Changing Rules While Playing: On the Affective Potential of In-Game Rule Changes

The essay deals with a powerful feature of games, the phenomenon of in-game rule change or, more specifically, the occasional, even if regulated, breach of contract between the game and the player, which has a dramatic effect on the player’s experience. I attempt to define this phenomenon through the concepts of operational rules, meaningful play, board state and victory points, and then review our perceptions and preconceptions of board games, which are seen in most cases as a balanced means of social puzzle solving. The examples discussed demonstrate that some modern games are far more interactive, dynamic, and less balanced than we might imagine, which makes rule changes during play possible and dramatic. (GZK)