Golden Gun Camo Glitch Running Rampant in "Call of Duty: Black Ops" Online Multiplayer

Glitches in online multiplayer portions of games happens very often - especially if a beta test isn't properly implemented, or implemented at all, prior to the game's release. Call of Duty gamers can recall this from the previous Call of Duty installment by Activision and Infinity Ward - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, where many players would utilize game-breaking glitches that had gamers turning off their X-Box 360's faster than a prepubescent getting scorned by of-age players in any X-Box Live lobby (come on, we all know that this happens, and it happens often). Such glitches used in the previous games included, but are not limited to:

-The Care Package Glitch: A glitch in which players could get an infinite amount of care packages - the killstreak that allows players to thrown down a smoke marker. In about 5-10 seconds a helicopter would drop a package containing a random killstreak and land, where the player (or any player) could obtain it. The glitch that allowed players to throw out markers for Care Packages, Sentry Guns, and Emergency Airdrops (basically a care package killstreak, but the player obtained four packages rather than one). This glitch was easily recognizable, as after a short amount of time that this glitch was released care package helicopters would be flying all over the map and air support would constantly be in the air (for both teams).

-The Javelin Glitch (also known as "Javelindom"): The Javelin was an anti-air weapon in Call of Duty : Modern Warfare 2, the previous titles in the series. This weapon couldn't really be used as a close quarters weapon like the RPG or AT4 Heat (although it could be used like a mortar-type of weapon). The glitch that players used would have them running around with the javelin out constantly. Once the player running around with the Javelin died they'd explode, damaging (and usually killing) anyone within it's large blast radius. Couple in the fact many glitchers used Marathon and Lightweight with this, and you have fast-moving ticking time bombs running around. The reason this was also known as "Javelindom" is due to a former perk known as "Martyrdom", where a player would drop a grenade as soon as they were killed. This perk was not included in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, rather it was a deathstreak.

There was an array of other glitches, but these were two of the primary glitches from the time frame in which I played Modern Warfare 2.

The glitch in Black Ops is much less severe, and only alters a cosmetic aspect of the game.

In Black Ops players, unlike in previous games, can add camouflage colors to their guns. Some of these camouflages (also known as "camos") have certain tasks that must be completed prior to obtaining them, such as reaching certain levels, or buying other camouflages.

The glitch at hand allows players to obtain the "Golden" camouflage, which players are only supposed to be able to obtain at the 14th prestige level. While this glitch doesn't affect the damage, rate of fire, or any other stat of a gun, the glitch is running rampant throughout the X-Box Live community. It seems every game there is at least one player using this glitch, and there are sometimes many more players.

As stated before, this glitch doesn't alter game play. However, it's sad to see such a high-grossing game cannot proactively ensure that these glitches don't happen. This is why BETA periods were created, but Activision decided not to use it. Hopefully the glitching trend doesn't continue into other areas as it did in Modern Warfare 2, where it eventually nullified game play to the point where it was unbearable.