Do you believe in magic? Computer games in everyday life

Abstract

Huizinga's concept of a 'magic circle' has been used to depict computer games and gaming activities as something separate from ordinary life. In this view, games are special (magical) and they only come to life within temporal and spatial borders that are enacted and performed by the participants. This article discusses the concept of a 'magic circle' and finds that it lacks specificity. Attempts to use the concept of a magic circle create a number of anomalies that are problematic. This is not, as has been suggested earlier, primarily a matter of the genre of the game, or a discussion of what an appropriate definition of a 'game' might be. Rather, in this study with hardcore gamers, playing computer games is a routine and mundane activity, making the boundary between play and non-play tenuous to say the least. This article presents an alternative theoretical framework which should be explored further.

Full text

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@ARSQ@BS (UIZINGASCONCEPTOFA@MAGICCIRCLEHASBEENUSEDTODEPICT
COMPUTERGAMESANDGAMINGACTIVITIESASSOMETHINGSEPARATEFROMORDINARY
LIFE)NTHISVIEWGAMESARESPECIALMAGICALANDTHEYONLYCOMETOLIFE
WITHINTEMPORALANDSPATIALBORDERSTHATAREENACTEDANDPERFORMEDBY
THEPARTICIPANTS4HISARTICLEDISCUSSESTHECONCEPTOFA@MAGICCIRCLEAND
FINDSTHATITLACKSSPECIFICITY!TTEMPTSTOUSETHECONCEPTOFAMAGICCIRCLE
CREATEANUMBEROFANOMALIESTHATAREPROBLEMATIC4HISISNOTASHAS
BEENSUGGESTEDEARLIERPRIMARILYAMATTEROFTHEGENREOFTHEGAMEORA
DISCUSSIONOFWHATANAPPROPRIATEDEFINITIONOFA@GAMEMIGHTBE2ATHER
INTHISSTUDYWITHHARDCOREGAMERSPLAYINGCOMPUTERGAMESISAROUTINE
ANDMUNDANEACTIVITYMAKINGTHEBOUNDARYBETWEENPLAYANDNONPLAY
TENUOUSTOSAYTHELEAST4HISARTICLEPRESENTSANALTERNATIVETHEORETICAL
FRAMEWORKWHICHSHOULDBEEXPLOREDFURTHER
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RHETORICSROUTINETIME
4HEMAGICCIRCLE
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COMPUTERGAMESTUDIES/FTENITISPICKEDUPANDUSEDINANUNPROBLEMATIC
MANNERBUTPERHAPSEQUALLYPROBLEMATIZED!LTHOUGHTHEAPPLICATION
ANDAPPLICABILITYOFTHECONCEPTHASBEENDISCUSSEDELSEWHERE3ALENAND
:IMMERMANAESPECIALLYINRELATIONTOSOCALLEDPERVASIVEGAMES
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ACRITICALEDGE#OPIERSOMEMAINASSUMPTIONSHAVEREMAINED
LARGELYUNQUESTIONED4HESEASSUMPTIONSTAKEASTHEIRPOINTOFDEPARTUREA
BASICBELIEFINTHEGENERALUSEFULNESSOFTHEIDEASOFTHEMAGICCIRCLETOALL
MANYORMOSTCOMPUTERGAMES7EDISAGREEANDINTHISARTICLEPRESENT
THECURRENTDISCUSSIONABOUTTHEMAGICCIRCLEBEFOREWEMOVEBEYONDIT
TOSUGGESTALTERNATIVEWAYSOFUNDERSTANDINGTHEGAMINGSITUATION
DTQNOD@MINTQM@KNE
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peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011
Author manuscript, published in "European Journal of Cultural Studies 11, 2 (2008)
225-244"
DOI : 10.1177/1367549407088335

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ABOUTTHEFORMALCHARACTERISTICSOFPLAYBYSTATINGTHATPLAYIS
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FORBIDDENSPOTSISOLATEDHEDGEDROUNDHALLOWEDWITHINWHICHSPECIALRULES
OBTAIN!LLARETEMPORARYWORLDSWITHINTHEORDINARYWORLDDEDICATEDTOTHE
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)TISNOTDIFFICULTTOSEEWHYTHESEIDEASHAVEBEENEXTENDEDTOEN
COMPASSCOMPUTERGAMES0LAYINGACLASSICCOMPUTERGAMECANBELIKE
TRAVELLINGTOAPARALLELWORLDFORTHEDURATIONOFTHEPLAYSESSION7HEN
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ANDSPECIALPLACEWHEREACTIONSAREINCONSEQUENTIALTOEVERYDAYLIFEAND
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ELEMENTINCULTUREAGAINST(UIZINGASWILL(ISINTENTIONWASFORITTOBE
ASTUDYOFTHEPLAYELEMENTOFCULTUREBECAUSE@ITWASNOTMYOBJECTTO
DEFINETHEPLACEOFPLAYAMONGALLTHEOTHERMANIFESTATIONSOFCULTURE
BUTRATHERTOASCERTAINHOWFARCULTUREITSELFBEARSTHECHARACTEROFPLAY
(UIZINGA;=7ETHINKTHAT(UIZINGASBOOKSHOULDBESEENALSO
ASANORMATIVETHEORYOFWHATITMEANSTOBEHUMANANDSPECIFICALLYASA
REACTIONTOOTHERCONCEPTIONSOFHUMANNESSSUCHASTHEHOMOECONOMICUS
OFMUCHECONOMICANDUTILITARIANWRITINGOFTHETIMEANDTHEHOMOFABER
OF-ARXSWRITING4HISISASRELEVANTTODAYASITWASATTHETIMEBUTNEEDS
TOBEKEPTINMINDWHENREADINGHISBOOK
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

O@QFL@M@MCI@JNARRNM CNXNTADKHDUDHML@FHB*
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MOREBECAUSEOFTHESUPERFICIALAPPLICABILITYOFTHETWOQUOTESABOVESUP
PLEMENTEDBYAHANDFULOFOTHERSTOAVARIETYOFSITUATIONSRATHERTHAN
ASARESULTOFSERIOUSATTEMPTSTOENGAGECRITICALLYWITHHISTHOUGHTS!
BLEAKERINTERPRETATIONWOULDBETHATANEMERGINGFIELDOFCOMPUTERGAME
STUDIESSOMETIMESCALLEDLUDOLOGY&RASCANEEDSAPREHISTORYAND
SOHASTOTAKEWHATCANBETAKENFROMANALMOSTYEAROLDBOOKWITH
THEIRRESISTIBLETITLE(OMO,UDENS)TTHENPRESENTSTHEIDEAOFAMAGIC
CIRCLESTATINGTHATTHEREISADISTINCTBOUNDARYBETWEENGAMESANDORDINARY
LIFEANDTHATTHISBOUNDARYISOFUTMOSTIMPORTANCE
4OPLAYAGAMEMEANSENTERINGINTOAMAGICCIRCLEORPERHAPSCREATINGONE
ASAGAMEBEGINSx4HETERMMAGICCIRCLEISAPPROPRIATEBECAUSETHEREISIN
FACTSOMETHINGGENUINELYMAGICALTHATHAPPENSWHENAGAMEBEGINSx)N
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BYITSPLAYERS3ALENAND:IMMERMANAn
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MOVEGAINSITSMEANINGTHROUGHTHELOGICOFTHEMAGICCIRCLE4HISISA
SIMPLIFIEDVIEWOFACOMPLICATEDISSUEANDINTHISARTICLEREPRESENTSWHAT
WECALLTHESTRONGBOUNDARYHYPOTHESIS(OWEVERTHEIDEAOFTHEMAGIC
CIRCLEREPRESENTINGASTRONGBOUNDARYBETWEENGAMESANDORDINARYLIFE
HASALSOBEENPROBLEMATIZEDELSEWHEREINCLUDING3ALENAND:IMMERMAN
B&IRSTWETURNTOTHEDISSENTERS
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AMAGICCIRCLEASANANALYTICALTOOLHAVEBEENIDENTIFIEDREPEATEDLY
4HESEPROBLEMSBECOMEESPECIALLYCLEARWHENTHERESEARCHERINQUES
TIONHASACTUALEMPIRICALMATERIALATHANDWHICHTHEYTRYTOUNDERSTAND
WITHOUTMUCHSUCCESSBYAPPLYINGTHEDOMINANTPARADIGMOFTHE
SEPARATENESSOFPLAY4HISISNEVERMORECLEARTHANWHENLOOKINGAT
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BECOMEPROBLEMATICWHENCURRENTDEFINITIONSOFGAMESSUCHAS*UULS
CLASSICGAMEMODELAREAPPLIED&OREXAMPLETHE@PROBLEMATIC
GAMESARETHOSEWHEREITISDEBATABLEWHETHERTHEYHAVEQUANTIFIABLE
OUTCOMESORWHEREITBECOMESDIFFICULTTODISCERNTHELIMITSOFTHEGAME
THE@INSIDEAND@OUTSIDEOFTHEMAGICCIRCLE
7HICHARETHESEGAMES4HOSETHATIMMEDIATELYSPRINGTOMINDARE
DIFFERENTVARIETIESOFROLEPLAYINGGAMES20'SSUCHASTABLETOP20'S
EG$UNGEONSAND$RAGONSLIVEACTIONROLEPLAY,!20AND-ASSIVELY
-ULTIPLAYER/NLINE2OLE0LAYING'AMES--/20'S-OREGENERALLYANY
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

DTQNOD@MINTQM@KNEBTKSTQ@KRSTCHDR
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KINDOFGAMETHATISONGOINGSOCALLED@PERSISTENTSTATEWORLDSBECOMES
PROBLEMATICWHETHERITISA@HIGHINTENSITYGAME--/20'SORMORE
CASUAL@LOWINTENSITYASYNCHRONOUSGAME"OGOSTSUCHASFOOTBALL
MANAGERGAMES#RAWFORDORCOMPUTERIZEDPLAYBYMAIL0"-
GAMES4HATSOCALLED@PERVASIVEGAMESWHICHUSETHECITYASAGAMEBOARD
BECOMEDEEPLYPROBLEMATICGOESWITHOUTSAYINGASTHEYDIRECTLYCHALLENGE
THEIDEAOFACLEARBOUNDARYDEFININGAGAMEINSPACEANDTIME
3OWHATDOGAMERESEARCHERSDOWHENTHEYRUNUPAGAINSTWHATHAS
BEENCALLED@THECONVENTIONALWISDOMOFTHEDOMINANTGROUPANDWHEN
WISDOMDOESNOTHELPTHEMTOANALYSETHEIRDATA3TRATEGIESDIFFERBUT
GENERALLYTHEREARETHREEDIFFERENTWAYSTOHANDLETHESITUATION
AVOIDTHEMAGICCIRCLEASANANALYTICALCONCEPT2EPORTONMAGICCIRCLE
NONCOMPATIBLERESULTSWITHOUTEXPLICITLYMENTIONINGORCHALLENGING
THEMAGICCIRCLEASANANALYTICALCONCEPT
TWEAKANDREDEFINETHEMAGICCIRCLEASANANALYTICALCONCEPT
CHALLENGETHEMAGICCIRCLEASANANALYTICALCONCEPT
4HISARTICLEWILLDISCUSSEXAMPLESOFALLTHREESTRATEGIES4HECONCLUSIONS
HEREDONOTRELYSOLELYONTHEHANDFULOFEXAMPLESBELOWBUTWEBELIEVE
THATTHESEEXAMPLESAREREPRESENTATIVEOFPROBLEMSTHATTURNUPATTHEEDGES
ANDINTHEINTERSTICESBETWEENTHEINSIDEANDOUTSIDEOFTHEMAGICCIRCLE
4HEYPOINTATSYSTEMATICPROBLEMSTHATARESEENFIRSTONTHEPERIPHERY
BUTHAVEGREATIMPLICATIONSFORTHECOREOFTHECONCEPT
!VOIDINGTHEMAGICCIRCLE
"OGOSTCOINSTHETERM@ASYNCHRONOUSMULTIPLAYANDGOESONTO
DESCRIBEATYPEOFINHERENTLYCASUALGAMETHATMIGHTCOMETOMATCHOREVEN
OVERTAKETHEPOPULARITYOFTHEMOREINTENSIVESYNCHRONOUSMULTIPLAYER
GAMESEG--/20'S/NEOFTHECHARACTERISTICSOFTHESEGAMESIS
THATTHEYAREDESIGNEDFORONGOINGDISRUPTEDGAMEPLAYIEFORPLAYING
NOWANDTHENFORBEINGINTERRUPTEDWHENPLAYINGORFORPLAYINGDURING
SEVERALSHORTPERIODSINADAY
"ECAUSEPLAYEROBLIGATIONSOUTSIDETHEGAMEOFTENENGENDERSBREAKSINGAME
PLAYASYNCHRONOUSPLAYTYPICALLYORIENTSITSELFASMUCHTOTHEWORLDOUTSIDE
THEGAMEASINSIDETHEGAME)N!NIMAL#ROSSING.INTENDOxTHE
GAMETIMEISSYNCHRONIZEDTOREALTIME)FTHEPLAYERISPLAYINGINTHEWINTER
ATNIGHTTHEGAMEWORLDWILLAPPEARDARKANDSNOWY"OGOST
0LAYERSWHOMISSOUTONPLAYINGDURINGASPECIALHOLIDAY(ALLOWEENOR
#HRISTMASMIGHTHAVETOWAITFORAWHOLEYEARTOGETACHANCETOACQUIRE
SPECIALOBJECTS"OGOSTSTATESTHAT@3INCEGAMETIMEISLINKEDTOREALTIMEA
PLAYERCANCONCEPTUALIZETHEGAMEASASMALLORLARGEPARTOFHISDAILYLIFE
RATHERTHANASPLITOUTOFIT7HILE"OGOSTCLEARLYREVELSINTHE
DIFFICULTIESOFDEFININGTHEBOUNDARIESOFTHEGAMEHEAVOIDSMENTIONING
THEMAGICCIRCLEANDTHEREFOREMANAGESTOSTEERAWAYFROMTHEDILEMMA
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

O@QFL@M@MCI@JNARRNM CNXNTADKHDUDHML@FHB*
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OFEITHERHAVINGTOREDEFINETHECONCEPTORUSINGANILLFITTINGCONCEPTTO
EXPLAINHISOBSERVATIONS"UTTHINGSAREPROBABLYSIMPLERTHANTHATTHE
CONCEPTISNOTUSEDBECAUSEITISNOTRELEVANTTOHIM
2EDEFININGTHEMAGICCIRCLE
#ASTRONOVAOBVIOUSLYFINDSTHEMAGICCIRCLEPROBLEMATICINHISBOOKABOUT
--/20'S3YNTHETIC7ORLDS#ASTRONOVADOESUSETHECONCEPTOF
THEMAGICCIRCLEBUTINANUNORTHODOXWAY)NSTEADOFTHEMAGICCIRCLE
REFERRINGTOASTRONGBOUNDARYBETWEENTHEGAMEORFANTASYWORLDAND
ORDINARYLIFEHEREDEFINESITANDMAKESITINTOAPOROUS@MEMBRANETHAT
ACTSASASHIELDBUTALLOWSPEOPLETOPASSINBOTHDIRECTIONSCONSTANTLY4O
#ASTRONOVASYNTHETICWORLDSAREPLACED
INSIDEANALMOSTMAGICCIRCLERATHERTHANATRULYMAGICONEx4HEPOROSITY
OFTHEMEMBRANExMEANSTHATTHERULESOFPLAYINSIDEANDOUTSIDEINFLUENCE
ONEANOTHERWITHUNPREDICTABLERESULTSFORBOTH
4HISPOSITIONISCLOSETOTHEONEPRESENTEDBY.IEUWDORPINA
DISCUSSIONABOUTPERVASIVEGAMES!DAPTINGTHE@SCREENMETAPHORFROM
'OFFMANSHECLAIMSTHATRATHERTHANVIEWINGTHECIRCLEASSTATIC
WESHOULDREGARDITASAN@ORGANICENTITYWHICHCHANGESDEVELOPSAND
INTERACTSWITHITSSURROUNDINGS.IEUWDORP"OTH#ASTRONOVAAND
.IEUWDORPUSETHEMETAPHOROFTHEMEMBRANETOADAPTTHEMAGICCIRCLE
TOTHEIROBJECTSOFSTUDY--/20'SANDPERVASIVEGAMESRESPECTIVELY
ANDINDOINGSOIMPLICITLYQUESTIONTHESTRONGBOUNDARYHYPOTHESIS
#HALLENGINGTHEMAGICCIRCLE
#LEARLY#OPIERISUNHAPPYABOUTTHECONCEPTOFTHEMAGICCIRCLE
ASITDOESNOTHELPHERTOUNDERSTANDFANTASYCULTUREAND,!20SBETTER
2EFERRINGTOVARIOUSDISCUSSIONSONMAILINGLISTSANDELSEWHEREABOUTTHE
MAGICCIRCLEBEINGARUSTYCIRCLESHEDOESNOTTHINKTHISGOESFARENOUGH
2EFERRINGTOTHEORIGINAL$UTCHEDITIONOF(UIZINGASBOOKSHEPOINTS
OUTSOMECOMMONMISINTERPRETATIONSOFHISCONCEPT(ERCONCLUSIONON
THETOPICISTHAT
THEVISUALIZATIONANDMETAPHORICALWAYOFSPEAKINGOFTHEMAGICCIRCLEAS
CHALKOREVENRUSTYCIRCLEISMISLEADING)TSUGGESTSWECANEASILYSEPARATE
PLAYANDNONPLAYINWHICHTHEPLAYSPACEBECOMESAMAGICALWONDERLAND
#OPIER
3HESUGGESTSTHATTHEMETAPHOROFTHEMAGICCIRCLEBEDISCARDEDSINCE
ITDOESNOTHELPUSTOUNDERSTANDTHENATUREOFGAMESORTHEACTOFPLAYING
THEM
/FCOURSEONEWAYTO@SOLVETHEPROBLEMSPOSEDBYTHEVARIOUSCAVEATS
DISCUSSEDPREVIOUSLYWOULDBETOTWEAKTHEDEFINITIONOFWHATAGAMEIS
0ERHAPSTHECONCEPTOFTHEMAGICCIRCLECANBESAVEDIFWHATCONSTITUTES
AGAMEISDEFINEDINSUCHAWAYTHATTHEPROBLEMATICEXAMPLESABOVE
AREDEEMEDNOTTOBE@REALGAMES)NTHISWAYONECOULDAVOIDTHEMESSY
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

DTQNOD@MINTQM@KNEBTKSTQ@KRSTCHDR

PROBLEMSPOSEDBY--/20'SPERVASIVEGAMES,!20SANDSOON
!LTHOUGHFEASIBLETHISISNOTASATISFYINGWAYOFSOLVINGTHEPROBLEMBUT
ISRATHERREMINISCENTOFSETTINGUP0TOLEMAICCIRCLESWITHINCIRCLESTOSAVE
ARUSTYPARADIGM0ROBLEMSWITHAPPLYINGTHESTRONGBOUNDARYHYPOTHESIS
ALSOPOPUPINSEEMINGLYUNPROBLEMATICGAMES0ROBLEMSWITHTHEMAGIC
CIRCLEARENOTONLYRELATEDTOCERTAINKINDSOFGAMESASDISCUSSEDABOVE
BUTALSOMOREGENERALLYTOTHEACTIVITIESOFPLAYINGGAMESSEEBELOW
'AMINGATHOMEGAMINGINEVERYDAYLIFE
4HISARTICLEISPARTLYTHERESULTOFANINTERVIEWSTUDYCONDUCTEDDURING
AUTUMN4HESTUDYWASNOTMOTIVATEDBYANURGETOEXAMINEQUESTIONS
RELATINGTOIMMERSIONORTHEMAGICCIRCLE)NFACTTHEOPPOSITEISTRUEAS
THISARTICLESPRINGSFROMFRUSTRATIONINTRYINGTOINTERPRETANDUNDERSTAND
RESULTSWITHTHEHELPOFTHATTHEORETICALCONCEPT
4HESTUDYITSELFWASASTUDYOFHARDCOREGAMERSWHOLIVEDINASMALL
3WEDISHTOWNINHABITANTS!LLTHEPARTICIPANTSWERESECONDOR
THIRDYEARSTUDENTSSTUDYINGCOMPUTERGAMEDESIGNATTHELOCALUNIVERSITY
COLLEGE4HEPARTICIPANTSMENANDTWOWOMENWEREBETWEEN
ANDYEARSOLDANDWERESELECTEDPRIMARILYBECAUSETHEYPLAYEDCOMPUTER
GAMESFREQUENTLYBETWEENANDHOURSPERWEEKWITHANAVERAGE
RANGINGBETWEENANDHOURS-OSTPLAYEDGAMESONBOTHPERSONAL
COMPUTERS0#SANDCONSOLESANDTHEYPLAYEDAVARIETYOFGAMESFROM
SEVERALDIFFERENTGENRES
!LLTHEINTERVIEWSWERECONDUCTEDINTHEPARTICIPANTSHOMES4HIS
ALLOWEDFORPERSPECTIVEONTHEPARTICIPANTSGAMINGACTIVITIESANDTOEX
PERIENCEANDQUERYASPECTSOFGAMINGINEVERYDAYLIFETHATARELOSTWHEN
THEMODERNRESEARCHEREQUIPPEDWITHATAPERECORDERORMPPLAYERAND
INSEARCHOFTHEWORDCONSEQUENTLYREDUCESSOCIALLIFETOTHEONESINGLE
MEDIUMOFCOMMUNICATION3TIMSON"YBEINGPRESENTINTHE
ENVIRONMENTTHATTHEPARTICIPANTSINHABITWHENTHEYPLAYGAMESITWAS
POSSIBLETOLOOKATTHEIRGAMINGSETUPANDTHEIRCOLLECTIONSOFGAMESAND
TAKEPHOTOSnSEE&IGUREASWELLASTOASKFORDEMONSTRATIONSORJUST
TOLOOKAROUNDUSANDASKQUESTIONS4HISALLOWEDINSIGHTSINTOASPECTS
THATOTHERWISECOULDBELOSTSUCHASMEANINGCONVEYEDTHROUGHCOSTOF
MATERIALSMOODSMELLCOLOURSSPACEHISTORYAMBIENTNOISETRAFFIC
TRAINSANDSOON
/NEEXAMPLEOFANOBSERVATIONTHATOTHERWISEMIGHTEASILYHAVEBEEN
MISSEDWASTHESUDDENREALIZATIONAFTERHAVINGVISITEDMORETHANHALFA
DOZENPARTICIPANTSINTHEIRHOMESTHATALARGEMAJORITYOFTHEMDIDNOT
OWNANYBOOKS3INCETHEPARTICIPANTSWEREUNIVERSITYSTUDENTSMOSTHAD
THEREQUIREDCOURSELITERATUREBUTUSUALLYNOTHINGELSENOTEVENNOVELS/UR
FIRSTREACTIONWASASTUNNEDREALIZATIONOFHOWDIFFERENTTHEPARTICIPANTS
WERETOOURSELVES$ESPITETHELACKOFBOOKSMANYSTILLHADBOOKSHELVES
BUTTHESEWEREUSUALLYFILLEDWITHCOMPUTERGAMESANDMOVIES4HISALSO
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

O@QFL@M@MCI@JNARRNM CNXNTADKHDUDHML@FHB*
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HELPEDINTERPRETIONOFTHEANSWERSTOANOTHERQUESTIONWHICHTRIEDTO
DISCOVERWHETHERPARTICIPANTSDISPLAYEDANDCHERISHEDTHEIRGAMESAS
SOMETHINGTHATCOULDLEADTOINTERESTINGCONVERSATIONSWITHGUESTSOR
WHETHERTHEYWEREASHAMEDAND@HIDTHEMAWAYINACORNER)NTHEEND
THATQUESTIONMADELITTLESENSEASTHEPARTICIPANTSFORTHEMOSTPARTARE
IMMERSEDINACULTUREWHEREITISNORMALTOOWNANDPLAYMANYGAMES
4HEINTERVIEWSWEREAROUNDONEHOUREACHANDWEREFOLLOWEDBYAN
INTRODUCTIONTOTHEIRGAMINGSETUPSANDANOPPORTUNITYTOWATCHTHEM
DEMONSTRATETYPICALGAMESANDGAMINGSITUATIONS!NINTERVIEWGUIDEWAS
USEDWHICHCOVEREDSEVERALDIFFERENTISSUESRELATEDTOGAMINGINEVERYDAY
LIFEANDTHERELATIVELYLOOSESTRUCTUREALLOWEDJUMPINGBETWEENQUESTIONS
ASWELLASPOSINGFOLLOWUPQUESTIONSWHENEVERSOMETHINGESPECIALLY
INTERESTINGCAUGHTOURATTENTION4HEPARTSTHATWEREMOSTRELEVANTTO
THECURRENTDISCUSSIONTOUCHEDONTHEMATERIALDIMENSIONSOFGAMING
GAMINGEQUIPMENTSUCHASCONSOLESSPEAKERSSTEERINGWHEELSTHETEM
PORALDIMENSIONSOFGAMINGUSEOFLEISURETIMEUSEOFOTHERMEDIAIN
THEHOMEBUTPRIMARILYTHE@MENTALDIMENSIONSOFGAMINGISSUESOF
IMMERSIONGOODGAMINGSESSIONSANDLOSINGASENSEOFTIMEWHILEPLAYING
DISTRACTIONSANDINTERRUPTEDGAMINGSESSIONS
4HESTUDYYIELDEDLARGEAMOUNTSOFRICHDATABUTITSPURPOSEWASNOTTO
PROBLEMATIZETHEMAGICCIRCLETHEREFORETHEPRIMARYFOCUSOFTHISARTICLE
ISNOTTOREPORTONTHERESULTS(OWEVERONEOFTHERESULTSOFINTERVIEWING
HARDCOREGAMERSINTHEIRHOMESWASTHEAPPARENTLACKOF@MAGICALQUALITIES
INMOSTOFTHEEVERYDAYGAMINGSITUATIONSTHATTHEYDESCRIBED
&IGURE 4HESETUPOFAHARDCOREGAMERWITHAPENCHANTFORCOLLECTINGCONSOLES
NOTETHELARGENUMBEROFCONSOLESANDPERIPHERALS
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

DTQNOD@MINTQM@KNEBTKSTQ@KRSTCHDR
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4HEUNMAGICALMAGICCIRCLE
"ASEDONTHESTUDYTHISARTICLEPRESENTSACHALLENGETOTHEMAGICCIRCLE
WHICHTOALARGEEXTENTHASNOTBEENDISCUSSEDINTHELITERATUREONCOMPUTER
GAMES4HISCONCERNSTHEAPPARENTLACKOF@MAGICINNUMEROUSDIFFERENT
GAMINGSITUATIONS)TTHENPROPOSESASUGGESTIONTAKINGBOTHTHISNOVEL
CHALLENGEANDPREVIOUSCHALLENGESINTOACCOUNT
$OINGAWAYWITHTHEMAGICCIRCLE
4HUSFARTHEFOCUSHEREHASBEENPRIMARILYONGAMESTHEMSELVESAND
ESPECIALLYONCERTAINKINDSOFGAMESBELONGINGTOCERTAIN@PROBLEMATIC
GENRESTHATCHALLENGETHEIDEAOFAMAGICCIRCLE4HISSECTIONFOCUSESON
GAMINGASANACTIVITYANDTHESITUATEDNATUREOFTHISACTIVITY)NSHORT
ITDOESNOTFOCUSONAPARTICULARTYPEOFGAMERATHERONTHEDIFFERENCE
BETWEENTURNINGOFFTHELIGHTSINPREPARATIONFORANINTENSIVESIXHOUR
SESSIONANDPLAYINGAPUZZLEGAMEFORMINUTESWHILETHEPASTAIS
COOKING4HEPOSITIONPRESENTEDHEREGREWOUTOFTHEINTERVIEWSTUDYAND
ISTERMEDTHENOBOUNDARYHYPOTHESIS
#OMPUTERGAMESASAROUTINEACTIVITY
4OMOSTOFTHEGAMERSINTERVIEWEDCOMPUTERGAMESANDGAMINGAREA
RECURRINGDAILYACTIVITYANDCONSEQUENTLYWASDESCRIBEDASAROUTINIZED
PRACTICEFIRMLYINTEGRATEDINTOTHEIREVERYDAYLIVES#ONSIDERINGTHATTHE
PARTICIPANTSPLAYEDONAVERAGEFORFIVEHOURSPERDAYSEVENDAYSPERWEEK
THISISNOTVERYSURPRISING
/FTENTIMESYOUREVERYFUCKINGBOREDESPECIALLYHEREIN3MALLTOWNAND
THENYOUPLAYEVENTHOUGHYOUDONTFEELMUCHLIKEITTOKILLANHOURORTWO
"UTxITSNOTNECESSARILYSOMUCHFUNYOURATHERDOITBECAUSEWELLTHERES
NOTHINGONTHE46FORTHATPARTEITHER0ARTICIPANT!
'AMESCANBEFUNBUTFORTHEMOSTPARTPLAYINGCOMPUTERGAMESMEANT
SOMETHINGELSESOMETHINGMOREPROSAICHAVINGSOMETHINGTODOWHEN
COMINGHOMEFROMSCHOOLSOMETHINGTHATTAKESTHEMINDOFFHOMEWORK
AWAYTOKEEPUPWITHFRIENDSONLINEORSOMETHINGTOTALKABOUTWHEN
MEETINGFRIENDSOFFLINE3OMEGAMERSPLAYEDGAMESWHENEVERTHEYHAD
ANHOURORTWOTOSPARE-ANYOTHERSPREFERREDTOPLAYINTHEEVENINGOR
ATNIGHTBYTHENTHEYHADFINISHEDALLTHEIRCHORESINCLUDINGCOURSEWORK
ANDCOULDPLAYWITHOUTBEINGDISTURBEDBYSUNLIGHTTELEPHONECALLSOR
BADCONSCIENCEOVERUNDONETASKS
#OMPUTERGAMESASAMONOTONOUSACTIVITY
0LAYINGCOMPUTERGAMESFORLONGHOURSCANBECOMEAROUTINEACTIVITY
AMONGOTHEREVERYDAYROUTINEACTIVITIES3OMEGOFURTHERANDFINDPLEASURE
INMOREORLESSMONOTONOUSGAMINGEXPERIENCESAKINTOREADINGTHESAME
BOOKORWATCHINGTHESAMEMOVIEOVERANDOVERAGAIN
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

O@QFL@M@MCI@JNARRNM CNXNTADKHDUDHML@FHB*
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)HAVESATANDPLAYEDTHIS;GAME=DISTURBINGLYMUCHLATELY!NDTHISISTHE
KINDOFGAME)DONTWINTHATMUCHPLAYINGITANYLONGERTHERESNOSTORY
TOFOLLOWANYLONGER"UT)SITANDPLAYITANYWAYPRIMARILYBECAUSE)HAVE
GOTINTOMYHEADTHATYOUWILLGETSOMETHINGIFYOUMANAGEPERCENT
)THINKYOUGETTHEWHOLE0LANFROM/UTER3PACEACOMPLETELYBRILLIANT
MOVIE0ARTICIPANT%
'ENERALLY)LIKEEVERYTHINGTHATISREPETITIVE4OSIMPLYREPEATOVERANDOVER
ANDOVER.OTLARGEGRANDIOSEWORLDSORRUNNINGAROUNDANDEXPLORINGOR
THINGSLIKETHAT)THINKTHATSREALLYSENSELESSLYBORING"UTTOSPEEDRUNIN
1UAKEORPLAYDEFRAGMAPSORREPEATCOMBOSIN4ONY(AWKOVERANDOVER
)HAVENOIDEA;WHY)LIKEIT=)TSPRETTYANALASPLAYINGGOESBECAUSEINTHE
ENDWHENYOUVEDONEITREALLYGOODYOUJUSTCHASETHOUSANDTHSORHUNDREDTHS
OFASECONDTOSHORTENYOURRECORD0ARTICIPANT!
4HISDOESNOTSOUNDLIKEARECIPEFORFUN0ARTICIPANT!RECOGNIZED
THISHIMSELFANDHADPROBLEMSEXPLAININGWHYHEPLAYEDGAMESINTHIS
PARTICULARWAY(OWEVERTHEREARESEVERALCHARACTERISTICSOFAFLOWEX
PERIENCE#SÓKSZENTMIHÉLYIPRESENTEDHERESUCHASCHALLENGES
LEARNINGGOALSSKILLSFEEDBACKANDCONTROL
#OMPUTERGAMESAS@SPORTDEATH
!LTHOUGHGAMESCANBEFUNONECANNOTEXPECTSOMEONEWHOPLAYSFOR
FIVEHOURSPERDAYORMORETOBEEUPHORICABOUTTHEMALLTHETIME!T
TIMESPLAYINGCOMPUTERGAMESCANSEEMLIKEAPARTLYMASOCHISTICPRACTICE
OFPUSHINGTHEMINDUNTILTHEBODYPROTESTS
-OSTOFTENITSABOUTMEPLAYINGUNTILFOURFIVEINTHEMORNING!NDTHEN
)FEELSLIGHTLYNAUSEOUSANDFEELLIKENOWITSTIMEFORMETOGOTOBEDx
TIREDNESSTOOMUCHCAFFEINETOOMUCHNICOTINE)VEPLAYED7ORLDOF7ARCRAFT
UNTILLATEATNIGHTTHISMONTHTOGETHERWITHFRIENDSTHEYPLAYUNTILLATE
TOO0ARTICIPANT$
4HISCOULDBESEENASAMILDFORMOFWHAT3HERRY4URKLEIN
RELATIONTOEXTREMEHACKERSCALLED@SPORTDEATH@PUSHINGMINDANDBODY
BEYONDTHEIRLIMITSPUNISHINGTHEBODYUNTILITCANBARELYSUPPORTMIND

#OMPUTERGAMESASANOBLIGATION
4HEREAREMANYEXAMPLESOFPEOPLEPLAYINGFOROTHERREASONSINCLUDING
STRONGSOCIALREASONSSUCHASCOMMITMENTSANDRESPONSIBILITIESTOOTHERS
)NTERVIEWERn$OYOUFEELOBLIGEDTOSTAYALITTLELONGERANDHELPOUT;WHEN
YOUPLAYONLINEGAMES=
0ARTICIPANT#)TDEPENDSONHOWMUCHTHEYHAVEHELPEDME)FITSSOMEONE
WHOHASHELPEDMEALOTITFEELSLIKE@)LLSTAYALITTLELONGERCOMPAREDTO
WHAT)WOULDREALLYLIKETO,IKEDURINGTHEWEEKEND)HADASENSEOF
TOTALLIBERTY)WASUPTOWELL)SAID@.OMAXIMUMTHREE)HAVETOLEAVEAT
THREEnINTHEMORNING)MEAN!NDTHENLIKEOOPSHALFPASTTHREEnOK
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

DTQNOD@MINTQM@KNEBTKSTQ@KRSTCHDR
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PERHAPSITSTIMETODISCONNECTANDTHEN)STAYEDUNTILAQUARTERTOFOUR@.O
)REALLYHAVETOLEAVENOW)THAPPENSnYOUSTAYLONGERTHANINTENDEDAND
YOUFEELLIKE@'OSH)HAVETOHELPOUTSOME
!SACOROLLARY,INETALDESCRIBETHESTRONGSOCIALPRESSURESAT
PLAYIN4AIWANESEONLINEGAMES!TTHETIMEASMUCHASPERCENTOR
MOREOFTHETOTALPOPULATIONIN4AIWANPLAYEDONEOFTHETWOLEADING
ONLINEGAMES"ECAUSEOFHOWTHESEGAMESWEREDESIGNEDTHENEEDTOJOIN
A@CLANINGAMEGROUPWASHIGH(OWEVER@JOININGACLANANDCOOPERATING
WITHFELLOWCLANMEMBERSCANBECOSTLYANDRISKY-EMBERSAREHELDTO
CERTAINOBLIGATIONSANDHELPINGORCHATTINGWITHOTHERMEMBERCANBE
VERYTIMECONSUMING
3IMULTANEOUSCONSUMPTIONOFMEDIA
3EVERALOFTHEPARTICIPANTSHADTHEIR0#SORCONSOLESTURNEDONALLTHETIME
ANDPLAYINGAGAMEWASNOMORETHANSECONDSAWAYEVERYTIMETHEY
MOVEDAROUNDINTHEIROFTENONEROOMAPARTMENTS4OTHEMGAMESAREA
PASTIMEnASNONIMMERSIVEASHAVINGTHE46TURNEDONINTHEBACKGROUND
WHENDOINGSOMETHINGELSEINTHEHOME)NOTHERWORDSCOMPUTERGAMES
HAVEBECOMESOSUCCESSFULIN@COLONIZINGTHESPHEREOFEVERYDAYACTIVITIES
THATPLAYINGTHEMBECOMESTRANSFORMEDINTOAMUNDANEACTCOMPARABLE
TOWATCHINGTELEVISIONTOKILLTIMEORCOOKINGTOFILLONESBELLY
7HEN)LIVEDATHOMETHE46ANDTHECOMPUTERWEREPLACEDSOTHAT)COULD
SEEBOTHATTHESAMETIME3O)ALWAYSWATCHED46PROGRAMMESATTHESAME
TIMEAS)PLAYEDCOMPUTERGAMES)TWENTWELL;DOINGBOTHATTHESAMETIME=
&OOTBALL-ANAGERISATURNBASEDGAMESOTHEREISMUCHDOWNTIME!ND
STRATEGYGAMESALSOHAVEALOTOFDOWNTIME/RYOUCOULDWATCHSOMETHING
YOUKNEWWELLENOUGHALREADY0ARTICIPANT'
/NEPARTICIPANTLIKEDTOHAVESOMEBACKGROUNDNOISEAROUNDHIMAND
HADTHE46ONASA@SUBSTITUTEFORHAVINGAFRIENDOVER!NOTHERPARTICIPANT
OFTENATEDINNERANDPLAYEDCOMPUTERGAMESATTHESAMETIME
#OMPUTERGAMEEXPERTS
4HEFACTTHATTHE@MAGICOFGAMESGRADUALLYDISAPPEARSORSEEMSHARDER
TOHOLDONTOISSOMETHINGTHATISPROBABLYTRUEFORALLGAMERSASTHEYGET
OLDER%VENIFATWENTYSOMETHINGLONGTIMEGAMERPLAYSFOR@ONLYOR
HOURSPERWEEKTHEPARTICIPANTSPLAYEDBETWEENANDHOURSPER
WEEKTHEYMIGHTAMASSEASILYHOURSORMOREOFPLAYINGCOMPUTER
GAMESTHROUGHOUTTHEIRLIFETIME4HEEFFECTSOFTHISPROBABLYCORRELATEWITH
ANEXPERIENCEPERHAPSTHATONCEWAS@MAGICALBECOMING@NORMAL
;-YGIRLFRIEND=ISSODAMNCUTETOO9OUKNOWWHATYOUARELIKEAFTERACOUPLE
OFYEARSWHENYOUSORTOFSEETHEGAMEMECHANICSAFTERAFEWMINUTESANDYOU
UNDERSTANDWHATSORTOFGENREOFGAMES;THISIS=ANDYOUJUSTGRASPEVERYTHING
!NDSHEJUSTSITSLIKETHISANDEVERYTHINGISNEW)THINKITSTOTALLYCOOLTO
WATCH;HERPLAY=0ARTICIPANT%
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

O@QFL@M@MCI@JNARRNM CNXNTADKHDUDHML@FHB*
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!SALLTHEPARTICIPANTSSTUDIEDCOMPUTERGAMEDEVELOPMENTGAMES
TOTHEMMIGHTNOTEVENBE@NORMAL(AVINGHADTHECHANCETOPEEK
BEHINDTHECURTAINSGAMESBECOMEPERCEIVEDASRATHER@MECHANICALOR
@CONSTRUCTEDARTEFACTS
)MJEALOUSWHEN)WATCHMYGIRLFRIENDSITANDPLAYNOWADAYSTOSEEHER
TOTALIGNORANCEABOUTTHEARTBEHINDTHEGAMEBUTSHERATHERPLAYSITSJUST
EXPERIENCES0UREEXPERIENCEFORHERPUREFEELINGS;BUT=SOMEWHERE)WILL
ALWAYSTHINK@(OWDIDTHEYDOTHATANDTHENTHEWHOLEILLUSIONBREAKS
DOWN0ARTICIPANT%
!FTERYOUSPENDMOREANDMORETIMEDEVELOPINGGAMESMAYBEYOUBECOME
LESSINTERESTEDINREALLYPLAYINGGAMESTHATMUCHYOUONLYTHINKABOUTHOW
EVERYTHINGISDONEBUTTHATCANBEFUNTOOFORTHATMATTERx)TISSOMETIMES
HARDTOCONCENTRATEONTHEGAMEITSELFWHENYOUKNOWTOOMUCH9OUSEEALL
THESMALLDETAILSHOWTHEYHAVEANIMATEDITOVERTHERETHEYHAVEMADEA
SMALLERRORTHATTEXTUREDIDNOTLOOKSOGOOD0ARTICIPANT&
3EVERALPARTICIPANTSCOMMENTEDTHATTHEYSAW@THROUGHTHEGAMETHE
UNDERLYINGBUILDINGBLOCKSANDTHATTHEYCOULDSELDOMSUSPENDTHEIR
DISBELIEFANYLONGER@4HEYVEDONELIKETHATHEREWITHTHISEFFECTTHATS
COOLOK)CANIMPLEMENTTHATINMYOWNGAME0ARTICIPANT$
#OMPUTERGAMESASMAGICAL
4HEPARTICIPANTSDIDDESCRIBETRULYMAGICALGAMINGSITUATIONSBUTUSUALLY
WHENASKEDABOUTTHEIRBESTGAMINGEXPERIENCESEVERORWHENASKEDIN
ABSTRACTTERMSWHATTHEFUNOFGAMINGIS
)CANSAYWHY)THINKITISFUN;TOPLAYCOMPUTERGAMES=ANDTHATISWELLTHE
WHOLETHINGABOUTGETTINGTOKNOWABOUTANOTHERWORLDORGETTINGTOKNOW
ABOUTANOTHERCHARACTERANOTHERROLEAWAYTOGETAWAYFROMEVERYDAY
LIFE)GUESSTHATSWHATISFASCINATINGTHATITSANOTHERWORLDSOTOSPEAK
0ARTICIPANT"
$ESPITETHEFACTTHATMOSTEVERYDAYGAMINGSITUATIONSARENOTMAGICAL
THEREWERESOMESITUATIONSTHATCOULDBEDESCRIBEDAPTLYINTERMSOFA
MAGICCIRCLEATPLAY(OWEVERESTABLISHINGSUCHACIRCLEDOESNOTCOMEFOR
FREEANDCREATINGITISRATHERAMATTEROFEXPECTATIONPREPARATIONAND
HARDWORK
)NTERVIEWER7HATWASTHESITUATIONLIKEWHENYOUPLAYED3ILENT(ILL
0ARTICIPANT%4HESITUATIONWASTHATWEKNEWWEPLAYEDAHORRORGAMEWE
TURNEDOFFTHELIGHTSINTHEWHOLEDAMNAPARTMENTITWASPITCHDARKRAISED
THEVOLUMEONTHE46ANDTHENWESATREALLYCLOSE;TOTHESCREEN=ANDWE
SHATOURPANTS
)NTERVIEWER7E
0ARTICIPANT%7EWEREAGANGPLAYINGITDOYOUTHINK)PLAYTHATSHITALONE
!REYOUINSANE/HMYGOD4HEREWEREFOUROFUS)TSONEOFTHOSETHINGS
THATARESORTOFFUNNY)MQUITECAREFULINTRYINGTOMAKETHEEXPERIENCEAS
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

DTQNOD@MINTQM@KNEBTKSTQ@KRSTCHDR
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GOODASPOSSIBLE)NPARTICULARINHORRORGAMES)CANTTAKEHORRORGAMES
BECAUSE)MSUCHAFUCKINGCHEERLEADERWHEN)STARTTOSCREAM"UT)MLIKE
THAT)MALMOSTSELFDESTRUCTIVEWHEN)PLAYHORRORGAMESASAPARTFROMHOW
MANYOTHERSDOIT4URNOFFTHELIGHTSLOCKUPONWITHTHEHEADPHONESTURN
UPTHEVOLUMETURNDOWNTHEINTENSITYOFTHEGAMMA!NDTHEN)SITITENDS
WITHME)STILLHAVE#LIVE"ARKERS5NDYINGDOWNONMYBOOKSHELFWHICH
)THINKISTHEBESTHORRORGAMEEVER"UT)HAVENTDAREDTOPLAYITTHROUGH
)WILLNEVERDOTHATn)SHITMYPANTSWHEN)HEARTHEINTROTHEME;MUSIC=
ONTHEMENU)TCANTBEDONE
7EALSOSAWTHISPREPARATIONFORWORKINGHARDINORDERTO@CHARGE
THECIRCLEWITHMAGICWHENSOMEOFTHEPARTICIPANTSTALKEDWORSHIPFULLY
ABOUT4HE'AMEFORWHICHTHEYHADBEENWAITINGFORAYEARORLONGER!T
THETIMEANDFORSOMEPARTICIPANTSTHISGAMEWAS4HE%LDER3CROLLS)6
/BLIVION"ETHESDA3OFTWORKSRELEASED-ARCHIN3WEDEN
#OMPUTERGAMESEXPANDINGINTHEFOURDIMENSIONS
!SISCLEARTHEPARTICIPANTSHABITUALLYPLAYGAMESINAVARIETYOFWAYS
ANDFORAVARIETYOFREASONSWITHOUTENTERINGINTOANYTHINGEVENREMOTELY
CORRESPONDINGTOAMAGICCIRCLE4HIS@COLONIZINGMOVEISTHEOPPOSITEOF
WHATHASBEENCLAIMEDFORPERVASIVEGAMESWHICHARESAIDTOEXPANDINTO
EVERYDAYLIFE.IEUWDORPEXPLAINSTHATPERVASIVEGAMESARESUPPOSED
TOEXPANDTHESEMIOTICDOMAINOFTHEGAMEINTOTHEDOMAINOFEVERYDAY
LIFE4OMAKETHISSHIFTINWHICHTHEORDINARYBECOMESPARTOFWHATIS
MAGICALFIRSTTHEPLAYERNEEDSTOENTERA@PARATELICSTATE.IEUWDORP
4HEMOMENTONEENTERSTHATSTATEIS
THEINSTANCEINWHICHA@NORMALPERSONPARTICIPATINGINALIFEWORLDDOMAIN
DECIDESTOREJECTTHEPRACTICESANDCONVENTIONSWITHINTHATPARTICULARSEMIOTIC
DOMAINTOENTERANOTHERMOREPLAYFULONE.IEUWDORP
(OWEVERWETHINKTHATINMANYSITUATIONSITISMORECORRECTTOSAYTHAT
EVERYDAYLIFECOMESTOENCOMPASSGAMEPLAYRATHERTHANTHEOTHERWAY
AROUND)TISCLEARTHATTHEPARTICIPANTSOFTENPLAYEDGAMESWITHOUT
ADOPTINGALUSORYATTITUDEORENTERINGAPARATELICSTATE4HEYSHIFTED
THEIRATTENTIONBETWEENAMESSAGINGSERVICETHESTOVEANDTHEGAMEAND
FORTHEMTHISDIDNOTMEANTHATTHEEVERYDAYACTIVITIESTOOKONMAGICAL
QUALITIESRATHERTHEOPPOSITE
!NOTHERTHINGTHATWASMADECLEARBYTHEPARTICIPANTSWASTHATASGAMES
WERESUCHALARGEPARTOFWHATTHEYANDTHEIRFRIENDSIDENTIFIEDTHEM
SELVESWITHTHEREWERENUMEROUSDIFFERENTREASONSTOPLAYTHEM/NE
REASONWASTHATONEJUSTHADTOPLAYGAMESTOKEEPUPWITHTHEGAMING
SCENE!NOTHERWASTHATONEHADTOPRACTISESKILLSTOKEEPUPWITHOTHER
PEOPLEONEPLAYEDWITHEITHERONLINEOROFFLINE7HILENOTHAVINGMUCH
TODOWITHTHE@MAGICOFGAMESTHESEKINDSOFINCENTIVESANDPRESSURES
WEREALARGEPARTOFWHATGAMESANDGAMINGMEANTTOTHEPARTICIPANTS
(OMO,UDENS(UIZINGA;=WASWRITTENALMOSTYEARSAGO
ANDTHEGAMESITREFERSTOAREHUNDREDSIFNOTTHOUSANDSOFYEARSOLD
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

O@QFL@M@MCI@JNARRNM CNXNTADKHDUDHML@FHB*
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3EVERALWEREPARTOFRITUALACTSWHICHMARKEDSPECIALTIMESINTHELIVESOF
COMMUNITIESANDINDIVIDUALS(UIZINGASGAMESWEREOFTENEXTRAORDINARY
INALITERALSENSEBUTGAMESTODAYHAVEBECOMEUBIQUITOUSANDORDINARY
'AMESHAVEEXPANDEDINTHEFOURDIMENSIONSARESUDDENLYALLAROUNDUS
ANDATALLTIMESINLIVINGROOMSHOMES46QUIZSHOWSCELLPHONESPUBLIC
EVENTSANDKICKOFFS!LTHOUGHTHEMATERIALHEREHASBEENCOLLECTEDONLY
FROMHARDCOREGAMERSWETHINKTHATTHISISANADVANTAGEANDTHATTHE
RESULTSPRESENTEDMAKECERTAINISSUESEASIERTOSEEWHICHAREPRESENTFOR
OTHERGROUPSOFGAMERSAVERAGECASUALGAMERSANDINMANYOTHERSITU
ATIONSWHEREGAMINGHAPPENS!ARSAND*OHANSSON
'ALLOWAYWRITESABOUTTHESIMPLEACTOFPRESSINGTHEPAUSE
BUTTONWHENPLAYINGAGAME$ESPITETHESIMPLICITYOFTHEACTITISDIF
FICULTTOEXPLAINBYINVOKINGTHEMAGICCIRCLE(OWEVERRAREMOMENTS
OF@MAGICSEEMEDTOBEINTHELIVESOFTHEPARTICIPANTSANDITWOULDBE
USEFULTOHAVEAWAYOFCONCEPTUALIZINGGAMINGWHICHCANHANDLEBOTH
@MAGICAND@NONMAGICGAMINGSITUATIONS7HATISNEEDEDISATHEORYTHAT
ALLOWSFORFLUIDTRANSITIONSBETWEENTHEINSIDEANDTHEOUTSIDEOFTHECIRCLE
MUCHLIKE#ASTRONOVAAND.IEUWDORPSIDEASABOUTTHEMAGICCIRCLEASA
@MEMBRANE4HISARTICLEMOVESONTOTHISSUBJECTINTRODUCINGTHECON
CEPTOFTHEWEAKBOUNDARYHYPOTHESIS
&RAMINGTHEMAGICCIRCLE
0RESENTINGTHEWEAKBOUNDARYHYPOTHESISDRAWSHEAVILYONTHEWORKOF
SOCIOLOGIST'ARY!LAN&INEINHISBOOK3HARED&ANTASY&INEIN
TURNDREWONTHEWORKOFTHEEMINENTSOCIOLOGIST%RVING'OFFMANES
PECIALLYHISBOOK&RAME!NALYSIS!SHORTINTRODUCTIONTOTHESE
THOUGHTSWILLBEGIVENHERE
"ASICALLYALLTHESEEMINGLYPROBLEMATICEXAMPLESABOVERUNUPAGAINST
THESTRONGBOUNDARYBETWEENTHEINSIDEANDTHEOUTSIDEOFTHEMAGICCIRCLE
4HATBOUNDARYISDESCRIBEDASBINARYASONOFFADICHOTOMYSEPARATING
MAGICALGAMESITUATIONSFROMNONGAMEORDINARYLIFESITUATIONS3EVERAL
OFTHEEXAMPLESSEEMTO@SHORTCIRCUITTHEINSIDEANDTHEOUTSIDEOFTHE
MAGICCIRCLEBUTWHEREEXACTLYDOESTHATLEAVEIT
4HESUGGESTIONHEREISTOADOPTTHEMUCHMOREFLEXIBLEIDEAOFFRAMES
WITHINFRAMESWHENTHINKINGABOUTTHEGAMINGSITUATION4HEORDINARY
LIFEFRAMEALSOCALLEDPRIMARYFRAMEWORKISTHEBASELINEFORANYANDALL
ACTIVITIES(OWEVERINMANYCASESWEESTABLISHENTERANDMAINTAINSUB
FRAMESTHATREDEFINETHESITUATIONATHAND)NATYPICALDAYFOREXAMPLE
THEFIRSTAUTHORTYPICALLYSWITCHESBETWEENTHEROLESOFUNIVERSITYLECTURER
ADVISERTOASTUDENTWRITINGTHEIRTHESISACUSTOMERWAITINGFORSERVICEIN
ASHOPAHUSBANDANDFATHER)NALLOFTHESEROLESONETRIESTOFULFILTHE
EXPECTATIONSOFTHEIR@AUDIENCEASBESTTHEYCAN'OFFMAN!NOTHER
IMPORTANTROLEISTHATOFAGAMERADOPTINGTHELUSORYATTITUDE3ALENAND
:IMMERMANAADHERINGTOTHERULESANDACCEPTINGTHELIMITATIONS
OFTHEGAMEONEISPLAYING
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

DTQNOD@MINTQM@KNEBTKSTQ@KRSTCHDR
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4HEREISNOTHINGMAGICALABOUTSWITCHINGBETWEENTHESEROLES)TIS
SOMETHINGWEDOALLTHETIMEANDCANBEDONELITERALLYATTHEBLINKOFAN
EYE)TISANALOGOUSTO@CODESWITCHINGIETHEWAYTHATABILINGUALPER
SONCANSWITCHBETWEENLANGUAGESUNPROBLEMATICALLYIFTHESITUATIONSO
DEMANDSIT%LLIS4HUSAPLAYER!LANCANBEDEEPLYINVOLVEDIN
ADISCUSSIONABOUTGAMERELATEDISSUES@)NEEDTOUNDERSTANDHOWSPAWN
POINTSWORKANDTHENSAYTHATHE@NEEDSTOGOTOTHEBATHROOMWITHOUT
CONFUSIONBREAKINGOUTAMONGTHEOTHERPLAYERS4HEYALLUNDERSTAND
THAT!LANSWITCHEDFRAMEANDTHATTHECOMMENTABOUTTHESPAWNPOINT
WASUTTEREDBY!LANTHEPLAYERWHILETHECOMMENTABOUTTHEBATHROOM
WASUTTEREDBY!LANTHEPERSON/NTOPOFTHIS!LANJUGGLESYETANOTHER
FRAMETHATOF,OHARTHEMIGHTYWARRIORPLAYEDBY!LANTHEPLAYER
,OHARHASYETOTHERNEEDS@)NEEDTOBASHINTHEMAGICIANSHEADBEFORE
HETRANSFORMSMEINTOATOAD
@7EAKASINWEAKBOUNDARYHYPOTHESISDOESNOTMEANTHATDIFFERENT
FRAMESPERSONnPLAYERnCHARACTERAREUNCLEARORFLOATTOGETHERANDMIX
!TEVERYSPECIFICPOINTINTIMEANDFOREVERYUTTERANCEORACTIONONLYONE
FRAMEISACTIVE-ISUNDERSTANDINGSABOUTWHICHFRAMEISBEINGINVOKED
CANGENERATEMIRTHBUTPEOPLEARESURPRISINGLYADEPTATGRASPINGWHERE
WEAREINFRAMESPACEATANYSPECIFICMOMENTASIMPLIEDBYTHETITLEOF
A3WEDISH0H$THESISABOUTCOMPUTERGAMES@4IMETO%AT/KAY)LL*UST
$IE&IRST*OHANSSON4HEACTIVEFRAMEISTHEFRAMETHATANSWERS
THEIMPLICITQUESTION@WHATISGOINGONHERE'OFFMAN7HAT
ISGOINGONHERE)HADTOGOTOTHEKITCHENTOFINDSOMETHINGTOEAT
7HATISGOINGONHERE)WANTYOUTOEXPLAINHOWSPAWNPOINTSWORKIN
THISGAME7HATISGOINGONHERE)SUSPECTHEISTRYINGTOTURNMEINTO
ATOADANDANYWAY)DLIKETOHAVEHISCRYSTAL7HAT@WEAKREFERSTOHERE
ISTHATTHEBOUNDARIESBETWEENTHEDIFFERENTFRAMESAREPERMEABLEAND
ITISPOSSIBLEBUTNOTNECESSARYTOMOVEBETWEENTHEMEFFORTLESSLY4HE
NEXTUTTERANCECANREFERTOANYFRAME4HEFACTTHATITISEASYTOSWITCH
BACKANDFORTHBETWEENBEINGAPERSONINTHEORDINARYLIFEFRAMEANDA
PLAYERINTHEGAMEFRAMEASTHENEEDARISESMAKESTHEWEAKBOUNDARY
HYPOTHESISVERYDIFFERENTFROMTHEMAGICCIRCLEANDTHESTRONGBOUNDARY
HYPOTHESIS
7HATISAPLAYERDOINGWHENTHEYARECHEATINGINAGAME#ONSALVO
STATESTHAT@MANYPLAYERShCHEATvINGAMESWHENTHEYGETSTUCK
"UTWHEREAM)INRELATIONTOTHEMAGICCIRCLEWHEN)BEGINTOFEELINCREAS
INGLYFRUSTRATEDOVERBEINGSTUCKINAGAME!NDWHATEXACTLYAM)DOING
WHEN)SEARCHONTHEINTERNETFORHOWTODEFEATTHESEEMINGLYUNASSAIL
ABLEBOSSANDAFTERHAVINGFOUNDTHEANSWERTURNBACKTOTHEGAME!M
)CONNECTINGTHEINSIDEOFTHECIRCLETOTHEOUTSIDE3HORTCIRCUITINGTHE
CIRCLE(OWMUCHMAGICISTHERELEFTINTHISSPECIFICCIRCLE/RISTHEMAGIC
GRADUALLYSLIPPINGAWAYASMYLEVELOFFRUSTRATIONINCREASES7HATARETHE
USEANDEXPLANATORYVALUEOFMAGICCIRCLESIFTHEYCANNOTEXPLAINPERFECTLY
ORDINARYGAMINGSITUATIONS/URANSWERASTOWHATISHAPPENINGISTHAT

peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

O@QFL@M@MCI@JNARRNM CNXNTADKHDUDHML@FHB*
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)SWITCHFROMTHECHARACTERFRAME@)CANTKILLTHEBOSSTOTHEPLAYERGAME
FRAME@)HAVETOFINDAGAMEWALKTHROUGHTOTHEPERSONORDINARYLIFE
FRAME@)HAVETOOPENUPMYWEBBROWSERANDTHENBACKAGAINAFTER
HAVINGFOUNDTHEANSWER
$ISCUSSIONANDCONCLUSION
4HISARTICLEHASATTEMPTEDTODOANUMBEROFTHINGS4HEFIRSTWASTO
DETHRONETHETERM@MAGICCIRCLEALSOREFERREDTOHEREASTHESTRONG
BOUNDARYHYPOTHESISBYSHOWINGHOWANOMALIESINDEFININGANDUSING
THECONCEPTHAVEPILEDUPINAVARIETYOFSTUDIESOF@PROBLEMATICGAMES
7HENSOMUCHEMPIRICALDIRTHASBEENSWEPTUNDERTHETHEORETICALCARPET
THATONETRIPSONITITISTIMETORETHINKTHETHEORETICALFRAMEWORK4HE
SECONDWASTOSHOWHOWTHISSTUDYOFACTUALGAMERSFURTHERREFUTEDTHE
STRONGBOUNDARYHYPOTHESIS4HESTUDYSHOWEDTHATFORTHEMOSTPART
PLAYINGCOMPUTERGAMESISFORTHESEHEAVYGAMERSAROUTINEANDMUNDANE
ACTIVITYTHATOFTENCONTAINSLITTLEORNOMAGICATALLREFERREDTOHEREAS
THENOBOUNDARYHYPOTHESISMAKINGTHEBOUNDARYBETWEENPLAYAND
NONPLAYTENUOUSTOSAYTHELEAST4HETHIRDWASTOPRESENTANALTERNATIVE
THEORETICALFRAMEWORKBASEDON&INEWHICHCANACCOUNTFORALL
THEEXAMPLESPRESENTEDHEREANDMORE7ETHINKTHATTHISFRAMEWORK
REFERREDTOHEREASTHEWEAKBOUNDARYHYPOTHESISHOLDSMUCHPROMISE
ANDSHOULDBEEXPLOREDFURTHER)NTHISDISCUSSIONWEWISHTODRAWATTEN
TIONTO3UTTON3MITHSRHETORICSOFPLAY
4HEREISATENDENCYINGAMESTUDIESTOLOOKATTHEGAMINGSITUATION
INISOLATIONASASINGULAREVENTANDTHATTHISTENDENCYLEADSTOAFOCUS
ONTHINGSSUCHASMAGICCIRCLESIMMERSIONANDFLOW4HISFOCUSACTUALLY
HASMUCHINCOMMONWITHSOCALLED@EFFECTSRESEARCHWHICHTENDSTO
LOOKATTHEACTOFPLAYINGINISOLATIONANDGOESONTOSEARCHFORTHEEFFECTS
THATTHISACTHASONTHEPLAYER/FCOURSETHEDIFFERENCEISTHATEFFECTS
RESEARCHTENDSTOFOCUSONNEGATIVEEFFECTSWHEREASRESEARCHONFOR
EXAMPLETHEMAGICCIRCLETENDSTOFOCUSONPOSITIVEEFFECTS4HEREIS
NOTHINGWRONGWITHTHISFOCUSINITSELFBUTITNEEDSTOBEACCOMPANIEDBY
APERSPECTIVETHATRELATESGAMESANDGAMINGTOPROCESSESTHATSPANLONGER
PERIODSOFTIMEANDSITUATEGAMESINTHEEVERYDAYLIFEOFTHEGAMERS!
SIMILARTRANSFORMATIONHASTAKENPLACEINTHEAUDIENCERESEARCHOFOTHER
MEDIAATRANSFORMATIONWHICHHASHADTODOWITHBOTHTHEDIFFICULTIES
OFPREVIOUSRESEARCHPARADIGMSANDTHECHANGINGNATUREOFTHEOBJECTOF
STUDY!BERCROMBIEAND,ONGHURST
7HYHASTHEREBEENANEEDTOEMBRACE(UIZINGASMAGICCIRCLEINGAME
STUDIES7HYTHEEMPHASISON@FUN@SPECIALNESSAND@OTHERWORLDLINESS
WHENGAMESCLEARLYPLAYMANYDIFFERENTROLESANDFILLMANYOTHERFUNC
TIONS4HISARTICLEHASDISCUSSEDTHENEEDTOCREATEAPREHISTORYOFGAME
STUDIESANDSUGGESTEDTHATTHEREISSOMETHINGTHATMANYPRESENTDAY
GAMESCHOLARSSHAREWITH(UIZINGANAMELYAWISHTOFRAMEGAMESAND
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DTQNOD@MINTQM@KNEBTKSTQ@KRSTCHDR
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GAMINGINAPOSITIVELIGHTANDTORAISETHESTATUSOFCOMPUTERGAMES
ANDTHEIRSTUDY4HUSATPLAYHEREARETWOOFTHESEVEN@RHETORICSOFPLAY
THAT3UTTON3MITHHASDESCRIBED4HEFIRSTRHETORICISTHERHETORIC
OFPLAYASTHEIMAGINARYWHICH@IDEALIZESTHEIMAGINATIONFLEXIBILITY
ANDCREATIVITYOFTHEANIMALANDHUMANPLAYWORLDS4HE
SECONDRHETORICISTHERHETORICOFTHESELFWHICHREFERSTO@FORMSOFPLAY
INWHICHPLAYISIDEALIZEDBYATTENTIONTOTHEDESIRABLEEXPERIENCESOFTHE
PLAYERSnTHEIRFUNTHEIRRELAXATIONTHEIRESCAPEnANDTHEINTRINSICOFTHE
AESTHETICSATISFACTIONSOFTHEPLAYPERFORMANCES)NJUSTIFYING
THEIRGAMINGACTIVITIESWEHAVESEENTHESETWOPOSITIONSBEINGSTATEDAND
ELABORATEDUPONREPEATEDLYBYTHEPARTICIPANTSINTHISSTUDY
4HESETWORHETORICSFITINTOANIDEALIZEDANDIDEALIZINGPICTUREOF
COMPUTERGAMESANDGAMESINGENERAL)TISEASYTOBELIEVETHAT(UIZINGA
HELDSUCHAVIEWANDITISPERHAPSNOTSURPRISINGTHATPEOPLEWHOARE
PROFESSIONALGAMEDESIGNERSSUCHAS+ATIE3ALENAND%RIC:IMMERMAN
FEELESPECIALLYDRAWNTOSUCHAMAGICMODELANDTHESESTRONGLYPOSITIVE
RHETORICSOFGAMES)NHISBOOK!4HEORYOF&UNFOR'AME$ESIGN
GAMEDESIGNER2APH+OSTERSTARTSTHEBOOKOFFBYTELLINGTHE
READER@MYGRANDFATHERWANTEDTOKNOWWHETHER)FELTPROUDOFWHAT
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)DO!FTERHAVINGTHOUGHTITTHROUGHHETOLDHISGRANDFATHER@YESTHIS
ISSOMETHINGWORTHWHILE)CONNECTPEOPLEAND)TEACHPEOPLE7EARE
HAPPYON+OSTERSBEHALFBUTCANNOTFAILTONOTETHATHISANSWERISSUITABLE
NOTONLYFORGAMEDESIGNERSBUTALSOFORTHEFORMALSPEECHESOFUNIVERSITY
TEACHERSPHILOSOPHERSANDRELIGIOUSLEADERS
"YADOPTINGTHEFRAMEMETAPHORINSTEADOFTHE@MAGICCIRCLEITISPOS
SIBLETOAVOIDTHEIDEALIZINGCONNOTATIONSOFACONCEPTTHATISDEEPLYTIEDTO
DIFFERENTRHETORICSOFPLAY4O@PLAYNOTONLYMEANSWATCHINGLISTENINGAND
SENSINGTHEWORLDBUTALSOIMPLIESACERTAINWAYOFPERCEIVINGANDACTING
ITISMOREADESCRIPTIONOFASTATEOFMINDTHANANYTHINGELSE4HEEARLY
ATTEMPTSATDISTINGUISHINGGAMESTUDIESFROMOTHERFIELDSOFMEDIASTUDIES
LED0EARCEAMONGOTHERSTOASSUMETHAT@4HEFIRSTANDMOSTIMPORTANT
THINGTOKNOWABOUTGAMESISTHATTHEYCENTERON0,!95NLIKELITERATURE
ANDFILMWHICHCENTERONSTORYINGAMESEVERYTHINGREVOLVESAROUND
PLAYANDTHEPLAYEREXPERIENCEEMPHASISADDED,IKEUSLATER
WRITERSONGAMESANDGAMINGHAVERECOGNIZEDANEEDTOGETAWAYFROM
THIS'ALLOWAYSUSEOF@OPERATORINSTEADOF@PLAYERISMOTIVATEDBY
@THEMACHINICALMOSTINDUSTRIALANDCERTAINLYCYBERNETICASPECTOFMUCH
HUMANnCOMPUTERINTERACTIONANDHESTATESTHAT@PLAYDOES
NOTGOFARENOUGHINORDERTOUNDERSTANDCOMPUTERGAMESASAHISTORICAL
ANDMATERIALMEDIUM-ALABYSPROCESSUALDEFINITIONOFGAMESALSO
RECOGNIZESTHELIMITINGEFFECTOFEQUATINGCOMPUTERGAMINGWITHPLAYING
4HINKINGINTERMSOFFRAMESTAKESAWAYTHEPROBLEMWITHTHEUNWANTED
CONNOTATIONSOFTHE@MAGICCIRCLEANDSTEERSAWAYFROMTHEPLAYRHETORIC
4HISALLOWSUSTOAPPROACHGAMINGINAMOREUNPREJUDICEDWAY&URTHER
ITINDICATESTHATGAMESAREBEINGTRANSFORMEDINTOANEWMEDIUMTHATCAN
peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

O@QFL@M@MCI@JNARRNM CNXNTADKHDUDHML@FHB*
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BEUSEDFORMANYDIFFERENTPURPOSESONLYSOMEOFWHICHHAVETODOWITH
PLAY.OWADAYSTHEREAREOTHERCONCEPTIONSOFGAMESSUCHASSERIOUSOR
PERVASIVEGAMESTHATDONOTNECESSARILYAIMATBEINGPLAYFUL
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4OCONCLUDEWEWOULDLIKETOSAYTHATPERHAPSTOOMUCHRESEARCHON
GAMESBEGINSASWELLASENDSWITHTHEASSUMPTIONTHATGAMESAREFUN
(OWEVERWHENGAMESBECOMEPARTOFEVERYDAYLIFEITISOBVIOUSTHATTHEY
ARESOMETHINGOTHERTHANJUSTVEHICLESFORFUN4HISSHOULDBERECOGNIZED
MOREOFTENINRESEARCHONGAMES
.OTES
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peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011

peer-00571574, version 1 - 1 Mar 2011