Survey says games make a great date

Couples who play games together are probably familiar with the trials and tribulations of maintaining a relationship while allocating the same amount of time and attention to your second love of video games. The key to a lasting relationship may be as simple as spending quality time on an activity that couples can enjoy together--that is, with video games.

Among the games that couples play are: Wii Sports, Mario Kart, and Rock Band or Guitar Hero. The most common choice for lovers to play are games that involve teamwork, but when competition comes into play, women tend to play more aggressively than men, while a smaller percentage of men claim to let their date win. Author and relationship expert, Dr. Diana Kirschner states that:

Video gaming can be extremely beneficial for a couple's relationship because it promotes bonding and feeling close, helps refine a couples ability to problem solve together and, most importantly, encourages having fun and laughing with one another.

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Couples who play games together are probably familiar with the trials and tribulations of maintaining a relationship while allocating the same amount of time and attention to your second love of video games. The key to a lasting relationship may be as simple as spending quality time on an activity that couples can enjoy together--that is, with video games.

Among the games that couples play are: Wii Sports, Mario Kart, and Rock Band or Guitar Hero. The most common choice for lovers to play are games that involve teamwork, but when competition comes into play, women tend to play more aggressively than men, while a smaller percentage of men claim to let their date win. Author and relationship expert, Dr. Diana Kirschner states that:

Video gaming can be extremely beneficial for a couple's relationship because it promotes bonding and feeling close, helps refine a couples ability to problem solve together and, most importantly, encourages having fun and laughing with one another.

The online survey was conducted by Kelton Research for Game Crazy's Valentine's Day Survey.

The press release follows:

The Game of Love: Relationship Expert Says Couples that Play Together Stay Together

WILSONVILLE, Ore., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- For many, Valentine's Day conjures up feelings of love, intermingled with anxiety over finding the right gift and planning the perfect night. This year, forget expensive candlelit dinners or romantic movies and consider video games. A new survey released by national video game retailer Game Crazy finds that nearly 80 percent of Americans would enjoy playing video games with their significant other. Whether playing to win or just partaking in friendly competition, all couples really need this Valentine's Day is a gaming console.

"Video gaming can be extremely beneficial for a couple's relationship because it promotes bonding and feeling close, helps refine a couples ability to problem solve together and, most importantly, encourages having fun and laughing with one another," said Dr. Diana Kirschner, relationship expert and author of Love in 90 Days. "As a matter of fact, it is my experience that the couples that play together stay together!"

An Unconventional Dating Game?

The biggest allure for 61 percent of Americans is that video gaming is something a couple can do together. Others see gaming together as a good way to work as a team (25%), while some just enjoy watching the faces their significant other makes while playing (20%). During times of economic uncertainty, couples also look to this seemingly unconventional dating activity as an inexpensive way to spend time together. In fact, 21 percent of respondents admit that gaming is appealing because it's a low-cost date option.

The Real Battle of the Sexes

While compromise is critical in relationships, all bets are off once the gaming begins. Nearly 70 percent of Americans admit that if they were playing a video game during a date, they'd rather win than let their date come out on top. Surprisingly, the fairer sex is more aggressive when it comes to playing to win - more than 80 percent of women compete to beat their date during a video game, compared to 56 percent of men. With 44 percent of men planning to let their date win, perhaps chivalry isn't dead after all.

For more gaming news, visit GamePro. Story copyright GamePro Media.