Magic Circle

Magic  Circle

The term refers to the membrane that encloses virtual worlds such as First Person Shooters, Online Social Environments and MMORPGs. Edward  Castronova  notes that this membrane “can be considered a shield of sorts, protecting the fantasy world from the outside world." [1] Instead of being impassable, however, an examination of contemporary virtual worlds reveals that the magic circle is actually quite absorbent. There appears to be a relationship between virtual worlds and the outside world. Even though virtual worlds display a range of attributes that are unique to their realm, they also exhibit characteristics deriving from the outside world. Castronova uses the term "synthetic world" because a synthetic world “cannot be sealed completely; people are crossing it all the time in both directions, carrying their behavioral assumptions and attitudes with them." [2]

[1] Edward Castronova, Synthetic Worlds: The Business and Culture of Online Games (Chicago, The University of Chicago Press, 2005), 147.

[1] ibid