For players wanting to experience both Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel either for the first time or after a long absence, now is the time.

According to a tweet from the official Borderlands 3 twitter account, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, a bundle that includes both games and their respective DLC offerings, is free to play this weekend on the Xbox One and PC. 

Xbox One players will be able to play the collection from now until Monday, April 8 at 3 a.m. EDT. PC players will be able to play the collection from now until Sunday, April 7 at 1 p.m. EDT. 

For those that would like to continue playing after the free weekend ends, The Handsome Collection is currently on sale at the following retailers and prices:

• Steam: $14.37
• Green Man Gaming: $13.20
• PlayStation Store: $15
• Microsoft Store: $15
• Best Buy: $15 (physical)

Recently, the collection received a brand-new texture pack update. The patch for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One brings a handful of enhancements to the collection, including 4K support and HDR support (not on PC), and remastered environments, characters, and more. 

The Handsome Collection originally released in 2015 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to decent reviews, garnering critical scores of 80 on the Xbox One and 82 on PS4. 

The free play period comes after a plethora of Borderlands information released earlier this week.

At PAX East in Boston, Gearbox Software, the developer of the Borderlands franchise, announced a remaster of Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, as well as Borderlands 2 VR DLC, a Borderlands board game, Tiny Tina's Robot Tea Party, and the above patch.  

However, the defining moment of the PAX East presentation was the official announcement of Borderlands 3, which has been confirmed for a September 13 release. To the chagrin of some, though, Gearbox also confirmed that the PC version of the game would be an Epic Games Store exclusive until April 2020. 

During Gearbox's PAX East press conference today, the developers announced remasters of Borderlands and Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, along with the first Borderlands tabletop game, Tiny Tina's Robot Party.

The original Borderlands is getting a high-quality, modern remake on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and is set to release on April 3. The game itself is the Game of the Year edition and includes new weapons, visual upgrades, character heads and skins, gold keys, and a host of other additions.

It will also support Shift Codes, which was not introduced until Borderlands 2. 

Among the new quality of life improvements is the mini-map, which will display on-screen during play. Navigation was often cited as an issue in the original, and this feature will make moving around the vast game world much easier.

Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, bundled together as The Handsome Collection, are already available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. However, they are getting a new update called the Ultra HD Texture Pack.

Gearbox released further details about the pack and how players can find them.

PlayStation announced that tomorrow they will be adding 50 new games to PlayStation Now. With the addition of these games, the PlayStation Now subscription service will have more than 400 games total in its catalog.

Among the 50 new games added are: Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, The Darkness II, Spec Ops: The Line, and Duke Nukem Forever.

PlayStation now is a cloud gaming service, so you don’t need hard drive space to play its games. But, what if you did? How much hard drive space would you need for these new games?

The average PS4 only has a 500GB hard drive. And, according to ExtremeTech, the average PS4 game download is 13.08GB. Which means if you wanted to download all 50 of these new games, it would take 654GB of space!

But, what if you wanted to play more? With PlayStation Now having more than 400 games in their line-up, it would take 5,232GB on average to download them all. That means you would need a portable hard drive of over 5TB connected to your PlayStation!

But, you can stream PlayStation Now games, so you can have them all -- and for less money at that. Starting tomorrow, PlayStation Now is offering 33% off the 3-month subscription service. This drops the price for a 3-month subscription to $29.99, from the normal price of $44.99.

This discount will be available until July 11, 2016. During the promotion, the discount only applies to the first 3-month subscription purchased.

Be ready to play over 400 games in the PlayStation Store. Including these 2K titles: Borderlands, Borderlands 2, BioShock, BioShock 2, BioShock Infinite, XCOM: Enemy Within, and NBA 2K14.

This week's Steam weekend deal features two well known franchises; Dead Rising and Borderlands. The best part of the package is its ability to take the games you already have in your steam library out of the bundles, thus decreasing the price and ensuring you don't buy duplicates. So if you've been waiting for the right chance to buy the Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Season Pass or the Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition, now's your chance.

The Borderlands Triple Pack, containing Borderlands, Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel -- as well as an assortment of Borderlands DLCs -- comes to $19.80 (£13.41) at 45% off. If you already own the first 2 Borderlands games, you could go for the Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Season Pass bundle for $20.99(£16.49). 

As for the Dead Rising franchise, you could get Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition, Dead Rising 2, and an assortment of Dead Rising 2 DLCs and bonus packs for just $26.99 (£20.99) at 70% off. Or, if you're just missing the Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition, you can get it at $14.99(£11.99) also 70% off. 

If you're looking for an entirely different experience, you should check out Offworld Trading Company -- yet another game that is available on sale for $19.99 (£14.99), at half price. Offworld is still in early access, and is definitely an interesting game to look into. It is a very unique RTS, based entirely on trade on Mars. With a variety of resources to trade, produce to, and ever-changing prices that are affected by those same factors, the game produces an experience unlike any other. Check out their Steam page, for more information.

Finally, if you're a racing fan, you could purchase the F1 bundle, which includes F1 2010, F1 2011, F1 2012, F1 RACE STARS, F1 2014 and F1 2015 for $40.07(£28.47) at 67% off. Or, simply buy the latest edition for $21.99 (£15.99) at 60% off. You can also play F1 2015 for free throughout the sale, and buy it only if you like it! 

For more details, and to buy the items, check out the Steam store.

Alongside some major titles this week, the Steam Machine has also launched. In celebration, Steam as initiated a Steam Machine Launch Sale that's available to all Steam users, whether they plan to buy the console or not.

Highlights of this launch sale include:

• Alien: Isolation - (-50%) $24.99
  
• ARK: Survival Evolved - (-33%) $20.09
• Metro Redux Bundle - (-75%) $7.49
• Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel - (-50%) $19.99
• Bioshock Infinite - (-75%) $7.49
• Bastion - (-75%) $3.74
• SOMA - (-15%) $25.49
• Half-Life 2 - (-75%) $2.49
• The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition - (-80%) $3.99
• Shovel Knight - (-33%) $10.04

Check out the complete list of all of the launch sale games you can get here.

Steam Machines are stand-alone devices to enjoy your Steam gaming experience in one box. Play your favorite Steam games and customize your gaming experience with full access to the Steam store, but with exclusive console hardware like the new Steam Controller and in-home streaming.

These machines include standard GPU support and custom chassis in different colors. 

Among the various Steam Machines anticipated to be released this month, three different Machines most anticipated were released this week. They will include the Steam Controller and Steam Link. These new releases include:

• Alienware Steam Machine: uses Intel Core Processors as well as the NVIDIA GeForce GPU 2GB GDDR5 to provide 1080p HD on your TV. Starts out at $449.00 at Dell.
  
  
• Syber Steam Machine: includes standard GPU support up to an NVIDIA GTX 980 to go from small screen monitors to big screen TVs. Chassis are available in White, or Black with 7 different color modes. Starts at $449.00 from Syber.
  
  
• ZOTAC NEN Steam Machine: keeps it sleek, using a 6th Gen Intel Core i5-6400T quad-core Skylake Processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 for full HD Gaming. Starts at $999.00 at Amazon.

The full list of upcoming Steam Machines this month can be seen here.

There's some really neat Borderlands news happening this weekend; including a huge weekend sale on the Humble Store, and Gearbox officially removing the "LootTheWorld" companion app for Borderlands 2.

Humble's Giant Borderlands Sale

The Humble Store is doing a weekend long sale featuring Gearbox's Borderlands games. Maxing out at 75% off, there are five Borderlands games available including:

• Borderlands 2 - 75% off - now $4.99
• Borderlands 2: Game of the Year - 75% off - now $9.99
• Borderlands: Game of the Year - 75% off - now $7.49
• Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel - 50% off - now $19.99
• Borderlands Triple Pack - 75% off - now $22.48

Although Humble Store does have Tales from the Borderlands available for purchase, they didn't include it in the sale - making it full price at $24.99. 

Gearbox Decides to Remove Borderlands 2 App

The developers behind Gearbox have officially decided to pull the plug on their Borderlands 2 companion Google Play app, "LootTheWorld", which will officially be removed during the week of Monday October 19th.

While Gearbox just posted this information to their support site, they gave no reasoning behind the app's removal. Just simply saying to make sure all loot from the app has been moved over to your Borderlands 2 game before the removal, or it will be lost forever.

"LootTheWorld will be shutting down the week of October 18, 2015. After the app shuts down, you will no longer be able to send loot from the app to Borderlands 2. Send over any loot you’re hanging on to as soon as possible.

We will update this article with a firm shut-down date as soon as we have more information."

-Gearbox

What do you believe the intentions are behind removing the LootTheWorld app? Will you be picking up Borderlands from the Humble Store this weekend? Share your thoughts below on this awesome FPS game!

Okay, class raise your hand if you can tell me the greatest RPG of all time.

No, it isn't Gex: Enter the Gecko.

That's right it's the Borderlands Franchise you did it you've won a gold star.

Time for School

I have no idea what the best RPG is, primarily because there are now different sorts of RPGs. Some are 3rd-person, looting adventures into underground caves or something. I think one of them has dragons also. Umm.. a lot of them have like swords and fire-hands and stuff like that. Oh and Borderlands has, like, a lot of guns. At least 15.

But they all share something in common: they simulate an immersive experience. And that's really the goal of any game. Whether you're exploring a story, or just destroying stimulated people's lives, video games are about placing yourself in another dimension where ragdolls are possible.

Oh and Borderlands has, like, a lot of guns.

They're about experiencing a world that is made to feel real, but is ultimately a bunch of 1s and 0s. And RPGs do the best job at this because they nearly all give you customization options out of the ol' WAZOO. I mean, I love giving my Fallout character a green afro and naming him, "I'm a lizardman." It's what makes me, me.

But unlike the ultra-immersive RPGs like the Fallout series, Borderlands reaches a new level of badassery. This franchise has the greatest model for the "Role-Playing Game Experience," and it does this by combining the best features of the genre into one game.

LOOTSAPALOOZA

Firstly, Borderlands outdoes itself in capturing the best features of any RPG. It's configuration of incessant loot gathering, trill-ass level up trees, and special ability perks, are all stylistically reminiscent of fan-favorite games like Torchlight. The kicker is, is that while it's expansive, you don't feel bogged down my over-complicated options. Other RPGs have so much filler and so much to choose from:

• Should I upgrade my lock-pick ability?
• Maybe I need the potion-making perk...
• What's the primary damage of this cheese-wheel?

There's nothing wrong with playing your game differently; that's what makes games like Skyrim so replayable. But in Borderlands, everything is contributing to the action. I don't have to think about what will be most useful for my quests. I know that whatever I choose is going to help me destroy as many shotgun-midgets as possible:

• Looks like I found another gun in this pile of money.
• Should I improve my Ballbuster Bazooka-3000, or increase my turret ammo my 3 trillion percent?
• Oh wow, this grenade mod is incendiary AND shoots lasers!

The first step to a great RPG was nailing these factors, and Gearbox nailed it harder than a roofer nailing a roof. Have you ever nailed a roof? It takes some effort; they don't get paid nothing.

Schmirst Schmerson

This second reason may not seem like a reason at all, being that nearly all games are played in first person, but from someone who enjoys 3rd-person dungeon RPGs, this is a key element.

I have to be honest. Sometimes, I just get bored playing some RPGs. I think it's because I played Fate as a kid. You know that game you get that already comes on your computer? I played it for a while, but the magic eventually died. It just seemed so pointless. Dungeon after dungeon. Boss after boss. It was just getting boring and pointless. I loved the thrill of leveling up and finding the next best weapon, but the monotony of the system took its toll on my little gamer heart.

FLASH-FORWARD TO BORDERLANDS
And we're right in the action. BOOM. Shooting Skags. BOOM. Driving around the wasteland. BOOM. Fighting tentacle monsters. ALL in the first person. I was intimately participating in the action. I was following and engaging a story through my very eyes. And I was leveling up and getting dat treasure. The RPG experience I enjoyed from games like Fate, was suddenly beefed up into a first person, immersive, non-stop action, shooting range, and I was the main character.

Putting an RPG into this real-time, FPS made all the difference. 

It engaged me in a way that a 3rd person version couldn't. There was more involvement than just clicking or having the right ultra-staff of wizard powers. In Borderlands, I could sometimes even get by with a super low pistol against a Bad-Ass Boss and manage to walk away with his shotgun, if I played my cards right. I had more opportunity to use my skill to my advantage, rather than relying on my stats. But in the end, this level of immersion, simply with it being FPS, was enough for me to continue playing and want more.

Multipass

The third, and simplest, reason is that Borderlands opens up to cooperative multiplayer. Sure I could pal around with a bud playing WoW, but I couldn't while playing Bioshock, could I? There's really not much else to say than that Borderlands totally gets their audience when they have this option. I want to be able to take on the world of Pandora, with a friend. I mean, isn't that what some self-deluded lunatics wanted from the Elder Scrolls Online? A co-op Skyrim?

But instead, ESO is another MMORPG with average graphics, a semi-immersive world, and tons of people we don't know. I'm not bashing the Edler Scrolls Online, because MMORPGs are fun in their own way, but I wanted something greater. I wanted to really share my first-person experience. I wanted to lose my friendship from arguing over an ultra-rare sniper rifle. I wanted to face death and defeat,  only to be saved by a shotgun blast to the enemy at the last-minute from my faithful buddy.

I wanted Borderlands.

We played it and it was fun.

So what did we learn today, class? We learned about shapes and stuff.

Also, we learned why the Borderlands franchise is so successful. It combines elements from our favorite RPGs and arranges them in a way that kicks so much ass that we couldn't handle the sheer force of enjoying the game itself. But we played it anyway and it was fun. Gearbox has shown that they really know the player and the audience and made a game just for you.

That's right. Just for you. Wasn't that nice of Gearbox? You didn't even ask.

I'm dancing! I'M DANCING!

The final reason is Clap-Trap.

Having just started Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, my character of choice is Aurelia Hammerlock - and boy did I pick a good one. From her snarky dialogue to her icy personality, Aurelia reeks with sass. 

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel occurs between Borderlands and Borderlands 2, which was a difficult transition in my opinion. I get very attached to characters, so I wasn't fond of the fact that all the playable characters in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel never surfaced in Borderlands 2. I couldn't help but wonder what happened to him.

I can only imagine that my dear Aurelia didn't make it in the end. 

Time to just let it go

It took me a long time while playing Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel to view Jack as a friend after all of the hassle he put everyone through. But like Disney's Elsa, I just had to let it go and enjoy the game. 

In order to enjoy the game more, I took it upon myself to buy who I think is the best DLC character, Aurelia, and I have yet to regret it. For only $10 USD, you unlock an ice queen that has three varying skill trees: 

• The Huntress
• Cold Money
• Contractual Aristocracy

I've been following the Cold Money tree, as the skills provide bigger ice damage bonuses for her ice throwing skill. Alternatively, The Huntress focuses on fighting, while Contractual Aristocracy is more of a multiplayer focused tree. 

Ice ice baby

When playing as Aurelia, ice gets strewn all over the screen. Her action skill on the bumper of the controller conjures an ice storm that wages war on a foe and even moves to foes in the surrounding area.

With the Cold Money tree filled in, I've also unlocked a passive skill that focuses ice power when my shield is hit. That skill in particular has a really awesome animation, with ice just being thrown out of Aurelia's shield. 

While playing in a winter wonderland of ice, enemies will freeze, and by slashing with the melee skill, you can obliterate them. It really comes in handy with the Skags that appear throughout the game.

Aurelia is sort of like Gaige

The character I played most in Borderlands 2 was Gaige, who had Death Trap as her action skill. Death Trap was Gaige's science-fair robot experiment that would target all foes, similar to the effect that Aurelia has.

Since the ice storm just goes around the combat area, the AOE skill constantly freezes enemies in Aurelia's path. It's most handy when you need to get the second wind near death, since almost all enemies take ice damage.

An all-in-all opinion

When it comes to playing Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Aurelia Lady Hammerlock Baroness is a great character to play as. She really brings a twist on the remedial gun-slinging first-person shooter that is Borderlands.

If taking a break from relying solely on your guns sounds like a good idea, Aurelia Lady Hammerlock is a great choice. She could have had more dialogue in the game, and I would have really enjoyed hearing more of her snarky attitude, but she's very well done overall.

Have you played lady Aurelia? What do you think of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel? Share your thoughts below!

Well you've heard it folks, Borderlands and Borderlands 2 has hit the weekly Humble Bundle, and that means it's time for me to pick it up and try it out. Having not been a fan of first-person-shooter games, I never thought to give Borderlands a look, but for the low price of $5.52, I just can't say no.

What a Jaw-Dropping Deal

Humble you did it again. During this week's Humble Borderlands Bundle, roughly $146 dollars worth of Borderlands games and DLCs are available, along with a whopping 75% off coupon for Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel through the Humble store. All Borderlands fans will enjoy that price reduction from the large amount of $60 for the game, down to $15. 

Give Me the DLCs!

Along with the base game of Borderlands and Borderlands 2, the DLCs available for the "Pay more than the average" option include: Zombie Island of Dr. Ned, Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, The Secret Armory of General Knoxx, Psycho Pack, Mechromancer Pack, and Creater Slaughterdome. That's not all they're offering either, Humble will be adding more to that payment option next Tuesday at 11:00 AM Pacific time. 

Pay More Get More

The last payment jump on this Humble includes tripling the amount to $15 to gain Steam-Keys for: Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack 2, Headhunter 5: Son of Crawmerax, Borderlands 2 Season Pass, and a 2K Store 25% off merchandise coupon. If you're a diehard Borderlands fan, picking up this bundle might be the best thing you could do. Gift the keys, save the coupons, you still make good on this deal. Either way, you're supporting a charity and enhancing someone's Steam library.

Keep your eyes open for my upcoming review on Borderlands 2, where I'll be having an open mind, in hopes of seeing how amazing this game can be. It's time to branch into first-person-shooter-games and see what greatness awaits.

Disagree with my selections? Feel I left some deserving ones off the list? 

Let me know in the comments. Just keep it civil please. 

Half-Life

Whoa now! Let’s put down those pitchforks, stop typing your angry comment, and hear me out. The Half-Life series is a great series. The games have been hugely influential on the game world and launched Valve to the astronomical heights where the company now sits. Since the release of Half-Life: Episode 2 in 2007, players have been eagerly anticipating the next release in the franchise, be it an episode or core release. It has been eight years now, and Valve is still holding their hand close to their chest. To say the next entry in the series is anticipated is an understatement. Every year, rumors swirl like a mysterious fog on the shore. Maybe this year we will finally hear some news from Valve but to no avail.

Don’t get me wrong, I want to see the next entry in the series too, but the hype for this will probably backfire. When a game gets hyped to ridiculous heights, the game usually fails to meet expectations. So can we forget about Half-Life until Valve makes an announcement please? 

Fable

You had to know this was coming. Honestly, every franchise Molyneux has worked on since the closing of Bullfrog could be on this list. At the end of the day though, Fable has to be the most deserving of a spot. The first Fable was one of, if not the most, anticipated games of its generation. Molyneux worked his magic filling our heads with grandiose dreams of acorns which would fall from a tree and then grow into tree themselves. Players should have been more skeptical, especially after Black & White, but the hype train could not be stopped. Surprising no one, many features Molyneux promised were nowhere to be found in the game after launch. Say it ain’t so!

Molyneux has continued to get the hopes of players worldwide to astronomical heights for each subsequent release in the series, only to disappoint. Jim Sterling is one of a few who has the gumption to call him out on his shenanigans he has perpetuated for years now. Each release has been missing features and more which were promised beforehand. On top of Molyneux’s self-perpetuating cycle, the games are also just basic ARPGs at their core with elements of The Sims. Let’s put an end to this cycle eh?

Five Nights at Freddy’s

A relative underdog in this sea of AAA overhyping, Five Nights at Freddy’s is an odd choice but deserves its place on here. This is the only series on this list not subject to hype from the press but rather the fans. Let me be clear here. I am a metalhead; I play Magic the Gathering; I play and write about video games; I read comic books. But Holy Toledo Batman! This fan base is the most rabid and fanatical one I have seen yet, and I have seen bronies.

I like Scott Cawthon. He is a nice guy and is open about his faith, something you rarely see in this industry. The reason we have FNAF is because Scott took some criticism about one of his games and decided to listen to what the criticism said and improve, rather than lashing out or acting infantile. The results have paid off tremendously for him, and I applaud his success. I stand by my assertion about this overrated series though. Also, the games are not scary. They are good for putting me to sleep after a long day though.

The Elder Scrolls

Imagine there is a pool fifty miles square but only one inch deep. It would be a terrible pool right? The Elder Scrolls series is that pool: a gigantic Tolkien influenced fantasy world with less depth than a papercut. On top of shallow mechanics and poor leveling systems, you lucky players also get atrocious, floaty combat! You lucky people! I have had staring contests with my googly-eyed plants that were more intense than the combat in these games.

I like a good sandbox game, but when every texture, house, and dungeon looks the same, things get monotonous fast. I’ve written before about how Elder Scrolls needs to evolve past a shallow, generic fantasy sandbox or just do something different for crying out loud. If players want their sandbox unchanged (because we know how much players love change) then fine, let the series stay as it is. However, the press should stop over hyping this series, and players should not lose their collective mind when the tiniest tidbit gets announced. Seriously, please just stop. 

Gears of War

Ah Gears of War. I remember renting the game with a friend and blasting through the co-op. To our fifteen year-old selves, the game was absolutely amazing. It was visceral, action-packed, gory, and had flipping chainsaws on assault rifles! Until this point, third person shooters had been rather middling affairs (with some exceptions). The series reinvigorated the third person shooter and has spawned countless imitators.

However, the series digressed into self-infatuation and taking itself WAY too seriously, no mean feat given how serious the first game took itself. I understand the series wanted to tell a dark tale of humans struggling against a merciless invading force, but it is hard to take the series seriously in any way given how the dialogue and character models were ripped from the 80’s and 90's beefcake film universe. At least those movies had a sense of self-awareness in some cases, or they went all out bonkers. Gears of War is a good action shooter in some regards, but as a gripping tale of human survival? Please. 

Assassin’s Creed

Assassin’s Creed blew us away at launch showing what the 360 and PS3 were capable of achieving, and we had only seen a fraction of what these powerful, new systems could accomplish. Despite being more bug-infested than the Capital Wasteland, players enjoyed the then unique premise and setting. The sequel improved upon the first by leaps and bounds. Then Ubisoft decided to be Ubisoft and the yearly releases started.

For perspective, since releasing in 2007, the series has seen nine titles, not including spinoffs. The Metroid series, which first released in 1986, has had the same amount of core release in twenty nine years. 29! Yet again, each release in the Assassin’s Creed series is eagerly anticipated. Despite the underwhelming and astonishingly buggy Unity, players are already talking about the next entry in the series. Unity had perhaps the biggest hype train of any game in the series and failed to meet expectations or playable standards on launch. It’s time to be skeptical of the series if you weren't already.

Grand Theft Auto                                                                   

The Grand Theft Auto series has had an impact on the gaming world like few other franchises have or ever will. GTA 3 revolutionized the sandbox genre and showed what the Playstation 2 was capable of achieving. San Andres and Vice City were by all accounts great games, so what happened with GTA 4 and GTA 5? I tried to play GTA 4 sometime after its release and was utterly dumbfounded at its myriad issues. Both GTA 4 & GTA 5 are among the top ranked games for their systems on Metacritic. All I can ask, is why?

The series has seemed to become more interested in attempting some smug stabs at satire instead of a game franchise. The games have issues with sloppy mechanics, but even worse is that they are simply boring. Yes, boring. Anything you can do in a GTA game has been done elsewhere much better. Despite being as boring as watching grass grow, the series continues to be catapulted into the stratosphere on the hype/overrated train. Now if you’ll excuse me, I am going to go surf a jet liner in Just Cause 2. 

Call of Duty

The Call of Duty series has had some great entries. For better or worse, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare has completely reshaped the way the FPS multiplayer is designed and played. However, the series has been treading water for some time now. For every decent or good entry, there is a weak entry in the franchise. Even the weaker entries receive a hype train some developers would love to have for their game. Players and the press complain of stagnation, yet continue to dole out heaps of praise, coverage, and money onto the series. My amazement never ceases at the hype each yearly release incurs. Can we give it a rest?

Borderlands

The Borderlands series is a battered, one-trick piñata with only a single, fragile leg to stand on. The main hook of the game was a “bazillion” or so guns and co-op play. The series really has several key flaws. The game worlds are as barren and lifeless as the surface of the moon. The gun mechanics are not only underwhelming but also poorly designed. The games tout themselves as some sort of action RPG/ shooter hybrid, but no self-respecting ARPG would limit the players to one skill. Yes, ONE skill. Sure the skill can be upgraded, but the upgrades are more underwhelming than my rare book collection. The game has more grinding than a gear manufacturing factory set in a JRPG. The best thing about the series was the writing of Anthony Burch in Borderlands 2 and the voice cast used to bring the script to life. 

I mean really, ONE skill??

Uncharted

Ugh Uncharted. Where to start? The poor shooting mechanics? The haphazard game design? The extremely unlikable main character? Or maybe the lack of respect for the player? The series has all of this and more.

Uncharted 2 though is where I really questioned the appeal of the series. Sure, the train sequence was a gripping and well-done opener, but the rest of the game is just, bad. Is the game, like some think, the worst ever? No, but it is nowhere near deserving the amount of praise and awards heaped upon it. Uncharted 3 proved Naughty Dog put story second to gigantic spectacle set pieces; you know, kind of like a Michael Bay film. On a perfect day in an alternate, perfect universe, the series would be considered average at best. With Uncharted 4 looming on the horizon, the hype shows no signs of stopping or even slowing down. 

First things first, I am not claiming any of these series are bad (except one or two maybe), merely overrated and overhyped. Secondly, I am not singling out individual games or this slideshow would never end; instead, I am giving you ten of the most overrated franchises in gaming. With that out of the way, let's proceed!

Oh hype, where would the game industry be without you? Without those exclusive cover stories, in-depth previews, and bold, attention-grabbing headlines, which games would we know to build our hopes up for? The hype industry is a key part of the game industry, but sometimes the hype and overrating stays around long after the game’s release. Long after. Sometimes the hype and overrating follows each entry in a series, like a faithful puppy.  These ten franchises have the most loyal of puppies. 

At GDC 2015, Nvidia announced an addition to their line of Shield products, The Nvidia Shield Console.

Not to be confused with the Shield Tablet or the Shield Portable, the Shield Console will act as Nvidia's addition to the living room. The device will act as both a gaming device as well as an Android TV device.

The Shield Console is an Android based device capable of 4k playback and capture. It can run both local games and games streamed from the Nvidia Grid service. The games streamed from the service can go up to 1080p at 60fps.

If you're worried about whether the console will have games, don't be. The Shield Console will have access to the Google Play store and Nvidia's own store/service. Several notable ports for the console were mentioned during the reveal including, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, The Witcher 3, Batman: Arkham Origins, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Ultra Street Fighter 4, to name a few.

The console itself has a Tegra X1 processor, which has 256-bit Maxwell GPU with 3GB of RAM. The Shield console will have a MicroSD slot, a Micro USB 2.0 port, two USB Type-A 3.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet port, and a HDMI port. The device is wireless and Bluetooth capable and it has an IR receiver.

The Shield Console will be sold along with an Xbox-styled controller as a bundle for $199.

During one of their panels at PAX South, game developer Gearbox announced that they were in the process of making some future campaign DLC that will focus on Claptrap, one of the long time characters in the Borderlands franchise. However, they haven't announced any specifics about the DLC as of this writing. The developer explained that:

"We've been working really hard on a campaign DLC that lets you go inside the mind of Claptrap."

Also announced at their PAX South panel was that there will be a new character available for download for Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel; namely Lady Hammerlock, sister of Sir Hammerlock, who appears in both Borderlands 2, and The Pre-Sequel. Lady Hammerlock will be available for download as of January 27.

Both Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel will be released for the Xbox One and PS4 as part of Borderlands: The Handsome Collection. The Handsome Collection will be released on March 24 for North America, and will be available internationally on March 27. Since DLC is still on the way for Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection will include a Season Pass.

Additionally, a new 'Claptrap-In-A-Box' is currently on the way, and available for pre-order on Amazon now. It currently costs $400 to pre-order, and features a remote controlled ClapTrap which rolls around on one wheel, and also looks and sounds exactly like Claptrap.

The third DLC pack for Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel was officially announced earlier today at PAX South 2015. The third DLC pack will include Sir Hammerlock's older sister, Aurelia, also known as Lady Hammerlock. 

Just like every other character in Borderlands, she will have many unique abilities and an interesting background. Lady Hammerlock's special ability, called Cold as Ice, will allow her to throw out a Frost Diadem Shard that deals constant damage, kills enemies, and then leaps to another enemy. Lady Hammerlock is able to use teammate kills to earn her bonuses, and she can also add Cryo damage to any gun. 

The Lady Hammerlock pack will be available for purchase on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC on January 27th. This pack will be free for all season pass holders, and will cost $9.99 for everyone else. For those who plan on purchasing The Handsome Collection on next-gen consoles (which features Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel), the Lady Hammerlock Pack will be included. 

Tired of Borderlands 2 yet? Hope not, because it's going to be remastered on the new generation systems along with Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel in a bundle called Borderlands: The Handsome Collection.

Both games will be remastered to a higher definition for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It will include all the DLC and it will even have a retooled multiplayer split-screen which will allow up to four players to play at once.

Also important is the ability to transfer saves to a different console. PS3 owners can move over to the PS4 and Xbox 360 owners can move to the Xbox One with ease. As expected, there is not cross-system support. 

Special edition Claptrap box set

A remastered bundle wouldn't be complete without a more expensive collector's edition. 2K announced that there will be a box set called the Claptrap-in-a-Box Edition, for preorder only, and there will be just a limited 5,000 editions available. What does the box set include?

• One copy of Borderlands: The Handsome Edition.
• A remote-controlled real-life Claptrap that talks.
• 12 lithographs.
• All of it in a steel case.

That's right, you can have one of those wise-cracking robots running around and bothering the hell out of everybody.

Sounds like a wonderful afternoon, and you can even control it with your iOS or Android device. As long as you're willing to lay down $399 for it. The normal bundle comes at the expected $59.99 retail price tag.

It makes sense for 2K to re-release Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel as it came out very late in the last generation era (last October). Having the addition of BL2 gives it some justification to resell it at a full retail price point because BL: TPS feels more like an expansion than a full-fledged game.

This news will be a bummer for those with last generation consoles that were holding out for some sort of ultimate edition for the PS3 or Xbox 360. With the announcement of this package on new generation consoles only, it's doubtful 2K will use the resources to create one. However, you can get both Borderlands 2: Game of the Year Edition and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel for about $30 and $40, respectively, for both consoles at Amazon.

For those that had their fill of BL2 and just want to play BL: TPS on new consoles, it would be nice if there was something along the lines of a remastered edition sold separately at about half price. What are your thoughts on Borderlands: The Handsome Edition?

Image credit: YouTube

This week on Gaming Gear, I'll be rounding up the top 5 pieces of merch from the Borderlands series!

I absolutely love Borderlands - the characters, the game design, the setting…everything. It’s one of those games that really sucks you into its immersive world and doesn’t let go. Since Borderlands has such a unique and quirky vibe, I’ve scoured the interwebs for the top 5 pieces of merch that really embody what the game is all about.

First up is the "Danger My Ally” T-shirt from Look Human.

The t-shirt features Sir Hammerlock, one of my personal favorite characters in Borderlands 2. The tee is $23 and comes in a variety of sizes and styles. I really love how it’s got a monochromatic color scheme, because you could easily pair it with a bright cardigan or hoodie to finish the outfit.

Next is the Hyperion Varsity Hoodie from the official Gearbox Store.

I grabbed one of these jackets for my husband during the C2C Gift Guide and was really impressed with the overall quality and design of the jacket. It features a subtle Borderlands branding with the Hyperion logo on the chest, but is styled to look like a varsity jacket - which is really trendy right now for men. So you get to rep a game and look good? Perfect. The jacket is $60 and is available only in mens sizes - But fear not lady fans, simply go down a size to achieve the same look! 

For my all my lady Borderlands fans, I’ve got these amazing Vault Hunter earrings from Etsy.

They feature the iconic Vault Hunter logo and are versatile enough to wear for a night out or to a gaming convention. The earrings are $10 and available to order now. 

Get your drink on with these Dahl branded shot glasses from the official Gearbox Store.

The shot glasses are a heavy design that are great for a party or drinking alone while playing Borderlands.

And last, but certainly not least, is the Butt Stallion Tee from Gearbox.

This tee is the visual embodiment of all Borderlands represents. Seriously. It’s $20 and is available in both mens and women’s sizes. 

So what’s been your favorite item we featured?

Comment, and let's freak out over cool Borderlands stuff together. I’d also love to know which games you’d like featured on Gaming Gear! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Console to Closet YouTube channel for more gaming fashion videos and check out last week’s episode if you’re a Dragon Age fan!

Gaming Gear is a bi-weekly show rounding up the top 5 pieces of merch from a particular game franchise. The show is hosted by Amanda Erickson from Console to Closet, the gaming fashion blog.

On 11th November if you own Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel you will be able to get the Handsome Jack Doppelganger Pack. Season Pass owners will have it included, so you will have it for 'free'.

 For those who don't know, doppelganger basically means, a copy of.

The pack does not allow you to play as Handsome Jack per say, but a Doppelganger of Jack.

Jack has stood by for far too long watching the Vault Hunters go on exciting adventures, so he’s decided to join in on the fun…sort of.

As Jack Doppelganger your Action Skill is the ability to summon multiple Digi-Jacks, these are extra copies of Jack who are a bit more digital looking. They will join you in battle to help you, and friends, dispatch enemies and get some "more sweet, sweet loot".

As well as Digi-Jacks being able to earn you some bonuses in loot, they can get you another chance to Fight For Your Life. The system that allows you to recover some health and shields, after you have lost all your health, without having to respawn.

Other additions Jack Doppelganger has is that you can get are some buffs when any money is picked up, and you can also get upgrades from specific manufacturers' guns when you are using them. And lastly you will get the ability to use wrist lasers to fire your foes.

As this is coming soon, you may want to get your practice in early for any Handsome Jack esque witty banter you may want to have with your friends.

"Where ya goin'? Get back here and play with me... but not like that."

Wilhelm is the "Enforcer" in Borderlands The Pre-Sequel. Knowing how he was in Borderlands 2, I was interested in seeing him as a playable character in Borderlands The Pre-Sequel. After seeing his action ability, I knew he would be the first character I play as.

Before we begin, his drones Wolf and Saint do not disappoint. They help so much when you put the right skills in and I leveled up through the normal play-through using their skill trees exclusively.

I used this build while playing in a group, but it should still work in solo play. I use a different build in my second play-through in True Vault Hunter Mode, but that is another guide altogether.

This guide will go over my Wilhelm drone leveling build including:

• Wolf and Saint: The Real MVPs - What Wilhelm's action skill does and why it is fantastic.
• Drone Build - The build I chose, what each skill does and why I chose it.

Wolf and Saint: The Real MVPs

Wilhelm's action skill summons two drones called Wolf and Saint. Wolf has health and shields and flies around attacking enemies. Saint does not have health or shields, cannot be damaged, and stays back to heal Wilhelm and restore his shields.

These drones can really save your life. Wolf is a terror to the enemy and kills better than I thought he would. He also seeks out enemies farther than I thought he would go.

Saint isn't as great as Wolf early on, but if you put points into the Dreadnought tree to buff him up, he's very helpful.

In fight for your life mode, if you have Wolf and Saint summoned, Wolf's kills can revive you as well. This helps a lot with your survival. Wolf has saved me more times than I'd like to admit.

Drone Build

First, here is a picture of the build I used. I used the official Borderlands skill tree editor on their site:

 The order you pick depends on what you're going for.

• If you want more attack with Wolf at the beginning, start with Hunter-Killer.
• If you want more survival with Saint, start with Dreadnought.

This build goes up to level 30 around where you end up on your first play through on Normal. Now, let me explain each skill choice.

Hunter-Killler

• Fire Support - Increases damage with all gun types and increases Wolf's damage.
• Need I say more? I pure damage upgrade all around. A must if you want more damage.
• Afterburner - Increases Wolf's Air, Reload, and Projectile Speed.
• I like the damage upgrade more since it also buffs Wilhelm, but this is helpful because it will let Wolf kill faster and more often.
• Suppression - Increases fire rate for Wilhelm and Wolf after killing an enemy.
• Great for kill enemies faster, though you have to keep killing for it to ber useful.
• Venom Bolts - Wolf's shots have a chance to do Corrosive damage. Also increases Wilhelm's corrode chance and damage with guns and grenades.
• This is a great skill actually. The build has one point, but after testing I'd suggest taking a couple of points from Suppression and adding them to Venom Bolts
• This adds more damage, great for armored enemies, and doesn't require you to kill to activate it.
• Laser Guided - Paint the target by pressing the action skill while Wolf and Saint are active. Target takes increased damage from all sources and if the target dies while Painted, Wolf and Saint's duration gets extended.
• This skill is everything you want. Not only does the target take 25% more damage from everything, but wolf will focus on that target. Plus, you get 5 more seconds added to their duration every time you kill a Painted enemy.
• Great for focusing a hard enemy/boss or keeping Wolf and Saint out longer by killing weak enemies.

• Kill Switch - Whenever Wolf dies or time expires, it will dive bomb and explode on enemies.
• This skill gives you an extra burst of damage. The explosion does a lot of damage and saved me multiple times while in Fight for your Life.
• Rolling Thunder - While Wolf is alive, you gain a stack of Rolling Thunder every 5 seconds. This adds bonus damage to Wolf.
• I chose this because I like to get as much damage as I can, and it is easy to keep Wolf and Saint out longer to maximize this buff.

Dreadnought

• Fortify - Increases max health for Wilhelm and Wolf. Also increases damage with all gun types while Saint is active.
• More health = better survival. Also another nice bonus to all gun as long as Saint is active.
• Auxiliary Tanks - Increases Wolf and Saint's duration and cooldown rate.
• Normally I'd put 5 points in a skill like this, but Fortify is so good and they already come back pretty fast. Still, if you find yourself needing them more, swap some points from Fortify into this great skill.
• Heat Sinks - Improves Shield Recharge Rate and Delay. Effect is doubled while Wolf and Saint are on Cooldown.
• Great skill depending on the situation. Increases your survival a lot while waiting on Wolf and Saint, but is counter productive if using a Roid shield.
• Energize - Occasionally boosts shields for Wilhelm and teammates and increases the rate Saint regenerates Wilhelm's health.
• This is where Saint starts to get good. Now he can also restores shields, plus he regenerates health quickly. I didn't notice Saint helping much until I got this skill.
• Termination Protocols - Replaces Fight for Your Life with Termination Protocols. This allows you to walk at reduced speed, fire weapons and constantly shock nearby enemies. You also cause a nuclear explosion when time runs out.
• Prepare to die less with this skill. It gives you shock damage as well as being able to shoot. Also, when close enough you can explode and do a lot of damage.
• The best part is if you kill someone with the explosion, you get revived.
• Zero Hour - Saint explodes putting a healing zone underneath you when he expires.
• Another reason to be a part of the Saint fan club. This heals a good amount and it works for your teammates as well.
• The only drawback is that you must stay in the healing area to get the effect.

That's it for my Wilhelm Drone Leveling Build for Borderlands The Pre-Sequel. If you have any more questions about this build, or some tips of your own, let me know in the comments!

Please visit my Borderlands Pre Sequel Beginner's guide for more tips and guides.

Remember the quest in Borderlands The Pre-Sequel where you call Nel a dick? Well, now you can go one step further to spell it out for him! That's not all, you can also fight him afterwards. He has a high chance to drop a legendary sniper as well.

Now I bet you're wondering how to go about doing this, right? Of course, and that's why I'm here. I'll walk you through the steps needed to fight Nel, as well as tips to make things easier. I'll even show you the sniper he can drop because unlike Nel, I'm not a dick.

Credit to the header video goes to youtube user, deathmule. He also shows himself using the gun on another boss, Iwajira, at the end.

This guide will go over everything about the secret boss Nel including:

• Name Calling - What you need to do before you can fight Nel.
• Nel Fight - Details on the actual fight.

Name Calling

The first thing you need to know is the location of Nel. He's in Regolith Range, specifically the area you go to after beating Deadlift.

There is a quest from a dead soldier that ends with you walking up to an NPC named Nel and telling him he's a dick. He drops to his knees in Darth Vader fashion and yells no. The location of this quest is shown on the map below. It is where the character arrow is.

I don't know if you have to do this quest first, but given his dialogue after you begin the fight, I think you do.

Spelling it out

To really upset him, you have to spell out Dick right in front of him. To do this, you have to pick up the letters "D" and "K". They are located on the top of two towers, the highest building in the area. 

The "D" is located on the tower across the canyon from the building with a satellite on it. You'll be able to see it in the distance. Jumping to get this one is tricky, you'll have to jump on a pipe to begin.

• Jump away from the building then, double jump to get to the next platform.
• Do a normal jump to the next part.
• Do a double jump to the platform above, this one is hard to get.

After that just jump to the last platform move forward until you see the letter "D".

The "K" is located across the cavern, in front of the building with the satellite on it.

• Go to the front where you see IC 57 and use the jump booster to get on the mid tier of the building. 
• Jump on the first platform to the right, then double jump and glide all the way to the round platform sticking out in front of you.

You'll see a ramp you can walk up. Follow this to the top to find the letter "K".

Now head back down to the IC 57 sign and you'll see 2 spots to put the letters. After putting the two letters in, Nel will get upset and call you a jerk. He will start running, just follow him.

Watch the header video if you need a visual explanation of how to get the letters.

Nel Fight

You can't fight Nel at the beginning of the fight, he will remain green. Once he gets into position, he will summon enemies to that location. You have to kill all the enemies before you can kill Nel.

The enemies, including Nel, are in the level 21-29 range when playing normal and 47-50 range when playing True Vault Hunter Mode.

You also need to be careful at where you kill him, because on time I killed him, he dropped the sniper right off the cliff and I couldn't get it.

Skullmasher

The legendary sniper he drops is called Skullmasher and it fires a spray like a shotgun. It still has the range and properties of a sniper rifle, so it is really nice. You can fight Nel multiple times, just save and quit, then get the letters and place them again.

That wraps up my guide on fighting the secret boss, Nel, in Borderlands The Pre-Sequel. Be sure to visit my beginner's guide for more tips and links to my other guides. If you have any questions or suggestions, let me know in the comments!

Borderlands The Pre-Sequel added a few new features to those familiar to the series. One of the coolest is the Grinder. This lets you put in 3 items, then combine them to make a new, sometimes better, item.

There does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to using this machine at first glance, but as you experiment, you notice there are certain recipes. These aren't recipes for specific gun, but rather gun types, such as a sniper rifle or rocket launcher. You can even get new legendaries by using it!

I'll explain exactly how the Grinder works, recipes for getting what you want, and tips on using it. For other guides and tips, check out my Borderlands Pre Sequel Beginner's Guide: Tips for Conquering Elphis.

This guide will cover everything about the Grinder including:

• Unlocking the Grinder - How and when you unlock it.
• How to use the Grinder - What you can put in the Grinder.
• Grinder Recipes - The current known recipes for the Grinder
• Grinder Tips - Tips on getting what you want from the Grinder.

Unlocking the Grinder

The Grinder is located in the main city, Concordia, in Janey Springs' workshop. When you first reach Concordia, she isn't there yet. You have to continue the main story until you come back to Concordia and Janey is there. 

She will have a side-quest called, "Grinders" that is level 11 on your first play through. After completing this mission, you will unlock the ability to sue the Grinder. After doing this, if you start True Vault Hunter Mode, you won't need to do the quest again to use it.

How to use the Grinder

Using the Grinder is simple, you put in 3 items, press the grind button, then get out a new item. The items, most of the time, have to be the same type and rarity to grind. This means that you have to use either all weapons, class mods, grenade mods, Oz kits, or shields. You can't mix any of those. The rarity is the color of the item. For example if you use a blue item, all must be blue.

The exception is grinding legendary items. You can grind 2 legendary items and 1 purple to get a new legendary. There is a list later in this guide that shows recipes. Also, check out my How to Get Legendaries guide for more details.

When using the Grinder, you can either get an item of the same quality, or one level higher. This means that if you grind 3 blue items, you can either get another blue item, or a purple item.

Moonstone Grind

You can also choose to use moonstones when using the grinder. This gives you the highest possible quality item out of the 3 items you put in the Grinder. So using this with 3 blue items will always give you a purple item.

You also get a chance to have an extra effect on your item called Luneshine. Here is a list of possible Luneshine effects:

• Higher Maximum Shields
• Reduced O2 consumption rate
• Extra Grenade damage 
• Extra Experience from killing enemies
• Restores shields from killing enemies
• Higher Critical hit damage
• Restores O2 from damaging enemies
• Chance to ignore enemy shields

Grinder Recipes

If you put in 3 guns at random, there is no telling what you'll get, but if you follow the recipes below, you can get the desired item every time. All of these recipes have to have the same rarity type, except when grinding legendaries.

Gun Types

• SMG - Pistol, Assault Rifle, and Shield.
• Rocket Launcher - Any 2 weapons and a grenade mod. 
• Assault Rifle - SMG, Sniper Rifle, and Shield.
• Sniper Rifle - Shotgun, Assault Rifle, and Shield.
• Shotgun - SMG, Pistol, and Shield.

Rarity Types

Note: This is for using moonstones. If you use normal grind you can still get these result, but there is a chance you'll get a lower rarity.

• Green (Random) - 3 different white weapons.
  
• Green (Specific) - 2 white weapons of the same type and 1 weapon of any type.
• Blue (Random) - 3 different green weapons.
• Blue (Specific) - 2 green weapons of the same type and 1 green weapon of any type.
• Purple (Random) - 3 different blue weapons.
• Purple (Specific) - 2 blue weapons of the same type and 1 blue weapon of any type.
• Legendary Weapon (Specific) - 2 legendary weapons of any type and 1 purple weapon. Whichever purple you choose will be the type of weapon you get out.

You can also grind shields, class mods, grenade mods, and Oz kits using the above recipes. I haven't tried grinding a legendary item besides a weapon, so I'm not sure if it works for these as well.

Grinder Tips

Here are a few tips to remember when using the Grinder:

• ALWAYS use moonstone grind when grinding Legendaries. You don't want to end up with a purple item and waste 2 legendaries.

• Use your highest level items. The level of the item produced is an average of the 3 items put into the Grinder.
• Pick up several items. You never know what you might want to grind later.
• Use moonstones when you can. If you can afford to, use moonstones always. The chance to get Luneshine makes the weapons even better.

That's it for my Grinder guide for Borderlands The Pre-Sequel! Let me know if you find anything else out or have any questions. Please visit my Beginner's guide for more tips and guides on this game.

So did my list sell you on my thought process? Or did you have a favorite hole-in-the-wall shop that your favorite shopkeeper resides over?

Let me know how you liked the list and let me hear some of your own. I always like to test the waters at new shops, no matter how virtual they may be. 

Image Source: Insidegamer

1. Gadgetron Corporation (Ratchet and Clank series)

This one is at the top of my list for many reasons. First of all, they invented a system where you can simply buy weapons from a PDA and receive them in an instant. No worrying about hassles at customs with their heavy duty weapons.

The company enters my top-tier shopkeepers simply because of their humor about what they sell. They are off-the-wall when it comes to talking about their products, as well as the types of weapons they have created. From Decoy Glove and Morph-o-Ray (which morphs enemies into chickens) to the much-sought-after RYNO series of firearms, this company has it all. An example of this humor:

\n

"Gadgetron has vendors conveniently located on all inhabited worlds, and also in the entirely unhabited bogs of Trachea Five. We don't really know how that one got there. Engineering blames marketing, marketing blames legal, and legal has been at a "conference" on the tropical planet of Bahamia for the last six months and they do not return our calls."

\n

Destruction and humor, all rolled into a nice, clean package. It's been my favorite supply shop in any game series, and has made its way through all the games installments, even if just by mention alone.

2. Marcus (Borderlands series)

This one is a tough sumbitch. He values his the products he sells. In fact, he is more sure of his weapons than the survival of his customers. 

He is sadistic, shooting unruly customers who claim they have defective products is just another business transaction for him. He tests new weapons on unsuspecting victims just to get a good reading, as well as to prove to other (luckier) customers that his merchandise works effectively.

Primarily he sells to Vault Hunters, and he is rarely afraid of anything (besides losing money of course). He is someone to be respected as well as feared. (And how could you not when one of his biggest catchphrases is: "If you shop somewhere else, I'll have you killed".)

I believe Marcus could have his own back story as part of a game, the rise of a weapons merchant. It would be one hell of a story to tell. 

Image Source: Borderlands Wikia

3. Moneybags (Spyro)

This one came to mind as soon as I read the word shopkeeper. Moneybags did not own a shop, he didn't sell too many goods or services but he held one trait that every shopkeeper should have: A love of money!

Moneybags followed Spyro the Dragon around like a hawk, finding inaccessible areas. After he learned to unlock them, he waited to charge our hero for access. His fees became more and more outrageous as the levels progressed.

Even with his world being on the verge of destruction, he still found a way to sate his love of money. He even sported a monocle and fancy suit, most likely obtained through his extensive extortion racket. 

Moneybags served not only as a means to get rid of cold hard gems, but also became a character with a semi-fleshed-out profile. He wasn't a fighter, but he was against the bad guys. In a way, he served as a proving ground for the hero. He was essentially the force pushing Spyro to explore and collect more, expanding the limits of our scaly hero. 

Psychoanalysis aside, the bear loved money. He was greedy and only thought of himself. But he did make me go back and collect every gem in the individual levels, which made me want to 100% them. He was a proving ground to me, as I wanted to have the cash to pay him the instant he asked. It was like pushing him aside and saying "Let me through!" in a big booming voice. So satisfying. 

Image Source: Spyro Forums

4. The Happy Mask Salesman (Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time/Majora's Mask)

Let me preface this by saying this dude is one creepy SOB. I have spent many playthroughs trying to avoid seeing his face. Sure, he is calm and helpful on the surface, but once you piss him off, he is a very dark man.

Starting off innocently enough as a simple mask salesman, he serves as Link's way to access certain areas to progress in the game. He's nice and cheers Link on as you sell the masks for him, but if you return to shop without his money, he becomes livid and kicks you out. After the town is destroyed when Link is an adult, you no longer see him.

That is until Majora's Mask, where he is no longer just the simple salesman but rather a key point in the game. 

Said to be a traveler between dimensions, he has a knack for creeping most people out. Besides his love for masks, most of his background is rather shaded. The masks he sells are ones he's collected while travelling between dimensions. He does help Link gain some extra rupees as well as some nightmares.

I can only say I didn't rate him any higher because he didn't become much of a salesman after the few missions he gives to Link. He was limited to selling masks, and didn't offer any rare reward items beside the Mask of Truth in Ocarina. I placed him on the list in general because I find him an interesting shopkeeper. (And I'd rather not hear him say "You have met with a terrible fate" in my sleep for not placing him.)

Image Source: ZeldaWiki

5. Xur Agent of the Nine (Destiny)

I'm sure this one will gain some scrutiny from people saying I'm slipping him in because of the popularity of Destiny. That isn't the case with Xur; while playing I found him fascinating as a merchant in general. (If I wanted to appease Destiny fans, I would have used Master Rahool instead and then capitalized on his new easter egg in the former Loot cave.)

With that out of the way, Xur is a complicated person to track down. He vanishes each week and appears in a new spot on the weekends. He offers up new rare items in exchange for Strange Coins, which are reasonably hard to collect, thus making the goods worthwhile. 

Having existed in a system outside of explored Space, Xur is part of a race, speculated as the Jovian, ruled by higher beings known as "The Nine". While the Nine are an quite easily described as transcendant beings that have to do with The Traveler and The Darkness, Xur is merely an agent of the Nine.

He speaks openly that he doesn't understand who the Nine are and even mentions his body is dying soon. He's an enigma that intrigues me and also he sells some pretty awesome items. 

Besides, he's like RE4's Merchant in design, and that is enough to warrant investigation. Hopefully soon Bungie will give us some more insight as to what he is rather than just some humble black market dealer. 

Thanks to DBMgamer0722 on YouTube for more information on Xur and the Nine! 

Image Source: Gamerant.com

6. The Pokemon Mart Staff (Pokemon Series)

These nameless, almost forgotten members of the Pokemon world, the Pokemart staff are a key piece of your journey to be the very best.

Selling items like Pokeballs, Potions, and Repels in bulk has served as their main staple. As the games added more features, items like color stationary, special items for your Pokemon to hold, and accessories for beauty contests have been added to their inventory.

Most say the standard greetings and words of encouragement, making them a type of support system for the trainers coming through. They also don't judge when you ask for 99 pokeballs and 99 super potions. They will never say you should lay off the harsh training, nor claim you are taking on enemies too powerful for you. They just smile, take your hard-earned cash, and tell you to have a nice day.

7. The Merchant (Resident Evil 4)

Just by looking at him, you can hear the lines in your head. "What are ya buyin'?" This enigmatic salesman helps you out in your high-priority rescue mission selling you a variety of weapons. Exchanging these guns for the currency of the locals, Pesetas, he keeps Leon constantly supplied with new items. He even has his own side quest, which rewards you with a custom handgun named the Punisher.

While basically an arms dealer, The Merchant can also be considered a character in this world. While he has no official background and was last seen before the final fight of RE4, it's safe to assume he is still out there asking the deep questions like "What are ya sellin'?".

He's iconic for his catchphrases and odd shop locations. A cave, of all places, has to be the worst for flow of customers. I can only imagine what Resident Evil 4 would have been like without him. 

Image Source: Resident Evil 4 Wiki

8. Drebin 893 (Metal Gear Solid 4)

I almost forgot about Drebin. Almost. One of the more personable characters in the game to talk to Snake, he offers himself up as a gun launderer by removing the ID chips from weapons, which allows anyone (mostly Snake) to use them. Drebin is one for showmanship, who has a knack for magic tricks and a very sly demeanor.

He supplied Snake with the weapons he needed and rescued his new client from certain danger on more than one occasion. Plus the dude has a pet monkey that smokes and drinks soda. How much cooler could he possibly be?

 Image Source: Metal Gear Wikia

9. The Hungry Luma (Super Mario Galaxy)

I get it, you're already asking yourself: "How on earth is this a shopkeep?"

First off, we're not on Earth anymore, so that statement is kind of null and void. Also, you would be wrong if you didn't consider these hungry star-people to be merchants in at least one aspect.

You trade Starbits for additional levels.

You sell a valued item to receive a product or service, and this is exactly what we get when we interact with the Hungry Luma. Mario trades in all these Starbits, which act as a form of currency, by feeding the Luma till he's near exploding. Once he is full, he creates a new level or area, which acts as the service. 

See my point? Sure, I don't rate him very high because he is a one-trick pony and the variety of services are next to nil, but I still count him (and anyone like him) in the category. 

Image source: Funny Pictures

10. Greyor (League of Legends)

This spectral being is an interesting one. He fought in a battle in the Howling Abyss and was bound there to warn people of coming attacks. He even tells players "Avarosa herself killed me, it was a great honor. She bound my spirit here, so I could sound the horn when the Watchers returned." 

So not only was he involved with the battle as well as respected his opponents, he wants to aid other fighters by selling items. While he limits the ability for players to buy once they leave the area, Greyor provides the service which can help players push forward in their future battles. 

It's good to know that even in death, a salesman can still flourish and people will still buy without getting freaked out. Or calling Ghostbusters. 

Image source: League of Legends wikia

You see this screen quite often right?

Tons of loot gathered from your journey across those often-trudged battlegrounds and wastelands. Sometimes we take for granted the space we have, not appreciating it until it is too late. 

So what do you do with all the extra gear and random items?

Sell it for some extra cash or trade it in for a new weapon of course. What better way to do so than with those handy-dandy shopkeepers. Not many of them solely reside in shops, but the job is still the same all around.

Today I'll take a look at the Top 10 Shopkeepers in Games and see if we can't shed some light on these otherwise overlooked figures.