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Cited by 142Digital Games and MediaEducational Games and GamificationPhysical education and sports games research

In Defence of a Magic Circle: The Social, Mental and Cultural Boundaries of Play

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Stenros, Jaakko·2014·Transactions of the Digital Games Research Association
DOI 10.26503/todigra.v1i2.10
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Abstract

This article reviews the history of the concept of the magic circle, its criticism and the numerous other metaphors that have been used to capture the zone of play or the border that surrounds it, such as world, frame, bubble, net, screen, reality, membrane, zone, environment, or attitude. The various conceptions of social, mental and cultural borders are reviewed and identified. Finally, a model is put forward where the psychological bubble of playfulness, the social contract of the magic circle and the cultural game forms are separated.

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  • The concept of the magic circle was popularized in game studies by Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman in their book Rules of Play (2004), where it received the form most game scholars are familiar with.

    “The concept of the magic circle was popularized in game studies by Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman in their influential book Rules of Play (2004), where it received the form most game scholars are familiar with (Stenros, 2014, p. 149).”

    From Real-time hermeneutics: meaning-making in ludonarrative digital games (2018) · cites this paper as Stenros, 2014

  • In addition to the spatial sense, the magic circle has at least two other meanings: the social framings of play and the playful mindset of the players.

    “However, in addition to the spatial sense it has at least two other meanings as the social framings of play and the playful mindset of the players (Stenros, 2014, p. 173).”

    From Real-time hermeneutics: meaning-making in ludonarrative digital games (2018) · cites this paper as Stenros, 2014, p. 173

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Authors
Stenros, J.
Affiliations
University of Tampere (FI)
Corresponding author
Stenros, Jaakko
ORCID
Stenros, Jaakko
Venue
Transactions of the Digital Games Research Association
Publisher
Digital Games Research Association
Published
2014-02-01
Volume
1
Issue
2
ISSN
  • 2328-9414 (ISSN-L)
  • 2328-9422
DOI
10.26503/todigra.v1i2.10
OpenAlex
W1496678648
Cited by
142
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 9
FWCI
26.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Transactions of the Digital Games Research Association (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Digital Games and Media
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Educational Games and Gamification
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Physical education and sports games research
Keywords
magic circle, play, playfulness, play metaphor, social contract

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