Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer features revealed

Treyarch has lifted the lid on a whole bunch of new Call of Duty: Black Ops' multiplayer features, and - OOOH! - this looks like five tons of weapons-grade fun.

Taking its cue from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's Killstreak features, Black Ops introduces much the same sort of thing, but now candy-coated in Cold War-era flavouring. UAVs are swapped out for spy planes, for example, and a napalm strike replaces the airstrike.

Of course, those changes are expected. So, let's have a look at the totally new stuff that Teryarch will be introducing with Black Ops:

Combat Training mode - Similar to regular multiplayer, except instead of human opponents, players will battle it out against AI bots. The idea is to prepare trembling, inexperienced recruits for the big, bad world of online multiplayer, where 12-year old potty mouthed Americans will destroy everything you thought you believed about good and evil.
Customization - Different character classes will be represented with distinctly different models, as well as additional loadout options for each class. Further to that, gamers can indulge in substantial weapon and emblem customisation to differentiate themselves from others on the battlefield.
Theatre mode - Revealed in the first multiplayer teaser trailer, Black Ops will include a theatre mode somewhat like Halo's, with editing features and an online space for players to save and share video documentary footage of their favourite teabaggings.
Money - Alongside the regular XP ranking system, players will accrue in-game currency (Call of Duty Points, or CP) that can be spent on various bits of gear, from weapons to attachments. Instead of leveling up and unlocking weapons, this time you can choose to save up and purchase the weapons of your choice.
Wager Match mode - Instead of earning in-game money (CP) the usual way, you can go big or go home and gamble your CP in the new Wager Match mode. Four types have been announced so far:
- One in a Chamber - Players start out with a single bullet and a combat knife. Scoring frags earns more bullets, but missing, well, you'd better sharpen up on your knife skills.
- Sharpshooter - Players spawn with random weapons
- Sticks and Stones - Players spawn with knives, crossbows and tomahawks only
- Gun Game - Players spawn with a a low ranked gun; each frag improves their weapon, while each death demotes it again