A Penn State survey of gamers reveals something a lot of us have already figured out on our own: gaming can be both a boon and a curb on our social lives. In an examination of people who played multi-player, first-person shooter games, like Call of Duty and Halo, gamers who organized their lives around gaming tended to experience a negative effect on their friendships and relationships but gamers who primarily played the game as a way to reinforce social bonds said they experienced higher levels of social ties and support. I’m reminded of the various ways people use Facebook.…