When I found a job and had my own place, the first thing that I bought was a TV and VCR (my father let me have his old car). Now I could actually invite my girlfriend to watch a movie with me in total privacy. Just sitting comfortably on the couch with my head resting on her shoulder, I used to think, "Wow, life is great!"  (Related:  Jennifer Hudson likes video games)

Fast-forward 20 years

America is a different place now. Yes, we still watch television with someone we love and it is still romantic. The televisions are now flat panel LCDs and better, and DVD players and TIVO are almost in every home. But it is not a big deal any more!  We still watch movies but it is a totally different experience.  There is so much content everywhere that often times we want to run away from passive watching of television and try something that is more challenging and interactive.  Something that allows us to control what we are watching and maybe even change it in ways that the creators did not envision.

So what is a big deal now? Video games. For those men who are fanatic about video games it was always a frustration that girls did not like video games. So it was one of those guy things: football, beer, etc. But not any more. Not only am I seeing this with my clients, but a lot of people have written to me that movies are out and video games are in as a way to entertain on a date. So I decided to check if it is really true that women are now playing video games. According to the Pew Project on the Internet and American Life as many college-age women as men are playing games. The Interactive Digital Software Association, which represents the video game makers, reports that during 2003 women made up 40 percent of the total universe of gamers. What does it mean? When you date a girl these days, chances are that she already plays games or is likely to have at least a casual interest in them. (Related article:  Today's latest accessory for women - a cute laptop)

How to play video games on a date?

Remember that there are still differences, like the movies, in the way women play video games. So you will need to come to a compromise so that both of you will like a game. Many women are playing the same games that men are playing but some games are more popular among women than men. I also hear that consoles are less popular among women. They prefer games on a computer and are less likely to embrace violent video games. What should you do so that you will have a game that she likes? Have lots of them at home and every time you want them to come over to your place, better have some new ones.  Alex from Minneapolis agrees though he has found that girls still need to do a bit more to catch up with him.   "Girls like games a lot more than they used to but it's still limited.  Though I think I've found the ideal game to meet/impress girls:  Dance Dance Revolution! (DDR) It's a perfect way to start a conversation and fun if it's a good challenge," he tells me.

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