Voice communication and gaming go hand-in-hand, according to a new survey from gaming network Curse, who wanted to discover not only what players wanted from a VoIP service, but what helps build a stronger community for gamers that spend so much time trying to make the most from their time online.

“Online gaming is a constant struggle in innovation and finding new ways to make a game successful and build a thriving community around any title is hard work,” Curse says in a statement.

The survey, which sampled 1,001 people, found that VoIP does in fact improve the online gaming experience.

The research showed 78% play video games more than 10 hours a week, and 100% of survey respondents use some type of voice communication.

The survey found players enjoy a game more when using voice communication, with 48% using a voice communication service over 50% of the time while gaming. and 72% had a more enjoyable experience in-game when using voice communication services.

Curse says voice communication makes a game's player base stronger, more engaged and more positive.

The survey found 67% play more frequently when using a voice communication service, and 74% experienced longer and more successful sessions when using voice communication.

The research found 70% of respondents had more positive game experiences when using voice communication and would prefer using a standardised service through the games in which they play.

Curse believes gamers crave great features from their VoIP platform. It says 70% of survey respondents choose their communication software based on its features and performance.

Free to use, friends list and friends sync were considered very important features in choosing a VoIP service for online gaming, Curse says.