Gosh, that’s a tabloid headline and a half, isn’t it? In a future Black Ops 2 update, Treyarch will introduce optional in-game ‘Micro Item’ purchases. Among the items will be calling cards, extra create-a-class slots and aesthetic weapon upgrades, including something called a ‘Bacon Personalisation Pack’.
No date or pricing has been announced yet for a PC update, but the changes will roll out on Xbox Live tomorrow. There, personalisation packs and the Extra Slots Pack will both cost 160 MS points, while Calling Card Packs will set players back 80 MS points. 500 MS points is equivalent to £4.25, so don’t expect to be paying more than a pound for any one item.
The themed personalisation packs each contain a unique weapon camo, three targeting reticles – for Reflex, EO Tech, and ACOG sights – and a custom player Calling Card. One of them is thematically tied to bacon, and sees your favourite weapon wrapped in the “most delicious cured meat known to man”. It looks like something out of an id game in the ‘90s, and makes me feel a bit sick:
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The Extra Slots Pack grants you another 10 create-a-class slots on top of the potential 10 already unlockable at Prestige Master rank, allowing for even more loadouts should you lack the space for them. The Calling Card Packs, meanwhile, are themed around Flags of the World. National flags are divided (nonsensically) into geographical region for purchase.
Elsewhere in tomorrow’s Xbox update, the previously pre-order only Nuketown 2025 will be unlocked for all players, and Nuketown Zombies will go on sale as a standalone level for 400 MS points. So we have those to look forward to, as well as the gently rotting, weapon-mounted meat.
“At the end of the day, all of these items are completely optional, and were created for players who’ve asked for more customization options,” said Activision man Dan Amrich. “If that’s not you, that’s fine; everybody gets Nuketown 2025 for free, so definitely take advantage of that.”
It’s no great surprise to see Activision trudge back to the money well of a game they continue to sink half a studio’s worth of man hours into. In fact, it’s probably not terribly unreasonable of them to expect a continued return on their investment. But what about you longtime Blops players? Do you think you’ll benefit from the addition of microtransactions to the game a few months into its life?
Thanks, Videogamer.