prolong the length of the title long after the 5-8 hour campaign has been completed.

However, with this year’s new Call of Duty, Black Ops 2, hitting store shelves in just a few short weeks, a pretty substantial change is looming in the horizon. No, we’re not talking about the new features – like futuristic weaponry – that Treyarch is cooking up for gamers, but a new back-end change that should further improve the quality of that fan-favorite experience.

As confirmed by Treyarch’s David Vonderhaar over Twitter, Black Ops 2multiplayer gamers will be matched with one another based on ping and latency. In the past, Call of Duty has used a player’s region to determine what type of opponents they should be teamed up with and against, but for Black Ops 2 that will no longer be the case.

Instead, this highly anticipated shooter (and direct sequel to the first Black Ops) will make sure that players with a strong connection aren’t forced to do battle against gamers whose connection can barely play the Black Ops 2 trailer. Moreover, this should presumably alleviate inherent lag-based problems gamers have had with Call of Duty since Modern Warfare – problems that on the PC-side can be correct with dedicated servers.

While Vonderhaar would not outright explain how this new ping and latency-based player matching would work, we hope that it can provide the most lag-free experience to those gamers who pay hand over fist for a solid (exceptional) connection. That said, the fact that Treyarch needs to announce such a feature suggests they might have been going about it the wrong way in the past, which is disheartening. Or perhaps they are simply trying something new that could go over really well with fans, or blow up in their face.

How do you feel about Black Ops 2 opting for a ping and latency based player matching feature? Do you prefer to be matched up with players from your region?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 releases November 13, 2012 for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, and November 18th for the Wii U.

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‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 2′ Launch Trailer: Explosions, Wing Suits & AC/DC

Though the game doesn’t launch for another month, the newest trailer for Black Ops 2 has all the makings of an official launch trailer. Packed to the brim with spectacle, explosions, and cool new gameplay mechanics; laced with a pounding rock ‘n roll soundtrack; and featuring choice quotes about how great the game is going to be, this trailer is anything but subtle.

More importantly, though, this Black Ops 2 trailer gives gamers a decent-sized taste of the type of action in store for them in Treyarch’s newest title. While it doesn’t provide closer looks at the game’s redesigned (sort of) multiplayer or the new story-based zombie mode, the trailer highlights a few of the game’s new gadgets.

Since Black Ops 2 takes place partly in the future, 2025 to be exact, players will have a wide variety of near-future tech at their disposal – things like the quadrotor, controllable mechs, and that new RC spider. To top it all off, the game apparently uses some advanced versions of current technology – like the two different versions of “wing” suits seen in the trailer – to create some pretty bombastic sequences. Will they be on rails? Probably, but that won’t stop them from delivering the high octane Call of Duty experience that millions of gamers love.

Unfortunately, as these launch trailers are wont to do, the footage doesn’t set up the game’s story, which sees David Mason (son to Black Ops 1 star Alex Mason) working with an aged Frank Woods to stop terrorist Raoul Menendez from using the United States’ technology against it. Based on the first gameplay trailer – the one that features a war torn Los Angeles – we’re guessing plan and execution diverge at some point, but that should make for an exciting video game.

Additionally the trailer details the Black Ops 2 pre-order deal that grants access to the game’s Nuketown 2025 map – homage to one of the first game’s fan favorite maps – and a double XP weekend. Just recently Activision announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will be teaming with Mountain Dew for presumably a ton of double XP weekends, so it’s really the map that fans are going for.

What do you think of the launch trailer for Black Ops 2? Which sequences are you most interested in playing through?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 releases November 13, 2012 for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, and November 18th for the Wii U.

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Graphics or Frame Rate? Treyarch & ‘Black Ops 2′ Continue the Divide

We hear a lot about “the best of both worlds” – brains and beauty, wealth and happiness, strength and speed, youth and wisdom. The same applies to our psyche as gamers: When we play a game at 60 frames per second, we want it to look fantastic; when we play a game that looks fantastic, we want it to render images and events faster than the eye can see.

Some of this helps explain the loathing for the graphics of Call of Duty. The best-selling first-person shooter on the market – which has released a new iteration annually since 2006, rotating between developers Infinity Ward and Treyarch – routinely wraps itself in the flag of 60fps and blisteringly paced shootouts, and yet naysayers will castigate its visual prowess at the release of every screenshot or trailer. Now Treyarch design director David Vondehaar has decided to weigh in.

Mostly with confusion. Although Call of Duty: Black Ops II runs on the same proprietary engine developed by Infinity Ward for 2007′s Modern Warfare, Vondehaar expressed his belief to OXM that the engine has adapted well. Regarding criticism to the contrary, he reasons that attacks on the game’s graphics are slightly misguided:

“Anybody who comes at the engine needs to remember it’s the 60 frames they love in the first place. And we can make it beautiful – that’s through years and years of working with the engine, improving upon it and improving the pipeline and improving our approach, our lighting rendering.”

But exactly how much work – or, perhaps a better word, progress – the engine has seen throughout successive Call of Duty titles remains a tenuous issue. Improvements to lighting and texture and polish have almost never been discernible between one game and the next since Modern Warfare, and the final-build footage released for Black Ops II has made clear the engine is showing its age. Not for withering but for lack of keeping up. Vondehaar, however, doesn’t understand the perception that the billion-dollar franchise is loosing its sheen.

“People like to talk about the engine, but the truth of the matter is that this isn’t like something that was invented six years ago. At this point that engine doesn’t resemble anything like [our current] engine – we’ve ripped out the UI system, the rendering and the lighting are all new, the core gameplay systems are all new.

“To me, it’s like I never really understood. It runs at 60 and it’s gorgeous. What exactly is there to be upset about with the engine?”

Vondehaar’s notions don’t come as a surprise; they’re similar to Treyarch head Mark Lamia’s comments this May stating Black Ops II  doesn’t need a new engine. It was then that Lamia, slightly more understanding of the criticism, compared the current engine to a remodeled house: “You might even go as hardcore as replacing the plumbing” (a reference to the new lighting system in Black Ops II), but “you don’t tear out the foundation.”

Indeed, there are many ways Activision and Call of Duty have benefited leaving “the foundation” where it lies: cost cutting, simplification, and the consistency of their loudly-trumpeted 60fps mark. At the same time, though, those who play 30fps shooters like Battlefield 3 and Halo and Gears of War, caring little for (or not even noticing) the difference, have likely come to appreciate the extra special-effects panache.

Perhaps in the next generation both ends of the visual/gameplay spectrum will be easier to attain. E3 2012′s sampling of next-gen tech demos placed a great emphasis on both fidelity and real-time flexibility. For the purposes of the present, however, it underlines one of gaming’s great debates:

Ranters, graphics or frame rate: which do you value most? Do you think Call of Duty is hindered by its focus on the latter?

Call of Duty: Black Ops II releases on November 13, 2012 for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, and November 18th for the Wii U.

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‘Black Ops 2′: First Nuketown 2025 Image Revealed

Black Ops‘ Nuketown map is one of the Call of Duty multiplayer’s most polarizing online battlegrounds. While some lambasted it for tight quarters and inescapable killing corridors, others applauded its unique design and focus on keeping gameplay fast and furious.

With Black Ops 2 set to release later this year (next month, in fact) gamers will be treated to another riff on the Nuketown map, only set in the year 2025. However,Nuketown 2025 won’t be that specific year’s version of an idyllic suburban community, it will actually be the 1960′s version of what the future might look like.

To help better explain that idea, Activision and Treyarch have released the first screenshot for Nuketown 2025. It’s nothing too flashy, and doesn’t give a decent look at the map’s layout, but it does stress that Nuketown 2025′s design is very much in the same vein as its predecessor.

Check out the image below:

Gamers interested in seeing how Nuketown 2025 stacks up to Black Ops 2‘s other multiplayer maps need only pre-order the game for DLC access. Any console owner can unlock the map on day one simply by pre-ordering the game. There’s no Xbox 360 exclusivity for this map, although the same probably can’t be said for future DLC.

Beyond the promise of a fan-favorite map re-imagined for a new generation, Black Ops 2‘s multiplayer should deliver a substantial upgrade to that best-selling formula. The first trailer for the game’s multiplayer suggested a mix of futuristic tech and landscapes, and a whole slew of modes to keep the experience going.

In other Call of Duty news it has been revealed that the Modern Warfare 2 map Favela has been pulled from that game’s multiplayer experience after an outpouring of complaints began flooding Activision’s inbox. Those gamers’ specific complaints were in regards to the placement of an Islamic painting in a bathroom.

At the moment, Activision is working on a quick edit of the map, and will place it back online as soon as the offensive material is corrected. We’re actually surprised that the detail wasn’t noticed sooner — the game has been available for several years now.

What do you think of this first look at Nuketown 2025? What other previous Treyarch-developed maps would you like to see pop up as DLC?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 releases November 13, 2012 for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360; and November 18th for the Wii U.

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‘Black Ops 2′ Achievements List Outed; Videos and Screens Leak New Maps

It’s not inconceivable to think that, heading in to 2012, Activision and Treyarchweren’t prepared to make many detailed, content-heavy announcements concerning Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Much of what we know about the game - and in regards to multiplayer we could probably say most – stems from leaks through internal or external sources, and it seems just as effective to let the word spread virally as it does to, say, hype a world premiere trailer during the NBA Playoffs with a week-long website puzzle game/countdown timer.

Today provided two such examples: The list of achievements for Black Ops II has leaked online offering up insights – occasionally spoilerific – on its gameplay features and storyline. A new set of trailers and screenshots has also emerged out of a private preview event, administering a first look at three Black Ops II multiplayer maps.

Let’s start with the maps.

Last week the unofficial total of Black Ops II multiplayer maps was brought to 14 when a comprehensive list of details was leaked online, updating an earlier comprehensive list of map details that leaked… online. The unsubstantiated nature of the whole process will of course leave room for edits, but three of maps listed – Hijacked, Express, and Overflow – are the setting for the concrete videos and screens appearing today.

Thanks reveals regarding Black Ops II’s weapons, loadouts, and killstreak and perk systems, there’s not much more on gameplay we can derive from the footage. We can, however, digest what likely constitutes a final build of the game (Black Ops II releases on November 13), as well as form a picture of the three new maps. Hijacked, in the first video, takes place on a luxury super yacht where frenetic close quarters engagement steers the action; Overflow, in the second, transpires in cluttered urban streets of Peshwar, Pakistan; and Express, viewable in the first screen below, offers up long- to medium-range engagements in a Los Angeles bullet train station.

But, as hotly anticipated as multiplayer is in Black Ops II – for the purpose of playing it and panning it, annual traditions both – it’s only one facet of a game also looking to provide substantial new content across a single player campaign and the returning Zombies mode. And each is encompassed by achievements.

The full list that surfaced on Xbox 360 Acheivements – in all likelihood it pertains to PlayStation trophies, as well – contains 50 achievements worth the required 1000 Gamerscore points. Many of the resolutions to each campaign mission are laid out quite plainly, including the capturing and interrogation of main villain Raul Menendez and a previously unknown quest to hunt down Manuel Noriega – a real-life Panamanian dictator and warlord whom the United States brought to justice in 1989. Buried in the list are also hints about a new deadly device, the “Karma weapon;” time traveling from 2025 to the 1980s, perhaps to retrieve the weapon; and new gameplay strategies designed for the Zombies mode.

Have a look below, and also be sure check out the trailer for Black Ops II’sZombies mode, which was released last week.
No Man Left Behind (20) – Rescue Woods.
Gathering Storm (20) – Investigate the jungle facility.
Shifting Sands (20) – Gather intel on Raul Menendez from Mullah Rahmaan.
Driven by Rage (20) – Take down Menendez and his operation.
Waterlogged (20) – Gather information on Raul Menendez’ suspected terrorist plot.
What Happens in Colossus… (20) – Find the Karma weapon.
False Profit (20) – Capture Manuel Noriega and bring him to justice.
Deep Cover (20) – Capture Menendez.
Sinking Star (20) Interrogate Menendez.
Late for the Prom(20) – Escort the president to the secure location in downtown LA.
Death from Above (50) – Stop Menendez once and for all.
Old Fashioned (50) – Complete “Pyrrhic Victory”, “Old Wounds”, “Time And Fate”, and “Suffer With Me” in Veteran.
Futurist (50) – Complete all future levels in veteran.
Giant Accomplishment (50) Complete all challenges in Black Ops II.
Mission Complete (10) – Complete all challenges in a level.
Just Gettin’ Started (10) – Complete 1 challenge in any level.
Singapore Sling (15) – Successfully neutralize the SDC freighter at Keppel Terminal.
Desert Storm (15) – Successfully escort the VIPs to safety.
Defender (15) – Successfully defend FOB Spectre from incursion.
Black Ops II Master (15) – Complete the campaign on Hardened or Veteran difficulty.
Art of War (25) – Successfully assassinate SDC Chairman Tian Zhao.
Blind Date (15) – Successfully rescue HVI.
Family Reunion (10) – There are two futures.
Hey Good Looking (10) – Plastic surgery avoided
Showdown (15) – A duel between rivals.
Dirty Business (15) – Listen and think before you shoot.
Ship Shape (10) – Reinforcements on the way.
Dead or Alive (15) – Jailor or executioner.
Ultimate Sacrifice (15) – Only one can survive.
Good Karma (20) – Crack the celerium worm.
High IQ (20) – Collect all intel.
Back in Time (10) Use a future weapon in the past.
Man of the People (15) – Stop the brutality inflicted by the PDF.
Gun Nut (10) – Complete a level with customized loadout.
Ten K (15) – Minimum score 10k in every mission.
Welcome to the Club (10) – Reach Sergeant (Level 10) in multiplayer Public Match.
Welcome to the Penthouse (50) – Prestige once in multiplayer Public Match.
Big Leagues (20) – Win 5 multiplayer League Play games after being placed in a division.
Trained Up (10) – Win 10 multiplayer games while playing in Combat Training playlists.
Party Animal (10) – Win 10 multiplayer games while playing in Party Games playlists.
Tower of Babble (75) – In TranZit, obey the voices.
Don’t Fire Until You See (30) – In TranZit, have all doors opened without being set on fire.
The Lights Of Their Eyes (5) – In Green Run, pacify at least 10 zombies with 1 EMP.
Undead Man’s Party Bus(15) – In TranZit, complete all additions to the bus in 1 game.
Dance On My Grave (5) – In Green Run, acquire your Tombstone.
Standard Equipment May Vary (25) – In TranZit, acquire 4 different equippable items in 1 game.
You Have No Power Over Me (15) – You Have No Power Over Me
I Don’t Think They Exist (10) – In TranZit, kill one of the denizens of the forest while it is latched onto you.
Fuel Efficient (10) – In TranZit, use an alternative mode of transportation.
Happy Hour (10) – In TranZit, buy 2 different perks before turning on the power.

Ranters, which multiplayer maps are you looking forward to playing in Black Ops II? What do you think of the new details revealed in the Xbox 360 Achievements list?

Black Ops II releases on November 13, 2012 for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. The Wii U version is due as a launch title for the console on November 18.

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‘Black Ops 2′ Zombies Trailer: Open-World Environment and New Mode

Along with a new campaign, (hopefully) improved multiplayer, and a new co-op mode called Strike Force, Treyarch’s next Call of Duty title, Black Ops 2, brings the fan-favorite zombie mode back into the mix. While the zombies mode has been pretty straight forward since World at War, Black Ops 2 is attempting some pretty revolutionary things with the mode.

It’s not outright explained in the debut trailer above – merely suggested by it – but the new zombie mode for Black Ops 2 will feature a story-based campaign called Tranzit. Teams of up to 4 players will be able to explore a significantly more open game world, and travel to various zombie “arenas” via the bus seen in the trailer.

However, the battling doesn’t stop whilst the team is in transit, it only gets much more confined and presumably more stressful. As the player travels from map to map they will be looking for new dangers, and uncovering more of the mode’s story. According to Treyarch‘s Mark Lamia, the events that took place in Black Ops 1‘s zombie map Moon will significantly impact the story of Tranzit.

Additionally, players will be able to construct their own crude weapons, like the makeshift riot shield seen in the trailer, which can also serve as a rudimentary form of mountable cover. Treyarch also promises that some of Black Ops 2‘s futuristic weaponry will make an appearance, but unfortunately that’s merely teased in the trailer.

A new, connected zombies multiplayer experience would be enough to demarcateBlack Ops 2‘s offering as a “fresh” and “new” take on Zombies, but Treyarch is taking it a step further with a new competitive mode. Called Grief, this new mode pits two teams against each other in a battle for survival.

The mode is not a zombies versus humans mode in the vein of Left 4 Dead, though, the teams are still trying to survive against an AI controlled zombie horde. However, the two teams can reportedly grief (HINT HINT) each other in a number of different ways, in an effort to ensure they survive and their opponents do not.

Treyarch has certainly come a long way since the Zombies easter egg in World at War, transforming the mode into a major selling point for the developer’s Call of Duty titles. While Tranzit and Grief will most likely play second fiddle to competitive multiplayer, it’s good to see some new and enticing features are in store for fans.

What do you think of Black Ops 2‘s new Zombies modes? Is Treyarch doing enough to make this year’s iteration compelling?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 releases November 13, 2012 for the PS3, PC, and Xbox 360; and for the Wii U on November 18th.

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