<Tr> <Th> Genre (s) </Th> <Td> First - person shooter </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Mode (s) </Th> <Td> Single - player, multiplayer </Td> </Tr> <P> Call of Duty: Black Ops is a first - person shooter video game, developed by Treyarch and published by Activision . It was released worldwide on November 9, 2010 for Microsoft Windows, the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii, with a separate version for Nintendo DS developed by n - Space . It is the seventh title in the Call of Duty series and the third to be developed by Treyarch . It serves as the sequel to Call of Duty: World at War . </P> <P> Set in the 1960s during the Cold War, the game's campaign follows CIA operative Alex Mason as he attempts to recall certain memories in combat in order to locate a numbers station, which is due to transmit broadcasts to sleeper agents who are bound to use chemical weapons across the United States . Mason and CIA operative Jason Hudson are the game's main playable characters, as well as Red Army soldier Viktor Reznov in only one mission . Locations featured in the game include Cuba, Russia, United States, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Laos, Vietnam, and the Arctic Circle . The multiplayer of Black Ops features multiple objective - based game modes that are playable on 14 different maps included with the game . Improvements to loadout options and killstreak rewards are made . A form of virtual currency, COD Points, allows players to purchase weapons and customization options for their in - game character, as well as attachments and customization options for their weapon . </P>

When did the first black ops come out