Set in the
1960s
during the
Cold War
, the game's single-player campaign follows
CIA
operative Alex Mason as he attempts to recall specific memories in order to locate a
numbers station
set to instruct
Soviet
sleeper agents
to deploy chemical  across the
United States
. Locations featured in the game include
Cuba
, the
Soviet Union
, the United States,
South Vietnam
,
China
,
Canada
, and
Laos
. The multiplayer component 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 , COD Points, allows players to purchase  and customization options for their in-game character, as well as attachments and customization options for their .
Development for the game began in 2009. Whereas Treyarch worked on both
World at War
and the
tie-in video game
for the
James Bond
film
Quantum of Solace
simultaneously, they focused specifically on
Black Ops
during this development cycle. Different teams within Treyarch focused on a certain game mode.
Black Ops
runs an enhanced version of the
IW 3.0
engine used in
World at War
. The improvements made allowed for bigger campaign levels to be made as well as enhanced lighting. Music was composed by
Sean Murray
, with licensed music by
the Rolling Stones
,
Creedence Clearwater Revival
, and
Eminem
appearing in the game.
Avenged Sevenfold
also recorded an
original song
for the game as well. The marketing of the game began in April 2010.