Rules of Play
Abstract
Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) constitute social jurisdictions governed by rules of play. When we consider the work of Johan Huizinga and subsequent theorists of human play activities, we find that ludic rules differ from legal rules in important ways. The goals of play also differ from the goals of law. In applying law to MMORPGs and other virtual worlds, it is important to recognize that jurisdictions of play are structured in ways that are fundamentally different from the ways traditional legal rules are structured.
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Lastowka (2009) notes how it is usually illegal to punch somebody, but inside the boxing ring one is expected to do so.
“Lastowka (2009, p. 386) notes how it is usually illegal to punch somebody, but inside the boxing ring one is expected to do so:”
From Real-time hermeneutics: meaning-making in ludonarrative digital games (2018) · cites this paper as Lastowka, 2009, p. 386
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- Authors
- Lastowka, G.
- Affiliations
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lastowka, Greg
- Venue
- Games and Culture
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-08-20
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 379-395
- ISSN
- 1555-4120 (ISSN-L)
- 1555-4139
- OpenAlex
- W4239672729
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 5.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Games and Culture (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Digital Games and Media
- Social Sciences › Law › Law in Society and Culture
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Intellectual Property Rights and Media
- Keywords
- MMORPG, game rules, Johan Huizinga, play theory, virtual worlds, game laws, online gaming regulation
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