rules-of-play
The agreed-upon limitations and guidelines that define how a game is played, which are fixed in finite games but adaptable in infinite games.
1 chapter across 1 book
Finite and Infinite Games (1986)James P. Carse
This chapter distinguishes between finite and infinite games, defining finite games as those played to win with agreed-upon temporal, spatial, and numerical boundaries, and infinite games as those played to continue play indefinitely without fixed boundaries. It emphasizes that finite games require fixed rules and definitive endings, while infinite games require evolving rules to sustain ongoing participation. The chapter also explores the nature of freedom in play, highlighting that all players must play freely and that infinite players incorporate limits into the game to preserve its continuity.