Ex-dictator Manuel Noriega sues Activision over Call of Duty: Black Ops II

By Will Fulton July 16, 2014

judge dismisses manuel noriegas call duty lawsuit noriega black ops 2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Manuel Noriega, former dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989, is suing Activision Blizzard for using his name and likeness without permission in Call of Duty: Black Ops II (via LA Times).

The 80-year-old Noriega, currently serving out a prison term in Panama for human rights violations, filed suit on Tuesday in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging that Black Ops II portrays him as, “a kidnapper, murderer and enemy of the state.” Because this was done, “to heighten realism in its game … [which] translates directly into heightened sales,” Noriega is seeking lost profits and damages.

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Noriega worked with the CIA from the late 1950s through the 1980s when their relationship soured. Broad, public criticism based on mounting evidence of his close ties to the notorious Colombian Medellin Cartel forced the U.S. government to reverse its tacit acceptance and level charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.

A substantial portion of Black Ops II is set during the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama, in which Noriega was deposed and taken into American custody for prosecution. Microcosmic of his actual collaboration and fallout with the CIA, Noriega initially aids the player in tracking antagonist Raul Menendez, but then betrays them and reveals his allegiance to Menendez all along.

This lawsuit is the latest in a string of prominent figures taking action against major game publishers for using their likenesses without permission. In June a group of college athletes reached a $40 million settlement with EA Sports for profiting from their images without compensation, due to NCAA policies that were deemed unfair. Earlier this month actress Lindsay Lohan filed suit against Rockstar Games over a character in Grand Theft Auto V that she alleges is a clear parody of her. As video games continue to grow into one of the largest and most profitable entertainment industries, it seems likely that lawsuits such as these that have plagued Hollywood for decades will only become more common.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Will Fulton is a New York-based writer and theater-maker. In 2011 he co-founded mythic theater company AntiMatter Collective…

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The best Wildcards in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Kill Order gameplay in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

The concept of a Wildcard might sound like a risky endeavor in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, but this part of your loadout isn't random at all. We haven't seen this system since Cold War, and even those who remember it from that game will need to learn all the new cards there are in Black Ops 6. You can only equip a single Wildcard on your loadout, but they are powerful enough to completely redefine your playstyle. So far, there are only six to unlock while grinding through the levels with your friends, but picking just one is still a tough choice, especially if you want to use a permanent unlock on one after hitting Prestige. We've ranked all the Wildcards in Black Ops 6 so you can always have the winning hand.
All Black Ops 6 Wildcards, ranked

There is a level of personal preference in which Wildcard you will find better than others, but in most cases, the ones we've ranked as the best will help every player gain an edge in online matches. Here's our ranking of each Wildcard from best to worst, along with what level you unlock them at.
Perk Greed - Level 54
The last Wildcard you unlock is easily the most powerful. Perk Greed lets you unlock a fourth Perk to your loadout instead of being limited to three, which can borderline break the game if you choose the right set of Perks. It is also the most versatile of the Wildcards since it gives you the most options to play with instead of a specific bonus you may not find useful. It can also more easily unlock the special bonus buff you get for equipping three Perks from the same category.
Gunfighter - Level 33
Right in the middle of the unlock list, Gunfighter is one Wildcard you could easily make a case for over Perk Greed in some situations. This one increases your attachment points for your primary weapon by three. If you're rocking a top-tier weapon already, this Wildcard can let you tweak its stats even higher. We rank it second because it only applies to one weapon and thus is a bit more limiting.
Overkill - Level 24
For such an early Wildcard, Overkill is quite a powerful choice. This card lets you equip any weapon (except melee weapons) in your Primary and Secondary slots instead of the ones typically reserved for each. That means you can build a loadout with two Primary weapons and be far more versatile on the battlefield. Instead of having to trade off range, damage, rate of fire, mobility, or any other aspect of your game, you can cover almost all your bases by picking two Primary weapons that cover each other's weaknesses.
Prepper - Level 45
Field upgrades are powerful, don't get us wrong, but having two instead of one isn't always that much of a game-changer. It's a bit less useful than Gunfighter only because field upgrades are more situational and require more attention to use to their full potential. If that's you, then this is a great choice.
Danger Close - Level 38
Who doesn't want another grenade, Molotov, or combat axe? Is getting a second Lethal worth the Wildcard slot, though? Not in our opinion. Most of the time, Lethals are used in desperation or as a way to deny enemy movement for a time, and even then, they are risky because of how vulnerable you are while using them.
Tactical Expert - Level 15
The first Wildcard you get is better than nothing, but only just. It's exactly like Danger Close, only you can hold two Tacticals instead of Lethals. This is, by nature, a little worse since Tacticals don't have the ability to kill an enemy (unless you get super lucky and you directly hit an enemy with one who is on low HP). You can get some use out of them, but you're better off upgrading as soon as you have another option.

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How to craft the Jet Gun in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies

A soldier holding a giant jet engine gun in Black Ops 6.

In the world of Call of Duty Zombies, one type of weapon has always been the most powerful, but hard to get. Wonder Weapons are back in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and that includes the old favorite known as the Jet Gun. This jet-engine-looking weapon is part of a long string of steps you can only do on the Liberty Falls map but is well worth the effort. Make sure you have your crew around to watch your back while reading through our guide on how to craft the Jet Gun, aka the Thrustodyne M23.