Family video game night is growing in popularity

From soccer practice to dance lessons, busy family schedules often make it difficult for parents and children to spend quality time together. Yet, an electronic that was once seen as a barrier to family time is now bringing people of all ages together: The video game console.

Nearly nine in 10 families own some type of gaming console and 88 percent of those families play video games together, according to a recent survey. Furthermore, four in five parents believe playing video games is a great way to create family "WeTime" - time spent getting together with family to enjoy each other's company, whether planned or spontaneous.

"Many parents of teens and tweens grew up playing video games themselves, so the trend of family gaming is one we expect to grow with each generation," says Erica Danielski, Memorex brand manager, Imation Corp. "The concept of 'WeTime' hasn't changed, but the tools families use to bring it to life have evolved. Memorex is working to enhance 'WeTime' with gaming accessories that are helping to reinvent family game night."

To ensure your family's video game night is a success, consider these tips:

* Find a way for everyone to play. In anticipation of family game night, purchase four-player games that are rated E (Everyone) by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (meaning the content is suitable for ages 6 and older). Racing games are great for families - they enable you to incorporate accessories that enhance and add comfort to the gaming experience. Memorex's 3-Pack Racing Wheels for Nintendo(R) Wii(TM) are the perfect game-night companion, as most popular racing games come with one wheel but allow four players to get in on the action.

* Create family game night when you're on the go. If the family is on vacation or simply too busy to sit down for family game night - why not host game night on the go? Many of today's hand-held gaming consoles are interactive, allowing multiple players in the same room to game together. To make it easy to switch between titles and keep track of games while you're on the go, check out the Memorex Universal Game Selector Case for Nintendo(R) DS(TM). Players can store and switch between up to three games without removing the cartridges from the storage compartment, and the universal design ensures it's compatible with most of Nintendo's hand-held game consoles.

* Keep the controllers charged for the next game night (while keeping the living room tidy). There is nothing worse than sitting down to family game night only to find your controller batteries have died. Power up your family's playtime with the Memorex Dual and Quad Controller Charging Kits for Nintendo Wii. Kits charge two or four controllers simultaneously, while keeping gaming areas organized and reducing clutter.

For more information, visit the Memorex Fan Page on Facebook or Memorex.com.