If Kobe Bryant playing pretend soldier offended some, then this - said to be Call of Duty: Black Ops' next TV spot - would rile them further. Update: Treyarch says this video is not a Black Ops ad.

We've contacted Activision representatives to ask about the authenticity of this video, which is on YouTube under an unofficial account right now. If it's a mashup, someone went to a great deal of trouble.

Update: Someone went to a great deal of trouble. This video is not authentic. The remainder of the post follows, but the opinion it expresses is based upon a fake video.

But let's focus on that voiceover. Here it is, transcribed:

"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. Our nation is badly weakened, a consequence of our collective failure to prepare the nation for a new age. Our nation is at war. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility. Let it be said that we refused to let this journey end. And with eyes fixed on the horizon and with God's grace upon us, we carried the great gift of freedom to future generations."

Sound familiar? Here are excerpts from President Obama's inaugural address, Jan. 21, 2009:

[Sixth paragraph] Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real.

[Fifth paragraph, third sentence] Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.

[Fifth paragraph, second sentence] Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.

[30th paragraph, second sentence] What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility.

[concluding paragraph] Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Not verbatim, of course, but an extremely close match.

Whatever you feel about Call of Duty: Black Ops, this might be pushing it a bit too far. A flaming minivan is certainly the most provocative image here, especially as our homeland is not under siege. For me, though, the biggest shame is in the fact the United States committed to - and is still prosecuting - two wars under leaders who never asked Americans to make any sacrifice in return. And here, in borderline satire, is a speech that dresses the fictitious conflicts of a war video game in the urgent language of national priority. That's why some might have a problem with this ad.

Will we ever get a Call of Duty game for the kids? Not if it's as bloody and gory as LEGO Black Ops, the stop motion animated elimination bloodbath from YouTube movie maker Keshen8.

You won't find much in the way of killstreaks, perks or outrageous tomahawk kills, but LEGO Black Ops, via FourZeroTwo's Twitter, is the best LEGO "what if?" imagining we've seen in a long while. For more of Keshen8's LEGO creations, including the amusing Cardboard Gear Solid, hit up the brick enthusiast's YouTube channel.

Today in Speak-Up on Kotaku, commenter Culebra takes a look at the biggest games of the year that he never got around to playing. Which have you missed?

Well, we're almost at the end of the year, and as we know, we'll all see the same 'Best Of Year' lists that'll have the same four or so games on it. You'll also see those lists that try to be different, but probably aren't.

This is one of those.

My focus: Big releases that for some reason or other, you just didn't play.

For me, six big names pop to mind.

1: Halo: Reach

That one you could blame on Halo 3 and ODST. As much as I loved Halo 1 and 2, there was somehing I just didn't like about Halo 3, and it grew worse with time. And ODST didn't help much either, as I sent it back to Gamefly without even beating it. So I guess falling out of love with the series is what held me back.

2: Fallout: New Vegas

I loved Fallout 3. It was a post apocalyptic Oblivion, two things I adored. I sank so many hours into that game, and did damn near everything in it. Every quest, every dlc. But by the time Zeta dropped, I was getting sick of it. It felt like I was eating the same meal day in day out. No matter how tasty, you get sick of it. So Vegas is a victim of 'Too Soon' for me.

3: Call Of Duty: Black Ops

Did every game have a :Subtitle this year? Sheesh. Mostly the ones I didn't play, it seems. This one suffers from the same 'Too Soon' syndrome Fallout did, with the major difference being that I'm a casual COD player at best, so I've always been bi-annual with the series.

4: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

Not sure if that ':' officially belongs there...but I think the theme must not be broken. This one could be chucked up to me not being a fan of the series in general. Which was odd, as people everywhere were harping on about how 2 was the greatest thing since toilets, and I'm there wondering if we're playing the same game. So, Brotherhood just held no appeal.

5: Gran Turismo 5: Epilogue

I know it doesn't belong there. Shut up. I also know that GT fans can be quite cultish, and I totally expect to wake up strapped to my floor surrounded by hooded figures. But that doesn't change the fact that I haven't loved a GT since 2, for whatever reason. I don't dislike them, and GT5 sits on my 'I'll get to it' list, but that won't be happening in 2010.

6: Civilization 5

To keep it nice and simple, I've never played a Civ game, so the draw isn't there. I think I'm reserving this one as an emergency game, for a period of time where there aren't any immediate releases, and I need something long and engrossing.

So there you have it, my 'Big Games Everyone Has Apparently Played But Me' list.

About Speak-Up on Kotaku: Our readers have a lot to say, and sometimes what they have to say has nothing to do with the stories we run. That's why we have that little box on the front page of Kotaku. You know, the one with "Got something to say?" written in it? That's the place to post anecdotes, photos, game tips and hints, and anything you want to share with Kotaku at large. Just make sure to include #speakup in your comment so we can find it. Every weekday we'll pull one of the best #speakup posts we can find and highlight it here.

Message from God, insight into our subconscious, predictions of the future: Many believe dreams offer some level of insight into something deeper than simply our daily preoccupations.

So what can one read into the sudden surge of dreams featuring shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops. REMclounds, which tracks Twitter and Facebook for dream retellings, says the game is currently a trending sleepy-time topic.

Hmm, I wonder what Freud would have to say about all of these gun dreams?

REMCloud

This may not be to everyone's tastes, but it's certainly to mine, as a man freestyle raps his way through an entire round of Call of Duty: Black Ops' multiplayer.

It shows you all it's going to show you by around 1:30, so if it's grating you don't feel required to sit around and watch the entire thing. Though skip out then and you'll miss "Campin' in a fuckin' doorway", which for delivery and context is probably my favourite musical line of 2010.

Makes me wish more guys did this kind of thing for more interesting games. Where's the rap battle over a round of Fat Princess? Or a 16-minute epic penned in honour of Betrayal at Krondor?

Black Ops Live Gun Game Freestyle [PaperBatVG @ YouTube]