The Peculiarity of the Game: Successful Handling of the Unexpected | SpringerLink

"The basic idea of this genre of games was theoretically developed by Peter Suber (1990) in the book The Paradox of Self-Amendment.

Nomic games realize what we had noted as a theoretical insight: The players can agree together to play differently; to modify rules. The commonality is what matters, otherwise one becomes a spoilsport or a cheater. However, computer games in particular set limits to this sovereignty, because with its programmed rules, the computer does not allow “play” (c. f. Sect. 3.3). The common sovereign handling of the game also allows a game to be interrupted or ended in the middle; unless the game is subject to external purposes, which would be disregarded by this. A game in front of paying spectators cannot be canceled without consequences—the game can, the paid performance cannot...."