Hmm, bad typing communication skills I guess. I know it wasn't the most productive post in the thread but angry wasn't the tone I was going for. I got nothing to add though, everyone else's advice seems solid.

Shinigaml

Hit it on the spot! Follow his example and you will have success! Nice - on the spot openers!

I didn't find his post angry. He could have been a little less blunt but eh. The truth is that you had no idea if she knew anything about the game/series or if she even plays video games. For all you know she could have been picking it up as a gift for her brother. There is nothing wrong with being nerdy or showing knowledge in something if you are in the right set like the convention example.

have to agree that was a REALLY rough opener. Even IF the girl likes video games it was too much of a gambit, maybe she was just browsing through the game covers or something for her little brother.

Most gamer girls that I have met usually don't like the guys that bring up gaming while talking, because it shows that the game is their life. They like the balance of a guy that is somewhat geeky but not a complete hermit to the rest of the social world. Gamer girls tend to get hit on by a lot of gamer guys who think "OMG a girl that plays games?!" do you know HOW many guys have used a game opener on her if she was? TOO many and thats why you have to be different.

I would of opened very casually with "picking something up for your little brother/boyfriend?" the reason is if you ask the boyfriend version she will either blush and say "i dont have a boyfriend" or tell you that she does. In either case you get the answer if she HAS a boyfriend without asking her directly. You flatter her in her mind assuming that she is attractive enough TO have a boyfriend regardless of the result.

If she didn't have a boyfriend the next step i usually go for is "i think your lying, how could we be friends if you are lying to me all the time?" tell her your joking and just start stacking conversation.

If she responded it was for her own enjoyment you could asked if she liked those type of games, then used your opener about castlevania if she said she loved the series. Then you could just let regular conversation take over before you went for any sort of close.

Though i admit all of my thoughts are from the indirect gaming camp, feel free to take with a pinch of salt