The "Magic Circle"

In all of the video game literature I've read, a term keeps re-emerging. Known as the "magic circle", this term refers to the idea that the action occurring in video games occurs in a "magic circle". It’s a circle in which anything can happen and specific rules apply. Not only does the "magic circle" apply to video games, but it also refers to games in general. What the term means is this: within the confines of a game (let's say The Evil Within, the actions you take and the consequences that happen do not affect reality. Specifically relating to video games, think of it as a barrier. The game The Evil Within has specific rules. The player can only explore certain areas of the game world. The player can only upgrade their stats through a chair that looks like a torture device. Both of these are specific rules, dedicated to the game The Evil Within. In this specific world, certain rules apply. The same applies to types of games. Take, for example, tennis. Once you step onto a tennis court, a specific set of rules could be invoked. The court is set up to adhere to tennis matches and rules. The barriers of the court mark the end of the "magic circle". Not only is the "magic circle" something that applies to the rules of games, but I would argue that we use it as a metaphor. Have you ever been engrossed in a video game so much that you lose track of time? You get so enamored with the game world that you lose track of reality. You enter the "magic circle" temporarily, while reality continues on around you. The biggest concept of the "magic circle" is that it separates the fictional from reality. The "magic circle" is a special space where anything is possible.