A software developer in the US used his programming skills to propose to his girlfriend by altering a copy of the game she was playing.

Bernie Peng spent a month hacking the code in Bejeweled so that when Tammy Li attained a particular score a ring appeared along with the marriage proposal.

Li accepted the proposal and the couple plan to marry on the weekend of US Labor Day at the end of August.

The story came to light after Peng posted details of the engagement on his blog.

PopCap, the maker of Bejeweled, is congratulating Peng's skills by flying the couple to Seattle as part of their honeymoon, and giving them copies of the game to be handed out as wedding presents.

"Most video game companies would frown on people manipulating their games. But it won him a woman. As a bunch of geeks we have to say: 'Bernie, hats off to you.'" said PopCap spokesman Garth Chouteau.