“Aaaaaand...open!”
I am greeted each morning with the familiar and comical sounds of CL4P-TP (a.k.a. Clap-Trap, or, as I refer to him, “Clappy") as my alarm clock.

“Clappy” is the lovable robotic guide, companion, and eventual ninja assassin you encounter in Gearbox’s Borderlands franchise. My introduction to the game came, simply, from a desire to bring my gamer marriage a bit closer.

You see, my husband? He’s an FPS guy, bless his heart, who enjoys games such as Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Left 4 Dead. I spend my time on more ethereal, fantastical continents such as Azeroth, where I like to fly on epic mounts, open portals, and set things on fire with my mage. Many nights were spent on opposite sides of the couch, looking at opposing screens. Thanks to Borderlands, we were able to merge our two loves and play together, teaching each other strategies from our respective styles.

Now, Evan is an expert in opening all lootables, silly achievement-whoring, and skill-point management. I...still have a bit to work on, and it shows in my depleted shields and magazines.  He yells at me to do all these kooky things I’m not used to, like “crouch-walking” and “taking cover while reloading.” I pretend I can’t hear him over the sound of my steady elemental SMG spray. It has also opened the doors to each of us trying new games we would have previously turned our nose up at. HALO: Reach and Black Ops are multiplayer games we now play regularly together. Evan tried his hand at Mass Effect and shows some interest when I talk about how royally screwed everything is going to be once Deathwing completes his shattering of Azeroth.

New game purchases come with the added question of, “Is there co-op?” We have not, however, forgotten the game that brought us closer in the first place. We still whisper “Borderlands?” at each other the way young lovers would plan their next interlude. Looks like the couple that sprays and prays together, stays together.